Apple sees bumper final quarter, reportedly orders 20m iPhone 5 units

Apple appears to be positioning itself for a bumper final quarter, reportedly reducing its order volumes for its next-generation iPhone in the third quarter from 7 million units to around 5.5 million units whilst increasing orders by as much as six million units to 20 million as the company prepares for e fruitful holiday season, Digitimes reports.

The Cupertino-based company has boosted orders for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4 CDMA and iPhone 5 by 13% for the second half of the year, increasing its total order volumes from around 50 million units to exceed more than 56 million units. Predicting that demand will be healthy for the iPhone 5, the device accounts for nearly half of the total orders for iPhone devices in the second half of the year.

iPhone 5 orders for the third quarter of 2011 have been lowered from seven million units to 5.5-6 million units, while fourth-quarter orders have been raised from 14 million units to more than 20 million units, the sources pointed out. Total orders for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4 CDMA for the third quarter exceed 20 million units, and fourth-quarter orders have been reduced to eight million units, the sources indicated.

Sources indicate that Apple’s total iPhone shipments will reach 95 million units, as the smartphone market continues to boom and Apple aligns itself with carriers and boosts its retail presence in Asia, a region it sees as a “massive opportunity”.


Source: TheNextWeb

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Awake [ Movie ] 2007 Watch via YouTube

The story focuses on a man who suffers "anesthetic awareness" and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. His mother must wrestle with her own demons as a drama unfolds around them, while trying to unfold the story hidden behind her son's young wife.

Trailer

You may watch the full movie here at Awake Movie (YouTube Free Stream)
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Rumored Apple iPhone 5 Pico Projector Patent Channels the SixthSense Concept Device

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.

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:




source: iPhone5NewsBlog

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Pentagon’s Mach 20 Missile Lost Over Pacific — Again

For the second time in a row, the Pentagon has lost contact with an experimental hypersonic vehicle over the Pacific, just minutes after it was launched from space.

The flight of the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 was hotly anticipated in military and aerospace circles. The HTV-2 was supposed to ride on the back of a rocket to the edge of space, where it would separate and scream through the atmosphere at 13,000 mph before splashing into the Pacific Ocean, about 4,100 miles and 30 minutes later.

If the flight worked, it’d show how missiles of this shape and flight pattern could strike targets halfway around the world almost instantly. And that would be a major step forward in the Pentagon’s “Prompt Global Strike” plan to attack foes anywhere on the globe in less than an hour. For now, however, those hopes have been dashed.

“There’s no way you can call it a success. Let’s be blunt about it,” a source familiar with the program tells Danger Room.

In a statement, Darpa tried to put a positive shine on the day’s events. The Minotaur IV rocket “successfully inserted the aircraft into the desired trajectory,” the agency noted. The HTV-2 “transitioned to Mach 20 aerodynamic flight,” and that “more than nine minutes of data was collected before an anomaly caused loss of signal.”

“We’ll learn. We’ll try again. That’s what it takes,” Darpa director Regina Dugan added.

But that may be easier said than done. Before the test, Darpa announced that this would be the last HTV-2 flight that the agency would run. The idea was to transfer control of the program to another branch of the military, most likely the Air Force. Those other branches may not be willing to take on such an expensive program that hasn’t shown much forward momentum, as of yet.





The first flight of the HTV-2 ended abruptly in April, 2010 after Defense Department monitors lost touch with the aircraft after nine minutes in the air. Months of intensive wind tunnel testing followed, and the flight path of the wedge-shaped carbon composite aircraft was altered, to keep it aloft for longer. But, if the initial estimates are accurate, the second test didn’t last much longer than the first.

“Yes, we got this wonderful data set from the two flights. Yes, you can cross-reference it with the wind tunnel data,” the source familiar with HTV-2 says. “Whether that’s worth $308 million, I’m not so sure.”

Darpa fueled the anticipation for the launch for months. Dugan talked up HTV-2 at technology conferences. In an unusual move for the sometimes-secretive agency, Darpa live-tweeted the countdown (doubling its number of followers in less than a week).

“T-16 minutes: ‘ALL STATIONS REPORT GO‘” read one tweet. A stream of upbeat messages followed about the vehicle’s progress over the next hour.

Then, suddenly, came word that things were going wrong.

“Range assets have lost telemetry with #HTV2. More to follow.”

The Pentagon may now turn to other technologies for its “Prompt Global Strike” mission: perhaps nuclear missiles, repurposed with conventional warheads; perhaps next-gen cruise missiles that fly six times the speed of sound. Or maybe, despite the HTV-2 second premature splashdown, the Mach 20 missile effort may continue.

“We know how to boost the aircraft to near space. We know how to insert the aircraft into atmospheric hypersonic flight. We do not yet know how to achieve the desired control during the aerodynamic phase of flight,” Darpa program manager Maj. Chris Schulz said in a statement. “It’s vexing; I’m confident there is a solution. We have to find it.”

more at WIRED

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Man Who Claims Half of Facebook Wants Zuckerberg’s John Hancock NOW!

