The History Book Club discussion

274 views
TECHNOLOGY/PRINT/MEDIA > THE iPHONE

Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (last edited Jul 28, 2013 07:42AM) (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
This thread is a place to discuss the "iPHONE and any related topics".




message 2: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
iPhone 5S Release Date September 6? Bigger Screens For iPhone And iPad? This Week In Apple Rumors



Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to This Week In Apple Rumors, our regular look at unconfirmed gossip and questionably sourced reports radiating from Cupertino. This week we heard speculation about an early September iPhone 5S release date, bigger iPhone and iPad displays, and what Apple may be building for cars. And we saw a video of what some believe is the plastic case for a new, less expensive iPhone. So without further ado, here's This Week in Apple Rumors.

Sept. 6 iPhone 5S Release Date

The iPhone 5S may be just over a month away. Cult of Mac relayed a report from the German blog iFun that says the next iPhone will be "coming to market" on Sept. 6. iFun cites a very credible source "to be taken seriously," according to a HuffPost translation.

If true, the release would come a bit earlier in the year than previous versions of the iPhone to hit the market. The iPhone 5 was unveiled on Sept. 12 of last year and went on sale in the U.S. nine days later. The iPhone 4S was announced on Oct. 4, 2011, and went on sale in the U.S. 10 days later.

The site also said to expect "two new device types, and this doesn't mean two different color or memory variations." Hmmm ... could it be two different screen sizes?

Bigger iPhone and iPad Displays

On Monday, The Wall Street Journal rekindled earlier reports that Apple is testing bigger screens for its iPhone and iPad. While the size of the rumored iPhone screen is unclear, the WSJ said Apple asked its suppliers "for screen designs for a new tablet measuring slightly less than 13 inches." The iPad has a 9.7-inch display and the iPhone 5 has a 4-inch display.

Apple finally took Donald Trump's advice, said Donald Trump.

Plastic iPhone Case (On Video!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44bira...

There have been rumors for months that Apple is working on a cheaper version of its iPhone that would have a rear casing made of plastic. Michael Kukielka, a.k.a. DetroitBORG, says he got his hands on the casing (thanks to Sonny Dickson), and made a video.

DetroitBORG calls it "a merger" of the iPhone 3GS and the iPod touch. It's thicker than the iPod touch and bit wider than the iPhone 5, and has the 4-inch display of the iPhone 5.

Apple's Dashboard of the Future

Tim Cook's comments in Apple's earnings call on Tuesday that "having something in the automobile is very, very important" brought renewed attention to what exactly Apple has planned for cars.

Last month, the company announced iOS in the Car, a way to integrate messages, Maps, and the iPhone more closely with new cars from a dozen manufacturers.

But iOS in the Car may be only the beginning. A few weeks ago Apple received a patent for a "revolutionary form of dashboard or instrument panel," with sensors, cameras, heads-up displays and customizable knobs and switches.

"It's something that people want, and I think that Apple can do this in a unique way and better than anyone else," Cook said Tuesday. "So it's a key focus for us."

Source: The Huffington POst | By Timothy Stenovec
Posted: 07/27/2013 9:09 am EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07...


message 3: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone

Constant Touch A Global History of the Mobile Phone by Jon Agar by Jon Agar (no photo)

Synopsis:

Until not very long ago the mobile phone was expensive and the preserve of a rich few. Today the cellphone is everywhere--so common it goes unnoticed. Jon Agar tells the fascinating story behind the rise and rise of this incredible little device.


message 4: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
Sounds like an interesting read.


message 5: by Alicja (new)

Alicja (darkwingduckie7) | 161 comments Now if they only made them more durable and water proof... they are such fragile things. If I haven't bough a super durable case it would have been broken on the second day. I'd take those improvements over new colors anyday.


message 6: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
I think they look snazzy but I always get the sedate ones - like the fingerprint reader.


message 7: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Hmmmm . . . time will tell about the fingerprint scanner. When I was working it was decided that the new med carts would use this technology if you didn't want to take the time to enter an ID code . . . but I could never get it to recognize my fingerprint . . . after 42 yrs of frequent hand washing . . . there was not enough residual oil in my skin to pick up on . . .

The same problem occurs with the retinal scan . . . it's my understanding that it doesn't work with people who have had cataract surgery . . . that leaves me out . . .


message 8: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig You could be a perfect spy, Tomerobber, lol.


message 9: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Bryan wrote: "You could be a perfect spy, Tomerobber, lol."
Or a life of crime somewhere . . . :-b


message 10: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Indeed, Tomerobber, indeed.


message 11: by Ann D (new)

Ann D Well, there could be a reason why "robber" is in your name.

