The Transporter Developer Program By Connected Data

Connected Data has officially announced the Transporter developer program for its transporter platform which will enable third party iOS and OS X developers to integrate their apps with Transporter cloud features together with sync features in their desktop and mobile apps. This announcement is a move that envisages Connected Data challenge with alternatives like Dropbox, Google Drive and Box. Transporter a private cloud storage platform enables to turn any USB drive with Transporter Sync or local storage, original Transporter into a personal cloud storage space which is private and does not have any monthly charges. Brief announcement by Apple has also been done, encouraging application sellers to employ the Transporter tool and discussing Mac addresses in iOS7 while registered developers are now informed that they can use Transporter to deliver localized App Store metadata in bulk.

Transporter – Good Performer

Transporter at $199, is an internet connected 500 GB hard drive which helps users to set up their own private cloud providing access from desktop and mobile with the help of dedicated iOS app, with Dedicated Data adding Dropbox inspired Camera upload feature to the app enabling it to automatically send contents to iOS Photos app over to Transporter. On the other hand, Transporter Sync at $99 is a hockey pucked-sized device which users can attach to external HDD to achieve a similar setup. The Transporter Sync enables the user to use the unused spared hard drive if available into a private cloud, much under $100. The Transporter though not super fast while trying to upload data, is a good performance when the need to access data arises. It is also easy to use as Dropbox while replicating data across location and is far quite cheaper.

Transporter correctly format XML file and locate app metadata 

Being an Apple developed command line delivery tool, the Transporter can also be used to deploy screenshots, rights, pricing and much more. Moreover, the tool can also locate app metadata and correctly format the XML file and developers intending to employ the tool could download the Transporter user guide. The tool can also find app metadata to correctly format the XML file. Developers looking to employ the tool are encouraged to download the Transporter User Guide. Connected Data had also reported that the initial partners for the Transporter developer program will be Smile’s PDFpen for iPad and Readdle’s Scanner Pro who will be receiving updates adding Transporter’s platform as a sync option. Besides these, PrintCentral, hopTo and Trial Pad are also among Connected Data’s partners for the new developer program.

Transporter, a Seamless way to Privately Share, Store, Access

The new program would also be offering consumers as well as businesses, a seamless way to privately share, store as well as access files from any devices, from their favorite applications. Transporter was designed to deliver great experience which users can expect from the cloud native Finder – Explorer integration, automatic sync which can be accessed from anywhere with unlimited sharing without the need of the privacy concerns. Its ecosystem covers millions of users who would be interested in private storage alternative and by integrating the app with Transporter, users can reach a huge growing audience and get a great deal of Transporter experience.

Connected Data Updates 4-Bay Drobo Storage System

4 Bay Storage Devices with Enhanced Support

Connected Data, recently announced that Drobo Gen3, the next generation 4 bay storage devices, a new feature concurrent with its release of the new array, is much faster and cheaper than the previous Drobo models. Its enhanced support also features Apple’s Time Machine backups and Mac owners can now avail the improved Time Machine support in the Drobo Gen3 wherein instead of using an entire drive for Time Machine, they can now maximize their data storage space by way of allocating a fixed amount of capacity for their Time Machine derived backups. If the Drobo array is connected to the favorite Mac and used for Time Machine backup, the backups would take up the entire capacity of the array. It is now possible to set aside part of the total capacity of the Drobo array and work with Time Machine making provision for additional capacity for daily storage.

Drobo’s BeyondRAID Protect Data From Hard Disk

The Drobo 4-bay sports a pair of USB 3.0 ports, priced at US$349 for bare box which can begin filling with any 3.5” SATA II/III drives that one may have. Drobo’s BeyondRAID technology enables the user to mix and match drives in order to start off with smaller drives and change them with higher capacity drives according to their choice. The Drobo is the latest generation storing device and holds true to its design and simplicity making it the most favored desktop storage and protection data solution. Drobe’s BeyondRAID storage technology protects data from hard disk crash which is simple for any user to operate and no expertise is needed to ensure that the data is safe and protected. As long as there is more than a single disk in Drobo, all data on Drobo can be safe even if any of the hard disk tends to fail. Drobo is the easiest array anyone can manage wherein if a drive fails, all that needs to be done is to slid it out and plug in a new one without any tools. Drobo utilizes simple form of thin provisioning enabling the OS in believing it has more capacity than it does and when a larger drive is added the need to reformat and reload your data is not needed.