Lawyers for Paul Ceglia, the controversial New Yorker who claims to have a contract proving he owns more than half of Facebook, want a court to order Mark Zuckerberg to turn over his Harvard e-mail correspondence with Ceglia, as well as handwriting samples they hope will verify the contract.

Ceglia’s lawyers argue that Zuckerberg is reneging on the deal struck in discovery that stipulated Ceglia would turn over his computers and five days later, Zuckerberg would turn over e-mails and handwriting samples.

The staggered timing was intended to ensure that Zuckerberg’s e-mails couldn’t be used to manufacture evidence, given that Facebook’s contention is that Ceglia has doctored a contract Zuckerberg signed to do some programming on Ceglia’s StreetFax company. Facebook argues Ceglia forged the contract to later include a $1,000 investment in Facebook that entitles Ceglia to half the company.

The contract dates back to 2003, but Ceglia didn’t file suit until 2010, when he says he discovered both the existence of Facebook and dug up the long-forgotten contract.

Ceglia says he’s lived up to his side of the discovery bargain, but that Zuckerberg hasn’t shared anything. Calling the non-compliance, “an obstructive delay tactic,” Ceglia’s lawyers say it’s time for the court to order him to comply with the court order.

“Such tactics are especially egregious, where, as in this case, it is Defendant who insisted on expedited discovery, and such tactics should neither be rewarded nor ignored by the Court,” wrote Ceglia’s two attorneys Jeffrey Lake and Paul Argentieri.

For their part, Facebook’s lawyers argue they haven’t turned over the handwriting samples and e-mails because Ceglia has been holding back evidence — so the “precondition” for Zuckerberg to share hasn’t been met yet.

Facebook claimed last week in a court filing that it had found “smoking gun” evidence of fraud — the “authentic contract” in its initial comb through of the disks and computer provided to them, but that Ceglia’s lawyers were trying to claim “confidentiality” that would prevent that proof from being used. Additionally, that filing said that there was evidence of “storage devices” that Ceglia was hiding from them.

In response, Judge Leslie Foschio of the U.S. District Court in New York City on Wednesday ordered Ceglia to give her those documents to inspect in her chambers by Thursday afternoon.


more at WIRED
An oral argument over the motion was scheduled to be held Thursday. The court is also awaiting Facebook to present its finding from forensics experts who took samples from the hard copy of the alleged contract.

As for Ceglia himself, he may or may not have headed off to Ireland to escape what he said were Facebook’s private investigators. However, a report from Irelands, quotes his uncle as saying Ceglia’s not there.

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Google+ To Suspend Users Using Pseudonyms

Google+ has decided to ban the use of pseudonyms and nicknames in place of real names. In response to feedback though, users will not be immediately suspended for violating Google’s Common Names Policy.

The change comes weeks after Google came under fire for suspending countless accounts that violated its Common Names Policy. The policy, designed to fight spam and prevent the creation of fake profiles, suspended several high-profile users for using their commonly-known pseudonyms instead of their real names. It resulted in a firestorm of criticism and questions about potential safety issues.

That hasn’t stopped Google from deciding to eliminate the use of pseudonyms on its social network. Google+ Product Manager Saurabh Sharma explained that the decision was made “to make connecting with people on the web more like connecting with people in the real world” on Google+.

Sharma also announced a change though — instead of immediately suspending accounts in violation of the policy, the company will be giving users a four day grace period to fix their profile names before they’re suspended.

“During this period, you can continue to use Google+ as usual,” Sharma said. “We’re hoping that most affected users will be able to quickly fix their profile name while continuing to enjoy all that Google+ has to offer.






Google+ Gets Backlash
Response to the announcement was overwhelmingly negative from Google+’s users. Some of the responses were harsh. Here’s a selection of the responses:

- “Still don’t get it, do you?” ~ Larry MacGregor (+105)

- “What about the people who are isolated in the real world because of the realities of their real world circumstances? Do they really no longer get to connect? That’s incredibly sad.” ~ Melissa Draper (+53)

~ So, if someone commonly goes by something similar to, oh let’s use the example Lady Gaga; what determiners do you use to decide whether that meets your Names Policy? I still don’t think you guys are on the right track. In fact, you are woefully lost.” ~ Gregg Wanciak (+49)

~ “So, if I decide to put my real name out there, Can I sue Google when some nutjob shows up on my doorstep? Why in the world would Google encourage anyone to make themselves vulnerable in this way? This is just so dumb.” ~ Mrs Fours (+22)

There is clearly a vocal group that is opposed to this change, mostly for safety reasons. Google’s bigger problem may be finding a way to enforce its Common Names Policy in a consistent way. Some users use pseudonyms in real life — do they need to use their real names or is their common pseudonym fine for Google+? Where is the line drawn?

