Apple updates Aperture for Retina display

Aperture, now at version 3.3, also offers better performance, a unified photo library that lets you seamlessly switch back and forth between images stored in iPhoto (version 9.3 or later) and Aperture, and new adjustment tools.

Retina vision
First and foremost, the new version of Aperture is optimized for the new Retina-display 15-inch MacBook Pro. The update allows you to see more of your image when it's zoomed in at 100 percent. For pros dealing with 30-plus megapixel images, this will make a huge operational difference on the laptop's small screen. The effect on small thumbnails is also a big deal. Aperture 3.3's thumbnails are greatly improved, and will likely save you time in your imaging decisionmaking, Apple says.

iPhoto integration
Many users take advantage of multiple programs when it comes to managing photos. Before Aperture, there was iPhoto, and even after switching, many people continued to maintain their iPhoto libraries and their edits in iPhoto. With Aperture 3.3, you can move images back and forth from your iPhoto library without having to import and export between them. Just open your iPhoto library in Aperture, and you're ready to work. Faces, Places, slideshows, albums, and Web sharing work across both applications.

White balance
Aperture 3.3 introduces a new way to correct white balance in your images. Very much like in iPhoto for iOS, this new Aperture version offers specialized white balance options for skin tones and landscapes. With modes like Skin Tone and Neutral Gray added to the standard Temperature and Tint controls, the program will provide better and more accurate color correction without a lot of distortion and tweaking.

Shadows and highlights

Aperture 3.3 has improved the Highlights and Shadows tool to work with even a wider range of images. The Highlights tool can recover even the most blown-out highlights, while the Shadows control is faster and easier to use and works with fewer sliders. A new mid-contrast control combines several advanced tools for single-slider control of flat-looking photos.

A newly updated and more intelligent Auto Enhance algorithm can act as a starting point for correcting photos. The control evaluates images and determines whether to correct white balance, adjust exposure, or add vibrancy, curves, or highlights and shadows. If you shot a perfect still, then the control knows enough not to make any changes.

Faster browsing of Raw images

Aperture 3.3 makes greater use of camera-generated embedded previews within Raw images to produce quicker, high-resolution thumbnails from your shoot. With the new version, there's no waiting around for previews to be processed before browsing, according to Apple.

More improvements

In addition to specific new features, Aperture 3.3 offers improved stability and performance. Smart image pre-cache improves the speed of browsing, while the application has been optimized to handle photo libraries of over 1 million photos and support for Raw images up to 30 megapixels.

A newly designed monochrome source list and toolbar icons remove interface distractions, so you can better focus on your images. And because so many photos are now shared online, Aperture 3.3 introduces a new unified Web Sharing view for all photos and albums that are published to Facebook and Flickr.

In addition, Aperture 3.3 supports AVCHD for videos, the Set Photo as Desktop feature (long available in iPhoto and elsewhere), and drag-and-drop functionality for the Faces feature. Facebook, Flickr, and MobileMe albums are now displayed as thumbnails in the main window when those accounts are selected in the source list.

There's also some minor terminology tweaks, a new preference that allows you to set the background brightness of the full screen browser, and a new manual option allows you to drag and drop projects to customize sort order in the Projects view.

The version 3.3 update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3.
iPhoto gets an updateNot surprisingly, along with the Aperture update, which references iPhoto, Apple has also updated iPhoto to open libraries from Aperture 3.3 or later (among other things).

Like Aperture, the new version of iPhoto supports AVCHD video. Other improvements include a tweak to the Description field, which now automatically expands as you enter text; the ability to flag a photo in Magnify (1-up) view by clicking a Flag icon in the upper left corner of the photo; a new Export option allows you to automatically organize exported photos into subfolders according to event, and Keywords and titles are now preserved when exporting files with embedded GPS location data.

This article comes from:http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/software/3363308/apple-updates-aperture-for-retina-display/

iPad Mini surfaces... Apple to launch iOS6 at WWD 2012

New pictures of the iPad Mini has surfaced and it is now being speculated that that apple could launch the smaller version of its iPad sooner than October.
Zoogue.com that manufactures and sells iPad covers has released the latest pictures on its blog just days ahead of Apple’s WWDC 2012.

According to the blog the iPad Mini or the iPad Nano as it could be named, the display might only take a 7.58 inch form factor and not 7.85 inch as it was previously believed to be.The dock connector for the new mini pad could also change in tune with that of the new iPhone.

Last week we had reported details about new iPhone designs that has a much smaller syncing and charging port compared to the 30 pin dock port that is currently being used in iPhones, iPads and iPhones.

Leaked images on the tech blog 9to5Mac showcases a new metal back cases of the new iPhoneapart from changes to the positioning of the earphone jack moving to a corner at the bottom of the case.