Dual Failure Protection

Besides this, the new Drobo also features a redesigned architecture with improved speed which is about three times faster than the prevailing ones and array rebuild times which is four times faster than before. Moreover the company has also provided battery backup, giving the new entry more protection from power problems by temporarily storing in progress transactions till the power gets restored. Consumers can opt for dual failure protection, which can reduce the total capacity though it would mean two drives which may tend to fail but with the data safe, this feature could be helpful. Current Drobo owners interesting in migrating to the new device can avail the company’s offer of $50 discount while purchasing the new Drobo through the company’s online store. This deal would be available through June 9, 2014 on sales made through their stores as well as some authorized resellers and the devices will be shipped in late April.

Apple’s GT Advanced Sapphire Plant

Apple is progressing in building its manufacturing presence in the US, its new plant in Mesa, Arizona and the GT Advanced Sapphire plant, a large nondescript building seems to reach completion with AppleInsider receiving a batch of photos showing the recent progress. It was stated that the construction personnel have been working round the clock and mostly at weekends in order to get the job completed by June this year. The documents filed with the US International Trade Administration in January has revealed Apple’s `go live', focused date was somewhere in February and the plant would probably be partially active as the construction reaches completion. It is said that the Apple GT Advanced factory under the code name Project Cascade is responsible in the production of a new sapphire part which is bound for consumer Apple device while some speculate that the component will be either a replacement part for the current hardware like the iPhone screen or could be something new.

Powered by Renewable Energy

It is rumored that around the local electrical industry in Arizona, Apple could be going in for a project expansion into a building on the site which was previously owned by photovoltaic panel maker First Solar and the purpose of the support structure is yet unknown. The project will make provision to bring around 2,000 local jobs and the building will be completely powered by renewable energy. Apple uses sapphire which is an incredible and a durable material which has been used in small parts of the iPhone, the protective glass over the camera sensor and the Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 5s is made of sapphire as well. This sapphire glass will be made at the Mesa plant together with GT Advanced Technologies.

Manufacturing Equipments by GT

It is reported that the Arizona Governor, Janice Brewer stated that `Apple is indisputably one of the world’s most innovative companies and that he is thrilled to welcome them to Arizona. He further states that Apple will have an incredibly positive economic impact for Arizona and its decision to locate here speaks volumes about the friendly, pro-business climate that has been created for the past four years. Their investment in renewable energy will also be greening their power grid and create significant new solar and geothermal power sources for the state’. GT Technologies will also be providing all the manufacturing equipment per a multi-year agreement to Apple and when the facility is up and running it would be providing around seven hundred jobs.

Sapphire Glass – Key Component for Future Devices

Apple’s interest in sapphire glass indicates that it could be more of a key component for the future devices. Touch ID would eventually make its way to iPad and then there could be the possibility of Apple switching to sapphire display. Sapphire being a highly durable glass could also be a best for choice for wearable. According to a statement made by spokeswoman, Kristin Huguet to AllThingsD, she states that they are proud to expand their domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction and that this new plant will make components for Apple products which will run on 100% renewable energy from the very first day.

New Apple TV

Apple’s New Device with Quick Processor

It is reported by Bloomberg, that Apple had held negotiation meeting with Time Warner Cable somewhere in the middle of last year along with other potential partners for video content and an agreement with Time Warner Cable could probably mark the first deal with a satellite or cable company. The new device will be a successor to the current Apple TV which is in the process of testing and is likely to be announced towards April for sale by Christmas, it was reported. It would be a set top box instead of the full fledged TV set and that the product would include revamped operating system in line with iOS. It is also said that the new device which plugs into a television set would have a quick processor unlike the earlier version with an upgraded interface enabling people to navigate between TV shows, movies, together with other online content. The Time Warner deal would enable Apple TV customers with a wider choice of live TV channels while at the moment customers can access only a limited number of individual channel apps some of which worth mention are ESPN, HBO, ABC, PBS, Bloomberg TV, Disney, etc.

