iPads Get Thumbs Up in Election Test

Election officials in Oregon are giving an “aye” to an iPad scheme that helped disabled voters cast ballots in yesterday’s elections.

Some 89 disabled people were able to have their say in choosing a representative to Congress thanks to Apple’s tablet computer, Politico reports.

One voter was “just so tickled with the iPad he’s committed to coming back in January to mark his ballot,” Secretary of State Kate Brown said.

There were a few minor hiccups, mostly because the iPad voting scheme isn’t paperless and requires Internet connectivity (or more planning ahead.)

Voters still need to print out ballots and mail them in.  Another issue was downloading the ballots on the devices so they don’t need Internet connectivity in the state’s rural areas, Brown said.

Officials have a few months to work out the bugs before the next trial Jan. 31. If all goes smoothly, voting via iPad will become available to all Oregonians – possibly from their own devices.

Otherwise, the state will also have to drum up the cash. Right now, they are using Apple loaners to test the program but estimate that it could cost at least $36,000 for the 72 iPads necessary to make the program available to disabled voters.

Via Politico

Follow @nmar

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iPads Get Thumbs Up in Election Test

Goodbye Steve Jobs

Here’s to the Crazy One – Steve Jobs [Video]

One of the most memorable ads of the Think Different campaign was Crazy Ones, Apple’s tribute to the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently. And the ones who change the world. Back in August when Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO, AdWeek released a revision to this heroes tribute, adding Jobs to the end of the sequence. With Steve’s passing we decided to run this video again.

AdWeek notes:

“The images showed everyone from John Lennon to Gandhi, but the inference was that Apple’s visionary leader was one these remarkable souls. Now, with Jobs resigning as CEO of Apple, we’ve added him to the end of “Crazy Ones”—a place he rightfully earned, even if he would never come right out and say so.”

Many people always felt Jobs should always have been included in this spot. Now he certainly is, at least in our memories. RIP Steve. Thanks for being Insanely Great!
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Here’s to the Crazy Ones – Including Steve Jobs [Video]

Firefox 6 For Mac Is Officially Released, Download It Now

In line with their promise to stick to a much more aggressive release schedule, Mozilla has just officially released version 6 of their popular Firefox browser.

Available for Mac as well as PC and Linux, Firefox 6 boasts a supposed 230% speed increase and support for new HTML5 and CSS3 elements.

That’s pretty much it, though. Part of going for a more aggressive release schedule means that future Firefox releases will be more like Chrome, where the difference between Firefox 6 and 7 might be just a couple of tweaks and a new feature or two.

One big omission of Firefox 6? No support for Lion’s new full screen mode. Boo, Mozilla. Boo!

[via OS X Daily]

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Firefox 6 For Mac Is Officially Released, Download It Now

Report: Apple’s Testing The iPhone 5 In iPhone 4 Enclosures, Retina iPad 2 On The Way

Over the last few months, the rumor mill has just been incapable of agreeing whether or not the next iPhone will be a modest update on the iPhone 4 called the iPhone 4S, or a more revolutionary update called the iPhone 5. We’ve even heard that Apple will release both an iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 in September.

Now ThisIsMyNext is reporting that there is no iPhone 4s at all. Rather, reports of an iPhone 4s have been informed by Apple’s method of testing the iPhone 5 prototype inside of the enclosure of an old iPhone 4.

This Is My Next’s Joshua Topolsky explains:

Simply put, as the iPhone 5 components are built for a smaller and lighter device, they can be easily fit into a casing which for all intents and purposes looks identical to an iPhone 4… and that’s exactly what Apple has been doing. Our sources tell us that the company has been testing the new components in old iPhone cases, for obvious reasons. Some of those reports we’ve heard about a larger screen for the old design would make sense too, as a slight tweak of the size (say, to a 3.7-inch display), would be barely noticeable to the eye, but obvious in internal component design. So if you’ve been wondering why the rumors about the iPhone 4S rose to such a din, now you know.

This isn’t unheard of: Apple famously field tested the iPhone 4 in a case that made it look like the iPhone 3GS.

Why would Apple ditch the iPhone 4 design so quickly? According to Topolsky, the “highest levels” of Apple are ready to move on from the design after the twin debacles of Antennagate and Glassgate.

In the same report, Topolsky confirms that his sources say a high-resolution iPad 2 Plus will be released in September with a display resolution of 2048 x 1536.

Topolsky writes:

he idea behind the product is apparently that it will be a “pro” device aimed at a higher end market — folks who work in video and photo production possibly — and will be introduced alongside something like an iPad version of Final Cut or Aperture. This product is specifically said tonot be the iPad 3, rather a complimentary piece of the iPad 2 line. Think MacBook and MacBook Pro.

