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Apple's iPad 2 to come in white

For those who are following close to months and months of iPad 2 rumours would know that the upcoming tablet from Apple would feature front and rear cameras, thinner design and an improved (but not Retina) display. With just about a few days away from Apples iPad media event, this new (and rather interesting) rumour pops up from nowhere.

Originating from Shenzhen, China, this front bezel in white does include a hole for a front-facing camera. But what really surprised us is the colour. Apple originally announced the white iPhone 4 alongside with the black iPhone 4, but till this date have yet to deliever their flagship phone in white.

But on a personal note, I feel that having the iPad 2 in white just looks a tad weird.

In white or not, well find out soon on this Thursday morning at Apples iPad media event.

Source: 9to5Mac

Apple patented a face unlocking mechanism, similar to one in Android

The method allows for the locking/unlocking of a device, and includes child safety features, and acquisition of “user’s intended movements”

The idea of unlocking a device by pointing it at your face has already been seen on the market, built into Androids Ice Cream Sandwich. However, some have pointed out that it appears Apple actually took this patent before the feature was even integrated into Android devices.

Nonetheless, facial detection as a biometric security mechanism was not the innovation of either Apple or Google, so neither should really complain.

PatentlyApple, who reported this story, also argues that Apples methodology for the system is much deeper than that used by Google in its Android devices.

"Today’s invention takes a few different twists that very interesting. I’m sure that die-hard Androiders will be up in arms today pointing to Google’s feature and patent – but Apple’s invention adds so much more depth. We’ll point you to Google’s patent for those wishing to compare the two inventions to be fair. Yet at the end of the day, Apple’s invention – especially if they combine it with ‘Presence’ technology, will have a unique product that will simply outshine Google’s implementation, plain and simple."

And, on that note, it is important to point out that the patent is not for facial recognition/unlock at all, but for a specific method and system of implementing it.

In any case, this story will probably rouse two types of people: those who are excited that face unlock could be coming to iOS devices, and those who are thoroughly irritated to see Apple stamping its logo on another idea.

Source: PatentlyApple via 9to5mac

ASUS launches Eee PC T91MT, first netbook with multi-touch

Taipei, Taiwan, November 27, 2009 – ASUShas launched the Eee PC T91MT, which claims to be the world's first convertible tablet netbook to feature a multi-touch screen that supports Windows 7 Multi-Touch gestures.Designed for students and professionals, the slim and light Eee PC T91MTreproduces handwriting beautifully and allows users to perform tasks fluidly and intuitively with just their fingers.Designed for mobility, the Eee PC T91MT sports a shockproof 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD) and comes with an additional 500GB of online ASUS WebStorage.

Great for Casual, Creative and Collaborative Uses
The Eee PC T91MT functions as a great e-reader, allowing users to read documents and books comfortably anywhere. In netbook mode, the Eee PC T91MT serves as an invaluable tool for discussions, as the screen can be swiveled to accommodate multiple users, as well as accept concurrent touch input from more than one source. With the Eee PC T91MT's multi-touch capabilities, free-flowing interaction between participants is now possible.

Puts Users in Touch with their Creative Sides
With its support for Windows 7 Multi-Touch gestures, virtually every task can be performed with a tap, drag, pinch or flick. Adding to the fun is a suite of touch-optimized applications known as TouchSuite. TouchSuite allows users to perform a myriad of tasks with their fingertips, including editing photos with FotoFun, taking notes with NotePad and scribbling handwritten reminders with Memos.

A Smooth Writing Experience
Equipped with a 256-level pressure sensor, the Eee PC T91MT's crisp and responsive 8.9-inch multi-touch screen reproduces handwriting beautifully and accurately, regardless of whether a finger or the bundled ergonomically-designed stylus is used.

Made for Mobility
Built to withstand the rigors of day-to-day use, it is equipped with a shockproof 32GB SSD that prevents data loss in the event of accidental drops and shocks. It also comes with an extra 500GB of online ASUS WebStorage** which allows users to access, share and back up their files and media no matter where they are, through an easy-to-use drag-and-drop web-based interface.

