iSmashPhone

New Apple Patent May Mean an Always On Display With Little Battery Power Cost

Apple has patented a new display technology that apparently will permit at least part of the iPhone's display to be on at all times with little cost to battery power.  The new display system, which is apparently being readied for future versions of the iPhone, will use a secondary lighting system located underneath the primary lighting system which will allow pixel icons or cut-out icons to be lit at all times.  The secondary lighting system will be low-power so that there will be very little battery draw down.  This will enable at least part of the display to be on at all times, even when the main display is off. 

But, frankly, all of this is guesswork based on Apple's patent application for the technology.  Patent applications are full of technical and legal jargon, so it's really anyone's guess as to how the specifics will pan out in reality.  But it does appear that something's up with making the display useful even when everything else is "off".  Any other guesses?

[via Gizmodo]

iPhone Software 2.2 Out on Friday! [Rumor]

iPhone/iPod touch 2.2 Software Review

We have heard reports that Apple intends to release the next software update for the iPhone, version 2.2,  coming Friday, November 21st.  We previously reported on some of the expected updates , but we now have a bit more info now that the big day is fast approaching: 

• Changes to the Safari interface and a new location for Google search
• A new Apple Store app with an interface for categories and the ability to “report a problem”
• Auto-correction toggle
• Japanese Emoji icons
• Google Street View, walking, and transit directions
• The ability to directly download podcasts

Do you think that maybe, just maybe, cut-and-paste will be included too?

Like the Opera Web Browser? Don't Expect It for Your iPhone!

The Opera Mini browser is one of the most popular apps for smartphones and cell phones—it is clearly head-and-shoulders above the various web browsers provided by wireless companies for most phones.  Users have come to love Opera Mini's adaptability to most web pages, its ability to give cell phone users a pretty good surfing experience, and features—such as a usable and extensive surfing history—which other browsers don't even come close to approaching.  You would think that it would make a superb app for the iPhone.

Well, think again.  Apple doesn't want you to have it.  Some software engineers at Opera began developing an iPhone version of Opera Mini, but they had to give up on the project when Opera executives determined that Apple's software licensing agreement for the iPhone prohibited use of the browser.  Why?  Apple doesn't want any competition with their Safari browser. 

Apple has always wanted to be known as a company that embraces innovation for its users.  Really?  Maybe they should give Microsoft a call to ask about their experience of trying to force Internet Explorer on every PC user.  Things didn't work out so well for Microsoft—the U.S. Department of Justice even opened a little anti-trust investigation over the matter. 

And maybe Apple should consider whether iPhone users that have choices are, in the end, happier than users that have their options dictated to them by Big Brother Jobs.

[via NY Times]

Take a good look at this...

This photo has been floating around the traffic logs of an unknown search company.  What could it possibly be? Is it an iPhone Slate? Is it a NetMac Nano?  Is it just the product of some overactive Apple fanboy's imagination?

It looks rather large to be an iPhone. It could very well be the long awaited touch-screen NetMac.  That is, if this photo isn't doctored up.

So which is it?  Sound off in the comments section below.

[Sources: New York Times, Gizmodo]