Not Surprising: The iPad is Getting a Camera

I suppose the question isn’t whether the iPad is getting a camera, but when? AppleInsider points out that possible camera capabilities will be available on a future iPad thanks to some assumably accidental information listed on Apple’s iPad profile management policies, though I think we can safely agree we knew this was bound to happen. We basically have a bit of proof, though none was needed when Steve Jobs basically guaranteed we’d be living in a FaceTime world through the upcoming years.

While iPhones do have cameras to disable, no iPad models currently do. However, among the profiles specifically included in its iPad documentation, Apple notes the ability to restrict camera use on the iPad.

Though it is possible to connect an external camera via the USB adapter Apple provides in the iPad, we doubt Apple would specifically target devices that weren’t intended for use with the iPad in the first place. And although people have been clamoring about the idea of “video conferencing” (which is a bit too corporate of a term for my tastes), I really haven’t missed it in the current iteration of the iPad – I rarely even use the MacBook’s built-in iSight. Though if seeing is believing, your subtle confirmation for the world’s biggest point-and-shoot has now been approved.

Now how about that iPod touch?

[via AppleInsider]


iPhone 4 Jailbreakers Get An Activator-based Flashlight

iPhone users always had a thing for Flashlight apps. Way before the iPhone 4 came out with its LED flash, iPhone 3G and 3GS users used to install apps that turned the screen white and allowed them to see in the dark. Of course the iPhone 4 makes things simpler by allowing developers to access the LED Flash APIs and develop real Flashlight apps.

Too bad many of these apps are paid apps. Available for free in Cydia, SpringFlash is the first iPhone 4-only Cydia app that lets you turn the LED flash on / off with a simple Activator gesture. Mine is tap on volume heads up display.

Useful.

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Pulse Updated with Posterous Integration: It’s About News Curation All Over Again

It’s been a while since I first reviewed Pulse for iPad. For those who don’t know, Pulse was one of the first “visual news readers” to come out on the tablet: it allows you to browse news from your favorite sources in an innovative interface that makes it easy to read, check out pictures, share and like posts.

In these past months (and after a pretty controversial removal from the App Store), the developers have focused on fixes (the app is very smooth now), readability, Google Reader integration (nice, Flipboard needs this) and, with the latest update, news curation.

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Reeder for iPad 1.1 Available: Improved Article Layout, Bug Fixes

I love when iTunes asks me to update apps like Reeder by Silvio Rizzi. Reeder for iPad, possibly the best RSS reader app for iPad out there, has just been updated to version 1.1. The new version introduces an improved article layout, image zooming, better video handling and lots of bug fixes and performance improvements. Oh, and the app will now use the apple-touch-icon even if the file is smaller than 120 x 120.

You can find the app here at $4.99. Be sure to check out our review if you missed it. Again, must-have.

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How To Prevent iOS From Automatically Loading PDFs [Vulnerability]

Last night JailbreakMe was released in the wild. As we reported, it’s one of the simplest jailbreak tools ever made, as it requires only one slide in Mobile Safari to install Cydia on your device. You visit a link, slide, and wait. As we also reported, though, the exploit seems to based on a PDF vulnerability in iOS: the iPhone automatically downloads PDF files, and Comex injected the jailbreak code in a PDF file.

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Tisk Task is the Polar Opposite of OmniFocus

With Things and OmniFocus obviously being the best contenders for getting things done on the iPad, you may be forgetting about the simple things in life – mainly those basic checklists you used to keep on your night table. While someone like me could certainly put the workhorse that is OmniFocus through its paces, I realize that not all of you need such a solution for your daily reminders. When Chicken Studios contacted us about Tisk Task, I thought you’d be interested.

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Future iPhones to Possibly Have Intel Inside

If you’re looking to have a little Intel in your iPhone, it may come sooner than you think. Intel is looking to buy Germany-based Infineon’s wireless chips.

Reputable teardown sites make it clear that Infineon silicon plays a pretty important role in the iPad and iPhone 4. UMB TechInsights shows two chips: An Infineon A GSM/W-CDMA transceiver and a baseband processor.

The baseband processor–which handles the 3G connection–is one of the most critical chips. “This processor has HSDPA/HSUPA capabilities of 7.2Mbps/2.9Mbps and the ability to connect to cameras with up to 5 MPixels like the one found on the iPhone 4G (the X-GOLD 618 version),” according to TechInsights. (HSDPA stands for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. HSUPA is the acronym for High-Speed Uplink Packet Access.)

[via CNET]


Wired to Bring Exclusive Short Films to the iPad

I’ve been thinking about what types of media people would rather consume lately. Though I’m not quite ready to propose my position, Wired clearly sees the potential for video on the iPad. I too think the iPad is a fascinating device to watch video on (as the device seemingly melts away during those Keanu Reeves action sequences), and I’m glad to hear Wired will be bringing us a few engrossing short films in a future issue or two.

With its August issue, it’s going one step further, producing original short films that are available exclusively on the iPad.

For the films—there are four—Wired got comic Will Ferrell to spoof once-anticipated inventions for the 21st century, like ray guns and jet packs. The films are tied to the August cover subject, “The Future That Never Happened.”

Mediaweek says that Condé Nast’s Scott Dadich is behind the genius of these featured films, and that a sample will be available on Wired’s website so iPad naysayer’s can see what the hype is about. Though you may want to buy an iPad with bigger storage space anyway if these interactive magazines start becoming storage hogs.

[via Mediaweek]