Type of Article: MacTech Blog

US consumers want more Wi-Fi services from mobile operators

Posted by | Aug 8, 2011 | , |

Seventy four percent of smartphone users in the United States are interested in a mobile operator-provided service that uses Wi-Fi to provide lower cost calls, according to a recent MarketTools Zoomerang survey of 420 smartphone owners. The survey, commissioned by Kineto Wireless, also showed 72% of smartphone users are interested in an application that uses Wi-Fi to improve cellular coverage.

Additional highlights from the online survey conducted May 2011 include:

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Greg’s Bite: Microsoft Mobile 7 fades

Greg’s Bite: Microsoft Mobile 7 fades

Posted by | Aug 6, 2011 | , |

Posted by Greg Mills

Microsoft slept at the switch for so long, when they finally got into the smartphone operating system business many anayists speculated it was just too late. That may well be true, despite Microsoft throwing money hand over fist at the development of Windows Mobile 7. Things have not gone well lately for Windows 7.

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Is a ‘premium’ iPad 2 coming? I doubt it

Posted by | Aug 5, 2011 | , |

Apple has begun production on an incremental upgrade for the iPad 2, presenting the possibility of the first instance of mainstream and high-end iPad models, according to Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar. Maybe, but I’m dubious.

A “professional” iPad would have incremental improvements and possibly appeal to segments such as publishing, Kumar says in a note to clients — as reported by “CNET News” (http://macte.ch/53YCJ).

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Apple eyeing ways to improve air flow in upcoming Macs

Apple eyeing ways to improve air flow in upcoming Macs

Posted by | Aug 4, 2011 | , |

A new Apple patent (number 20110189004) shows that the company is working on ways to improve air flow in upcoming Macs.

The patent involves a fan inlet and method. method and apparatus to improve air flow in an air circulating fan assembly by forming an inlet opening in a fan assembly is disclosed. A static air pressure profile is calculated along a top portion of the fan assembly configured to operate in an enclosure.

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Apple working on inductive charging system for portable devices

Apple working on inductive charging system for portable devices

Posted by | Aug 4, 2011 | , |

Apple is investigating ways to create an inductive charging system for devices such as the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, per a patent (number 20110188677) for “using an audio cable as an inductive charging coil” at the US Patent & Trademark Office.

According to Apple, the disclosed embodiments relate to a technique for inductively charging an electronic device. This technique involves winding an audio cable for the electronic device around a charging mechanism multiple times so that one or more conductors in the audio cable form an inductive receiving coil.

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