Welcome to AppleForums.net, the premier Apple Forum and Apple News site for all things Apple & Mac! We aim to be a friendly, educational community dedicated to all Apple Products including Macs, Macbooks, iPhone, iPad, and iPod just to name a few. On the forum you'll meet other Apple enthusiasts that love talking Apple and will assist with newbie questions, general questions, technical questions, purchasing questions and more. The first step would be to REGISTER so you can take advantage of all the benefits we have to offer. Registration is free and only takes a few seconds!

Be sure to visit these popular sections on the site:

• Mac Forum - Discussion area for Mac models
• Macbook Forum - Discussion area for Macbooks
• Mac OS X Discussions - Discussion area for the Mac OS X (Operating System)
• iPad Forum - Discussion area for the Apple iPad
• iPhone Forum - Discussion area for the Apple iPhone
• Mac Application Talk - Discussion area for various Mac Apps

Boy Genius Report has a story today about a patent application filed by Apple and found by Patently Apple, which shows that Apple is looking into the potential of using magnetic MagSafe connectors with iOS devices. Apple already uses MagSafe connectors on MacBooks, and the patent indicates that it is thinking about expanding the use of MagSafe connectors to other devices. MagSafe connectors basically do away with the traditional “male” and “female” cable and port connectors, and aside from looking neater, also eliminate the danger of pulling a device off a desk when you snag a cable; if you snag a MagSafe cable, then you will only pull the cable off the desk, not the device it's attached to. BGR explains that the patent puts forward the idea that the magnets in this new type of connector would be coded with information that would be transmitted when the magnets were put together, with the benefit being that different accessories would be able to use a single connector port across the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or MacBook range.

The patent also talks about a stylus for the iPad, which would also contain coded magnets either at the stylus’s tip, or close to the tip. The stylus could then be put in a dock connected to an iPad or other device, and used to exchange data. Also included in the patent is the concept of the magnets in the stylus being an added security feature, with unique coding for each stylus that would mean that it would only work with a paired iPad or other device.

Source: Future iPhone and iPad may feature MagSafe ports, wireless charging

Yesterday is a really gorgeous looking forthcoming Mac and PC game from Spanish developer Pendulo Studios, which has just unveiled four new screenshots from the game, prior to its release this March. Pendulo Studios is probably best known for the million-selling Runaway trilogy, and more recently, The Next BIG Thing, but with Yesterday, Pendulo has decided to branch out from its usual more comedic themes and instead make a dark thriller.

In Yesterday, you get to travel around the world as John Yesterday, one of three playable characters in the game, who is sent by billionaire Henry White to investigate a mysterious murderous cult. During the course of the investigation you get to explore many places around the world, as John Yesterday endeavors to help White to dismantle the cult, and to discover more about his own identity. As you can see from one of the newly released screenshots, the game definitely has Pendulo’s signature classic style, as well as a strong storyline, and plenty of twists and turns, and great adventure games are always welcome on the Mac of course!

Source: Focus Interactive

Forbes today is reporting that Microsoft is planning to bring Xbox Live games to mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. Forbes writes that online gaming and entertainment network Xbox Live is a huge money-spinner for Microsoft, but currently the games are only compatible with one other platform, Microsoft’s own Windows Phone platform, naturally enough. However, if Forbes is correct, that is all set to change, with Microsoft looking to expand its Xbox Live franchise to the equally lucrative iOS and Android platforms, or at least that’s what it sounds like judging by this quote from a Microsoft spokesman:

“While the Xbox Live experiences and games always work best on the Windows platform, we understand that some Xbox fans may be using other types of devices. To satisfy that need, we are working to extend a few of our Xbox experiences and titles to other platforms.”

As Forbes notes, although the spokesman doesn’t name iOS or Android, these are the two biggest mobile platforms, so it would make sense that Microsoft would be looking to go there. And Microsoft has already dipped its toes into the iOS waters with its My Xbox Live and Kinectimals apps for the platform, so iOS Xbox Live games must surely be just around the corner. Now if only Nintendo would do the same!

Source: Microsoft Xbox Live Coming To Droids And iPads - Forbes
Via Cult of Mac

Apple has filed another patent, and from the looks of it, their Siri voice activated personal assistant could play a major role in a long list of Apple’s future products.






According to Forbes:

The company filed a new patent application for Siri, which includes a diagram showing the voice-activated assistant could be included in many products and services, including computers, tablets, connected televisions, cameras, Web and e-mail platforms, and vehicles.

The patent doesn’t make clear exactly where the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will take Siri next, but it raises the possibility of branding all future Apple products with Siri technology, potentially starting with the next iPad release.

Such a move will closely tie intuitive voice recognition to Apple’s already-successful brand, and secure its leadership in the competitive voice technology race.

Competitor Google also has designs on voice command for it’s Android line of devices, and is rumored to be working on improving their voice capabilities to compete with Siri.

Amazon has entered the voice command race too, purchasing speech-to-text startup Yap late last year, hinting they would be including voice recognition in future models of its Kindle e-readers and tablets.

Forbes continues, “The patent also raises the question whether Siri will stay tethered to specific products, such as the iPhone, coming into play only when a user speaks into a device or pushes a button. Apple’s patent documentation suggests the future Siri could ‘act as a participant’ in discussion forums, chat sessions, or support calls, or that it can run other devices remotely, such as ‘dialing telephones, controlling light and temperature’ and ‘controlling home security devices.’”

Apple’s latest patent doesn’t tell us exactly where Siri may show up next, but it does raise many possibilities about how Apple could include voice recognition in their upcoming products.

1-25-12

Source

According to Todays-town-hall-starting-in-june-apple-employees-get-500-off-macs-250-off-ipads/"]9to5Mac[/URL], during today's town hall meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that they would get $500 off Macs and $250 iPads.

The new discount program starts in June 2012, and can only be used once every 3 years. Employees also need to have been working at Apple for at least 90 days. The discount is reportedly for both corporate and retail employees. The discount is said to exclude the Mac mini.

Apple employees presently are allowed a one-a-year 25% discount on Apple systems. One report even claims that this discount will remain in place alongside the new discounts.

In 2007, shortly after the original iPhone's launch, Apple had announced a similar perk for employees. At that time, Steve Jobs announced that all full time and part time Apple employees would receive an 8GB iPhone.

1-26-12

Source