Apple Magic Mouse/Review

Price: $69
Official Site: Apple.com
Specs: Bluetooth connectivity; 2 AA batteries; Supports multi-touch interaction
Company: Apple Corporation

Overshadowed somewhat by other product announcements such as the revamped iMac and Mac mini during Apple's most recent press bonanza, the newly released Magic Mouse might remind consumers of the company's handling of the AppleTV.
Despite being ahead of its time in terms of pushing levels of innovation in the world of desktop interaction, significant usability issues and limitations hold the Magic Mouse back from receiving the exuberant praise many assume products by Apple deserve by default.
While its multitouch support does, in some ways, mimic the intuitive convenience of the track pads found in newer unibody Macbooks and Macbook Pros, it is not as clean of a translation as we would have hoped. Thus we strongly encourage potential buyers to spend some time test driving the device at the Apple Store before deciding to ditch their current Mighty Mouse or other device just for the sake of upgrading.
In what has come to be Apple's trademark, the Magic Mouse's minimalist design is quite beautiful from an aesthetics standpoint, especially compared to the black plastic lumps opposite most desktops. Featuring a single, clear white plastic surface sitting on an aluminum chassis, it's obvious that much of Apple's expertise on unibody construction went into making the Magic Mouse the most attractive device of its kind.
However, unlike other products from the company, attractiveness in this instance has come at the cost of ergonomics and ease of use. Barely curved and quite narrow, those used to mice designed to contour naturally and comfortably with the hand will be severely disappointed with how awkward the Magic Mouse can feel, especially after long periods of use.
In terms of multitouch interaction, scrolling is one area where the technology really makes sense. Simple flicks up and down with any number of fingers make quick scans of web sites a snap, while “momentum” settings enable the mouse to scroll faster or slower based on the speed of your flick. A single finger flick to either side can even be used to move left or right across a page as well.

Using two-finger swipes horizontally to navigate back and forth between web pages is a different story entirely. Due to the need to use two fingers, recommended as the middle and index by Apple, browsing back and forth in this manner requires a claw like grip that is utterly impractical for extended use. Combined with the mouse’s narrow size and smooth glossy texture, obtaining a firm grip is also somewhat of a problem, resulting in frequent slips of the hand. Additionally the device does not support the nifty pinch and spread zooming options that made the iPhone’s touchscreen so exciting after its release.
Finally, since the mouse uses standard laser technology for tracking, those hoping to operate the device on shiny surfaces such as glass or highly varnished wood without a mouse pad are out of luck. Though admittedly that’s a small quibble, considering the outstanding tracking advancements made by Microsoft and Logitech, it would have been nice to see Apple embrace something other than the status quo.

As a company continually looking to push the envelope, we applaud Apple’s efforts to integrate its amazing gesture commands into the desktop environment. Unfortunately in this initial go, several serious issues prevent the Magic Mouse from hitting a product home run. Though it integrates easily with compatible iMacs via Bluetooth and to some may at least improve upon its Mighty Mouse predecessor, especially for those who are used to life without buttons, some fundamental design issues keep the device from living up to its magical name -- so much so that we wouldn’t be surprised if an improved version was released within the next couple of years. With that in mind, unless you have to own every new Apple product to hit store shelves, we’d recommend waiting for the second generation before going out of your way to bring multitouch gesture operations to your deskbound Mac.

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IOS 5 Release Date: New Operating System for iPad, iPhone

Scott Forstall, senior vice president in charge of iPhone software for Apple Inc., speaks about the features of Apple's new ios 5 operating system in Cupertino, California, Oct. 4, 2011. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

