What I Would Like to See Apple Introduce in 2012

2012 is said to be a "Big year" for technology, especially Apple. There are certainly lot's of rumors floating around the web. In this article, I am going to have my say on what I'd like to see Apple introduce this year (2012).

1. - Apple HDTV:

One of the biggest rumors of this year is that Apple is to announce an all new Apple HDTV. Some sources say that it will be exceptionally thin, come in at least 3 different sizes which I think will be 32", 46" and 55" displays. I also think that it will come with many feature's that the Apple TV box set has.

2. - iPad 3:

It is very likely Apple will introduce the much-hyped iPad 3 in the next 2 or so months ahead. There are rumors floating about, claiming that the iPad 3 will have an all new Retina Display, better cameras, A6 Processor and for the tablet to be both thinner and lighter.  

3. - iPhone 5:

 The world was expecting to see the iPhone 5 in 2011, but sadly that wasn't to be. So, surely there must be an iPhone 5 this year, right? Many sources claim that the iPhone 5 will have a larger 4.0" screen, which will be greatly welcomed. Others say the Apple A6 Processor will be packed into iPhone 5. People also say the iPhone 5 be significantly thinner and lighter. Fingers crossed we will see an all new redesigned Apple iPhone 5 this year.

4. - 15" MacBook Air:

To accompany the 11" and the 13" MacBook Air, sources say that Apple is at testing stage with a brand-new 15" MacBook Air, which is said to have an Ivy bridge Processor packed inside. Personally, I would like to see a higher resolution FaceTime HD Camera on the front as the current FaceTime Camera on the MacBook Air is horrible. I think the price for the 15" MacBook Air will be around the £1500 mark, but that is just a guess. I think if Apple were to introduce this machine into the Mac family, it would be one of their best selling products.

So, that's what I would like to see Apple introduce this year, what do you think Apple will introduce this year? Leave them in the comments section below.

The "pic.me" iPhone Tripod Case

"The best tripod is the one thats with you!" I didnt really understand that phrase until i started using this case. At first, what kid of a case is this? At last, This is the best thing to ever happen to an iphone case. Sure the name might have you thinking that this case has a tripod mount, but no. The case itself is its own tripod. Not so much in height but a box or a chair can fix that.

The pic.me case is a very simple design with a very big surprise. It safely covers your iphone giving it the perfect balance of protection and comfortability. It make your iphone look a little bigger but thats because the case itself is longer than normal cases. All the cut outs fit perfect on your iphone and to my surprise, the narrow passageway amplifies your speakers. At the bottom of the case there is a lever that you can open giving you a 270 degree rotation. That is your tripod.

The lever has 15 plus positions for your viewing and recording comfort. You can use this in two ways. Video mode where with the multiple angle and position you cane perfect your recording or photographic moment. Or Viewing mode where you can sit back and watch a movie or surf the web comfortably and handless.

This case maximizes your iPhone's potential with a simple and compact case. It transforms into a multi-angle tripod or viewing stand within seconds. Functionality is integrated with the case so its with you anywhere and anytime. At the moment, this case is only available for the iPone 3G(S) in black and white. Simple, but what better colors to go with a black or white phone. You might say $19.98 is a hefty price for a simple case like this, but once you use it, you forget all about the price.

You could find this case here: The pic.me case or at picmecase.com

Skype Video Calling for iPhone

FaceTime for the iPhone 4, iPod touch, and Mac changed the way we communicate with each other on a daily basis. It revolutionized human relationships. Not only can you ask the person your on the phone with, how they are, but you can actually see how they really are feeling. The only negative thing about Facetime is that you have to own an Apple product with a front facing camera. 

Skype is a website that made free video calling between computers with a web cam. Their intention was Apple's exact intention with iChat. Well now iPhone 4 and iPod touch users can finally get in on the action. After a long and anticipating wait, Skype has finally announced free video calling on the iPhone 4/ iPod touch Skype app. So now, we can all take the basis of Facetime, and use it with anybody that owns a web cam and a Skype account. All you have to do is make a free Skype account, and download the free Skype app from the App store.

Upload Videos Faster to YouTube

1. First, download MPEG Streamclip

2. Open MPEG Streamclip. Then, drag and drop your video onto the blue dots.

3. Select File > Export to... I export to MPEG-4 because it does a good job of compressing the video.

4. Select your frame size and any other settings you would like.

5. Click save.

You can also use MPEG Streamclip to convert videos to different formats and change the size of videos.

Click to read more ...

iLife '11 — the all new iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand

Apple recently announced their latest upgrade to the iLife suite during the “Back to the Mac” event in October. iLife ’11 includes new releases of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand. Apple did a great job in adding more advanced features while maintaining their trademark simplicity. The upgrade is priced at only $49 USD and is definitely worth the price.

The incredible new iPhoto has added support for Facebook/Flickr and sharing photos through email. The changes to the full-screen mode allow you to utilize every pixel of your display to its fullest. Apple has also improved the slideshows feature with new transitions and themes. Their book/card-printing service has been updated and now allows for more customization of photo albums and holiday cards. iPhoto continues to keep its “Faces” and “Places” features, as well as its great image retouching tools.

The album view in iPhoto's full-screen mode looks amazing.

iPhoto's face recognition automatically recognizes faces in your photos and allows you to tag then.

The biggest change in the suite is in iMovie. Apple has added a “movie trailers” feature that makes producing short teasers for your films a breeze. Choose a series of clips you would like to use, fill in the credits, and choose a theme and iMovie will automatically stitch together a professional-grade trailer for you next movie.

Apple has also included more advanced audio editing tools in iMovie ’11. Audio clips are now color-coded and provide options for adding fades and filters. Another new feature is what Apple calls “one-step effects”. With the dozens of new effects, such as “instant replay” and color correction, your iMovie project will definitely stand out from other home videos.

iMovie ’11 has also included more exporting options, including iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, QuickTime movies, and more. You can also publish your videos directly to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and even CNN’s iReport. You can also create a video podcast and send it directly to Podcast Producer.

iMovie '11 give you more control over your audio.

Making professional trailers has never been easier.

Making great music in GarageBand has never been simpler. The iLife ’11 upgrade introduced Flex Time, a function that fixes timing issues when something sounds a little off.  Flex Time allows you to manually move, stretch, or shorten individual notes without changing the rest of your recording.GarageBand ’11 adds more guitar amps the Apple’s library and allows you to reproduce the sound of foot pedals with new stompbox effects. Apple also included many new instrument lessons with the update.

Flex Time makes it easy to fix timing errors in your music. 

Apple's instrument lessons make learning the piano or guitar fun.

More lessons can be downloaded or purchased from the Lesson Store.

iLife ’11 allows you to do more with your photos, video, and music than ever before. In iPhoto, you can enjoy your photos in the new full-screen modes. You can turn your home videos into professional films with the latest iMovie and create the perfect soundtrack within GarageBand. iLife ’11 is included with every new Mac, but every existing user should consider the upgrade. If you enjoyed this post, please check out MacDesign, a blog centered around graphic design and video production on the Mac platform.