Another Report that the Next iPhone is Already in Production in China

Digitimes seemingly confirms a previous report that the next generation iPhone has already started production in China.

Pegatron has begun production of a new version of the Apple iPhone at its factory in Shanghai, eastern China, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

The newspaper cites "industry sources" for the knowledge.

Earlier this month, Japanese blog Macotakara first reported that the next generation iPhone had already gone into production. These reports do somewhat conflict with a BGR report that the next generation iPhone is still in an engineering verification test. BGR believes that the new iPhone will carry 1GB of RAM as well as both LTE and NFC support. Regardless, it seems there are ongoing signs that the next iPhone is approaching. 

The next generation iPhone will likely launch in the September or October -- approximately one year after the launch of the iPhone 4S.

[Source: MacRumors]

The Canon EOS M Mirrorless is Here (almost)

Canon has announced their entry into the mirrorless camera market with the EOS M, due to be available around October 2012.

"An 18-megapixel interchangeable-lens compact system camera small enough to take anywhere. Enjoy simple creative controls and superb low-light performance for stunning images."

It sports a nice compact body and a large APS-C sized sensor. From what I have seen online, it does look like a bit too much plastic and not enough metal has been used, so I just hope the build quality is as good as the camera actually looks… which is very sexy.

"The EOS M keeps performing at its best, even when light levels get low. Hybrid autofocus ensures pin-sharp photographs and evaluative exposure metering picks the most appropriate shutter speed and aperture. Shoot hand-held pictures in low-light conditions without using flash or a tripod, thanks to a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800 (expandable to ISO 25,600)."

Alongside there are also two lenses, a 22mm and an 18-55mm, both of which are dedicated to the EOS-M line, but also use the recently introduced STM (stepper motor) which uses the new phase detect AF for improved focus during video use. There is also a new dedicated flash and an EF/EF-S lens adapter, so you can use your existing canon lenses.

Keep an eye on Geekanoids for the full review when this becomes available.

Qantas will equip some planes with iPads later this year

Australian airline Qantas has followed the lead of some other airlines in cutting traditional in-flight entertainment systems in favor of tablets. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2012, selected Boeing 767 planes will include an iPad in every seat. Unlike other airlines, which generally choose to pre-load content, Qantus will give customers streaming access to 200 hours of audio and television, using an in-flight wireless system it's been testing since early this year. Qantas says that one plane is already fitted with the iPads, and The Canberra Times reports it will be expanded mostly on domestic east coast flights and flights to Perth.

As with Scoot and Alitalia, Qantas is likely making the change in part for a very practical reason: fuel savings. Removing bulky entertainment systems can significantly cut the weight of an aircraft, making it more efficient. For now, most of these companies are phasing in tablets gradually, but it's becoming less unusual to see them adopted.

[Source: TheVerge]

Retina MacBook Pro Shipping Speeds Up

Just a little over a week since shipping estimates for new Retina MacBook Pro orders through Apple's online store saw their first improvement from 3-4 weeks to 2-3 weeks, timeframes have again been reduced. As with the previous improvement, the change has first appeared in Apple's Asia-Pacific markets, which have seen shipping estimates drop to 1-2 weeks.

Shipping estimates in Apple's other main distribution regions of the Americas and Europe/Middle East/Africa are holding steady at 2-3 weeks for the time being, but they will almost certainly see similar drops to the 1-2 week timeframe in the very near future.

Shipping estimates for the Retina MacBook Pro peaked at 3-4 weeks roughly 36 hours after the models were unveiled at last month's Worldwide Developers Conference, with estimates remaining at that level until last week's drop to 2-3 weeks. Availability at other online and brick-and-mortar retailers is also improving, in many cases beating Apple's online store estimates for stock models, but the company's online store is the primary source for customized orders. 

Update: Estimates in Apple's online stores in the Americas have also moved to 1-2 weeks.

Note: The speed of delivery remains at 2-3 weeks in the UK & others parts of Europe.

[Source: MacRumors]

Google Acquires Sparrow

The GMail app we all grew to love has now moved homes. Sparrow has been bought up by the powers-that-be at Google HQ. Things will continue, but will we see development halt on the Mac app as we know it? I think so.

The following quote is from the company website.

"We're excited to announce that Sparrow has been acquired by Google! We care a lot about how people communicate, and we did our best to provide you with the most intuitive and pleasurable mailing experience.

