Apple suppliers hint at Sept debut for iPhone 5 and iPad 3

GMANews –

Activities of Taiwan-based suppliers suggest a September debut for two of Apple’s most anticipated mobile devices —the iPhone 5 and the iPad 3, a tech site reported over the weekend.

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Apple suppliers begin production of white iPhone: sources

Source: Reuters

Suppliers to Apple Inc have begun production of white iPhones after a delay of almost 10 months, pointing to a launch date of within a month, two people familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

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Singlish made easy on the iPhone and Twitter

Source: SingaporeScene

As many of you may already know, Singlish is the English-based creole spoken colloquially within Singapore, and despite the government's efforts over the years with the Speak Good English Movement, Singlish is still frequently heard on the streets.

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New smartphone app for rheumatoid arthritis

Source: CNA

SINGAPORE: SingHealth and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have launched a new mobile phone application to help patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis better monitor their condition.

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Apple called on to pull 'gay cure' app from iTunes

Source: AFP

Apple on Monday was under pressure to yank a so-called "gay cure" application from its iTunes shop for software for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

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Apple's Jobs wants iPhone for China Mobile

Source: Reuters

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has expressed interest in developing an iPhone based on China Mobile's fourth-generation telecoms standard, the chairman of the Chinese telecoms operator said on Friday.

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Apple developing smaller, cheaper iPhones

Source: AFP

Apple is developing a new lines of smaller and cheaper iPhones and overhauling its software

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New iPhone app helps with confession

Source: AFP

A new "Confession" application for Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch has received the blessing of a Catholic bishop.

"Confession: A Roman Catholic App," is the first program for the Apple devices created by a South Bend, Indiana-based company called "Little iApps."

Its developer, Patrick Leinen, said the app was designed to be used in the confessional and was intended "for those who frequent the sacrament and those who wish to return."

He said the app, which provides a step-by-step guide to the sacrament, had received the imprimatur from Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese, the first program to receive the stamp of the church.

Leinen said he was inspired in developing the app by Pope Benedict XVI's call to the faithful to use new media to good purposes.

"Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology," Leinen said in a press release on his littleapps.com website.

"Taking to heart Pope Benedict XVI's message from last year's World Communications Address, our goal with this project is to offer a digital application that is truly 'new media at the service of the Word,'" he said.

The app costs $1.99 in Apple's iTunes store.

It offers password protected customised profiles, a guide to performing the sacrament as well as a list of acts of contrition.

"Individuals who have been away from the sacrament for some time will find Confession: A Roman Catholic App to be a useful and inviting tool," Leinen said.

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'Bubble Ball' iPhone app inventor is Utah eighth grader

Source: Reuters

The world's most frequently downloaded free iPhone application, an engrossing mini-video game called "Bubble Ball," is the creation of a 14-year-old boy who spent weeks developing it at a public library in Utah.

Eighth-grader Robert Nay, who also happens to be a young musical prodigy -- he plays piano, trumpet and mandolin -- said he was inspired by his enthusiasm for electronic games in general and his interest in tinkering with computers.

"I just wanted to make an iPhone app. I thought it would be cool. And I wanted to see if I could do it," Robert said in a recent interview with Reuters. "I played games that were similar to it. I just took what I liked from different games, and, like, add my own stuff."

But Robert's "Bubble Ball," a puzzle and game of strategy that involves the principles of physics in moving a floating bubble from one point to another, is anything but a knock-off of other apps.

"He spent countless hours working on it, and the final product includes more than 4,000 lines of code. He sent it to the Apple app store on December 22. It appeared for download at the app store December 29," said his mother, Kari Nay.

Robert first began working on his invention in November.

"Bubble Ball" was downloaded 1 million times in its first two weeks of release from Apple's iTunes website and has since surpassed the 2-million mark, replacing "Angry Birds" as the site's most popular free app.

Robert, who also enjoys pizza and books, became interested in computers at an early age and said that most of what he knows about them is self-taught. Not surprisingly, his favorite subject in school is math.

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Steve Jobs focuses more on health

Apple's Steve Jobs taking new medical leave

SOURCE: AFP

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs announced Monday he is taking a new leave of absence from the technology company "so I can focus on my health".

"At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company," Jobs said in an email to Apple employees.

