Apple Event October 22

Hello fellow Apple enthusiasts!! Apple announced last Tuesday they would be hosting an event today! Some key topics they may discuss include : the release date of the new Mac Pro (announced in the spring), new iPads, and possibly the new iWatch. They will possibly demo the Mac Pro with OSX Mavericks as well as the new iPads.

Their title "We Still Have a Lot to Cover" leaves some speculation as to what Apple will be doing in their final quarter. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, hinted to new whole category. This means there are going to be category's of Apple TVs, iPhones, iPads, iPods, macs, Mac Pro, MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and more unannounced category's to come! 

Apple has always amazed us in every event they do. Let's see how they amaze us this time! T minus 2 hours!!!

Remembering Steve...

Today marks the two year anniversary of the late Steve Jobs. It seems like it was just yesterday that he was still with us. To Steve we are especially grateful for his vision, eye for design, and willingness to take risk that we all so greatly appreciate around the world.

The iPhone 4S came out shortly after his death, later to be coined the "iPhone for (4) Steve." He truly was a remarkable man. Heading up the most innovative company, his hand in products have impacted millions. Steve was always one for design, seen in each one of Apple`s products.

It has been said, that even before the iPhone 5 was released, Steve had his hand in designing it. With the iPhone 5s released, it would seem that next year`s iPhone would receive a new form factor. A completely new shape that Steve had no part in designing. How will Apple live up to Steve`s legacy?

Jony Ive has done a pretty good job on the next version of iOS : iOS 7. Let`s hope that he continues his signature for incredible design with the new iPads and iPhones to come. The new iMac looks great. If this is a harbinger of Ive`s design then Apple`s greatest days are still to come!

 

iPad Mini 2 Aspirations

Last year around this time, following the iPhone announcement, Apple held a conference centered on the next-gen iPads. If Apple were to follow the same pattern this year, it would be logical to assume the conference to take place somewhere in the fourth week of October.

I currently own an iPad 2, and I'm looking to, sometime, upgrade my hardware. Once the iPad mini came out last year, I immediately knew that I wanted that form factor for my next iPad. The only problem was that it lacked a significant upgrade

There are currently four main things that I would like to see that would totally sell me for the new iPad mini.

Retina Display:

In all honesty, this really should've been on the very first iPad mini to begin with. It's understandable that Apple wanted to keep light, with plenty of charge to last the day. But, come on! Hopefully Apple can make this a reality this time around. A retina display would finally complete the line of iOS devices all having retina displays.

Better Camera:

This shouldn't even be a discussion. Apple will update the camera. The question is, "How good will it be?" Recently Apple updated the iPhone 5s with a wider camera aperture, a new burst, and most notably, a slow-mo mode. With all these new additions to the phone, the camera app has become increasingly popular and very fun. In addition to iOS 7's new camera filters a refreshed camera will certainly be appreciated.

Biometric Sensor:

Also, new to the iPhone, the long-rumored fingerprint sensor has been a huge hit. I was very disappointed to see that the iPhone 5c didn't have one. Perhaps, because it was meant to be a lower-end device, or just a premium iPhone 5 exclusive. Either way, a fingerprint sensor for an iPad would be a giant leap forward for the iPad in terms of security and technology.

Faster Processor:

This is yet again a given, but it needs to be voiced. The first iPad mini had so much potential. It was a pretty big letdown for the phone (iPhone 5 at the time) to be faster than the iPad. Having only an A5 chip and the same resolution as the late iPad 2 it was more or less a step backwards.

This year Apple needs to bring it in terms of performance. The iPad mini is perfect for just about everything, and they need to make a processor that an keep up. With games such as Infinity Blade 3 and Injustice, an iPad needs more processing power. As we move forward in our post-computer age, mobile power is becoming more and more essential.

What do you think would be a killer feature in the new iPads? Let us know in the comments below!

Sept. 10 iPhone Event LiveBlog Services (UPDATED)

Ok, so we all know by now that Apple is hosting a press conference regarding the next-gen iPhones, which we know almost everything about, the next thing we want to know is what's going in every single minute of that conference, right?