If you're reading this story on your iPad or iPhone, perhaps searching for "iOS 5 release date," well -- it's now, says Apple.
Apple has reinvented its operating system, promising 200 new features, and, in the process, changing the way users relate to the online world.
Steve Jobs, in his last public appearance in June, announced the advent of iCloud, a system that allows Apple users to store the things they need -- from messages to music, documents to downloads -- on Apple's own servers in the so-called "cloud" of the Internet. Gone are the days when you stored something on the hard drive of your laptop, and were frustrated when you needed it but didn't have it with you.
Notification Center: Think of the torrent of messages you get every day -- emails, texts, Facebook friend requests, reminders to get a haircut -- and think of all the places you need to go to read them. Apple has combined them in one list.
iMessage: Cellular carriers, stand warned. Verizon Wireless, AT&T and their competitors have been charging a mint for data transmission, when it's estimated the average text message costs them a third of a cent to send. Apple -- even as it uses them for the iPhone 4S rollout -- goes around them. If you're in a place with Wi-Fi, your text goes by Wi-Fi. If it needs to go over the 3G network, also good.
A new "reader" feature for the Safari web browser: This applies particularly to the handheld iPhone and iPod, which are awfully small if you want to read a book on one of them. The reader feature gets rid of some of the extra stuff on your screen -- ads, browser tabs, etc. -- so there's more space for what you actually want to read.
Twitter: In keeping with Apple's seamless design, tweeting is something you can do while you're doing anything else on the device.
Photos: In keeping with Apple's seamless design, taking a picture is something you can do while you're doing anything else on the device.
The number of clicks and swipes you need to make to do different things will be greatly reduced. Truth be told, many of these features already existed in apps made for Apple by outside developers, and versions can be found on Google's Android devices. But Apple's now put them in one place.
How to get iOS 5? Plug your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into your computer with a USB cable. Launch iTunes, and then find the icon for your device on the left side of the screen and click on it. A box will appear, saying "Version." Click where it says "Check for Update" and then follow directions.

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Fans lay tributes of apples for Steve Jobs

LONDON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Technology and design admirers flocked to Apple stores worldwide on Thursday to express their sorrow at the death of Steve Jobs, the visionary who transformed the daily lives of millions.
The Apple co-founder who inspired the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He stepped down as Apple chief executive in August.
Flags outside Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, flew at half mast as mourners gathered on a nearby lawn, where fans left flowers and a man played the bagpipes.
In New York City, an impromptu memorial made from fliers featuring pictures of Jobs was erected outside a 24-hour Apple store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, with fans snapping photos of it on their iPhones.
"As soon as I heard the news, I came out to this Apple store to pay my respects," said business professor Gary Hamel. "I saw tears in some people's eyes."
Grieving fans all over the world left flowers, notes and apples with a bite taken out, just like the Apple logo -- instantly recognizable despite being one of the few top brand logos that does not feature the company's name.
Many said their lives had been transformed by Apple.
"I wouldn't be able to run my business without Apple, without its software. I run a video production company. It's allowed me to have my dream business," said David Chiverton who was leaving Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London.
"I bought the iPod nano, in black. I wanted to buy something to remember the day by," Chiverton said.
At the Frankfurt Apple store in Germany, Wolfgang Kummer, ex-managing director of font design and desktop publishing services company Linotype, left a white rose.
"You recognize his hand in all Apple products and I expect we will continue to see his influence," he said, adding that Jobs had changed the world of desktop publishing. "But eventually it will fade."
In Tokyo, a group of fans brought together by Twitter gathered at sunset with candlelight apps turned on on their iPhones and iPads.
And at China's biggest Apple store, in Shanghai, mourner Jin Yi expressed regret that Jobs had not lived to see even closer links between humans and their devices.
"He created these gadgets that changed people's perceptions of machines. But he did not manage to witness the last step in which, through his gadgets, people's lives can be effectively fused with these machines."
Even Apple employees not allowed to give their names to the press because of Jobs's authoritarian style of leadership said they were saddened.
A somber-looking assistant at an Apple store in the northern English city of Manchester said: "We're carrying on doing our jobs as usual and we're not commenting on this. But at the end of the day it's our boss, and we're all pretty cut up about it."
At the Apple store in Sydney, lawyer George Raptis, who was five years old when he first used a Macintosh computer, spoke for almost everyone who has come into contact with Apple.
"He's changed the face of computing," he said. "There will only ever be one Steve Jobs."