Jobs said he had asked Tim Cook "to be responsible for all of Apple's day-to-day operations" in his absence.

"I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

"I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy."

Jobs went on a medical leave in 2009, and later disclosed he had underwent a liver transplant as part of treatment for pancreatic cancer.

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20 Best iPhone Apps for Job Hunting

SOURCE: onlinecertificateprograms.org

In college, no one ever bothers to tell students the tough truth that looking for a job is itself a full-time occupation. There are job boards to scour, resumes to type, cover letters to proofread, meetings to take, interviews to prepare for, and on and on. It can be daunting for anyone, especially recent grads just getting used to the pressure of the working world. There's no shortcut to making it easier to land a job — sorry — but there are plenty of ways you can streamline the job hunt and give yourself as many advantages as possible before, during, and after the all-important interview. These apps are a great place to start, whether you're looking for updated job listings or trying to brush up on what not to do when you meet with human resources. Most are free, and the rest are pretty inexpensive. (And really, if you're willing to pay several hundred dollars for a smartphone and contract, 99 cents isn't going to kill you.) Download away. And good luck.

LinkedIn (free): LinkedIn is a social network that's a lot more limited than Facebook, but that's a good thing. It's not meant for cat pictures or pithy status updates; it's about connecting with colleagues, friends, and everyone else you've ever known in an attempt to learn about new jobs as soon as they become available. The free app lets you manage your profile, search jobs, send messages, and research companies on the go. Great for last-minute refreshers before an interview.

Job Search by Indeed (free): Indeed.com is a wonderful job-search engine that combs multiple boards and displays all the results at once, so it's no surprise that its iPhone version is so popular. The app also saves recent job searches (e.g., "Manager" in "Los Angeles") for easy retrieval and updating.

Jobs by CareerBuilder (free): CareerBuilder is one of the most popular job-search sites around — they launched in 1995, which makes them ancient in Internet years — and the app version is just as helpful as the full site. You can search for work by keyword or location, sync with your existing profile, mark job listings as favorites, and email results to yourself. A necessary tool for anyone.

LinkUp (free): Some people question the worth of having multiple apps that cover multiple job boards and often provide overlapping results. Those people have a harder time finding work. The key to success in the job hunt is to cover as much ground as possible, and that means using as many tools as you can to bring in information about potential openings. LinkUp is another great aggregate that lists postings often found only on a company's specific website and not on general job boards, exposing you to more listings than other services.

CraigsPro (99 cents): There are many versions of Craigslist available via the App Store, but CraigsPro is one of the better ones. It's only a buck, and it lets you simultaneously search multiple cities for specific keywords. It also detects phone numbers in postings and gives you the option of calling the poster directly. A good way to spot new job openings in different markets.

Job Search Organizer: A must-have. Job Search Organizer is just what it sounds like: a way for you to keep track of every job you've applied for, manage your resume and info, and search for new listings.

Resume Pro ($2.99): A simple but effective way to get your c.v. out there, this app takes your personal and professional information (and a photo, if you desire) and works up a professional resume that can then be emailed as a PDF to recruiters, managers, and the like.

SnapDat (free): Making business cards can be expensive, so let this free app help you out. Create your own digital card that can be swapped with other app users via username searches or just emailed to new contacts. A helpful way to save some cash while looking for work.

Internship Seeker (free): Whether you're a college student searching for that perfect internship or a seasoned worker in need of a change of direction, this app can get you where you need to go. You can search open listings, earmark your favorites, and more.

iJobs (free): This simple, direct app does what it says it will: connect you with jobs in your area. The clean interface lets you search for jobs by ZIP code as well as limit those findings based on how far you're willing to travel.

See The Complete List Of Applications HERE

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Prize-winning Korean director shoots using 10 iPhone 4

SOURCE: Reuters

Prize-winning South Korean director Park Chan-wook's latest film, "Night Fishing," has created a buzz in his native country -- it was filmed using 10 Apple iPhone 4s, three of which he himself controlled.

Park, who won the Cannes Grand Prix in 2004 for "Oldboy," also directed the 30-minute tale about a fisherman and a female shaman with his brother, Chan-kyong, and said the circumstances of its shooting gave making the film an unusual flavor.

"Movies that I directed before were meticulously planned ahead and shot just as pictured. Compared to that, shooting this film felt free, and everyone had an equal amount of say," Park told Reuters in an interview at his studio in Goyang, north of Seoul.

