More Details of iPhone OS 3.0 'Voice Control' EmergeSeveral weeks ago, we mentioned in passing that configuration files for a feature called "Voice Control" had been unearthed in the iPhone OS 3.0 beta. Ars Technica now provides a few additional details about the feature, although the specifics remai...
OCZ Keeps Releasing New SSD ModelsOn the growing SSD market where key players are fighting to get the largest piece of the cake, three manufacturers are currently getting the best "hands": Intel, Samsung and OCZ. The latest is definitely a challenger when one looks at the size of the two other companies, however it does not prevent it to release interesting products and to demonstrate its technology and ability to offer new and competitive SSD models.
Surfing on this wave, OCZ released new series known as Vertex EX. Unlike the Vertex models we tested, those new units are based on SLC chips.
While being more expensive and offering lower storage capacity, this type of flash memory offers higher transfer speed, respectively 260 and 210 MB/s in reading and writing mode. Those average figures are not really massively higher than those recorded with MLC-based SSD, however SCL chips offer higher transfer speed for small size files and higher writing cycles, up to 100,000 cycles, 10-fold more than with the MLC.
Full text from "Legal Copy" ad isn't quite PC-specificFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Retail, Odds and ends, Apple
You've probably seen
all of the new Get a Mac ads we posted about on Sunday, and if you haven't yet,
go ahead and watch them now. We'll wait. Just let us know when you're back, we'll be playing a little
Zen Bound. Done? If you saw the Legal Copy ad, you know that's the one where as PC makes crazy and crazier statements about PC reliability, the screen fills up with unreadable legal copy. Unreadable, that is, if you're watching on a computer, and not so much if you're watching on a huge HDTV.
And so yes, MacJournals has
actually retrieved and reprinted all of the text that appears in that ad. When Hodgman says "PCs are 100% trouble free," there is a long paragraph about how computers are targeted by spyware and malware, and how you have to install software drivers if you want to use any peripherals, how PC users should back up their systems, and how if they are not under warranty, they are not guaranteed a refund or replacement.
But wait a minute, says MDJ, don't those last few notes apply to Macs as well? Are Mac users able to avoid requiring backups, and is Apple trying to say that even after their warranties expire, they'll be giving out refunds and replacements (actually,
they sometimes do that, though it's definitely not guaranteed)? Still, if the PC faithful wanted to nitpick -- and where exactly are the PC faithful these days, again? -- there's definitely plenty of nitpicking to do here. It seems like Apple needed to fill out the text for the joke of the ad, but it's too bad they couldn't just stick with PC problems (and there are plenty of those) rather than include some common computer issues in there as well.
[via
Aulia Masna]
TUAWFull text from "Legal Copy" ad isn't quite PC-specific originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple to drop new Snow Leopard beta on developersApple sometime this week is expected to tap its developers to begin testing a new pre-release copy of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, signaling a clear acceleration of the beta test process.
Convertbot updated to 1.1, adds more units to convertFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, App Store
I haven't had much use for Tapbots'
Weightbot, even though I actually am currently watching my weight, but I really appreciate the look and feel of the program -- it's one of the most polished apps on the App Store. And
Convertbot is no different -- while the actual situations where I need to convert units are pretty few and far between, the app is just
so intuitive and polished that you look for ways to use it, from the stylistic user interface to the little beeps and clinks that make the buttons feel as tactile as they can on the iPhone's touchscreen.
And now there's even more opportunities to use the app: with the newest version 1.1,
out now in the App Store, you can convert more than 100 different units, everything from angles to lengths to cooking volumes to even speed, time, and work (I can't remember the last time I had to convert BTUs to Joules -- high school? -- but this app can do it).
At just 99 cents, it's definitely worth trying out, if you're a fan of quality iPhone apps at all. I kind of wish Tapbots would aim a little higher, but then again, this is kind of their thing: taking really simple apps and polishing the heck out of them until they shine way past their basic functions. It would be interesting, though, to see what they could do with a bigger concept.
TUAWConvertbot updated to 1.1, adds more units to convert originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone Software 3.0 may offer voice control, dialing - reportA new report is backing rumors of Voice Dialing support inside betas of Apple's iPhone 3.0 Software but adds that capability may be just one of several features included in a new Voice Services framework that may also facilitate voice control of the new OS.
Voice dialing coming to iPhone 3.0Voice dailing (and more) is coming to the iPhone with the OS 3.0 update. Users will not only be able to control the phone by speaking — it will talk back as well.
According to a report from Ars Technica’s Chris Foresman, the new features, code-named “Jibbler,” will be incorporated as enhancements to the SpringBoard app launcher program. Jibbler might be activated by squeezing the iPhone’s headset button and holding it while speaking. When released, the device will attempt to interpret what was said (i.e. “Call Mom”).
The phone will also likely include the same voice synthesis technology found in the new iPod shuffle, either by giving the user an auditory response — “Calling Mom” — or by “reading” data like CD track names back to the user. While the iPod shuffle’s voice prompts are pre-recorded the by the host computer, the iPhone would have the hardware muscle to render voices in real time.
None of these features would require new hardware, so they may just be one of the (probably many) unannounced features of the upcoming iPhone OS update. Ars also found some hooks in the iPhone’s code for accessing Jibbler, so these features may eventually be opened up to developers as well. Voice recognition features are already present in Google’s Search app, albeit handled by a third-party server, so there would certainly be a demand for voice capabilities from developers.
(Via Gizmodo.)
