Monday Recap: Mid-September It Is, Gmail Adds Hangouts, Hiding the iPhone
Monday Recap: Mid-September It Is, Gmail Adds Hangouts, Hiding the iPhone
Tomorrow is the last day of July, and what a month it's been! Seems as if iPhone users will have to suffer through the dog days of summer in August with today's news that the next handset is likely to have its moment in the spotlight come mid-September instead of last year's October debut of the iPhone 4S. Quick! To the upgrade eligibility calculator! And when you come back, be sure to read what else is happening for this July 30, 2012.
AllThingsD Confirms Mid-September Apple Event
Just this morning we reported that Apple may be targeting Wednesday, September 12 for the unveiling of the next iPhone, and sources inside the supply chain appear to have confirmed that target date with AllThings D. "And while we haven’t yet confirmed its focus, history suggests it will indeed be the new iPhone," the report reveals. "One thing’s for certain, though: Apple is ramping up for a big fall product cycle. And to see that, you need only look at the recent spike in the company’s prepayment for inventory components." Seems as if all that's left is for Apple to invite the media, but that's not likely to happen until seven to 10 days prior to the actual event, so sit back and enjoy your August, folks.
Gmail Ditches Video Chat for Hangouts
We have to confess, our own Gmail account is rarely used and we've certainly never entertained using it for video chats. But if you have, you'll be happy to hear the Official Gmail Blog's announcement today that Google+ Hangouts are taking over for video chat on the email service. "All Gmail users will benefit from this upgrade, but if you and the person you're chatting with also use Google+, you’ll get even more from the Hangouts experience," the blog post notes. "You'll be able to video chat with up to nine people at once, watch YouTube videos together, collaborate on Google documents and share your screen. Plus, Hangouts has a bunch of fun effects that you can try out...because any conversation is better when you're wearing a virtual mustache or pirate hat." Look for Hangouts to roll out to Gmail over the next few weeks.
Steve Jobs Himself Almost Leaked the Original iPhone
You gotta love stories like this one! Business Insider claims that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs himself nearly leaked the existence of the original iPhone to a FedEx delivery man shortly before the handset was introduced at Macworld Expo in January, 1997. Seems as if some Apple techs had come to Jobs' house to debug a Wi-Fi problem with the device and were interrupted by the doorbell, where a FedEx driver was waiting for Jobs' signature. Just one problem: Jobs was holding the iPhone prototype in one hand, but a bit of quick thinking saved the day as the CEO hid the phone behind his back, signed for the package and went about his business. Makes you wonder if that FedEx driver had a case of deja vu after the iPhone made its public debut...
Nokia: "Made in Finland" No More
Remember the days when Apple's products used to read "Manufactured by Apple in California" rather than "Designed by Apple in California"? Seems as if Nokia will soon need to do the same, as AllThingsD is reporting the struggling company is closing its last factory in Salo, Finland this September. The move is part of Nokia's efforts to overhaul its operations and save €1.6 billion by the end of next year. The transition means the loss of 780 jobs for Salo residents, who rolled their last handset off the assembly line last Wednesday.
Apple Seeds OS X Lion 10.7.5 to Developers
While more than three million of us have moved on to OS X Mountain Lion in the last few days, Apple isn't completely abandoning users of OS X Lion. 9to5Mac is reporting that developers have been seeded a build of OS X Lion 10.7.5 today, and Cupertino is asking them to focus on "graphics performance and quality" in both client and Server versions. Proving that Apple isn't entirely turning its back on Windows users after denying them a Safari 6 update, a second beta of the iCloud Windows Control Panel is also available for developers to tinker with as well.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
Comment