ikey

London, Mar 7 (ANI): Computer giant Apple is set to revolutionize the traditional door key with introduction of a hi-tech alternative nicknamed the 'iKey'.

It means people can stop carrying around a bunch of keys, and instead use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office.

The technology simply requires the users to enter a pin code and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it.

Apparently, a newly published patent application, filed with the US Patent Office, contains the details of the new technology.

It is speculated that the next model of the iPhone will contain this feature.

The application states: "The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone.

"The external device may be any suitable electronic device such as a portable media player, personal data assistant or electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house or other physical area."

For safety purpose, the device may be attributed with a feature to encrypt any information that passes between the iPhone and the computer-controlled lock, preventing hackers from "listening in".

Leander Kahney, a consumer technology expert and author of a book and blog called the Cult of Mac, said there were rumours that Apple has been testing the technology.

"If true, it's a very big deal. As well as opening doors and unlocking your car, it could also turn your iPhone into an electronic wallet and ID card," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

He added: "You'd be able to pay for buses and trains, as well as your morning coffee and groceries in a jiffy, just by laying your iPhone on a special pad, and the price is electronically deducted from your account.

"The trouble is that the technology hasn't gone completely mainstream. If Apple were to adopt the technology, they would likely set the standard, and that would drive widespread adoption as everyone scrambles to make their systems iPhone-friendly."

If granted, the application filed at US Patent house will offer Apple legal protection from other companies copying its ideas and technology.

Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, said: "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it.

"We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

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IPAD improvments that should be corrected before the release

Some major issues which apple should improve before releasing ipad in the market. Apple has prepared for their IPAD launch at 3rd april. But this following issues may lag the sale of the IPAD.

1. Where's the 3G iPad?
Apple announced that the WiFi-only iPad model will be available on April 3. We still have no idea when the 3G-capable iPad will be launched. Apple has only said that it will be made available in "late April." Numerous reports released prior to the announcement suggested that the 3G version will be delayed, so a later release date seems to make sense. But Apple should still provide an exact date to allay the fears of those who wonder if the 3G version will be ready for widespread use at the end of April. After all, Apple's track record with first-generation products isn't stellar.

2. The 3G-pricing conundrum
Whether or not customers really want to pay $30 for unlimited 3G data or $14.99 for 250MB of monthly data is up for debate. Even AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said earlier this week that he believes the WiFi-only model will sell better, since folks don't want to pay for another subscription. I understand why Apple is offering a 3G model, but 3G pricing is an issue.

3. We need Flash
What good is a tablet that can be used to surf the Web if Flash isn't supported? Yes, Apple wants to protect us from all those Flash security issues, but in the process, it's also limiting access to many major sites across the Web. Apple should offer Flash support before the iPad hits store shelves.

4. Displaying iPhone apps
Some customers might be disappointed when they start adding their favorite iPhone applications to the iPad, since many apps won't fit the iPad's screen. Apps need to be full-screen on the iPad. If they're not, the experience of using the device will be diminished. That's a result that Apple simply doesn't need as it attempts to make its iPad a viable alternative to so many other tablets on the market. 

5. Accessory pricing
Since the iPad lacks a USB port, users will be forced to buy accessories that can only connect through its dock. Unfortunately, Apple has been mum on accessory pricing. How much will that physical keyboard cost? What’s the prospective cost of other useful accessories? The company should let consumers know before the iPad is released.
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6. iPhone OS 4.0
Later this year, Apple is expected to announce a new version of iPhone OS. In previous years, those updates only affected the iPhone and iPod Touch. But now that the iPad is available, it could also affect Apple's tablet. Apple needs to reassure those potential customers who worry that the iPad's software will be obsolete in just a few months that any updates to the iPhone OS will also be made available to the iPad. It might sound obvious to some, but a novice user might be concerned.

7. The Kindle competition
Although Apple is marketing its iPad as a replacement for the Amazon Kindle, the company still needs to be worried about Amazon. A backlit screen is not the best way to enjoy books. And although Apple's iBooks will offer color—a major omission in the Kindle—speculation abounds over a new version of Amazon's e-reader that will compete more effectively against the iPad. Apple needs to figure out its strategy for taking Amazon down before the iPad is released. Any missteps could see book lovers run back to the Kindle.