"Some scenes were shot from more interesting angles than previously intended."

Videos shot with smartphones already exist on websites, but this is the first-time a high-profile Korean director has made the attempt.

Park, whose films are known for careful framing and often tough subject matter, said the limitations of using a small camera brought fresh creativity and life to the film.

He added that there was another advantage -- shooting such films is inexpensive.

"When I grow older and less popular, there will come a time when I have to shoot films on low budgets. This experience has meaning in that it has prepared me ahead of time," he said.

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A Movie Created From iPhone!!!

South Korean film director makes movie on iPhone

SOURCE: AP

SEOUL, South Korea – Acclaimed South Korean film director Park Chan-wook has discovered a new cinematic tool: the iPhone.

The director of South Korean movies "Old Boy," "Lady Vengeance" and "Thirst," said Monday that his new fantasy-horror film "Paranmanjang" was shot entirely on Apple Inc.'s iconic smartphone.

"Paranmanjang" means a "life full of ups and downs" in Korean. It is about a man transcending his current and former lives.

Park told reporters the new technology created strange effects because it is new but also a medium the audience is used to.

Park made the 30-minute film with his younger brother Park Chan-kyong, also a director.

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iPhone 4 alarm fails

iPhone 4 users, did your alarm go off today?

SOURCE: CNA

SINGAPORE : Some iPhone 4 users got off to a bad start in the New Year when the alarm function of their phones failed to go off, apparently due to a bug in the smart phone's operating system.

The problem was first reported in Australia and New Zealand, which were the first countries to ring in the New Year.

And complaints have come fast and furious on sites such as Twitter.

iPhone user Ameer Assik Shahrir was one of those tripped up by the bug.

He had set his alarm for 7.30am, but woke up only at 8.30am.

He said: "This morning, I was late for breakfast by one hour, I was supposed to meet a few friends.

"If this was a school day, I would have been late by one hour and it wouldn't be good."

And it wasn't good at all for those who had to work on New Year's Day.

One of them called the Channel NewsAsia hotline.

Alex Lam said: "I set my alarm last night for 6.30 this morning. I only received a call from my colleague at 8am, and that was when I realised I was already late for work.

"I immediately went to work and noticed my colleagues were also late because their iPhone alarms also did not go off."

According to tech websites, users can avoid the problem by setting the alarm to the "repeat" mode.

The alarm function can apparently revert to normal on January 3.

Sites such as 9to5 Mac also report that only iPhones using specific versions of the iOS 4 operating system - in particular, the 4.2.1, 4.1 and 4.0.2 versions - may be affected. However, the extent of the problem is still unclear.

IPhone maker Apple has not made an official comment yet. But it had promised an upgrade of the operating system soon, following similar glitches in November when the phone's clock failed to register the switch from daylight savings time.

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Top Cydia Apps 2010 (for jailbroken iphone)

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Skype brings video calls to iPhone, iPod, iPad

SOURCE: AFP

Skype on Thursday made its first foray into video calls on mobile telephones, launching a new application for users of Apple's iPhone as well as the iPod music player and the iPad tablet computer.

The latest version of Skype, available on Apple's online boutique the App Store, takes advantage of the latest iPhones and iPod music players being equipped with front-facing cameras to offer the video calls.

Skype is a popular software programme that allows computer users to bypass telecommunications companies by routing calls through the Internet.

While previous versions of Skype allowed some mobile phone users to make voice calls, this is the first time mobile phone users will be able to join computer users in making video calls.

The latest iPhone 4, iPod Touches and iPads will be able to make video calls using both Wi-Fi Internet hotspots and third-generation (3G) mobile networks.

Mobile operators in some countries restrict the use of Skype and similar software that allows users to avoid expensive call charges, but the Luxembourg-based company said its previous version of Skype was nevertheless one of the top five free applications for Apple products.

In addition to making free calls to other Skype users, it offers deeply discounted rates to fixed and mobile phones.

Apple's FaceTime also allows iPhone 4 users to make video calls, but only to other iPhone 4 users and users of its Macintosh computers.

Fring, another free programme, allows video calls on iPhones as well as those using the Android operating system and Nokia phones, plus voice calls to fixed phones.

