Tips, Tricks and Hacks for your iPhone

Venture Beat claims a “very trusted” source has informed them that Apple’s PA Semi team might not have been behind the new iPad’s Apple A4 chipset:

PA Semi didn’t do the A4. It was the existing VLSI team. Apple has made custom chips for years like the Northbridges for G4 and G5.

This information was appended to an article that focused on how great, and power-efficient, PA Semi’s chip design really was. So why wouldn’t Apple use them? Gizmodo speculates:

there likely isn’t a whole lot “custom” going in the A4’s actual design, which by all appearances is an ARM Cortex A9 wrapped up with a PowerVR graphics core and some other parts in a custom SoC. So, new question, if it’s true: What’s PA Semi, which Apple said would be working on chips for iPhones actually working on? A more customized chip would be interesting, since PA Semi’s true talent was in designing chips with ridiculous power efficiencies.

So, we won’t see PA Semi until… Apple A5?

Apple iPad A4 Chip Designed by PA Semi Team… or Not? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has started sending developers invitations to take a satisfaction survey with regards to the App Store in general, and the App Store approval process in specific.

Apple asks you to answer with: “Very dissatisfied,” “Somewhat dissatisfied,” “Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” “Somewhat satisfied,” “Very satisfied,” or “Don’t know.”

They also ask, “What one thing could Apple do to make the iPhone Developer Program better?” and give you a text box to write anything you want. A few months ago they certainly would have gotten some interesting responses there.

Indeed and as we suspected, “wait for developers and bloggers to get really ticked off and then have Phil Schiller email them” wasn’t a scalable solution. TechCrunch speculates that the improvements in the App Store approval process starting 2010 involve more and better trained staff, since approval speed has improved and reportedly even communications between Apple and developers is better.

So, if you’re a developer, what will you be telling Apple? And if you’re not a developer, does it matter to you that Apple is trying to improve their developer relations?

Apple to iPhone Developers: So… Happy with the App Store? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Above is a image that is claimed to belong to the upcoming 4th generation iPhone, courtesy of iPhone repair Web site iResQ. As iResQ points out, there are a few interesting things that stand out in the photo.

• “The LCD appears to be factory glued to the digitizer which is more similar to the first generation iPhones than the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The digitizer can be separated from the LCD on the 3G and 3GS models, which should be interesting to all, but for the repair folks like us–this means that the 4G screen repair price will be higher since both parts will have to be replaced at once.”
• “The iPhone 4G front panel seems to be about 1/4″ longer than its predecessors.”
• “There is an interesting reflective, mirror-like surface directly above the speaker. This is likely a spot for the proximity sensor. If that’s what is is, it’s in a different location than previous models.”

Here at TiPb we are hoping for something more drastic in terms of design changes but based on these latest images it’s hard to tell if the “A+” upgrade Steve Jobs promised will hold true. These images may turn out to be bogus or simply be scrapped before the final product is put together. We’ve seen it happen before with the matte backing.

We are willing to give Jobs the benefit of the doubt on his A+ upgrade for the time being, how about you?

One more image after the break!

[Via Apple Insider]

Rumored 4th Gen Apple iPhone Parts Show Little Design Change is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Get the fun of playing board games in your Iphones. Your favorite board game, The Game of LIFE, now comes as an iphone application. Live an alternate life. You will have to make many decisions. Select from two given options to begin the game: whether you want to pursue further education or you want to get a job and start working. You will then get the chance to get married, have children, switch to other career options, invest your money in the stock market, enjoy your little life and even live through the tiny hitch called bankruptcy.

What you actually should be good at, is your spinning the dice ability. Though many say that the scene in the small screen of Iphone is a bit interrupted but your own imagination of the board game will help you in playing it out quite well. You get two options: either you play against the computer or you pass on your set to your friends and manually play the multi player game.

San Francisco, CA — February 8, 2010 — SMART Technologies announces the SMART Slate WS200 wireless slate is now available for use on the Mac platform. SMART Slate enables teachers and students to interact with digital lessons projected on a screen, interactive whiteboard, interactive display or interactive pen display from anywhere in the classroom. SMART Slate was developed with extensive user feedback, resulting in the addition of several features, such as improved ergonomics, convenient charging via the USB cable and support for 10 languages, including Simplified Chinese, Castilian Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. The WS200 replaces the WS100 (formerly AirLiner™ WS100 wireless slate).

Each point on the 6.8″ x 4.26″ (17.3 cm x 10.8 cm) active pen area corresponds to a point on a connected display. The SMART Slate can be used with or without a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, but on its own it functions easily with a computer and projector. To further enhance whole-class and small-group instruction, the SMART Slate works seamlessly with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Wireless Bluetooth® enables teachers and students to control on-screen learning applications, write and draw in digital ink, or open and view files. Ergonomic improvements have made the SMART Slate smaller, lighter and easier to hold. The addition of a third programmable button enables customization, and the eraser function on the battery-free, tethered pen makes annotating with digital ink even more intuitive than it was on the WS100. The SMART Slate integrates seamlessly with a broad range of SMART products. In addition to the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, the SMART Slate also integrates with the SMART Podium™ interactive pen display.

“SMART continues to support Mac users, and we appreciate that many school districts are adopting the Mac operating system,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “In today’s differentiated classrooms, both teachers and students appreciate the flexibility of movement provided by the SMART Slate, and we want to ensure all teachers and students have the option to interact with digital content from anywhere in the room.”

Features

• Wireless technology – Bluetooth 2.1 provides a reliable, wireless connection with a range of 32 feet (10 m) and low power draw
• Accurate and precise writing – The battery-free, tethered pen provides smooth and precise writing, enabling rapid and accurate remote interaction with projected content
• Ergonomic and portable – Weighs 21 oz. (612 g) and features improved ergonomic style for comfortable grip and portability
• Slim profile – Slate dimensions of 10.5″ x 8.5″ x 1″ (26.6 cm x 21.6 cm x 2.6 cm) with a 6.8″ x 4.26″ (17.3 cm x 10.8 cm) active pen area
• Programmable buttons – Three programmable buttons can be customized with user-determined shortcuts to enhance ease of use
• Multiple language support – Supports 10 languages, including English (U.S. and UK), Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Mexican Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Castilian (European) Spanish
• Convenient charging – Charges with a USB cable in 6.5 hours to provide at least 24 hours of continuous use
• Improved battery – Physical power switch reduces discharge over prolonged periods of nonuse
• Kensington security lock – Provides a simple way to attach a lock-and-cable apparatus
• SMART product integration – Fully compatible with SMART products, including SMART Notebook™ software

Pricing and availability

The suggested education list price for the SMART Slate WS200 wireless slate is US$349. The suggested list price in all other countries incorporates applicable taxes, duties and import costs. Information on suggested list price or special pricing for educators, where applicable, is available from local authorized SMART resellers. For purchasing information, specifications and a list of SMART authorized resellers, visit www.smarttech.com.

About SMART

SMART Technologies introduced the world’s first interactive whiteboard in 1991 and is the global interactive whiteboard category leader, providing easy-to-use, integrated hardware, software and services that improve the way the world collaborates and learns. For more than 20 years, innovation and commitment to excellence have been at the core of its business. SMART revolutionized the education market with products that empower educators to improve student outcomes by effectively implementing technology products that support all learning styles and environments. The company helps business people achieve better results with products that enable more productive meetings and collaborative work. Its success is driven by a deep commitment to and engagement with both the education and business communities. SMART offers products, resources and services that positively transform the way people learn and work.