Authorization
Apple patent application hints at
Whoa, now here’s a patent that’s actually worth discussing. (The majority of patents are boring, that’s the implication.). Published for the first time this week, a patent filing for the process reveals that Apple wants to provide a more secure method for preventing unauthorized access to a whole device — or private information on that device — than current techniques like passcodes; That is, the device would have a built-in scanner, biometric or otherwise, that would determine if you’re really you, if that makes any sense at all. You touch the iPhone’s screen and it recognizes your fingerprint; hello, world! You place your palm on your MacBook’s palm rest and trackpad and the computer recognizes you; no password needed anymore!
The solution, the company suggests, would be to automatically use a sensor either hidden within the device or else repurposed from its usual role. Devices could recognize a fingerprint or finger vein pattern simply by waiting for the user to touch the display, which would hide the sensors on or behind the screen. A forward-facing camera could alternately look for retinal patterns or even recognize the facial features of owners when they're in the right position for use.
Notebooks could use the trackpad, palmrest and a webcam for a similar purpose. Biometrics could also be context-sensitive and detect the shape of a user's ear before allowing a call to go through, for example.
( Read more )
The solution, the company suggests, would be to automatically use a sensor either hidden within the device or else repurposed from its usual role. Devices could recognize a fingerprint or finger vein pattern simply by waiting for the user to touch the display, which would hide the sensors on or behind the screen. A forward-facing camera could alternately look for retinal patterns or even recognize the facial features of owners when they're in the right position for use.
Notebooks could use the trackpad, palmrest and a webcam for a similar purpose. Biometrics could also be context-sensitive and detect the shape of a user's ear before allowing a call to go through, for example.
( Read more )
Five Reasons Apple Should Open The iPhone
You know, BusinessWeek asked me about Apple potentially open sourcing the iPhone over a year ago. Since then: nothing out of Apple, despite mounting pressure from projects like Android that are vying for Apple’s throne. With Christmas only days away, I’ve only got one thing I want to ask Santa Jobs for, and it ain’t a Red Rider BB Gun.
All I want from Apple is a more open platform. Sure, the odds are slim as long as they remain dominant. That’s why I’m not asking them to completely open source the iPhone. I’m just asking them to crack the door and let the breeze in.
It’s Good for Devvies, Non-devvies, and Apps Alike
Open source is becoming the default way to develop software in many industries. Why? Because a properly-managed, open environment leads to targeted, robust features and helps developers share code in a healthy coop-tition that helps everybody in the iPhone ecosystem.
Developers love working faster, cheaper, and more effectively. More importantly, many folks that aren’t traditional developers are starting to develop apps for platforms like the iPhone. He who satiates that audience wins the war.
( Read more )
All I want from Apple is a more open platform. Sure, the odds are slim as long as they remain dominant. That’s why I’m not asking them to completely open source the iPhone. I’m just asking them to crack the door and let the breeze in.
It’s Good for Devvies, Non-devvies, and Apps Alike
Open source is becoming the default way to develop software in many industries. Why? Because a properly-managed, open environment leads to targeted, robust features and helps developers share code in a healthy coop-tition that helps everybody in the iPhone ecosystem.
Developers love working faster, cheaper, and more effectively. More importantly, many folks that aren’t traditional developers are starting to develop apps for platforms like the iPhone. He who satiates that audience wins the war.
( Read more )
Finally, iPhone 3.0 to get MMS and copy&paste?
Apple have announced a special event on March 17th, where the company will launch the iPhone OS 3.0 Software. As usual, it has triggered a lot of speculation about what might be coming in the new release.
Mac Rumors cited Boy Genius Report that claims to have heard two most-awaited features: MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and tethering:
MMS would finally offer iPhone users the ability to send photos by way of SMS, and tethering would allow you to share your iPhone’s internet connection with your laptop computer. An alleged Steve Jobs email even confirmed that Apple had been working on a thethering solution, so it certainly seems feasible. BoyGeniusReport’s record, however, has been spotty, so we can’t be entirely confident of the report.