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Smartphones increase number of robberies

Smartphones behind leap in Paris metro robberies

SOURCE: AFP

French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said Thursday that the so-called "smartphone effect" was largely behind an almost 40 percent rise in aggravated thefts on Paris' public transport so far this year.

The thefts are a "particularly acute phenomenon on public transport", Hortefeux said during a visit to the Paris metro system.

In November alone, of 2,813 objects reported stolen on the Paris region's public transport, 1,395 were mobile phones, of which 64 percent were smartphones such as Apple's iPhone or Research In Motion's Blackberry, police said.

"Almost one in every two thefts on public transport now concerns a mobile telephone, while 'classic' wallet or purse thefts represent only 33 percent of incidents," Paris police chief Michel Gaudin told a city council meeting earlier this month.

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Kindle VS. iPad

New Kindle becomes Amazon's all-time best seller

SOURCE: AFP

NEW YORK : Online retailer Amazon on Monday said its latest Kindle had become the company's best-selling product ever.

Without giving details of the number of units sold, the company said sales of its third generation e-reader had beat sales of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO, said the product's 139-dollar price tag meant owners of tablet computers, such as the iPad, were also buying Kindles.

"We're seeing that many of the people who are buying Kindles also own an LCD tablet. Customers report using their LCD tablets for games, movies, and web browsing and their Kindles for reading sessions," Bezos said.

Amazon also announced that it sold around 158 items a second on the peak holiday sales day, November 29 -- dubbed "Cyber Monday."

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USEFUL IPHONE APPS IN SG

10 most useful Singapore iPhone apps

SOURCE: Xavier Lur

Apple’s iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones in Singapore.

iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) penetration in Singapore is the highest in the world at 9.64 per cent, according to Nelso, which took data from AdMob.

The report also noted that Singaporeans had 402,000 iPhones in April 2010 but the number is now estimated to be over 600,000 after the launch of the iPhone 4 in July, which took the smartphone market by storm here.

In this post, Yahoo! Singapore presents to iPhone users 10 most useful homegrown iPhone apps that range from travel, food guides to taxi booking.

GoThere.sg — US$2.99



No idea which bus service takes you from East Coast Park to 313@Somerset?

This is when GoThere.sg comes in handy. The homegrown mapping iPhone app provides users public transport and driving directions anywhere in Singapore, making traveling around the island a breeze.

Once you input in your current location and desired destination, the app will present you four modes of transport — bus, train, taxi, and car. For each of them, useful details such as the fare, duration, distance, ERP charges and number of transfers are listed. Drivers can pick and choose a carpark around their destination and the app will display the rates and guide them there.

Moreover, users can search or browse amenities and businesses around their location.

WeatherLah — FREE



Looking for a convenient way to know what’s the weather like in Pasir Ris Park? Give this sleek app a try. The WeatherLah app tells you today’s PSI level, temperature range and a short summary of the weather forecast in certain locations of the island.

Informing users when there is a heavy downpour, when the PSI level gets too high, or even when it rains in specific locations around Singapore through alerts is one the key features of this app.

The app also streams live Twitter updates from National Environment Agency’s Twitter feed.

buUuk — FREE



Similar to HungryGoWhere, local start-up buUuk has created an iPhone app that helps users find restaurants, café, hawker stalls, bars, wine bars and pubs quickly and easily based on user-generated reviews and ratings.

Let’s say you live in Ang Mo Kio and would like to grab a bite for supper. Simply fire up the buUuk app on your iPhone, and it will then harness location-based navigation to locate food and drink outlets in the vicinity.

In addition, users can search by cuisine, location or rating. It supports a large variety of cuisines — Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Peranakan, Italian or even Brazilian — you name it all.

Besides Singapore, you can even locate over 75,000 restaurants from 30+ countries across Asia and Oceania such as Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia.

ShowNearby — FREE



ShowNearby is one of the highest rated local iPhone apps on Apple’s App Store. What makes this location-based app stand out is that it is capable of showing the nearest amenities and places of interests such as shopping malls, ATMs, bus stops, car parks, petrol kiosks or even AXS machines. For example, if you urgently need to withdraw cash from an ATM, this app will become your saviour.

Another interesting feature worth looking into is the app’s capability of showing bus arrival timings at bus stops near your current location.

