Saturday, August 13, 2011

The iPhone 5 News Blog News Feed

The iPhone 5 News Blog News Feed

Rumored Apple iPhone 5 Pico Projector Patent Channels the SixthSense Concept Device

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 08:56 AM PDT


iphone 5 sixthsense copy

A rendering of an iPhone 6 concept that is quite similar to the SixthSense device.

The tech community is raising its eyebrows over a recently filed Apple patent that shows detailed specs for a pico projector that could end up on the iPhone 5. But is Apple ripping off next-generation mobile device concepts like the SixthSense? 

As the iPhone release inches ever-closer, and with the announcement month seemingly decided to be Septemeber, iPhone enthusiasts are shifting their attention once again to what to expect on the next iPhone in terms of new features. Much has been made about the name of the next iPhone — whether it will be the iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPhone 4Gs, or some other permutation — since the name of the next iPhone is likely to denote whether or not it is a simple refresh of the iPhone 4 or groundbreaking revamp worthy of the “iPhone 5″ moniker.

Another prevailing concern is that the iPhone 5 (or whatever name it is given), which will ostensibly be the flagship device for the iOS 5, will turn out to offer very few new, novel features that have not already found their way onto the Android OS.

It is for these reasons that the tech community has recently embraced hopes of a novel, new feature that has been virtually ignored until this week: the addition of a “pico projector” onto the iPhone 5. According to Patently Apple, Apple filed a detailed patent for an onboard pico projector for the iPhone and similar mobile-styled devices. MacRumors followed up on this story by noting Apple recently purchased the domain name applepico.com.

You can read more about this story here on the iPhone 5 News Ticker.

sixthsense

Pranav Mistry's SixthSense device

While we have observed that patents typically take a year ow more to find their way into production, Apple Patents believes that the level of detail in this patents suggests that Apple may be ready to roll out a pico projector for the iPhone 5. We are inclined to believe that it may be a more likely technology for the iPhone 6.

But before you get excited about this new feature as something completely unique and novel, it’s important to note that, once again, Android has already tested the waters with onboard pico projectors. The Independent notes that “Apple is not the first company to try integrating pico projectors into its smartphones. Samsung showed off an Android smartphone called the Galaxy Beam back in 2010, LG strapped a projector accessory to the back of its LG Expo smartphone in 2009, and camera maker Nikon started shipping its Coolpix S100pj digital camera with a built-in 10 lumen LED pico projector during the same year.” On top of that, other elements of the patent suggest that Apple may be looking to steal the groundbreaking concept of an even more audacious concept device — the SixthSense.

In case you are unfamiliar with the SixthSense device, it is quite possibly the next-generation mobile device concept that could easily replace the laptop, tablet, and smartphone in one fell swoop. developed by M.I.T. prodigy Pranav Mistry, SixthSense is essentially the conflation of a compact CPU, digital camera, and pico projector. Rather than relying on a fixed touch screen, the SixthSense uses a pico projector to project the display onto virtually any surface: the pal of your hand, a wall, a piece of paper, or a desk. The camera will interpret gestures that you make against the projection of the screen so that you can manipulate it in 3D. The camera will also allow the CPU to detect certain media types — such as a newspaper — and project hyperlinks and video onto the paper itself to augment the story. Here is Pranav Mistry’s presentation of the SixthSense at TED:

 

The thing is, Apple’s pico projector patent includes a lot of what the SixthSense does. Patently Apple committed an entire section of their article on how the pico projector patent “even details how they’ll introduce advanced gesturing that will be able to interpret shadow and silhouette gesturing associated with presentations in a darkened environment.” They explain that “The electronic devices may include projectors for producing the projected displays, as well as cameras for detecting gestures made with respect to the projected displays.” While Patently Apple identifies that Apple began exploring this technology in 2010,

Pranav Mistry, however, made his SixthSense presentation in 2009, and had worked for years prior on combining gesture control with cameras and projector in a mobile device format.

Is Apple As Much of a Technological Trailblazer As We Hope To Believe?

