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MacRumors reports that Apple will be switching the functioning of the iPad’s orientation lock switch to a mute switch. 

Why Apple? Why? 

If I want to mute my iPad I can simply hold down the volume key. That’s why the iPad has a physical volume key.

I guess they really want to streamline and standardize their iOS devices. So this leads me to wonder whether or not the next generation iPad will even have the orientation lock/mute switch. iPhone 4 doesn’t have one.

Then again, it just sort of makes sense for there to be a screen orientation lock switch on the iPad. The device is bigger and it would seem a little less practical to need to double click the home button just to be able to lock the screen orientation (like you do on the iPhone). 

Leave it alone, Steve.

iChat already exists within Mac OS X and it has since the early iterations of Mac OS X. iChat allows you to do video chat, quite elegantly might I add. So this leads me to wonder why Apple felt the need to create a new piece of software that does half the functionality of an existing piece of an application that already exists within their flagship OS. 

Couldn’t they have integrated FaceTime into iChat? 

It would have been plausible to add a FaceTime section within the existing buddy list found within iChat. 

My guess is that this has to do with branding. Apple wants “FaceTime” to be synonymous with video chatting in much the same way that “iPod” has become synonymous with mp3 player. 

So why not just rename the iChat application to FaceTime. Merge both apps and you’ll get the best of both worlds, the ability to converse via text and video. I’m guessing that this will happen in the future. iChat’s ife expectancy has been cut and short. And possibly, with the release of Lion next summer, Apple will finally turn off life support for its flagship chatting application. Or will it?

iChat:

FaceTime:

Based on Apple’s sneak peak of Lion, Mac OS 10.7 will bring some changes to the much adored Dock. It looks like the teeny tiny light that appears whenever an application is active will soon be going extinct. 

MacRumors suggests that this might be due to the new “Auto Save” feature, which allows Mac OS 10.7 applications to “resume when launched”, just like its iOS 4 counterpart.

But I like that teeny tiny light. It gives me an at a glance view of what applications are currently open while I am multitasking. Sure, there’s this new thing called Mission Control, but I’ve become accustomed to simply looking at my dock and seeing what is running. 

Here’s to hoping that Apple makes the Dock light indicator an option that can be turned on and off within System Preferences. 

Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Mac OS 10.7 (Lion)

Photos via MacRumors.

On July 23rd 2010, Apple launched their iPhone 4 Case Program. Essentially, if you purchased an Apple branded bumper for your Iphone then you would receive a refund. And if you did not purchase a bumper then you would be able to receive a free bumper via Apple or your choice of a free iPhone 4 case via a 3rd party vendor like Griffin Technology or Speck. 

Needless to say, I had purchased a bumper on the same day that that I purchased my iPhone 4. As such, I received a refund for my bumper at the start of the free case program. The charge was automatically refunded back to my credit card - I didn’t have to do anything. 

So I wondered, what about the free case that Apple was offering? Everytihng that I read said that it was either one or the other. Bumper refund for those that purchased or a free case or bumper of your choose if you hadn’t already purchased one. 

Turns out, that to receive the free case you needed to download the iPhone 4 Case Program App via the App Store. 

I did that. 

I launched the program and was able to go through all of the steps. It detected that I was indeed using an iPhone 4 and deemed me eligible for a free case of my choosing. I went with the Griffin Reveal Etch case ($29 value). 

Despite it going through, I was skeptical as to whether or not it would actually ship. The wait time was 6-8 weeks and I thought that they would figure I had already received my bumper refund anyway. 

Well, just two short weeks after I placed my order for my free iPhone 4 case, I received a sipment notification email from Apple. It looks like my Griffin Reveal case has been shipped and is on its way. 

Neat. 

So long story short, if you received a refund for your iPhone 4 bumper, you can still use the Case Program App to receive a free 3rd party case. It worked for me, at least. 

If you own an Iphone 4 and haven’t yet ordered your free iPhone 4 case or bumper then you need to get on it!

Below is an image of the Griffin Reveal Etch. 

First of all, I love what Apple is doing with Multi-Touch. They have slowly taken the touch technology that they introduced with the iPhone 4 and incorporated it into the MacBook line and now their desktop computers. The introduction of the Magic Trackpad brings full touch capability, something that has been available on the MacBooks for some time now, to the desktops (i.e. iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini).

I love my Magic Mouse, so it is inevitable that I will love my Magic Trackpad. I tried to pick one up today from my local Apple Store, but alas, they had none in stock. 

In any case, here are a few features of the Magic Trackpad that I am excited about:

• It has the same sculpted aluminum design as the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and side by side the two sit flush at the same angle and height.
• It features nearly 80 percent more area than the MacBook trackpads.
• The entire surface is clickable.

I don’t like the fact that it uses old school batteries. I wish that it had an internal rechargeable battery that could be charged via USB. I guess I’ll have to pick up the Apple Battery Charger as well. 