More Details of iPhone OS 3.0 'Voice Control' EmergeSeveral weeks ago, we mentioned in passing that configuration files for a feature called "Voice Control" had been unearthed in the iPhone OS 3.0 beta. Ars Technica now provides a few additional details about the feature, although the specifics remai...
OCZ Keeps Releasing New SSD ModelsOn the growing SSD market where key players are fighting to get the largest piece of the cake, three manufacturers are currently getting the best "hands": Intel, Samsung and OCZ. The latest is definitely a challenger when one looks at the size of the two other companies, however it does not prevent it to release interesting products and to demonstrate its technology and ability to offer new and competitive SSD models.
Surfing on this wave, OCZ released new series known as Vertex EX. Unlike the Vertex models we tested, those new units are based on SLC chips.
While being more expensive and offering lower storage capacity, this type of flash memory offers higher transfer speed, respectively 260 and 210 MB/s in reading and writing mode. Those average figures are not really massively higher than those recorded with MLC-based SSD, however SCL chips offer higher transfer speed for small size files and higher writing cycles, up to 100,000 cycles, 10-fold more than with the MLC.
Full text from "Legal Copy" ad isn't quite PC-specificFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Retail, Odds and ends, Apple
You've probably seen
all of the new Get a Mac ads we posted about on Sunday, and if you haven't yet,
go ahead and watch them now. We'll wait. Just let us know when you're back, we'll be playing a little
Zen Bound. Done? If you saw the Legal Copy ad, you know that's the one where as PC makes crazy and crazier statements about PC reliability, the screen fills up with unreadable legal copy. Unreadable, that is, if you're watching on a computer, and not so much if you're watching on a huge HDTV.
And so yes, MacJournals has
actually retrieved and reprinted all of the text that appears in that ad. When Hodgman says "PCs are 100% trouble free," there is a long paragraph about how computers are targeted by spyware and malware, and how you have to install software drivers if you want to use any peripherals, how PC users should back up their systems, and how if they are not under warranty, they are not guaranteed a refund or replacement.
But wait a minute, says MDJ, don't those last few notes apply to Macs as well? Are Mac users able to avoid requiring backups, and is Apple trying to say that even after their warranties expire, they'll be giving out refunds and replacements (actually,
they sometimes do that, though it's definitely not guaranteed)? Still, if the PC faithful wanted to nitpick -- and where exactly are the PC faithful these days, again? -- there's definitely plenty of nitpicking to do here. It seems like Apple needed to fill out the text for the joke of the ad, but it's too bad they couldn't just stick with PC problems (and there are plenty of those) rather than include some common computer issues in there as well.
[via
Aulia Masna]
TUAWFull text from "Legal Copy" ad isn't quite PC-specific originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read |
Permalink |
Email this |
CommentsApple to drop new Snow Leopard beta on developersApple sometime this week is expected to tap its developers to begin testing a new pre-release copy of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, signaling a clear acceleration of the beta test process.
Convertbot updated to 1.1, adds more units to convertFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, App Store
I haven't had much use for Tapbots'
Weightbot, even though I actually am currently watching my weight, but I really appreciate the look and feel of the program -- it's one of the most polished apps on the App Store. And
Convertbot is no different -- while the actual situations where I need to convert units are pretty few and far between, the app is just
so intuitive and polished that you look for ways to use it, from the stylistic user interface to the little beeps and clinks that make the buttons feel as tactile as they can on the iPhone's touchscreen.
And now there's even more opportunities to use the app: with the newest version 1.1,
out now in the App Store, you can convert more than 100 different units, everything from angles to lengths to cooking volumes to even speed, time, and work (I can't remember the last time I had to convert BTUs to Joules -- high school? -- but this app can do it).
At just 99 cents, it's definitely worth trying out, if you're a fan of quality iPhone apps at all. I kind of wish Tapbots would aim a little higher, but then again, this is kind of their thing: taking really simple apps and polishing the heck out of them until they shine way past their basic functions. It would be interesting, though, to see what they could do with a bigger concept.
TUAWConvertbot updated to 1.1, adds more units to convert originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read |
Permalink |
Email this |
CommentsiPhone Software 3.0 may offer voice control, dialing - reportA new report is backing rumors of Voice Dialing support inside betas of Apple's iPhone 3.0 Software but adds that capability may be just one of several features included in a new Voice Services framework that may also facilitate voice control of the new OS.
Voice dialing coming to iPhone 3.0Voice dailing (and more) is coming to the iPhone with the OS 3.0 update. Users will not only be able to control the phone by speaking — it will talk back as well.
According to a report from Ars Technica’s Chris Foresman, the new features, code-named “Jibbler,” will be incorporated as enhancements to the SpringBoard app launcher program. Jibbler might be activated by squeezing the iPhone’s headset button and holding it while speaking. When released, the device will attempt to interpret what was said (i.e. “Call Mom”).
The phone will also likely include the same voice synthesis technology found in the new iPod shuffle, either by giving the user an auditory response — “Calling Mom” — or by “reading” data like CD track names back to the user. While the iPod shuffle’s voice prompts are pre-recorded the by the host computer, the iPhone would have the hardware muscle to render voices in real time.
None of these features would require new hardware, so they may just be one of the (probably many) unannounced features of the upcoming iPhone OS update. Ars also found some hooks in the iPhone’s code for accessing Jibbler, so these features may eventually be opened up to developers as well. Voice recognition features are already present in Google’s Search app, albeit handled by a third-party server, so there would certainly be a demand for voice capabilities from developers.
(Via Gizmodo.)