Now we're joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google. We’d like to extend a special thanks to all of our users who have supported us, advised us, given us priceless feedback and allowed us to build a better mail application. While we’ll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users.

We had an amazing ride and can't thank you enough.

Full speed ahead!" [Quote Dom Leca, CEO, Sparrow]

Evernote updates Safari browser extension

Evernote has added a heap of new features to its Safari extension, all of which should appeal to power users. The big change is that when you add a web page, it will automatically attempt to file your clipping into the tags and notebooks you've already set up —ex. if you clip a recipe, Evernote might be able to guess that you'd like it in your cookbook notebook — and now if that notebook happens to be shared, it will actually work. Evernote will also attempt to automatically detect which portion of the page's content you're interested in. Lastly, Evernote inserts itself into your Google searches, adding a link to the top of the results page that points back to your own account. You can add the new web clipper by going to this page in Safari.

[Source: TheVerge]

Glopho launches the world’s first social network for news photos

Today sees the launch of Glopho, a unique online photo-sharing service designed specifically to allow anyone to “make the news” with the pictures they take. Now the millions of people with a camera in their pocket, budding amateur photographers or seasoned professionals can all share the moments they capture and the crowd can decide what is news.
 
The riots, the Royal procession or the dog on a skateboard; any photo can be easily and immediately shared via the Glopho website and mobile apps and then onwards through Facebook, Twitter or other social channels. Glopho is completely free to use and takes ‘citizen photo-journalism’ to new levels by introducing unique crowd-sourcing and news curation elements to photo-sharing.
 
Glopho is complementary to existing social networks.  It allows everyone to easily share the pictures they take not just with their friends and family, but with the wider world.  Users can follow their favourite photographers and their friends to see all the news they share, every day.
 
The Glopho website shows photos in a rolling format in simple category windows - Reality, Locality and Celebrity – alongside the Users’ Choice, Editor’s Choice and Latest images.  Pictures carry the photographer’s own description to explain the ‘what, where and when’ and can be tagged to make them easy to find.  Users can personalise their homepage to show their own photos and those of their friends, as well as the other photographers they follow.
 
Glopho apps are available in both iPhone and Android versions to make it even easier for people to post their pictures and enjoy looking at Glopho while on the go. Those using digital cameras rather than smartphones can upload their pictures via their computer or laptop.
 
Founder and CEO of Glopho, Simon Walker, said:
 
“I have believed for some time that we are all now news photographers and just need an easy and effective way to share with the outside world the pictures we take each day. News is happening all around us and, more than ever, we are well-equipped to capture those moments digitally.  The explosion of social media has also given us, both as individuals and collectively, a bigger voice than ever.  Glopho harnesses these phenomena and provides the perfect space to share what we witness and decide together what we call news.”              
 
Glopho is the brainchild of award-winning photojournalist and picture editor Simon Walker, now founder and CEO of Glopho.  The idea and the business he has created has been developed over the last two years. Thorough Beta testing has allowed iterative development and the creation of the current proposition which is launched fully to the public today. Further developments including new features and improved app usability are scheduled to be released over the next 2 months, with releases planned for every 2-3 weeks.
 
Glopho’s revenue model will see it earning money in two ways.  Firstly, from advertisers paying to launch their own ‘premium galleries’, allowing them to get greater value from increasingly content-led social marketing strategies.  Secondly, Glopho will take a share of the fees earned by photographers when pictures are sold to news and other outlets wanting to use any images from the site.
 
In its recent first round of funding, Glopho closed an SEIS-eligible round of £150k, corner-stoned by a London Business Angels Network syndicate, and joined by a number of other experienced private investors.
 
Glopho is run by a top flight management team of experienced senior professionals including founder Simon Walker (CEO), Erik Wenngren (Chairman), James Serjeant (CFO), Richard Ireland (CMO) and Karl Knoflach (CTO). 

TRENDnet® Ships World’s Smallest Powerline Networking Adapter

TRENDnet’s Smallest Ever 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter Networks Computers, Media Players, and Televisions to the Internet using Existing Electrical Lines

LONDON, UK. – July 17, 2012– TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, announces today the availability of the 500 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit, model TPL-406E2K, which comes with two TPL-406E powerline adapters. These high performance 500 Mbps adapters are fifty percent smaller than the average 500 Mbps adapter.