Apple iPhone Invite

September 10

 

iOS 7, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, and iWatch

As announced by Apple on Tuesday, the iPhone 5S keynote will be held on Tuesday, September 10th at 10:00 PT. Sources tell me that along with the iPhone 5S they will also be announcing the iPhone 5C, revealing the release date for the new Mac Pro as well as demoing it at the event. My sources also tell me that later this fall or early next year, Apple will be unveiling the long awaited for iWatch.

   
The iPhone 5C is a cheaper alternative to a regular iPhone, kicking the iPhone 4S out of the running in the iPhone market. The lineup for this quarter will be iPhone 5S, iPhone 5, followed by the iPhone 5C. Leaked pictures and specs have revealed that the iPhone 5C will have a 4 inch display like that of the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5C will come in an assortment of colors including red, yellow, light blue, lime green, and white. 

The iPhone 5S will come in 3 colors this time including: black (slate), white (silver) and a new white and champagne color. 

My sources tell me that the iWatch has a touch screen display, along with a headphone jack, a built in pedometer, Siri integration, along with many other features. The iWatch streams via Bluetooth from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Pictures can be viewed on the watch as well a music listened to via the headphone jack.

Samsung's recently released gear watch only plays music via the phone itself, which could be a hassle if you are in class and hit the play button (oops!). The iWatch will give you the option of playing on the watch or the iDevice before it plays.

     

Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted to even more new product lines being released in fall of 2014 in a recent interview. He may have been hinting to the iWatch along with long awaited iTV. Instead of having a console hooked up to your TV, the iTV will be contained in one unit in three sizes.

 
Apple hasn't even released these products, yet they are already boggling the minds of millions. Once again Apple has outdone themselves.

Also, follow me on Instagram (@technomarshall) for pictures of the event and links to the live feed. 

Get in the iOS 7 Spirit! (Wallpapers)

For those of you can't wait to get their hands in the new iOS 7, here is a new wallpaper to get in the spirit. I hope you enjoy it.  I know I do. I cannot wait till Tuesday for the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.

 Marshall hopes to get the iPhone 5S. Hopefully we can get some first impressions whenever the iPhone does drop. 

The new iPhone is set to release on September 20, if reports are to be believed. We won't know for sure until Tuesday ,whenever Apple announces it at their press conference.

Below is the wallpaper for the invitation Apple sent out back on Tuesday for iPhone five:

iPhone 5 (iOS 7)

Credit : idownloadblog.com

Enjoy!

How to get ready for iOS 7

Who's ready for iOS 7? I know I sure am. There are a couple steps in getting ready for it all, though!

iCloud has already been (kinda) released (http://www.icloud.com), but you can't really use it unless you have iOS 7 or OSX Lion v. ll.0.5 So that's not very useful. But it's good to make sure that you have an apple id and that you know the password so that you can go ahead and log into iCloud before hand. If you don't already know the features of iCloud, go ahead and head on over to http://www.apple.com/icloud/. If you haven't heard about iOS 7 (which you should already), then go ahead and look at http://www.apple.com/ios/.

Ive Talks About His Passion For iOS 7

For quite some time we have been waiting for the major overhaul of iOS that iOS 7 foreseeably promises. Ever since Scott Forestall was fired from Apple, we knew that day would be coming very soon, and indeed it will certainly be this Fall season. But in our excitement, let`s not forget the mastermind behind all of this great design, Sir Jonathan Ive.

Ive, with his unique eye for design and precision, has rocketed Apple to the forefront of modern technology, and has helped Apple establish its name for design with prominence. In the video below he explains the effort and thought process that he and his team put into iOS 7 and goes further, with his coworkers, to explain and demo the various features of iOS 7. We hope this excites you as much as it does us!

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Spigen Glas.t.R iPhone 5 Screen Protector Review

For the last few months I`ve been testing out a brand new approach to iPhone protection technology. Not many of you have probably heard of the accessory brand by the name of Spigen. (Pronounced 'spee gin".)