Time Warner Deal to be Finalized Soon

According to Apple Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, he states that the year would be full of new production introduction. It is also reported that Time Warner who had been in talks with Apple for over a year now would be willing to hand over the reins of the customer facing user interface to Apple and that the deal would be finalized very soon. Apple who is aiming to make the device available for sale by the time Christmas approaches is a bit uncertain on the release date since the company is still in the process of securing new agreements with programming together with distribution partners, which was anonymously stated.

New Apple TV with Added Support for Apps

With reference to a new Apple TV hardware which was discovered earlier this week, in a recent release of iOS 7, rumors indicated that a new Apple TV would now see added support for apps as well as Bluetooth game controllers in the forthcoming months. Towards the end of January, Apple TV had received new prominence on the Apple Online Store with suggestions that the platform could be developed into more than just a hobby. The long delay between introduction of the new entry and its launch is something which Apple is capable of handling as it is a known fact that Apple prefers to announce and release products in a short period of time. As Apple has been developing the new strategy for Apple TV, these past few years, there are issues as well as legalities relating in establishing partnerships with the movies and television distribution companies which it seems may make this venture of Apple TV content experience not much of a difference from the current and past Apple TV models. Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, showed big ambition for the television issue while speaking to Walter Isaacson. We need to wait and watch of what lies in store with the launch of Apple’s new entry. Do visit Macmyth for updated information on Apple News.

Apple Intending to Update its Library of Emojis

Apple, Google and Microsoft together with other tech firms design their own versions of their 800 basic emoji characters and how they ought to appear. Apple it was reported has vowed that it will now update its library of emoticons and smileys called emojis to fill the diversity gap after the complaints of celebrities about the cartoon emoticons lacking diversity which was conveyed through email by MTV Act blogger Joey Parker to Apple CEO Tim Cook and received a reply from Katie Cotton, Apple’s Vice President of worldwide corporate communication, stating that their emoji characters were based on the Unicode standard which was necessary for them to be displayed properly across many platforms with a need of more diversity in the emoji character set and that they have been working closely with the Unicode Consortium in an effort to update their standard’. Cotton though did not make a mention on when Apple intends to update its emojis.

More Ethnic Diversity in Range of Emoji

Apple it was said wants more ethnic diversity in the basic range of emoji that are available to text messaging apps, adding that it was operating the body responsible in deciding the range of standard graphic symbols which could be added to text messages. Presently the characters have dozens of faces of people which appear white though only two of the symbols are said to be Asian and none are black. A list had been developed and maintained since 2010 by the Unicode Consortium, a Silicon Valley based nonprofit organization consisting of major computer firms, software producers, user groups and several others to ensure that different devices and mobile carriers can altogether share a basic set. Emojis which are based on a Unicode character set allow them to be displayed across platforms where the changes or any type of addition to these characters need to go through the Unicode Consortium.

Emojis – Text with Expressive Power

Apple’s emojis depict a variety of objects, moods together with people including art for LGNT couples some of which was included in its last update. Several users have observed lack of diversity with regards to emojis especially African-Americans. The fact that emoji had become popular first in Japan; the current list of Unicode has only two Asian people; a man with a turban and a man with Gua Pi Mao which is a type of a Chinese hat. Broadcaster had approached the company after the petition had been posted informing Apple to increase the ethnic diversity which was found within its emojis keyboard. It was stated that the keyboard has already offered a graphic which shows a same sex couple and informed the company to present people with skin tone on a wider range. An Oxford University research, Bernie Hogan has been studying the use of emoji as a part of his research on how the users represent themselves on the internet. According to him it seemed to be a trivial problem since many device owners were now more reliant on the tool stating the emoji existed first and foremost as a purpose to augment text with expressive power and if they restrict the sort of people who are used in the images it may restrict the expressive power of the user and would not feel that emoji speak for them.