Magic Touchpad
Price: $69.00
Company: Apple 

All 5 of these iPad cases are indeed much sexier than the stand that I am currently using for my iPad - a cheap $2.99 plastic frame stand. Needless to say, it does the job. If you’ve got some money to burn and an iPad that hasn’t learned how to stand on its own yet, then you definitely might want to give these 5 sexy iPad stands a look. Or, you can go and pick up a cheap $2.99 plastic frame stand like I did. 

By the way, my favorites have got to be the offerings from Elements Case (Joule) and Twelve South (Compass Mobile and BookArc). 

1. Joule by Element Case, $129

Features:

• Magnetically attached tilt foot at the rear allows for quick and easy view angle adjustments.
• Rubber pads at the bottom assure a firm grip on any surface.
• A velvet lined recess holds the iPad comfortably and securely.
• Designed and made in California.
• Limited quantities available.
• Designed With Both Landscape and Portrait Modes in mind.

2. Compass Mobile Stand by Twelve South, $39.99.

“Perhaps the biggest strength of this gorgeous sliver of steel is its versatility. Used upright as an easel, Compass lets you view and interact with iPad in both portrait and landscape modes, even if you keep your iPad protected in the Apple case. Use portrait mode for things like iPhoto slideshows, browsing the iBookstore or flipping through an online news article. Turn your iPad on its side, in landscape position, and Compass becomes the ultimate portable theater. Enjoy your favorite YouTube videos and feature-length movies anywhere you go, while keeping your hands free for popcorn and beverages.”

3. A-Frame by Griffin Technology, $49.99.

Features:

• Simple, beautiful table and desktop stand for your iPad.
• Holds iPad upright in landscape and portrait views or at a lower, wrist-friendly angle for surfing, reading and more.
• Stable aluminum a-frame design.
• Non-slip rubber cradle accommodates Griffin’s flexible and hard-shell cases and many others.
• Allows easy access to iPad’s dock connector for charging and syncing. 

4. ViewStand by Macally, $59.99. 

Features:

• Ergonomically designed to improve typing and viewing comfort.
• Durable aluminum construction with scratch-proof Thermo Polyurethane coating.
• Supports both vertical and horizontal viewing.
• Sleek design to match your iPad.
• Open to all connections and controls.
• Supporting stand included to prevent the ViewStand body from accidentally tipping over.

5. BookArc for iPad by Twelve South, $39.99. 

Features:

• Tabletop stand designed exclusively for iPad
• Hands-free use in four different viewing positions, including landscape orientation
• Elevates iPad for complete access to Dock Connector for Charging & Syncing

As we all know, FaceTime (two-way video calling) on the iPhone only works when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Fring aims to change that and allow you to do two-way video calling with 3G in the Fring app. 

With the new fring for iPhone you get lots of fring goodies including 2 way video-calling where you want and with whom you want!

Face-to-face video calls with friends on their Droids, Nokia (Symbian S60) and other iPhones

Video calls over 3G or Wi-Fi (Performance over 3G is subject to mobile operators’ 3G coverage & quality)

Download and Install

I did have a chance to download and install Fring on my iPhone 4 to test this feature out. Fring is a little cumbersome in that you actually have to register for a Fring id in order for the two-way video calling to work. I kind of wish I’d be able to simply select an individual from my contact list and begin the video call, minus having to register with Fring. 

Getting The Fring App To Load

I was able to get the two-way video calling over Fring to work after a little fiddling around. The Fring app on the iPhone took forever to load (the spinning ball at the top of the screen seemed to spin forever). I finally gave up waiting and restarted the iPhone. I then relaunched the app and after a few minutes the spinner stopped spinning and Fring had finally loaded completely. I could finally attempt my first two-way video call over 3G using Fringe. 

Testing Fring It Out

So I got my Fring app to load but the person with whom I was going to make a test call with had the same continuous spinning ball issue that I experienced earlier. I told him to restart the iPhone 4 and he did and then his Fring app worked. 

You need to add buddies as contacts for Fring to work. You can do this either by sending them an invite within the profile page of the buddy list menu. Or, you can go to the More menu and select Add New Buddy and from their you can input their specific Fring ID. 

Once they accept your invite, you will now see a video option in their buddy list profile page. As long as you both are online (have Fring launched on your phone), the two-way video calling should work.

When we were both online (had Fring launched on the iPhone) and did not have the continuous spinning ball issue, Fring worked. I was able to make video calls over 3G using my iPhone 4. However, it seemed the every time we exited the app and then relaunched the app, Fring would freeze up and have the continuous spinning ball issue. The issue would clear with a iPhone reboot (sometimes we didn’t need to reboot, we instead just waited it out), but you can imagine how annoying that can become. 

Final Thoughts

Fring works as advertised and I was able to make two-way video calls over 3G. However, the continuous spinning ball issue dampens the experience. I also wish that you did not need a Fring ID for this to work. In any case, you can finally make two-way video calls over 3G - just make sure your friends have Fring installed as well. 

Category: Social Networking
Price: Free
Company: fringland Ltd.

Get Fring from the AppStore.