Source: ASUS

Specifications

Eee PC™ T91MTDisplay8.9" glossy LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024×600)Operating SystemGenuine Microsoft Windows® 7 Home Premium
Genuine Microsoft Windows® 7 Home Basic (China only)CPUIntel® Atom™ Z520Default MemoryDDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB
DDR2 SO-DIMM 2GB (optional)StorageTotal 532GB
(32GB SSD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage**)Wireless Data NetworkWLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz, Bluetooth2.1 + EDRBattery LifeLi-polymer Battery, 5 hrs*MultimediaCamera0.3M PixelsAudio CodecHi-Definition Audio CODECSpeakersStereo SpeakersBuilt-in MicDigital Array MicInterface1 (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor) VGA Connector, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x Audio Jack (Headphone / Mic-in), Card Reader: MMC/SD (SDHC); Disk Expander: MMC/SD (SDHC)OptionalDigital TVPhysicalDimensions225mm (W) x 164mm (D) x 25.2~28.4mm (H)Weight0.96kg (with battery)ColorsInfusion (IMF): White, Black

* Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, please visit here. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows® 7 is measured with MobileMark® 2007.
** Complimentary one-year 500GB ASUS WebStorage trial. Please visit http://www.asuswebstorage.com/ for more details.
Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit http://www.asus.com/ for more information.

Apple in talks to buy flash storage firm Anobit

Apple is in talks to buy flash storage company Anobit for upwards of $500 million in a move that could give it more control over the storage element of its successful iPhone and iPad ranges.

The Cupertino, California-based company is allegedly in “advanced negotiations” with Israeli company Anobit to acquire the firm for between $400 million and $500 million, according to a report in Israels financial newspaper The Calcalist.Anobit develops flash chips that enhance performance via signal processing. These are already used by Apple in its iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air devices.Apple is apparently looking to buy Anobit in order to increase the memory volume and performance of its devices, which could double with the use of Anobit chips.This marks an unusual departure for Apple, which traditionally has bought software firms instead of hardware. It may mean a shift in direction following the death of Apples iconic leader Steve Jobs in October.Anobit also supplies chips to companies like Hynix and Samsung, the former of which makes flash memory for the iPhone 4S and the latter of which manufactures the A4 processor chips for Apple. If the Anobit acquisition goes ahead it would mean that Apple would become a supplier to Samsung, a move which could either strengthen or worsen relations between the two companies.Source: Reuters

Apple to issue free OS X Lion USB sticks to certain consumers

As most people would have probably found out by now, Apples new digital distribution method for OS X Lion nowallows users to download a copy of the installer onto their Macs for a nominal fee, and that the installer automatically deletes itself as soon as the operating system is successfully installed. This has resulted in many users attempting to hold on to their downloaded installers by making use of OS X s built-in tools to create a bootable DVD or flash disk of OS X Lion, thus ensuring that they have something to fall back on if their Macs suddenly suffer a catastrophic hard disk failure, thus making it impossible for them to access the recovery partition that Lion creates during the installation process.

But what if you are unlucky enough to suffer from such a hard disk failure and have no usable backup copies ofLion to make use of for the reinstallation of your operating system? Well, the good news is that help may be at hand, for word has it that Apple has got plans to issue such users with a free USB recovery stick containing the rescue partition for OS X Lion, but only if they meet certain requirements, as shown in an internal Apple memo which 9to5mac has somehow managed to get its hands on.

According to 9to5mac, a Mac user is only eligible to receive the USB recovery media for free after he or she has failed to make use of Lions built-in recovery tools (especially Internet Recovery) to restore the operating system. And even then, the request must be cleared by a Tier 2 tech support personnel before Apple will agree to ship a USB recovery flash drive to the affected consumer. Otherwise, they will still have to pay the handsome sum of US$69 for the recovery media, which is more thandouble the price Apple is charging for a fresh download of Mac OS X Lion (US$29)offthe Mac App Store.

Source: 9to5mac