A couple days ago we saw that Apple may decide to make the white iPhone’s faceplate white. While some disagree with the move, I think it’s spectacular. In fact, incredibly classy. At least, I came to my conclusion once I saw some renders that everythingicafe came across from iSpazio.
White iPhone HD Rendered
Jobs, Apple Unlikely to Embrace VP8
This afternoon’s bombshell other than Google TV? Apple, who claims to support “open technologies,” will not be embracing Google’s new VP8 video codec. Jobs, in response to an email, linked to a website that describes VP8 as slower than its H.264 counterpart. While Apple hasn’t officially commented on WebM and the open-sourceness of Google’s latest projects, I don’t think Apple would pursue it for a number of reasons. For one, Apple probably doesn’t want to sleep in the bed of the enemy, and two:
“With regard to patents, VP8 copies way too much from H.264 for anyone sane to be comfortable with it, no matter whose word is behind the claim of being patent-free…”
Be sure to check out The Register for more information. They provide lots of juicy tidbits on the matter, but knowing Apple, the user experience and protecting their relationships with media providers comes first.
Apple Starts Rolling Out International iBookstores
Italian blog iPadevice has found out that Apple has started rolling out the international iBookstores, which are slowly filling up with iBooks and books from Project Gutenberg. [Google Translation]
As you can see from the screenshots after the break there aren’t many books already, but the store is really filling up as we speak. Categories, banners and charts are live, but we still haven’t seen anything about prices. We’ll keep you posted about it.
Everything’s almost ready for the official launch.
A Sneak Peek at Twitterrific 3.0 for iPhone from the Iconfactory
We all love Twitterrific for iPad, right? It’s a beautiful app, with all the features that you need, yet it’s simple and user friendly. It turns out that after the launch of the iPad and the App Store grand opening, the Iconfactory (developers of the Twitterrific apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac) realized that Twitterrific for iPad was the iteration people liked most: the Mac version was stuck at somewhere between 2008 and 2009, and the iPhone version had become something they weren’t proud of. They wanted to rewrite the apps starting from the fresh and powerful new codebase of Twitterrific for iPad. And so they started working on Twitterrific 3.0 for iPhone and 4.0 for Mac.
Sony Executives Call Apple Arrogant, Admit Defeat at Same Time
Is Sony digging their own grave? I kind of think they’re eventually going to eat these words, because they really haven’t made some of the best decisions recently either. Sony Computer Entertainment Australia Executive, Michael Ephraim, claims, “I don’t think we are arrogant anymore.” Says the company who totally shafted people (and the United States Air Force) now that they don’t support Linux on their Playstations.
Simplify Media was Bought by Google, iTunes Streaming Coming to Android
This explains a lot. Remember when everyone was bummed because Simplify Media decided to close its doors? Turns out Google acquired the company, who made some excellent (no, brilliant) streaming products for the iPhone and iPod touch. I was upset when I could no longer try out their product, but now there’s something to be really excited about. Android users will now have the ability to push iTunes media onto their handsets, which brings some a wicked complement to already great Android apps like doubleTwist. I’ll be excited to test this feature on my Droid when I can.
[via Engadget]
The iPad App Store. Now Live Worldwide
The iPad App Store wasn’t always available in all parts of the world, but Mashable is reporting that Twitter users are quite excited to have access to the iPad’s App Store in the UK, France, Australia, and New Zealand. I’m glad to see the folks down under can finally check out some of the great applications developers have been pumping out a few days early, so folks: be sure to stock up before your iPad pre-orders land at your doorstep. A shameless plug, download Twitterrific first!
[via Mashable]
iPads Selling Like Hotcakes
All Things D reports this morning that Apple’s iPad is an incredible success. And why wouldn’t it be? Amongst the continuing criticism, people are genuinely interested in the slate form factor. So interested in fact, that 200,000 iPads are flying off the shelf each week. This honestly seems like a high number to me, but with Mac sales already surpassed, the iPad is reported to now be closing in on the iPhone 3GS. RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky suggests that since sales are so strong, Apple will sell 8 million iPads by the time 2010 is done with. That’s a strong number sir, and only time will tell.
New Apple TV Functions Patented
Though a new model isn’t in sight, Patently Apple reports that Apple’s little hobby could be getting some new software functions. Apple may be opening the Apple TV up for use by third party controllers, in which your Sony remote could be paired with the Apple TV after a learning session. Some other interesting notes include that Apple may be considering allowing users to run iPhone applications on their big screen TV, either for answering calls, playing games, or interacting with applications like Mobile Safari. Though we know how (poorly) scaling apps worked on the iPad, would you want to use iPhone applications on your HD TV? Make sure to check the screen after the break.