Tribute to Steve Jobs

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Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve jobs has passed away.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve has lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Mr. Jobs was truly an inspiration for many, and will surely be missed. He had been suffering from many illnesses and now the 56-year-old Jobs has lost his battle, but his memory will live on through his family, friends, colleagues, followers, and fans.

Steve Jobs said:

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” 

The company placed a statement on their website stating: 
"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve has lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

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Apple unveils faster, more powerful iPhone

 Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at the event introducing the new iPhone 4s at the company’s headquarters October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, California. October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple Inc. unveiled a new iPhone on Tuesday that is faster and more powerful but stops short of a more radical upgrade. It said Sprint customers will now be able to use one.
The new iPhone 4S has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster, which helps run smoother, more realistic action games. It's also a "world phone," which means that Verizon iPhones will be able to useable overseas, just as AT&T iPhones already are.
There had been speculation that Apple would reveal a more radical revision of the phone, an "iPhone 5." The no-show leaves room for speculation that Apple will reveal a new model in less than a year, perhaps one equipped to take advantage of Verizon's and AT&T's new high-speed data networks.
There had also been speculation that Apple would include a chip that could talk to payment terminals at retail stores, turning the iPhone into a "mobile wallet." Competitors are starting to include this capability in their phones, though the payment systems are still immature. Apple made no mention of such a feature in the iPhone 4S.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller discusses the new iPhone 4s at the company’s headquarters October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Apple is including a "personal assistant" application called Siri in the iPhone 4S. It responds to spoken questions and commands such as "Do I need an umbrella today?" It's an advanced version of speech-recognition apps found on other phones.
The new iPhone also comes with new mobile software that includes such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine.
The iPhone announcement came during Apple's first major product event in years without Steve Jobs presiding. New CEO Tim Cook led the show after Jobs, who has been battling health problems, resigned from the post in August.
Cook, wearing a navy blue button-down shirt and jeans, opened by calling his nearly 14-year tenure at Apple "the privilege of a lifetime." Those in the audience clapped as he entered, but the reaction seemed more muted than what Jobs had recently received.
Cook said the latest iPhone, which came out in June 2010, sold more quickly than previous models, but the iPhone still has just 5 percent of the worldwide handset market. Apple is hoping to grow that with the new model.

 Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures during the announcement at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Apple's new mobile software, iOS 5, will also be available on Oct. 12 for existing devices — the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch.
Apple said Oct. 12 will also mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents, apps and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices.
Apple said the new phone will come in black or white. It will cost $199 for a 16 gigabyte-version, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB — all with a two-year service contract requirement. It will now be available through Sprint Nextel Corp., besides the existing carriers, AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.
Pre-orders will begin Friday with availability on Oct. 14.
The previous version, iPhone 4, will now cost $99 for 8 GB. The 2009 model, the iPhone 3GS, will be given away for free with 8 GB. Both also require a two-year service contract.
Apple also touted the popularity of its products and unveiled a new line of iPods, including a Nano model with a multi-touch display that promises to be easier to navigate. Apple made no mention of its Classic model, which many people had speculated the company might discontinue.
The event took place in Apple's Town Hall room, where the first iPod was launched a decade ago. Cook said Apple has sold more than 300 million iPods worldwide so far, including 45 million in the 12 months through June.
The iPhone came six years later and has gained millions of fans, thanks to its slick looks, high-resolution screen and intuitive software. There were 39 million iPhones sold in the first six months of this year.
Apple's stock fell $17.15 to $357.45 in afternoon trading Tuesday.

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Sprint iPhone 5 to arrive in October this year

A Sprint iPhone 5 will launch alongside the Verizon and AT&T models this October, according to a new report. Wall Street seems excited about the idea of a Sprint iPhone. Will Apple fans rally, too?

When Apple unveils its next smart phone in October, it will introduce a Sprint iPhone 5 as well. So says The Wall Street Journal in an anonymously sourced article about Apple's fall schedule.

The Journal makes three predictions in this story: It calls the upcoming device an iPhone 5, which has become increasingly common as the iPhone 4S moniker may be the name of Apple's upcoming budget option. Second, the piece corroborates reports that Apple will introduce the next generation iPhone in October, much later than its usual summer release. And third, the Journal provides the most authoritative account yet that a Sprint iPhone is imminent, well, as authoritative as you can be with Apple rumors.