Mac Rumors also mentioned:
…a better app-managing SpringBoard (with categories?), a solution to “push” notifications (background tasks?), and, yes… even copy and paste…
Will 3.0 OS be available for the iPhone 3G? I hope so.
Mac Rumors cited Boy Genius Report that claims to have heard two most-awaited features: MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and tethering:
MMS would finally offer iPhone users the ability to send photos by way of SMS, and tethering would allow you to share your iPhone’s internet connection with your laptop computer. An alleged Steve Jobs email even confirmed that Apple had been working on a thethering solution, so it certainly seems feasible. BoyGeniusReport’s record, however, has been spotty, so we can’t be entirely confident of the report.
Mac Rumors also mentioned:
…a better app-managing SpringBoard (with categories?), a solution to “push” notifications (background tasks?), and, yes… even copy and paste…
Will 3.0 OS be available for the iPhone 3G? I hope so.
Swedes bring MMS to the iPhone
Swedish company Mobispine has launched iSendMMS, an application that lets iPhone users send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages, it said on Friday on the company blog.
The application is available via AppStore and costs 49 Swedish kronor (US$5.70). Users will also have to pay the operator MMS tariff for each sent message.
Currently, the application only works in Sweden for users with a SIM card from TeliaSonera, the operator that sells the iPhone. But Mobispine is looking to make it available in other countries, according to Joakim Hilj, corporate vice president of sales at Mobispine.
The company has been in discussions with other operators since November, when the application was ready. Since then it has been working on the long process of getting the application approved by Apple, Hilj said. Receiving Apple's approval will open the door for a launch in other countries, according to Hilj, who isn't ready to say when that will happen.
ISendMMS only supports the sending of MMS messages, but the plan is to also add support for receiving messages, according to Hilj. For that to be possible the Mobispine platform has to be connected with the operator's existing MMS equipment, and it would also makes sense to use the Apple notification API (application programming interface) when released, he said in the company blog.
Mobispine isn't a newcomer in the messaging market. It currently sells software to operators that let users send SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS messages from a PC. Mobispine says it has 25 operators using the platform, including O2 and Vodafone.
The application is available via AppStore and costs 49 Swedish kronor (US$5.70). Users will also have to pay the operator MMS tariff for each sent message.
Currently, the application only works in Sweden for users with a SIM card from TeliaSonera, the operator that sells the iPhone. But Mobispine is looking to make it available in other countries, according to Joakim Hilj, corporate vice president of sales at Mobispine.
The company has been in discussions with other operators since November, when the application was ready. Since then it has been working on the long process of getting the application approved by Apple, Hilj said. Receiving Apple's approval will open the door for a launch in other countries, according to Hilj, who isn't ready to say when that will happen.
ISendMMS only supports the sending of MMS messages, but the plan is to also add support for receiving messages, according to Hilj. For that to be possible the Mobispine platform has to be connected with the operator's existing MMS equipment, and it would also makes sense to use the Apple notification API (application programming interface) when released, he said in the company blog.
Mobispine isn't a newcomer in the messaging market. It currently sells software to operators that let users send SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS messages from a PC. Mobispine says it has 25 operators using the platform, including O2 and Vodafone.
Linux, Microsoft and Sun to discuss the future of operating systems, but where's Apple?
San Francisco (CA) — At the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco on April 8-10, 2009, a meeting of the great OS minds will take place. There, sponsored by Intel, will be assembled together the Linux Foundation, Sun Microsystems and Microsoft representatives. For the first time ever, the three-way group will sit down at a single table to debate and discuss the future not only of their respective operating systems, but also the OS industry in general. What will come from such a meeting? I truly believe that only God knows.
The sit-down meeting will be moderated by Jim Zemlim, Executive Director at the Linux Foundation. It will include Microsoft's Sam Ramji, Director of Platform Strategy, and Sun's Vice President of Developer and Community Marketing, Ian Murdock. But where's Apple?
( Read more )
The sit-down meeting will be moderated by Jim Zemlim, Executive Director at the Linux Foundation. It will include Microsoft's Sam Ramji, Director of Platform Strategy, and Sun's Vice President of Developer and Community Marketing, Ian Murdock. But where's Apple?
( Read more )