Apple to launch iOS6 at WWD 2012
It has now been confirmed that apple will indeed announce its iOS 6 software during the Worldwide Developers Conference.

According to MacRumors, another technology blog that extensively reports on apple, a banner on display at the venue of the WWD 2012 provides enough indication that iOS 6 would be launched during the event.

"The banner also displays a silver-coloured theme that has been rumoured to making its way to the iPhone to replace the blue theme present in many of Apple's apps..... With Apple having dropped numbering and other descriptors from its latest model of the iPad earlier this year, there has been speculation that the company may follow suit with other products such as the iPhone. Today's banner indicates that the company will at least continue marketing iOS using its version number," the blog report said.

Meanwhile, reports have also emerged that Apple could announce its iPad Mini and the new iPhone 5 sooner than October. However it is still not clear how soon it could be.

This article comes from:http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/ipad-mini-surfaces-apple-to-launch-ios6-at-wwd-2012-2012-06-10-1.462340

How to convert AVI to MP4 with Leawo Video Converter?

Leawo Free AVI to MP4 Converter is to convert your movies, games, videos, etc. in AVI to MP4 movies, games, and videos. Thus with this AVI to MP4 converter, you can easily play and enjoy movies, games, and videos on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, etc.! Moreover, this AVI to MP4 Converter has many powerful functions, like video effect adjusting for a better visual effect, video trimming for a specific duration, video cropping for a dimension of your player screen, etc.
Leawo Video Converter is a free easy-to-use program, a good assistant for you when you have a portable player to watch AVI videos!

Full Guide

Open the converting program and add files

Click "Add Video" to import your AVIs in, or simply drag them in. Have a preview by double clicking the file name.

Tune the settings ready for conversion process.

Choose your "MP4-MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4) " in "Profile" specifically for your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, etc.

Edit video with customized features

Click "Edit" icon to adjust the video effects, trim for a video clip and crop the dimension to your screen.

Windows to beat Apple in smartphones: IDC

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Microsoft Corp. may be lagging rivals when it comes to the smartphones these days, but a new forecast released Wednesday predicts that the company’s Windows mobile software will overtake Apple Inc.’s iOS on such devices in four years.

Microsoft’s (US:MSFT) Windows Phone/Windows Mobile operating system’s share of the smartphone market is projected to grow from 5.2% this year to 19.2% in 2016, when it is seen becoming a distant second to Google Inc.’s (US:GOOG) Android platform, according to an IDC forecast.

On the other hand, Apple’s (US:AAPL) iOS is seen falling from No. 2 this year, with 20.5% total share, to No. 3 with 19% in 2016, IDC said. “Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile will gain share despite a slow start,” the research firm added.

Those gains will come mainly from the strength of its partner Nokia Corp. (US:NOK) “in key emerging markets,” IDC said, although the industry researcher said the projection assumes “Nokia’s foothold in emerging markets is maintained.”


IDC also said it expects Apple’s operating system will “continue its impressive run thanks to strong iPhone 4S momentum in North America, Western Europe and Asia/Pacific, specifically China, this year.”

“Growth will moderate over the five-year forecast given the large installed base Apple has accumulated, which means more of its addressable market will be on replacement cycles,” the firm said.

“Underpinning the smartphone market is the constantly shifting OS landscape,” IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said in a statement. “Android will maintain leadership throughout our forecast, while others will gain more mobile-operator partnerships (Apple) or currently find themselves in the midst of a major transition (BlackBerry and Windows Phone/Windows Mobile).”

This article comes from:http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-06-06/industries/32070694_1_windows-mobile-smartphones-windows-phone

Dr. Mac: Making a case for iPad cases

 
Looking for the perfect case for my Apple gadgets is one of my favorite pastimes.
There is no perfect case, because there is no way any case can be all things to all people. I look for qualities including overall protection, screen protection, ease of use, unique features, quality, price and overall coolness.

More than a dozen new iPad cases have appeared on my doorstep since the third-generation iPad arrived. Three standouts were the Otterbox Defender, Hammerhead Capo and Moshi Muse.

The Defender series of ultra-protective iPad cases (available for all iPad generations), stood out for several reasons. First and foremost, the thing is built like a brick house. But with its three layers of protection - polycarbonate, memory foam and silicone - plus a built-in clear screen protector and an integrated stand that can also serve as a screen shield, there's no doubt this puppy is built to protect an iPad from almost anything except total immersion in liquid.