Word of a Sprint iPhone stoked not just the blogosphere, but Wall Street as well. Sprint's stock leapt 9 percent in 24 hours, but has eased a little in afternoon trading.

"In the second quarter, Sprint blamed a decline in its contract subscribers on more pronounced 'competitive headwinds,' most prominently, 'the first full quarter both major competitors offered the iPhone,' " reports the Journal.

Sprint has had a great mix of powerful phones, especially 4G devices. But few have been alluring enough to tempt people away from their current phone company. Once all three major carriers offer the iPhone – assuming that comes to pass – then Sprint can compete in an arena that it's much more comfortable with: comparing plans to plans.

Sprint stands as the last big carrier to offer an unlimited data package. AT&T and Verizon both cut theirs. They grandfathered in current iPhone owners, but new customers must choose between several data caps. (Remember when the original iPhone required an unlimited data package? What a simpler time.)

Let's be honest: Few people need more than the 10 gigabytes offered by Verizon. (AT&T tops out at 4 GB.) But for power users, unlimited data means freedom. If you cherish your right to stream video, purchase apps, and download songs with abandon, perhaps Sprint will be your best option.

Plan prices will also come into play. A competitive push from Sprint could force AT&T and Verizon to lower their prices and rejigger some foibles in the system. For example, according to Apple.com, AT&T's 2 GB plan offers an extra gigabyte for $10. But if you get the cheaper 200-megabyte package, an extra 200 MB costs $15. How does that math work out?

Curiously, the iPhone deal "could also hurt Sprint," adds the Journal. By embracing the iPhone, Sprint could wind up "helping AT&T improve its chances of winning approval from regulators for its $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA."

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Apple Launches the New MacBook Air

Apple Launches the New MacBook Air with Faster Processor and Thunderbolt I/O & OS X Lion

Well, we have been reading a lot about this and finally, the fruit company has made it official. Apple has launched its updated line-up of the MacBook Air, and the MacBook which first launched back in 2006, is leaving us for good.

The new MacBook Air will be powered by next generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. They will include the latest high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, a backlit keyboard and yes of course, they will come with the new Mac OS X Lion, the latest operating system from Apple. The guys from Cupertino promise twice the performance compared to the previous generation of the MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air will be available in 11-inch and a 13-inch models, in an aluminum unibody enclosure. At its thinnest point, it is 0.11-inches thin and at its thickest, it measures 0.68-inches. It includes flash storage allowing the laptop to switch on instantly and enable faster data access.

The 11-inch model weighs 2.38 pounds and supports up to 5 hours of battery life, whereas the 13-inch model weighs 2.96 pounds and has a battery life of 7 hours.

The systems are powered by either Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 or Intel Core i7 dual-core processors and it also includes Intel HD Graphics 3000 with up to 4GB of RAM. It includes the new Thunderbolt I/O which we first saw on the new MacBook Pro allowing the system to connect to various other high performance peripherals, including the new Apple Thunderbolt Display. Additionally, it has a multi-touch trackpad which (obviously) supports the new multi-touch gestures from OS X Lion, a high resolution LED backlit display and two USB ports. In regards to connectivity, it will get you online using WiFi and it also supports Bluetooth.

The best part is that the new MacBooks Air is already up for order (even in India) and you can visit your closest Apple Authorized Reseller to grab one. The 1.6GHz 11-inch MacBook Air comes in two variations, one includes 2GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage it is priced at 56,900 INR. Next is the 4GB RAM and 128GB flash storage variant which is priced at 67,900 INR. Even the 13-inch is clocked at 1.7GHz and has two variations, the first is the 4GB RAM and 128GB flash storage which is priced at 73,900 INR. The second variant comes with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage this one is priced at 89,900 INR.

Customers can also configure the system to come with 1.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, additional flash storage, MacBook Air SuperDrive and a USB ethernet adapter, obviously at an extra price. Also, all the prices mentioned above are including VAT.

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