iPhone sent to Space

An iPhone attached to a few weather balloons has floated to 19 miles above the Earth! High enough to see the curvature.

The iPhone was attached to an external HD video camera and a parachute to capture it's amazing voyage to where no iPhone has ever gone before.

The entire device was found over 30 miles from its launch point.

Check out the project site here, to be able to make your own iPhone space

September 1 Apple Event Announced

Apple has finally announced its annual September event. The musically themed event will be held in San Francisco.

This event is usually the site where Apple reveals its new iPods.

This year could reveal the new iTV, the fourth genration iPod touch (with a camera), a new iPod shuffle, and possibly updates to iTunes and the store.

Though like every thing else Apple does, what this event has in store won't be known until September 1st.

iPhone OS 4.0 Beta 4 Reveals Support for Leaked Devices

Yesterday, developers received iPhone OS 4.0 Beta 4. In the code of the Software Development Kit (SDK), there are references to "AVCaptureFlashMode."

The code for flash control also appears for the new iPad 2nd Generation and iPod touch 4th Generation. Suggesting that when updates for both come out, they will have cameras accompanied by LED flash.

This coding is almost definitive proof that the prototypes that were somehow leaked of the new iPhone and iPod touch 4th Generation are legitimate.
The new iPhone 4th Generation is expected to be revealed by Apple at WWDC 2010 on June 7.

iPod touch with Camera Leaked, Possible 4th Gen?

Back in September, Steve Jobs explained why the iPod touch 3rd Generation did not come with a camera. Now, Tinh Tế (the people who showed another iPhone 4G) has acquired a new prototype of an iPod touch.

The device is running in diagnostic mode with a functioning camera. The camera shown has a 2.0 megapixel camera but still features the same curved back style as the second and third generation iPod touch.

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Is Apple Planning for a Different Release iPod touch 4th Generation? Three Facts That Say 'Yes'!

With the overwhelming disappointment that some faced after seeing that the new iPod touch released on 9/9/09 did not receive a camera, some are speculating that a new iPod touch is imminent at Apple's (usually) music and computer themed event on October 14th. They have pretty good reason to believe so also! There are some pretty hard-core facts backing a possibility of a new iPod touch. Here is a run-down of some of the clues Apple may have left behind.

Best Buy Cases with Camera Holes and Dates
Best Buy has put up black and white silicon cases for $24.99. What is interesting about these cases is that they both have holes in the top center where a possibly leaked video previously showed that there was a camera in that same position. These cases can be pre-ordered, the date that they are estimated to be released is the exact same day that Apple holds their music and computer themed event; October 14th!


Space for Camera Found
We already covered this topic yesterday, click here for the full information or read on for the gist of it. iFixit took apart the new iPod touch to find that there was in-fact room for a small (and cheap) camera to fit into. The area, about 6mm x 6mm x 3mm, would be enough to fit in a camera like the one the Nano got, but not as great as the one in the iPhone. ( This pretty much made Steve a liar when he was interviewed after the Rock and Roll event quoted that there wasn't enough room for a camera in the touch.)

Apple Doesn't Call it an iPod touch 3rd Generation
I scoured the Apple website for 30 minutes looking anywhere that would indicate the model name of the new iPod touch. While most people have started to call it the iPod touch 3rd Generation, there is not a single phrase on the Apple website that calls it anything besides an iPod touch. While the Nano which was released in the same event is called the iPod Nano 5th Generation in almost all cases! On Apple's battery replacement page, the new iPod touch is referred to as "Late 2009" while the Nano and older touch's are refereed to by their generation number.


These 3 facts all prove one thing; Apple hasn't give the public the entire scoop on iPod touch. What that may be, is for you to decide using the facts.

3rd Gen touch Already Torn Apart

With every new Apple product comes the necessary ceremony of taking apart every bit and piece. The iPod touch 3rd Generation is no exclusion. iFixit has taken provided a complete guide of how to take apart your new touch (that is if you're willing to).

The breakdown revealed that the iPod touch 3rd Generation has an improved Broadcom BCM4329 combination Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip. This chip also can receive FM transmissions which may be activated in later firmwares by Apple.


The search by iFixit also revealed another very important component that just might make our beloved Steve wish that he didn't have that interview with David Pogue. In his interview, Steve clearly stated that the iPod touch did not have enough room for a camera like the Nano did. iFixit reveals that there is some room for a small (but low quality) camera to fit into.


Did Apple leave that space there to place a camera for future generations? Or was the camera removed in a last minute design change before mass production started?

[Pictures via iFixit]

Steve Jobs Explains No Camera in iPod touch

After watching, or reading, about Apple's Rock and Roll event, you may have been disappointed to hear that the iPod touch 3rd Generation did not get a camera camera that was very anticipated. Even after some fairly-reliable case pictures from Hama and a video, it all turned out to be pure rumors.

After the event, David Pogue, had a special interview with Steve Jobs. When Steve was asked why a camera was not added to the new iPod touch. Steve replied by saying

Originally, we weren’t exactly sure how to market the Touch. Was it an iPhone without the phone? Was it a pocket computer? What happened was, what customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine,” he said. “We started to market it that way, and it just took off. And now what we really see is it’s the lowest-cost way to the App Store, and that’s the big draw. So what we were focused on is just reducing the price to $199. We don’t need to add new stuff. We need to get the price down where everyone can afford it.

It seems like Steve is missing the point, a camera would add more gaming functionality. Take a look at the DSi for example. It is a major portable gaming device and it's latest improvement added a camera to it.