This is particularly useful as not all bus stops are equipped with the digital bus arrival time board. While using SBS’s iris-NextBus might be an alternative to check bus arrival timings via SMS, it’s useless if you do not know the bus stop number.

My Movies by M1 — FREE



This app, which gives users the latest scoop of cast and release dates of blockbusters shown here and even allows them to watch trailers of upcoming movies, is pretty handy for movie zealots.

Movies are categorised by “Showing”, “Opening Soon” or “Top 10″, and you can search for cinemas in your vicinity too. Cinema details, show times, booking telephone numbers, how to get there by public transport and even parking charges are provided too.

If you are a M1 mobile user, you can take up their Movie Sunday 1 for 1 Promotion at all Cathay Cineplexes.

SG Petrol Prices Lite — FREE



The title says it all. SG Petrol Prices Lite is a simple yet useful iPhone app that gives drivers a comparison chart of the different prices of grades of petrol offered by the four petrol companies.

VSS Food Guide — US$1.99



Are you a vegetarian who’s looking for a restaurant that serves delectable vegetarian food? Vegetarian Society Singapore (VSS) partnered with MobyFab to develop a handy VSS Food Guide for iPhone users.

Vegetarian lovers can search for eateries by district, price, serving vegan or organic vegetarian food.

Comfort-DelGro Taxi Booking — FREE



If you are looking for a hassle-free way to book a Comfort-DelGro taxi, then give the company’s taxi booking iPhone app a try. It allows you to book a Comfort or City Cab taxi using your current or new location directly from your iPhone — no phone calls needed. For frequent web booking users, they can book using one of their last three pick-up points.

Gone are the days you need to wait for the booking status as a confirmation SMS with the taxi vehicle number and estimated time of arrival will be sent to you.

MeRadio — FREE



Mediacorp’s MeRadio provides live radio streaming from all 13 radio stations, and allows iPhone users to listen to their preferred stations through their phone at anytime, anywhere, even whilst indulging in a game or sending a text message.

There are also “Call” and “Email” buttons which enable listeners to contact with the radio station directly. Lyrics display and “What’s Playing” information including Album art are some of the enthralling features offered by MeRadio.

If you find a particular track that sounds nice, you can share it with your friends via Twitter or email.

The only downside is that you are not able to surf mobile Safari while listening to the radio on your iPhone because MeRadio uses the iOS browser to deliver the audio feed.

ILoveDeals SG — FREE



When you patronise a restaurant, sometimes the cashier will prompt you for a UOB or OCBC credit card to enjoy a 10 per cent discount off your bill.

SingTel’s ILoveDeals SG iPhone app brings forward a plethora of up-to-date Food & Beverage deals information from various banks such as Citibank, DBS, HSBC, OCBC, POSB, Standard Chartered and UOB — all on one single app.

Users can search for F&B deals by location or cuisines, and even browse through reviews of restaurants before deciding on the most suitable deal.

The writer is a 16-year-old technology blogger who loves social media and gadgets. He is also Singapore’s No. 1 Twitter user, with 180,000 followers. He also writes a column for www.happymarketer.com

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(VIDEO)Iphone Apps: Word Lens translator Magic

New translation technology will blow your mind

SOURCE:  Xavier Lur

Word Lens, a new iPhone app, is capable of translating words inside of images.

Traveling in a foreign country and having trouble reading what the menu or road sign says? Word Lens, an augmented reality translation app, will come to your rescue.

Simply fire up the app and as you point the iPhone camera at the text you want to translate, Word Lens magically translates the words in a blink of an eye. Everything remains the same except for the words inside the image, and the translation is done remotely — no Internet or phone connection is required.

How this app works is that it uses Optical Character Recognition technology to scan for characters through the iPhone camera, translates them in real time, and replaces foreign words with English counterparts (and vice-versa).

It took Quest Visual founders Otavio Good and John DeWeese two-and-a-half years to develop this mind-blowing translating technology.

The app currently supports only Spanish to English translation, or vice versa, for now. But more languages and even an app for the blind are being added on.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we did French next, Italian and since my mom is Brazilian, Portuguese,” Good claimed.

Although Word Lens is free on the App Store, you will find that only turning printed text backwards and erasing them from your screen work. To unleash its full potential, you have to make an in-app purchase of US$4.99 for each language available.

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