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Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

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Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#131
post #102

Nobody thinks that having four icons indicates that they finally made the smaller iPod Shuffle-based iPhone? There was speculation last year that they were looking at a smaller lower-priced entry iPhone with limited features based on the Shuffle. I would wear it running, so I'm hoping the four-icon picture isn't just a coincidence.

[Insert Stimpy "JOY!" here]

That would, indeed, be awesome. I take the iPad almost everywhere, so I have no need for an iPhone which is little more than an iPad Nano. Thing is, I need that "little more" - the phone part - as well, and want it as a separate device which I _can_ have everywhere. It's back to the "just a phone" desire, a device focused on making phone calls with Apple design sensibilities. Take an iPod Nano, insert a bigger battery & cellular chip, support Bluetooth headsets, sell millions.

Methinks coincidence though. Four icons is just enough to get the invite info across in a cute way, and there just isn't another suitable way to arrange them (a 4x1 line? not for advertising).

Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#132
post #102

Nobody thinks that having four icons indicates that they finally made the smaller iPod Shuffle-based iPhone? There was speculation last year that they were looking at a smaller lower-priced entry iPhone with limited features based on the Shuffle. I would wear it running, so I'm hoping the four-icon picture isn't just a coincidence.

Would that kill existing apps for iPhone and force them to be redesigned? That's the reason I don't think that they will change the screen shape.

Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#133
post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how many iPhone users realize that the Maps app on their phone is powered by Google maps?

Considering the Maps app has a persistent google logo watermark on the bottom left (right above the arrow), I'd say close to 100% know, even if they can't say why.

Oops, I even checked before posting and didn't see it, though I was looking for it on the bottom right.

Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just put them right next to each other in a 2 x 2. The amount of room is pretty small. They should also improve the camera API to allow full use like the FCam API. ref: http://graphics.stanford.edu/papers/fcam/

Nice. I was thinking of 3D stuff, though. That could be sort-of done in software (let user move the camera, estimate motion from images & sensors, compensate images for motion artifacts), but having two or four cameras at corners of the device would be easier, allow for photographing moving objects, etc. (pan iPhone is about as tall as human eye-eye distance, so this should enable non-macro 3D stuff. I do not think w…

You can do some pretty amazing stuff to get much better pictures with multiple cameras. The stuff they did with the Nokia phone with 1 camera is pretty impressive, but having multiple can really do wonders. The other advantage to multiple cameras is the ability to have less dense sensors allowing more light.

I am not a big fan of 3D currently. I just don't see it as good for small devices and it is hard on the eyes. I really think that the other uses for computational photography would make for a killer feature on a main stream phone.

Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I can ask my smartphone "what time is the next bus arriving?" without having to touch it, that's when it's a really smart phone. I hope it's that level of a kick.

Google's voice search has been at that level for a long time now, but I get the impression most people have never tried it.

A family member tried it on an original Droid, and it was a miserable failure for her. I was a bit mystified, comparing this experience with the positive comments I'd read. Might be her voice in particular; I turned on the "personalized tuning" setting, but it did no good.

Re: Apple Announces Event on October 4th: Let's Talk iPhone

#136

I really can't wait to see how Tim Cook brings the new iPhone to the market. There's a lot of pressure on him to perform in the same way that Steve Jobs has in the past. He has, to his advantage, been more chatty with Apple employees via corporate webmail so I'm excited to see what he says and how he brings his team around a much awaited iOS 5 and iPhone.

No need to wait. Tim Cook has already hosted some events, like the Back to the Mac event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxWSIDoE8Hk (I can't find better videos at the moment, but they're around.)

Ahh yes. I must give Tim credit. He is a very good speaker, that's for certain.
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