This article comes from: http://www.chron.com/business/article/Dr-Mac-Making-a-case-for-iPad-cases-3608784.php

Helic Releases its VeloceRF Inductor Synthesis EDA Tool for iPad and iPhone

Helic Inc., the technology leader in Electronic Design Automation (EDA) solutions for RF and high-speed IC design, announces the availability of its VeloceRF™ tool for Apple's iPad® and iPhone®. VeloceRF is an industry-acclaimed tool providing rapid modeling and synthesis of integrated inductors and transformers, with signoff accuracy for electromagnetic effects such as mutual inductance, skin effect and substrate losses.

VeloceRF for iPad and iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store(SM).
Helic aimed this to become a first-of-a-kind app, bringing the functionality of a commercial-grade EDA tool to a mobile platform. The app leverages the company's acclaimed inductor synthesis and modeling engine, which has been ported to the cloud, while providing an intuitive user experience on the iPad and iPhone.

Based on the reception of VeloceRF for iPad and iPhone by the IC design community, Helic will consider adding more functionality to the app. The initial version of VeloceRF for iPad and iPhone uses generic technology files for 65 nanometer and 28 nanometer silicon processes.

Helic will be demonstrating VeloceRF for iPad and iPhone, along with the company’s regular EDA products, at the forthcoming Design Automation Conference in San Francisco (4-6 June 2012). To arrange for a demo of Helic products please visit http://www.helic.com/demos.

iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

About Helic
Helic, Inc. develops disruptive EDA technologies for RFIC and high-speed SoC design. We provide our customers with a comprehensive offering combining design tools, silicon IP and applications support, greatly reducing the development cycles of chips for wireless communications, broadband networking, PCs, tablets and other segments. We provide technology for rapid electromagnetics modeling, RF component synthesis, and signal integrity of silicon ICs and Systems-in-Package. Our solutions have been adopted by several major semiconductor companies since 2000.

This article comes from:http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/06/02/helic-releases-its-velocerf-inductor-synthesis-eda-tool-ipad-and-iphone

Apple iPhone 5: What We Know So Far

There has been no dearth of rumors and speculation about this upcoming device. Possibly the main reason for this is because the iPhone 4S was not a huge change from its immediate predecessor, so many iPhone 4 users did not feel a strong need to upgrade. This group is now looking ahead toward the sixth-generation phone from Apple to see whether it will be what they have been waiting for.

What to Expect
One aspect of the iPhone 5 that there's little room for doubt about is that it will include 4G LTE, giving it a cellular-wireless data connection significantly faster than any earlier version. There have been numerous reports to support this, but the best evidence is a statement from Verizon that every smartphone it introduces this year will have LTE, and this carrier will certainly offer the next handset from Apple. This would bring the iPhone into parity with many models running the rival Android OS, which have had this 4G technology since last year.
Apple's next smartphone is expected to run a quad-core processor, likely to be the Apple A6 chip. This would give it better performance for many tasks, and, again, would bring Apple into parity with Android. The iPhone 5 almost certainly won't have the A5X processor that debuted on the new iPad earlier this month. This CPU is no faster than the A5 CPU in Apple's current smartphone, but it adds a quad-core graphical processing unit for that tablet's large, high-resolution screen.

T-Mobile has pointed out that virtually all the wireless chips available today come with built-in support for its uncommon 4G frequencies, raising the possibility that Apple could add a fourth U.S. carrier to its list of partners. With the technology problem out of the way, the only hurdle would be these two companies coming to a business agreement, and T-Mobile is definitely interested.
The smartphone might not be called the iPhone 5. The third-generation iPad is called simply "iPad", and if Apple continues this practice its next smartphone will be just "iPhone".

A Mystery Wrapped in a Conundrum
Aside from these, however, there is contradictory evidence about every other aspect of this device. A topic of hot debate is whether it will have a larger display or not. An unconfirmed report that the iPhone 5 will have a 4.6 inch screen made headlines last week, but this was followed by a contrary report that indicated that Apple intends to stick with the 3.5-inch display that has been in all its previous models.

Some are predicting the iPhone 5 will have a bigger screen because of competitive pressure. Virtually all Android smartphones have displays larger than 3.5-inches, with some approaching 5 inches.

A related issue is the overall size of the handset. A significantly larger display would require a bigger device, though Apple would likely keep it thin. The issue with this is it goes against Steve Jobs' original vision for the iPhone as an easily-pocketable device. On the other hand, LTE can be a drain on the battery life, and a larger handset would have room for a bigger battery.
Another aspect that has been the topic of contradictory reports is the release date -- some are saying this product will be out this summer, others that it won't be introduced until the fall. From the original iPhone in 2007 until the iPhone 4, every Apple smartphone came out in the summer. That schedule was changed last year, however, as the current model debuted last October. At this point, there has been no definitive answer to what the schedule will be this time.

This article comes from:http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=18744&news=Apple+iPhone+5