Spigen is a premium accessory maker that produce products for a lot of popular companies such as HTC, Samsung, Blackberry and most importantly, Apple. Although their accessories are slightly more expensive than what you would usually pay, the quality of their products is stellar. So without further ado, lets skip right into the review!

 

Design:

Design is one of the most critical elements that you look at when you are about to purchase a product. Normally I wouldn't have bought the screen protector because of its price (See below) but, since it was just Christmas I decided to indulge myself this once.

 

What sets the Glas.t.R apart from most screen protectors is that the whole thing is glass. Yes. You heard me, glass.

Things Apple Has Removed from iOS 7

Recently I have noticed several things that are missing from iOS that have been there before.

Here are a list of things missing from iOS 7 :

1) The icon showing you are playing music
2) The shortcut to piston twitter and Facebook
3) Battery life
4) Voice memos
5) A joint photo stream

These are just a few of the things missing from iOS 7. They aren't really vital, but made navigation and everyday life a little easier. But, overall, Apple has kept the same consistency as they have on every one of their updates.

Apple has outdone themselves enough in the layout, apps, and many other areas enough to compensate for the missing attributes on iOS 7.

For pics, more reviews, and for review requests, follow me on Instagram @technomarshall and email me at marshall.bohlen@gmail.com. Thanks guys!!

iTunes Radio on iOS 7

Hello guys!!! As you know, recently I attained the new iOS 7 update and have been testing it out for y'all. This article is about the new iTunes Radio, so lets get started!!

 

Along with the new design of music, Apple has also included iTunes Radio with their update of iOS 7. It works sort of like Pandora. You can add stations according to what artist, song, or genre you type in. It allows you to skip 4 songs on each station, add the song to your wish list, and create a new station from the song currently playing. 

They don't include very many commercials, which I'm assuming will change when the full version comes out in the fall. They need to improve the EQs and acoustics for their music, but other than that, GREAT JOB once again Apple!! 

Follow me on Instagram for pictures of the new software!! @technomarshall 

iOS 7 : First Impressions

Hello fellow Apple lovers in the world! Recently I watched, as many of you did, the newest keynote from apple! I was amazed by all of the new innovations they had achieved ,in just a year.

But, the one thing that stunned me the most was iOS 7. So user friendly, so sleek and stylish, yet also very professional. It stunned me so much I was willing to do anything for it now. So I got it!

 

I'm not going to tell you how or where you  can get it, because this is just a review article. So lets begin reviewing!

My first impression was wow! Just the start screen amazed me. It started me off with the same iOS 6 wallpaper released with iOS 6 ,but, I'm sure, come release date, they will change that.

The control center addition they added may become an issue on the lock screen due to the use of the camera app that slides up from the bottom as well, but very handy. 

And for all of you Siri haters out there, she is all new and ready for you! Her response time is not lagging at all, she understands every word (unlike the previous Siri models), and even changes setting for you! 

Folders are all new as well. Folders, released in the iOS 5 update, has come a long way! It only allows 9 apps to a folder page, but (as far as I can tell) you can have unlimited pages. 

Notifications center lives and breathes for all of the workaholics. Your whole day is planned out for you minute by minute. Auto correct is fixed. They have an all new keyboard with bigger letters, a more sleek design, and a partly translucent backing.

The only issues I can see with the new iOS are the control center being so near to the camera on the lock screen and the movement of the picture behind the apps. It is very subtle, too subtle to notice when you are moving side to side. 

But, other than that, Apple has outdone themselves once again!! I cannot wait for the full release coming in the fall! 

For info on how to install iOS 7, contact me via email listed on my bio! Thanks so much guys!

Getting In the WWDC Spirit (Wallpaper Style)!

iOS 7 Logo

So WWDC is just over 12 hours away and I am going to have trouble sleeping! Anyway, just in case you're not already in the spirit of WWDC, iDownloadBlog has put together some pretty sweet wallpapers designed with the "7" of the iOS 7 for the up-and-coming OS that Apple is set to release tomorrow. They are designed with each of the appropriate Apple products, respectively. So head over to their site and download them, what are you waiting for!!

