Dongle Dilemma Provokes Apple Price Cut

Apple has started a war against the connectivity ports a long time ago. This was first seen with the removal of headphone jack from the iPhone 7 but it has been going a grander scale along its range of devices. Apple is now gearing towards removing not just SD card port but also the full size USB port and HDMI port form its computer devices it order manufacture more sleeker and slimmer devices. All the users will have to make use of legacy connector in upcoming future as Apple will bring a new smaller USB-C port into the play. Apple has stated that a large number of users which basically comprises of the professionals rely on the legacy connectors for day-to-day activities.

Apple aims towards helping the consumers move towards latest technology and gadget which can help in improving the efficiency of the device as well as user. Apple will help users in getting access to these great legacy dongles and adapter through dropping the price until the end of this year.

Apple offers huge discounts of Dongles

The most popular adapter at the moment is the USB to USB-C adapter which comes at a price of $19 but it will be offered at a price of just $9. All the users will latest or older version of the iPhone will need to buy the lightening to USB dongle at price of $19 or they will have to use an old Lightning to USB cable with the above mentioned adapter. It does sound like a night mare for the consumers but eventually it will be helpful for the users in the end.

Competitors are closing in on Apple

In the last decade we had seen a trend has emerged in which other follows the lead of Apple. Whatever Apple does and brings to its devices is simply followed by its competitors. Apple has done away with the Ethernet ports as well as DVD DRIVE on its MacBook and this decision was criticized both by the critics and the fans. But with time people changed their habit and it didn’t matter anymore. In similar fashion we are looking at the gradual eradication of the USB 2.0 ports from the Smartphone. Now majority device across the product segments comes with USB Type-C and there is no question we will be living a dongle-less time in upcoming years.

It is worth noting that in past few years there are no new products from the Apple. Apple is reaping benefits by releasing upgraded version of its popular range of devices across the products segments. This has left a number of wondering whether Apple will be bringing any new device or not. Unser the Tim Cook tenure Apple has invested hugely in furthering the research and development but there have been no reports on what Apple is actually working upon. This has even caused anxiety among the investor which were subdued by the Cook through stating that Apple has a number of products in the pipeline which will help in turning the fortune in near future.

Apple Drops Iconic Mac Start Up Sound from New MacBook Pro

Apple’s New MacBook Pro – No Power Button

Since 1998 Apple computers have been instantly recognized and unchanged though with the release of the new MacBook Pro recently, which has no power button and tends to turn on automatically when it is opened, possibly making the start-up sound old-fashioned. It does not seem to be the traditional USB port and Apple had done away with the iconic sound which the laptops tend to make when it starts up.

The chime which is a fading F sharp chord has been utilised on all Mac since the iMac G3. An FAQ page with details of Mac computers portrays troubleshooting instructions for the latest MacBooks, without any mention of the start-up sound.The new laptops of Apple feature a new touchscreen - `Touch Bar’ which is above the keyboard and Touch ID fingerprint recognition.

The same is said to be released somewhere in mid-November. Though the exclusion of the start-up chime will be approved by some who tend to open their laptops loudly during meetings and classrooms, it seems to mark the end of a computing tradition. Since 1984, Macs had been having a start-up sound which was envisioned to be a reassuring sign that the computer has been operating normally.

Start-up on Opening/Plugged in

The present chime tends to be the same since 1998 though is a modified version of the sound that had been utilised since the Quadra 840AV of 1993. The sound is said to be the creation of an engineer at the company who had played it on a Korg synthesizer. The original chord that Reeks mentioned had been inspired by the final chord in The Beatles - `A Day In The Life’ which had been raised in 1998, from C Major for the iMac G3. Besides the ports which did not make the cut, Apple has taken away from its new MacBook Pro family, the start-up chime, which has been consigned to history.

The new MacBook would now not be blaring out when it is opened up in public places or between meetings. As per Apple, the automatic start-up kicks in when one tends to start-up the MacBook Pro on opening it or plugging it in, on connecting it to power when the lid is open and also when it is closed, if it is connected to the machine to an external display.