Google+ clearly is going through growing pains — it’s to be expected of any new social network. Whether the common names controversy becomes a blip of the radar or an enduring problem remains to be seen.


more at Mashable

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Detailed Renderings Revealed: Apple’s Flying Saucer HQ [PICS]

Apple’s architects were just teasing us in June when they gave us a peek at the company’s new circular headquarters planned for Cupertino. Now, a group of idyllic renderings has surfaced, offering a more detailed look at what we call the AppleSaucer, officially called “Apple Campus 2.”

The 2.8 million-square-foot four-story workplace for 12,000 Apple employees will contain a 1,000-seat auditorium, 300,000 square feet of research facilities, a couple of levels of underground parking in the circular structure, as well as an external four-story parking structure. Best of all, it will run mostly off the grid, using its own “energy center” as its power source, using the conventional power grid as a backup.

The building will be enshrouded in huge pieces of curved glass. When originally presenting this to the City of Cupertino, Steve Jobs said, “We’ve used our experience making retail buildings all over the world now, and we know how to make the biggest pieces of glass in the world for architectural use.” Perhaps those enormous new pieces of glass Apple’s installing at its Fifth Avenue store will be a warm-up for this grand finale.

Beyond the renderings in the gallery below, Macrumors points us to PDFs (Intro, site plan/landscaping, floor plans, renderings) you can download from Cupertino.org that reveal even more details.

Steve Jobs says the groundbreaking for this magnificent flying-saucer-like edifice is planned for next year, with completion scheduled for 2015. Will this 360-degree circular behemoth be the new 1 Infinite Loop?

more at Mashable

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Google+ Posts Now Appear in Google Search Results

Google has begun integrating Google+ into search results with public Google+ posts now appearing in Social Search.

Whenever a user publicly shares a link on Google+, an annotation will show up under that link when it appears in a friend’s search results. For example, if I share a Mashable article about Google+ eliminating pseudonyms publicly on my Google+ page, users who have added me to their circles will see a note that I shared that link if they stumble upon it in Google Search.

Google+ now joins Flickr, Twitter, Quora and Google Buzz as other inputs for Google’s Social Search product. Social Search debuted in 2009 at the Web 2.0 Summit, partly as a response to Bing’s integration with Facebook and Twitter. Social Search highlights what links your friends are sharing on the web and returns results it believes are relevant based on your friends’ interests.

Social Search integration is only the beginning for Google’s plans for combining its search engine and social network. Google intends to revive real-time search with Google+ data and will launch a search engine for Google+ posts. Of course, the tech giant did the same thing with Google Buzz, and we all know what happened to that product.

Do you think Google+ makes Google Search a better product?


more at Mashable

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Google begins rollout of games on Google+

Games on Google+, now live for some.
(Credit: Google)

Google's not-so-secret gaming ambitions for its new social network are no longer under wraps.
Google today announced a gaming element for Google+, the social network the company launched at the end of June. The new offering lets Google+ users play games from within the social network, including some that can be played with other Google+ users.

Some of the launch games include Rovio's Angry Birds, PopCap's Bejeweled Blitz, and Zynga's Poker. It's a tiny collection compared to what's offered on Facebook, which has made a booming business by offering social games that players can click away at while remaining within the social network's walls.

According to Google engineering director David Glazer, the initial batch of games was intentionally kept small so as to "get the kinks out of our APIs." Glazer said Google would be adding more developers and features "in small steps" ahead of a public release.

The release comes just a few weeks after a Google+ help page cropped up detailing a "Games Stream." Before that, snippets of site code were discovered that mentioned game invites, along with a Google Games logo that was being hosted behind the scenes. In addition, a Google job posting sought a product manager for a "brand-new business" called "Games at Google."

When will users get access to games? In a post announcing the feature, Vic Gundotra, Google's senior vice president of engineering, said that the feature is being opened up to the Google+ community "gradually" and that everyone would be getting it "soon." The social network itself remains invite only, requiring users to sign up for access as Google expands what it's called a "field trial."

To combat game-related score updates from clogging up user feeds, Google says people will only see updates if they play games on the service, keeping those who don't from seeing them at all.

"If you're not interested in games, it's easy to ignore them. Your stream will remain focused on conversations with the people you care about," Gundotra wrote.

Facebook offered a similar tweak to its own news feed late last year after noting that "tens of millions" of wall posts related to applications were being deleted by users who no longer wanted to see them. Both that and Google's approach keep it more limited based on the audience.

In related news, Facebook is said to be planning to announce updates to its gaming platform tonight, according to AllThingsD.

Google+ hit 25 million users last week according to a report from ComScore. That report pegged Google's current growth rate at about 1 million users per day, growing at a faster rate than both Facebook and Twitter in each of those service's early years.

Update at 1:47 p.m. PT: Google has posted a promotional video of the new gaming portion of Google+. It demos how games show up on the service and how users can post information from those games to their circles. It's embedded below:

more at CNET

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