Archive for October 5th, 2011

Let’s talk iPhone: Executive Summary

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Tim Cook delivered his first major product launch since taking over from Steve Jobs as the CEO. The main anticipation for an iPhone 5 did not come through. Instead an iPhone 4S with changed out innards was offered. By the way, Steve Jobs was absent from the event

Let's talk iPhone launches iPhone 4S instead of iPhone 5

"Let's talk iPhone" launches iPhone 4S instead of iPhone 5

The headline for the launch was the iPhone 4S. Identical to the iPhone 4 in terms of external design and appearances, the innards have been completed changed out with much better components. These include a more powerful A5 dual-core CPU promising 2x the previous computing speed and 7x graphics performance, new 8 megapixel camera, full HD video, and iOS 5.

Other highlights inlcude Siri, the voice-activated intelligent assistant and iCloud, a set of cloud services that works and syncs with all the Apple devices a user owns.

New apps and iPod Touch and nano devices were also presented.

Here’s a quick executive summary of the various products launched, their prices (in the US and in Singapore), as well as when they would be available.

Product / Availability Prices

iPhone 4S

(black & white)

Oct 14:
US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan & UK
Oct 28:
22 countries including Singapore
Dec 2011:
Rest of the world

 US prices (w 2 yrs contract):
16GB: US$199
32GB: US$299
64GB: US$399 

Singapore prices (incl GST):
iPhone 4S: TBA
iPhone 4: S$788
iPhone 3GS: S$548

Siri voice-activated intelligent assistant

Comes as Beta on iPhone 4S

 Free

iOS 5

Available on Oct 12

 Free software update via iTunes 10.5

Cards App

Available on Oct 12

 US: US$2.99
Elsewhere: US$4.99

iCloud

Available on Oct 12

 5GB: free
10GB: US$20/yr
20GB: US$40/yr
50GB: US$100/yr

iPod nano

(black & white)

Available today

 US prices:
8GB: US$129
16GB: US$149  

Singapore prices (incl GST):
8GB: S$180
16GB: S$208

iPad Touch

(black & white)

Available on Oct 12

 US prices:
8GB: US$199
32GB: US$299
64GB: US$399  

Singapore prices (incl GST):
8GB: S$288
32GB: S$428
64GB: S$588

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Adobe Touch Apps

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Adobe announced its slate of six new apps for Apple iPads and Android tablets during the MAX 2011 conference in Los Angeles. Here’s a brief description of what each of the apps does.

Each of the six apps has an introductory price-tag of US$9.99. The Android version is will be available in November 2010 while the iOS version will only be available in 2012.

Adobe Touch App Description of App

Adobe Photoshop Touch 

Adobe Photoshop Touch

Adobe Photoshop Touch

Adobe Photoshop Touch

 Transform images with core Photoshop features in an app custom-built for tablets. With simple finger gestures, users can combine multiple photos into layered images, make popular edits and apply professional effects. The tablet-exclusive Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep and then what to remove.

With Refine Edge technology from Adobe Photoshop, even hard-to-select areas with soft edges, such as hair, are easily captured when making selections. Additionally, the app helps users quickly find images, share creations, and view comments through integration with Facebook and Google Search. Using the syncing capabilities that are a component of Adobe Creative Cloud, files can be opened in Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Collage 

Adobe Collage

Adobe Collage

 Capture and refine ideas and concepts by combining inspirational images, drawings, text and Creative Suite files into modern, conceptual mood boards.

Features include importing of images, four customizable pen types for drawing, adding text, and applying color themes. A virtually unconstrained canvas grows as needed to accommodate more assets. Files can be shared or transferred for access in Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Debut 

Adobe Debut

 Present designs to clients and stakeholders virtually anywhere. Adobe Debut quickly opens tablet-compatible versions of Creative Suite files for convenient and beautiful viewing on the tablet, including Photoshop layers and Illustrator art boards. Feedback is gathered using a markup pen tool to add notes and drawings on top of the work.

Adobe Ideas 

Adobe Debut

 Easy-to-master, vector-based tool for drawing. By using a stylus or finger, strokes appear smooth at any zoom level. Starting with a blank canvas, users can choose color themes, and pull in tablet-compatible image files that can be controlled as separate layers. Finished results are easily accessed in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Adobe Kuler 

Adobe Kuler

 Generate color themes easily to inspire design projects. Color can be explored and discovered, with hundreds of thousands of Kuler themes already available via the creative community. Social engagement in the community is enhanced by rating and commenting on themes, which can be exported as color swatches for Adobe Creative Suite projects.

Adobe Proto 

Adobe Proto

Adobe Proto

 Develop interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps on a tablet. Ideas are communicated and shared with teams and clients using a touch-based interface.

Gestures quickly express a design concept, explain website structure or demonstrate interactivity. The wireframe or prototype then can be exported as industry standard HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and shared in popular browsers for immediate review and approval.

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Posted in Adobe, Android, App, iOS, iPad, Launch, Prices, Software, Specifications, Tablets | 1 Comment »