Most Iconic Thing Taken Away

Pingie observing the change in the support notes of Apple informed that it brings the MacBook series in line with the rest of the Apple product family and there is no start-up noise on iPhone, iPad or the Apple Watch. With the release of the new MacBook, it appears that the noise which had arrived with the iMac G3 during the late 90s is now on its way out.

The new computer does not make any sound when it has been turned on and this probably makes some sense that it tends to turn on each time it is opened. This also means that it has taken away one of the most iconic things regarding Macs.

The start-up sound could be one of the oldest things which is eliminated from the new computer. The company has also done away with its popular MagSafe charging technology together with the other ports and has included new features such as the touchscreen in the keyboard.

Apple Patent Reveals Latest Foldable iPhone Concept

The mobile phone giant, Apple, is recognized as the most versatile mobile phone manufacturing company in the world and has been patronized by billion of users, across the world. The Newer concept, design, technology, look are some of the fascinating issues, which made this company the most popular and the front runner in this segment of business.

Since the inception, Apple, under the guidance and leadership of Steve Jobs and even after his sad demise; the company is having the most inspiring growth rate, which is really an issue of great value. Apple was trying since 2013 to develop a foldable mobile phone device, which could be the breakthrough in the entire mobile segment and helpful for the company to gain a formidable market share.

Now after three years, the company is awarded a new patent, which confirms the rumor about the company of development of foldable mobile phone, a reality now. Although, company, like Samsung, is also trying to develop such a device for past few years, but till date, they are not been able to get the breakthrough.

The Breakthrough

It can be noted that the filing was done, for the patent, on August 28, 2016, but the award is been given only now. Though the rumors were there in the market for the last few years that some of the leading manufacturers, including Apple and Samsung, are trying to develop the foldable mobile phone and a tough fight was going on amongst these developers to get the feat of the pioneer in this unique segment.

It can also be noted in this regard; Samsung has developed the foldable mobile phone as concept phones but didn’t go for the commercial production and not tried to sell the same in the market, therefore, Apple could be the first organization, who will produce and sell the foldable devices. Some of the characteristics of this foldable mobile phone of the Apple, which are mentioned in the patent, are as follows:

•  The most interesting part of the foldable iPhone is the precise description of materials, those are being used in the future manufacturing; glass, fibre, ceramic, plastic or aluminum, which are the premium in nature and not very different from the ongoing trend of the manufacturing process. 
•  So far the technology is concerned; the Conductive Carbon Nanotube conduits will form the signal paths, which are flexible in nature and able to provide adequate resistance to cracking of the devices. The use of this Carbon Nanotubes can be incorporated into the signal tubes, such as:  
• Circuit cables with flexible printing; 
•  Circuit boards with rigid printing; 
•  In Printed circuits; include the rigid portions with the flexible tails, which also referred to as the “rigid Flex”; 
•  Portions of the display structures, in general; 
•  Portions of the touch sensors, for instance; arrays of capacitive touch sensor for the displays or track pads;
• Antenna structures;Camera structures;Housing walls and structures; 
• Electrical components; 
• Internal device structure; 
• Substrates and Brackets etc.

Foxconn Tests Wireless Charging for iPhone 8

It has just few weeks since Apple has launched the iPhone 7 which has left a number of fans and critics unhappy with the end product. Still that has not made any dent in the Apple’s iPhone sales which is going off the shelves within a week of its launch at varied markets across the globe. A slew of rumors have started circulating about iPhone 8 and one of which proudly proclaims that it will feature an advanced wireless charging capability. One of the main manufacturing partners of Apple namely Foxconn is effectively working on developing wireless charging modules for the next year’s iPhone iteration.