We just don’t buy this. Not only has Topolsky been wrong about a Retina Display iPad before — he famously said the iPad 2 would have one — but packing that many pixels into an iPad display is still cost prohibitive. Perhaps Apple could make it work by branding that iPad as an iPad HD and charging more, but I just don’t think it makes sense to split the tablet market between consumers and professionals. What do you think?

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Report: Apple’s Testing The iPhone 5 In iPhone 4 Enclosures, Retina iPad 2 On The Way

Widget Lets You Attach Any DSLR Lens To Your iPhone

No, it’s not a fake. This is the latest scoop from Photojojo – a kit that lets you attach any DSLR lens to your iPhone.

The kit comes in Canon and Nikon flavors, each priced at $190. It comprises a wrap-around case for your iPhone, which includes a built-in UV filter, then an adapter doohickey that attaches to that. At the far end of the doohickey you’ll find your lens mount.

On to the lens mount, of course, you can attach anything that you normally attach to your DSLR. Your favorite nifty fifty, or that so-expensive-it’s-painful f/4 600mm supertelephoto.

Because who needs a professional DSLR camera anyway, right? You bought those lenses wishing you could instantly share the images on Instagram and Facebook, didn’t you? Didn’t you?

In all seriousness, the photo geek in me would love to play with one of these, but wouldn’t want to spend money buying one. What do you think? Worth every penny, or an expensive toy?

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Widget Lets You Attach Any DSLR Lens To Your iPhone

What Is Steve Jobs Announcing Monday? Here’s The Scoop About iCloud & Time Capsules [Exclusive]

Apple has already revealed that Steve Jobs will talk about iCloud, iOS 5 and OS X Lion during his WWDC keynote on Monday morning.

In addition, it’s rumored that Apple’s wireless Time Capsule backup/router will get a big update.

Here’s how iCloud and the new Time Capsule will work, according to a source close to the company who asked not be identified. It’s pretty surprising:

According to the source, Apple has developed a system to make users’ Time Machine backups available through its new iCloud service.

This is the “Home Folder” access concept that we’ve detailed before (how it will be accessed using NFC iPhones and the role of the Mac App Store). All your files and data — pictures, videos, Word and Excel documents, and so on — will be available anytime, anywhere, on both Mac OS X and iOS devices.

The surprising thing is, iCloud won’t be fed through Apple’s massive new data center in North Carolina, as you might expect.

Instead, the system will be based on Time Capsule, Apple’s wireless router and hard drive backup that’s currently sold in 1TB and 2TB versions. As rumored, Time Capsule will be updated, becoming less of a local backup and more of a personal cloud server, like the newer souped-up NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives from companies like Iomega (we reviewed one here). The new Time Capsule is rumored to run on iOS and come with embedded A4 or A5 CPUs.

Our source didn’t have any information about the hardware, but detailed how the Home Folder access system works. Files saved on your computer are backed up instantly to Time Capsule, which makes them available to remote Macs and iOS devices.

If you make any changes on any computer, those changes are updated through iCloud and stored on your Time Capsule. The Time Capsule archives and serves up your files even when your computers are off. When you get home and fire up your desktop computer or laptop, the files are automatically synced across your devices.

This service will also allow you to upload photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Time Capsule. The media will be stored on the device and be made available for other devices to sync. iCloud is the “conduit” through which everything moves, the source said.

“Your computer gets backed up to Time Capsule anyways,” said the source. “Now it’ll serve up your content when you want it, where you want it, right there on your iOS device.”

The system sounds like Dropbox, the web-based file-hosting system that’s won accolades for simplicity and ease of use. But in Apple’s case, your personal cloud will be maintained not on company servers, but on your own Time Capsule.

Why isn’t Apple using its massive new data center? This part is not clear. It may just be a way to sell more hardware. Apple is a hardware company after all.

Or perhaps Apple feels that consumers will happier if they are in control of their own data. Maybe users don’t trust Apple (or any other company) to host their most important files, especially after years of spotty service from MobileMe. Or there could be other reasons, perhaps legal, that are skirted when users are responsible for their own data.

Our source says the system is fully baked and is “what’s next in line” — but stopped short of saying this is what Jobs will reveal at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference on Monday.

The source said it will be added to future versions of OS X and iOS — but they didn’t know which versions of OS X and iOS. There appears to be no sign of it in beta releases of Lion, which has been available to developers for months. Apple has kept iOS 5 under tight wraps, and it may be ready for this system.

“This is what I heard that they have ready to go,” the source said. “This is what’s next in line. Word is, it’s a pretty finished piece.”

Given the source’s confidence in the completeness of the system, we’re willing to go out on a limb and bet this is what Jobs will reveal on Monday.

Airport Express — More Processing Power

In addition, our source said Apple’s Airport Express portable WiFi router is also getting an update. Specifically, it’s getting more processing power. The source didn’t know why. AirPort Express is also rumored to be getting an update next week, largely because Apple’s stores have run out of supplies.