WWDC 2013: Expectations and Live-Blogging

Hey guys, here we are for another exciting year of WWDC! With all the hype around this WWDC, it`s stacking up to be the biggest one yet! I honestly can`t wait to see what they come out with this time around.

New MacBook Airs and Retina Pros are expected this time around, from Apple, both with the new Intel Haswell processors, that are expected to greatly extend your battery life by 50 percent. (Always a plus on mobile computing) Also, the Mac Pros are expected to have a long-awaited refresh, too.

 

iOS 7 is going to be a major talking point for not only consumers, but also for developers. Since the discharge of former iOS commander Scott Forestall, Sir Jonathon Ive has assumed the position and is greatly anticipated to be the savior of the "dull" OS.



Custom Ringtones (How to)

As I continue to customize the experience of my iPhone, I venture into the fine arts of choosing a fitting ringtone. One app that has helped me tremendously is called "Ringtones 500,000". This app contains well over 500,000 ringtones for all different genres and styles. After a little bit of searching and filtering I finally decided on some "Electronic" style ringtones, which I thought fit myself pretty well. The process to get the ringtones onto your actual phone is a process, but it doesn't take to much time if, in fact, you know what you're doing.(I'll explain the steps later.)

My only major gripe about the app is that it is full of popup advertisements!!!

It seems that every other click is an advertiesment wanting me to buy or download something. Another flaw I found is that, since this is a free app, you can only download 10 ringtones before you have to buy the full version! Luckily, you can always preview any of the ringtones in full before you hit that "download" button. Choose wisely!Steps to get Ringtones onto your iPhone. This is how I did it, not the way the video says. I have a PC and not a Mac. (Video is below)

iOS 6 Incoming!

Ok, so everyone has been talking about this upcoming "iPhone 5" for over a year now, and is so excited about it coming out, myself included, right? Well, along with all this fanfare, lots of people are forgetting a very crucial, and although not as equalling exciting, part of the IPhone infrastructure : iOS 6!

At WWDC 2012, in California this past Summer, I was really excited to see what Apple had in store with iOS 6. Sadly I was genuinely disappointed with what I saw. In my opinion iOS 5 was and probably will be the biggest update to iOS followed by iOS 4 and then iOS 6. See the decline, while Android continues at a steady incline in features and UI attractiveness?

iPhone 5 Release and Pre-Order Prep

As you all know, the iPhone 5 will be announced this Wednesday (September 12th) and that there is a lot of hype built around the new device from Apple. I am one of those stuck in the hype. I pre-order all my Apple products as soon as pre-orders open. I've done this with my 64 GB iPhone 4S and my 64 GB new iPad. Pre-ordering Apple products is one of my favorite things to do. Last year,

Angry Birds Take to the Skies !

Rovio today announced a new addition to their Angry Birds franchise: Angry Birds Space.  In this next episode gameplay will be further enhanced along with some new surprises, also a new environment, Space.

Angry Birds Space will be landing on March 22. Below check out the Angry Birds Space teaser, and tell us what you think. Enjoy !

What is iCloud?

Ok, I have had WAY to many people ask me what iCloud is! I. Have. HAD IT! I'm just going to explain it all right here so that you can all know what it is and you can never forget, considering it's on the interweb.

Well, to start out, iCloud is basically a lot like DropBox or any other file storing applications out there. I was never really into all of that before because it required work and time. I had to research it, then I had to sign up, blah blah blah. But I have a friend who had the developer version of iOS 5, the operating system on your iPhone, iPod Touch, and your iPads. He kept talking about "iCloud," which sounded strange to me. So when they first announced the features, I swear I read the iCloud page at least 10 times until I had practically memorized it!

Apple made it super easy to change the settings in iCloud, start it up, and even retrieve documents from the cloud. To set it up, you simply go to your settings,

iPhone : What Now ?

Since we now know that the iPhone 4S is not going to be the huge upgrade that we all were hoping for, what can we expect from the next iPhone? Hopefully all of those rumors about the "iPhone 5" ,now the iPhone 4S,