:-)


message 12: by Alisa (new)

Alisa (mstaz) Speaking of robber, someone is going to rake it in on these new iPhones. the 'scaled down' version is rumored to be priced at $600 - $800 US dollars. Geez!


message 13: by Alicja (new)

Alicja (darkwingduckie7) | 161 comments Tomerobber wrote: "Hmmmm . . . time will tell about the fingerprint scanner. When I was working it was decided that the new med carts would use this technology if you didn't want to take the time to enter an ID code ..."

My friend works as a computer programmer with fingerprint scanners and he says that about 3% of the population have naturally occurring awful prints that are really hard if not possible for scanners to pick up on. And I am one of them too. I had a job once with fingerprint access and I always had to wait or call someone to let me in.


message 14: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Alisa wrote: "Speaking of robber, someone is going to rake it in on these new iPhones. the 'scaled down' version is rumored to be priced at $600 - $800 US dollars. Geez!"

Those must be the ones that aren't tethered to a contract . . . Walmart supposed to be selling the plastic versions starting at $79.00.


message 15: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Alicja wrote: "Tomerobber wrote: "Hmmmm . . . time will tell about the fingerprint scanner. When I was working it was decided that the new med carts would use this technology if you didn't want to take the time t..."

Can you imagine needing to use your phone in an emergency and it can't read your print? No thank you!


message 16: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
How about having to worry about this?

No, A Severed Finger Will Not Be Able to Access a Stolen iPhone 5S

http://mashable.com/2013/09/15/severe...#!


message 17: by Jenn (new)

Jenn I'm new to the iPhone. Just got the 5 last month and I love it! Not sure it could get any better.


message 18: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig I love my iPhone5, too, Jenn. Amazing technology these smart phones.


message 19: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
Double Ditto - aren't we the technogeeks


message 20: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig And I came late to the smart phone party. Pretty awesome; I think my uncle will buy a 5s.


message 21: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Hmmmm . . . I purposely did not want to upgrade to iOS 7 . . . unfortunately it downloaded automatically and I couldn't stop it . . . but I haven't installed it. I went on Apple's support site to see how to remove it . . . and was met with several thousand questions about problems with this upgrade . . .

I hate upgrades!!!

Hopefully I will be able to continue with reading and listening to books and posting here . . . if participation in discussions seems down . . . it may be because people are having problems with this upgrade . . .


message 22: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig I was going to ask someone about iOS 7. My uncle installed it and likes it. If I do it, I need to do some back-ups. I'm not running to my phone to install it. We will see...


message 23: by Tomerobber (new)

Tomerobber | 334 comments Bryan wrote: "I was going to ask someone about iOS 7. My uncle installed it and likes it. If I do it, I need to do some back-ups. I'm not running to my phone to install it. We will see..."

Hi Bryan,

I tried to do a WI-FI install on my iTouch with the last major OS upgrade that turned out to be a disaster that required having to call support . . . I did get my question answered from the user comm. this morning . . . I guess instead of doing the download automatically . . . it must have just been checking for upgrade availability. I'll wait for awhile before I try out iOS7.

I learned in the past not to go running to install on the day of release . . . I prefer to wait until the kinks have been resolved . . .


message 24: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Great advice Tomerobber.


message 25: by Jena (new)

Jena (outlanderfan74) The IPhone has been revolutionary for me, as a totally blind person. There are light detector apps, money identifiers, color identifiers, and an app called Tap Tap See that will identify anything in a picture! (That last one does wonders for my dinner preparations with frozen and canned food.)

But the most drastic changes in my life have come in the form of all the things I can read! Newspapers and magazines used to be severely limited, if available at all. Now I can read almost anything. And the books . . . once Kindle made its IPhone app accessible to VoiceOver users in May of this year, the sky is the limit!

I have quite a bit of catching up to do, as far as reading history, but my IPhone is making it possible, and in fact, making it effortless!


message 26: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Amazing, Rachel, thanks for sharing your experience.


message 27: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
Rachel that is tremendous.


message 28: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Have people been happy with the new iOS 8.0? I hear Apple finally made a big mistake, because it takes up a lot of memory and some glitches, unlike Apple. I will try it with the update. My uncle showed me some of the nice features of 8, so I guess it is not all bad.

Just wondered if anyone else had some experience with it.


message 29: by Doreen (new)

Doreen Petersen Bryan wrote: "Have people been happy with the new iOS 8.0? I hear Apple finally made a big mistake, because it takes up a lot of memory and some glitches, unlike Apple. I will try it with the update. My uncle..."