New media center devices such as Internet televisions, digital video recorders (DVRs), receivers, and game consoles are capable of streaming large HD files directly from the Internet. TRENDnet's ground breaking TPL-406E2K connects all of these devices to the Internet using existing electrical lines.

Network one adapter to a router and plug the other adapter into any outlet on the same electrical system for instant high speed network access. Different TRENDnet adapters automatically connect to each other over a secure encrypted signal with no CD installation required. For additional security, press the Sync button to change existing encryption keys. Embedded power saving technology lowers power consumption by up to 70% in standby mode—resulting in measurable power savings, given that the adapters are always plugged in.

“The combination of 500 Mbps speeds, a small form factor, and a reduced price point redefines the 500 Mbps Powerline category,” stated Zak Wood, Director of Global Marketing. “Consumers considering Powerline solutions will notice the TPL-406E2K.”

Product information:

TPL-406E2K Availability: Will be shipping to TRENDnet’s UK online and retail partners in August.

TPL-406E2K MSRP: £69.99

Microsoft takes steps to drown Google Apps before it's too late

 Microsoft might be a little more scared of Google Apps for Business than it's publicly letting on, according to a new report.

The software giant has, over the last several months, made several moves to stop enterprise customers from adopting Google Apps, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reported on those decisions today. Microsoft has cut pricing on its cloud-based alternative, Office 365, as well as increased commissions it pays to resellers to make the prospect of switching to Google's service less palatable.

According to the Journal, Microsoft has established a "Google Compete" team designed solely to stop its current Office customers from switching to Google Apps. The Compete team's practices weren't fully detailed by the Journal, but in one case, the members tried wooing a major company by inviting executives to Microsoft's Redmond headquarters and showing off product road maps.

In the end, however, the company, Dominion Enterprises, ditched its $2-million-a-year contract with Microsoft to go with Google Apps. Dominion now pays $200,000 a year for Google Apps.

Google's product suite, which includes e-mail, documents, and collaboration tools, is taking advantage of the growing importance of the cloud to appeal to customers. Although Microsoft has historically gone to the desktop with its productivity tools, the company also has Office 365, an offering that puts its many services, including Office apps and e-mail, in the cloud for corporate users.

Despite Microsoft's issues with Google Apps, the software giant is touting Office 365's success. Just last week, in fact, Microsoft said that Office 365 is on track to surpass SharePoint as its fastest-selling enterprise product ever. In addition, the company said that Office 365 is viewed as so important to its enterprise future that Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, said he will personally intervene in order to make a deal happen.

It's possible that Office might become the focal point of a press event Microsoft is holding later on today in San Francisco, but so far, the company hasn't tipped its hand. CNET will be there with a live blog to ensure you don't miss any of the news coming out of the event.

CNET has contacted Microsoft for comment on the Journal's report. We will update this story when we have more information.

Source: CNET

2012 iPhone's maybe-finished front appears with center camera, may straighten our FaceTime chats

 A claimed test sample of the 2012 iPhone's complete body has already made the rounds, but it was using a rough front panel that wasn't supposed to be wholly representative of the finished work. Frequent part leaker Apple.pro has uncovered a sample which might be closer to the real deal: the white example shows the space for the taller screen that we've come to know, just with a conspicuously shifted FaceTime camera that now sits above the speaker. It's a small change, but it suggests Apple is going for much more of a family resemblance this time around -- a previously claimed 2012 iPod touch panel was merging the fourth-generation iPod's already centered camera with the taller display. While there's still room for this to be a creative fake or an interim design, the consistency hints that Cupertino is keen to shake things up a bit for the iPhone's fifth birthday.

Source: Engadget

BBC Digital Earning BIG Bucks

Seems like the British Broadcasting Corporation has finaly started to understand digital media. According to Techcrunch, the BBC now has 25 million app downloads which account for 13% of its revenue.

"Those VOD downloads, the BBC says, were triple this year compared to the year before, with sales coming not just from over-the-top providers like Netflix, but also “established broadcasters,” a sign of how these older companies will not go gently into the night as Netflix continues its download march, with an increasing shift of viewing time on its service dedicated to TV shows rather than films (a trend that would play into the hand of BBC Worldwide, which has a far greater catalog of TV shows than it does feature films)."

Nexus 7 Stupid Hard to Unbox

This video is so so funny… seems that the Google Nexus 7 is in the hands of many, but takes a LOT of extra effort to actually get in your hands. Check out the video to see exactly what people are having to go through.