Apple isn’t the first OEM to experiment with wireless charging

Wireless charging isn’t a bright new concept or other OEMs have not experimented with it at all. Rather it was the Samsung which first brought the wireless charging support in the flagship devices just a few years ago. But given the fact that this will be the first time that iPhone will feature the wireless charging support has helped in creating a buzz among the fans and critics. Among the range of Apple products only Apple Watch has so far made use of the wireless charging technology. It is worth noting that Apple has been hiring a number of engineers right from the wireless charging technologies in order to bring a more secured and effective wireless charging capability to its range of devices.

Foxconn on other hand tried to subdue the rumors by stating that it has already strated manufacturing the wireless charging modules for iPhone 8 but it shouldn’t be taken as a sign it will be brought right into the commercial version of the device. The possible inclusion of the wireless charging capability to the iPhone will depend upon the rate at which Foxconn can increase its yield or wireless charging itself works in the most user friendly manner.

Apple will release an OLED-based iPhone next year

Several reports have emerged in the past couple of months which has hinted towards the possible utilization of OLED based display for upcoming iPhone. These reports have stated in detail that front face of the device will be covered in glass which will allow users to tap even around the screen. The Touch ID finger print sensor will be placed right below the display screen or in simple words it will be artistically baked into the glass.

No confirmation has been made by the Apple regarding the possible use of OLED panels in iPhone 8. But the president of Sharp has accidently leaked this by speaking with the students at the Tating University where he specifically mentioned that even iPhone is moving towards OLED panels. However he didn’t say whether Apple is buying its OLED panels or not for the iPhone 8. Bringing OLED screen to the iPhone will not just bring a better and brighter display to the consumers but it also help in keeping the device sleek and slim.

Three New Apple Tablets Kicking Off 2017

Apples’ Three iPad Pro Options

Apple is said to end the year with its restored MacBook Pro 2016 line that will probably kick off with the iPad Pro in 2017. But many have been speculating on how many tablets the Cupertino Company would be releasing. According to recent reports there would be three iPad Pro options that would be coming up.

According to a report from Mac Otakara, they would comprise of the 7.9-inch iPad Pro Mini, a 10.1-inch alternate, the largest of the collection and the 12.9-inch. The iPad Mini Pro or iPad Mini 5 would probably come with the lowest specs which includes an A9X chip supported by 3 GB RAM and 32 to 256 GB of internal storage.

Besides this it would also have an 8MP main camera together with a front facing camera of 1.2 MP. With regards to batteries there are numerous reports stating that its power could rely on the complete design. If it tends to be much thinner, the battery could be lower than the earlier 5,140 mAh battery utilised on iPad 4 as claimed by Mac World UK.

The next in line, the 10.1-inch iPad Pro would have a score up as a likely A10x chip with some minor (to none) repetition in cameras and RAM. The largest batch is said to be anticipated in aiming at commercial together with educational usage.

iPads Much Thinner

Slash Gear has reported, taking into consideration the trend linked with the removal of the 3.5 mm (headphone) jack, that it would yet be around for the iPad Pro alternatives in 2017.This is irrespective of the prospects that Apple would be pushing its new AirPods which would be utilised wirelessly – Bluetooth.

 For Apple, 2017 would be a big year as they kick the year off with their new line of product on tablets. With regards to pricing, nothing has been revealed though the line would be out by spring time. The 10.1-inch iPad Pro as well as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 would come with the same features with the exception of the main chipset.

The two iPad options with larger possibility would probably turn to an A10x chip together with more features. All the three iPads are expected to be much thinner bringing up the state of the 3.5 mm jack.The supposed iPad Air 3 would come with more choices of colours comprising of Rose Gold, the usual white together with a Black option.

Economical Gadget

The Cupertino based tech firm intends to debut an improved option for their tablets with regards to pricing taking into consideration the need to kick-start the sales of the tablets which had been withering away over the past few years.

 Though it had not been confirmed officially, as per a report by Reporter Times it is said that the device would be revealed as an economical gadget in the range of £300 to £400. It would be put on the market at around £400 if it is released this year.

 The price is anticipated to be reduced if it is released in 2017. Apple seems to be tight lipped regarding the rumours and has neither denied nor confirmed them. Readers have been advised to take this unconfirmed information with a grain of salt.