I have it and it took what seemed forever to download and install. It's not bad once you get used to it and I like the health app that comes with it.


message 30: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Glad to hear Doreen.


message 31: by Doreen (new)

Doreen Petersen Don't laugh, okay you can laugh, but the only thing I can't figure out is call waiting. Always end up disconnecting someone. lol


message 32: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (last edited Nov 07, 2014 08:02AM) (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
You will get it just touch accept otherwise folks are going to think you do not like them (smile) - (if you touch decline)


message 33: by Jerome, Assisting Moderator - Upcoming Books and Releases (new)

Jerome Otte | 4780 comments Mod
An upcoming book:
Release date: June 20, 2017

The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone

The One Device The Secret History of the iPhone by Brian Merchant by Brian Merchant (no photo)

Synopsis:


We know the iPhone as the device that transformed our world, changing everything from how we talk to each other and do business, to how we exercise, travel, shop, and watch TV. But packed within its slim profile is the fascinating, untold story of scientific, technological, and business breakthroughs--global in scope, sometimes centuries in the making, and coming from vastly different disciplines--that enabled Apple to create the most profitable product in history.

For all the time we spend swiping, tapping, and staring at iPhones, you think there would be few things we didn't know about these gadgets. But think again. The One Device is a Magic School Bus trip inside the iPhone--traveling into its guts, peeling back its layers, and launching explorations that take us to the driest place on earth and a Mongolian lake of toxic sludge, down the Silk Road, into 19th century photography, and all the way back to Cupertino, California, where members of the original design team reflect on the earth-shattering work they did.

As multifaceted as the invention it follows, The One Device is a roving, wide-lens approach to tech history that engages the imagination as it explores the marvel of engineering that millions of us use each day.


message 34: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
Thank you for the adds Jerome


message 35: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
The Secret History of the iPhone

The One Device The Secret History of the iPhone by Brian Merchant by Brian Merchant (no photo)

Synopsis:

We know the iPhone as the device that transformed our world, changing everything from how we talk to each other and do business, to how we exercise, travel, shop, and watch TV. But packed within its slim profile is the fascinating, untold story of scientific, technological, and business breakthroughs--global in scope, sometimes centuries in the making, and coming from vastly different disciplines--that enabled Apple to create the most profitable product in history.

For all the time we spend swiping, tapping, and staring at iPhones, you think there would be few things we didn't know about these gadgets. But think again.

is a Magic School Bus trip inside the iPhone--traveling into its guts, peeling back its layers, and launching explorations that take us to the driest place on earth and a Mongolian lake of toxic sludge, down the Silk Road, into 19th century photography, and all the way back to Cupertino, California, where members of the original design team reflect on the earth-shattering work they did.

As multifaceted as the invention it follows, The One Device is a roving, wide-lens approach to tech history that engages the imagination as it explores the marvel of engineering that millions of us use each day.


message 36: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new)

Bentley | 44291 comments Mod
Raymond Williams on Culture and Society

Raymond Williams on Culture & Society Essential Writings by Jim McGuigan by Raymond Williams Raymond Williams

Synopsis:

-The most important Marxist cultural theorist after Gramsci, Williams' contributions go well beyond the critical tradition, supplying insights of great significance for cultural sociology today... I have never read Williams without finding something worthwhile, something subtle, some idea of great importance-
- Jeffrey C. Alexander, Professor of Sociology, Yale University

Celebrating the significant intellectual legacy and enduring influence of Raymond Williams, this exciting collection introduces a whole new generation to his work.

Jim McGuigan reasserts and rebalances Williams' reputation within the social sciences by collecting and introducing key pieces of his work.

Providing context and clarity he powerfully evokes the major contribution Williams has made to sociology, media and communication and cultural studies.

Powerfully asserting the on-going relevance of Williams within our contemporary neoliberal and digital age, the book:

Includes texts which have never been anthologized - Williams' work both biographically and historically

Provides a comprehensive introduction to Williams' social-scientific work

Demonstrates the enduring relevance of cultural materialism.

Original and persuasive this book will be of interest to anyone involved in theoretical and methodological modules within sociology, media and communication studies and cultural studies.

Review and Commentary:

According to Journalism Professor at Columbia University - Todd Gitlin - "This is an inaugural lecture Raymond Williams gave in 1974, when he assumed a professorship in drama at Cambridge University.

He’s one of the most fertile minds when it comes to media in the last century. Basically he’s saying that it’s extremely odd, and yet central, to the form of civilization that has evolved, that there’s so much drama.

And what he means by drama is not simply normal plays, but everything from advertising to television serials, to the contents of newspapers and magazines. He died in 1988 before a lot of the new technology we have now appeared; he had not encountered the iPhone.

But he anticipates a life in which people are immersed in narrative nonstop. I would add sound, or song, as another important component. This article is, at least to my way of thinking, the earliest statement of the point that quantity becomes quality.

The quantity of a certain kind of media experience creates a different way of life, which is in fact ours. Williams directed us into the whole problem of media saturation as a phenomenon worthy of treatment in its own right. -- Journalism Professor at Columbia University - Todd Gitlin in interview with Five Books


back to top