The only reason why a story like this is even remotely interesting is that Apple is seen to be the purveyor of all things new in technology. They are believed to be the progenitors of vanguard inventions, with Steve Jobs as the closest thing this generation has to Thomas Edis0n or Leonardo da Vinci. Patently Apple‘s slogan says it all: “Celebrating Apple’s Spirit of Invention. They Imagine. They Explore. They Inspire and Invent.”

To be sure, Apple indeed has pioneered plenty of novel, new inventions that permeate the technology sector. Their recent patent victory over touch screens and gesture control could effectively put all of its rivals out of the smartphone and tablet race on that invention alone. However, we have seen time and time again the evidence that Apple isn’t always the first mover when it comes to something new and impressive. Often times, they are the ones who simply practicalize or perfect it, so that it goes from being a concept — such as with the SixthSense device — to a practical feature as is depicted in the new patent.

For many devoted Apple customers, their dedication to the brand and passion for following Apple’s every move is predicated on the notion that they are the best when it comes to developing leading technology. It remains to be seen if Cupertino can continue to obscure copying other peoples’ ideas in lieu of their own through deft marketing and the residual effect of Apple devotion. Perhaps a long-term winning strategy for Apple to market themselves more predominantly as the brand to beat in quality and performance, rather than having to continuously perform as the “Wonka Chocolate Factory” of technology.

iPhone 5 Delay Having Little Negative Effect On Global Sales, But iPhone 5 Rumors Can Precipitate Trade-In Value Decline

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:41 PM PDT


Gartner Group’s “Market Share: Mobile Communication Devices by Region and Country, 2Q11″ report says that in 2011′s second quarter, Apple’s iPhone sales continued to exceed expectations, notwithstanding widespread expectation that the iPhone 4 will soon be replaced by a new model. Gartner notes that part of iPhone’s sales growth came from the 42 new carriers and 15 new countries that began selling iPhones in 2Q’11, bringing its total coverage to 100 countries. This expansion caused iPhone inventory to grow a little by the end of the second quarter, when sales to end users stood at 19.6 million units. In mainland China’s massive market, Apple is now the seventh-largest mobile phone vendor and the third-largest smartphone vendor.

Market Share: Mobile Communication Devices by Region and Country, 2Q11 is available on Gartner’s website here.

Meanwhile, OrangePR’s Ashley Halberstadt tells me that while iPhone 5 speculation appears to be the world's new favorite sport, if you're looking to upgrade, that rumor mills’ output can have a negative impact on the value of your trade in. “The important thing to consider,” says Ashley, “is not when the iPhone 5 will be available, but at what point you should trade in your old model.”

To help consumers make an informed decision about the timing of their trade-in, consumer electronics upgrades and trade-ins specialist firm NextWorth has looked at and analyzed past announcements and corresponding trade-in values for trends.

The data show that trade-in values of previous phone models begin to drop even before the actual announcement of the new version. It stands to reason that this is a result of the influx of rumors surrounding the anticipated announcement. Older generations show a relatively smaller decline in value, but the overall result is that when trading in, sooner is better.

To help provide you a frame of reference as to what to expect with the iPhone 5 announcement, NextWorth has put together a chart showing the decline in trade-in value of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS surrounding the announcement and availability of the iPhone 4.

And speaking of trade-in value….

iPhone 4 Discounted To $170, Trade iPhone 3 For iPhone 4 For As Little As $19.99

Forbes and Laptop Mag are both reporting that RadioShack, which had already discounted the iPhone 4 last week, has slashed prices even deeper with a promotion that will run through August 20, to as low as $170 for the 16-gigabyte model, indicating that it’s clearing out inventory to prepare for the iPhone 5 (or whatever). Additionally, RadioShack customers who trade-in an existing iPhone 3G or 3GS can get an allowance under the Trade & Save Program of as much as $150 towards a new iPhone 4 purchase, Add in instant savings of $30 and you’ve effectively lowered the price of a new iPhone 4 to as low as $19.99.

However, note well LAPTOP Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer’s caveat that there's no guarantee that you'll get the full $150 off on top of the instant savings. It depends on the condition of the your iPhone 3G or 3GS you're trading.

Still, an iPhone 4 potentially for as little as $19.99 represents a pretty sweet value, whatever the imminent new iPhone is called, and it will run iOS 5 too.