The source didn’t shed any light on other rumors surrounding iCloud, such as it will include an online music locker or cost $25 a year.

However, they did pour cold water on the rumor that Time Capsules will download and store iOS updates in the background.

“I haven’t heard anything about a Time Capsule holding iOS updates,” they said. “Honestly, that rumor sounds incredibly stupid. Why would a Time Capsule need to store an update to deliver to your phone when it can be downloaded live?”

Also, don’t miss: The Cult of Mac Super Guide To What To Expect At WWDC 2011

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What Is Steve Jobs Announcing Monday? Here’s The Scoop About iCloud & Time Capsules [Exclusive]

Weirdly Indestructible, Impact-Absorbing iPad/2 G-Form Cases Now Shipping

Ok, we’re a little baffled why this dude is pulling out an iPad in this sitch. Last-minute conditions-check? Confused about the term “surf the web”?

What’s pretty clear though, is that the blindingly yellow G-Form iPad Extreme Sleeve case ($60) he’s peeling off his iPad is now shipping. We love talking about this case; partly because we’re fascinated with the extreme-sport-derived protective material it’s made from, and partly because we’re mesmerized by the crazy videos G-Form keeps releasing to demonstrate the Extreme Sleeve’s protective ability — which seems formidable.

Right now, it’s only available (thankfully, also in black) from G-Form directly.

This Week’s Must-Have iOS Games: First Touch Soccer, Spider Jack, Frisbee Forever & More!

Kicking off this week’s selection of must-have iOS games is a brand new soccer game from X2 Games – the team behind the award-winning X2 Soccer titles. First Touch Soccer promises to be the true next-generation of soccer on iOS, offering the “most complete, realistic and addictive soccer sim available.”

Spider Jack is the latest puzzle release from Chillingo and I’m betting this game will be the next iOS game craze. Inspired by Cut the Rope, this game features a similar gameplay mechanic and all the ingredients needed to be a fantastic iOS puzzler.

Frisbee Forever is a whole new way to play frisbee and the only official frisbee game for iOS. It boasts super crisp 3D graphics and a frisbee experience like no other!

Find out more about the games above and check out Pulse: Volume One – this week’s final must-have – after the break!

First Touch Soccer – ($0.99) iPhone – Games

First Touch Soccer claims to be the most complete soccer sim available for the iPhone, and with its impressive list of features, it could be spot on. To complete with the big boys like FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer, you need something pretty special – and this game is just that. It features an intelligent AI engine that provides smart defensive and attacking play with a challenging and addictive experience. Boasting intuitive controls, excellent visuals and multiple game modes. It really shines with ‘Dream Team’ mode, which allows you to create your own team from players all over the world – past and present. You can even design your own kit! With over 250 clubs, 30 competitions, and 7 game modes, First Touch Soccer is a must-have for soccer fans, and currently on sale to celebrate its release at an incredible $0.99!

Spider Jack – ($0.99) iPhone / ($1.99) iPad – Games

Spider Jack bears an uncanny resemblance to Cut the Rope and offers a similar style of play mechanic, but instead features an adorable green arachnid called Jack, whose mission is to return to his web to get his fill of flies. It features 75 levels skilfully designed levels that promise to test your reflexes and foresight. Using pieces of web (not rope) you must carefully avoid electrical beams and guide Jack safely home to his web. Use hairdryers to you advantage and try to collect as many stars as you can along the way. Each level features multiple solutions, and the impressive visuals have been hand-drawn and optimized for the iPhone 4′s Retina display. Realistic physics attempt to give you a taste of “what real web-slinging is like,” and offer a puzzler that’s suitable for players of all ages and abilities.

Frisbee Forever – (Free) Universal – Games

www.youtube.com/watch?v=213OQ4nDVzA

Get ready for blast off with Frisbee Forever on your iPhone and iPad, offering 100 crazy tracks which you must fly through at breathtaking speeds. Twist and turn in the California Theme Park, climb the majestic mountains in the Wild West or send the waves blazing in the pirate-filled Caribbean oceans. Play with classic Wham-O Frisbees or brand new discs exclusive to the game. Collect more than 100 frisbees as well as plenty of trophies and secret bonuses.

Pulse: Volume One – ($4.99) iPad – Games

Enter an absorbing world where players become part conductor, part note-captor and part multitouch master. Pulse is a brand new music game in which you must tap speeding notes as they cross the radiant pulse in an attempt to conduct beautiful melodies. There are 8 cores levels featuring original music with eclectic soundtracks of varying genres. It features unique and intuitive multitouch gameplay which is easy to pick up, but hard to master. Pulse is one of the most original iOS games I’ve seen for a while a truly magical idea that is executed perfectly on the iPad.

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This Week’s Must-Have iOS Games: First Touch Soccer, Spider Jack, Frisbee Forever & More!