8. Connectivity
Apple's decision to forgo USB, FireWire, or any other kind of connectivity is a major issue. Apple wants the iPad to go along on trips or be used for those moments when users want to perform basic tasks. But what about those moments when users want to transfer files from an iPad to an iMac with the help of a USB key? It won't work with the iPad. That's a shame. Apple needs to find a way for users to connect peripherals they already own as soon as possible.

9. AT&T's network
Apple's decision to partner with AT&T for 3G connectivity is suspect. AT&T has had trouble accommodating all the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS users that have pelted its network. The company is currently investing heavily in infrastructure to address those issues. But with some iPad owners connecting to that same network, it might be tough for AT&T to keep up. Hopefully Apple has worked with AT&T to ensure its network is ready for the iPad 3G.

10. No camera? Really?
Apple's decision to not include a camera in the iPad is a major omission. Part of the value of the iPhone is its ability to capture stills at moments when users don't have a camera readily available. Considering Apple is marketing the iPad as a mobile product, a camera would seem like an obvious inclusion in the device. And yet, it's not available in the iPad. Apple needs to find a way, likely through peripherals, to bring camera functionality to the iPad. It's a must-have that consumers will be missing.

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The best way for iphone users to waster their time.

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Iphone vs Google (An epic battle)

In the blue corner, wearing black, weighing in at 4.8 ounces, the 31-month champion of the touch screen phones: Apple's iPhone!. In the red corner is the challenger, appearing on every carrier, a new entrant to the heavy-weight battle: Google's Android!
It doesn't take Michael Buffer's "let's get ready to rumble" introduction to know that Apple and Google are squaring off for what looks to be an epic battle of the smartphone platforms. Apple made that loud and clear on Tuesday when it announced it would sue HTC, the maker of the Nexus One "Google phone," over 20 alleged patent violations.
Experts say Apple is an aging champion that is feeling threatened by the momentum surrounding new-to-the-game Google's Android platform.

Steve Jobs: A man aggrieved

"Apple set the bar and now it's being toppled," said Will Stofega, program director of mobile device technology and trends at IDC. "Apple is playing defense, and Google is playing offense."
Although it may seem that Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) and Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) are the only contenders battling it out in the U.S. smartphone market, that's simply not true. In fact, neither is even the largest.
That "biggest" award goes to BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIMM), which commands 41.6% of the market, according to technology data tracker comScore. Apple's iPhone OS is is second place with 25.3%, and phones that run Google's Android operating system are in fifth with 5.2% of the market.

Battle for the data belt

But there is an all-important metric that sets Android and iPhone OS apart from the competition: data. Heaps and heaps of data.
The iPhone, iPod Touch and the handful of smartphones that run Android accounted for a whopping 86% of the data downloads from U.S. smartphones in January, according to a recent study by Web advertising company AdMob. IPhone OS downloads accounted for 47% of the data requests across the nation, and Android accounted for 39%.
That's important for consumers, because it means they're getting more functionality out of iPhones and Android-based phones, which is, after all, the point of getting a smartphone. Those phones give users a seamless, computer-like browsing experience, and they offer by far the most apps.
The iPhone App Store has more than 100,000 apps. Google's Android Market has 20,000. The next biggest competitor is RIM with several thousand and Palm's (PALM) WebOS just crossed the 1,000-app threshold.
It's not just size that counts, it's how you use it: iPhone and Android users download an average of just under 9 apps per month, according to AdMob. The next largest contingent is Palm, which sees an average of 5.7 apps per month downloaded.
"People are more engaged with their iPhones and Android phones due to the browsing experience," said Soumen Ganguly, principal at tech consultancy Altman Vilandrie & Co. "That's where BlackBerry generally lags by quite a bit."
Data usage also gives Google and Apple an edge over the competition, because more data usage means more revenue. Apple takes a 30% cut from the apps that it sells, and Google makes money when people search on Google or visit Web sites that feature ads supported by Google.

0:00 /3:09Everyone vs. Apple

It may be too soon to count out any of the smartphone players just yet, given how quickly new technologies develop. RIM recently said that it planned to improve its browser functionality and Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) wowed spectators with its Windows Phone 7, which is set to be unveiled this fall.
But some say it's Android and iPhone OS, more than any other smartphone platform, that are making the greatest strides in the race to be market leader.
"Looking to the future, it is primarily between Google and Apple to shape the future of the mobile industry," said Jagdish Rebello, principal analyst of communication systems at iSuppli Corp. "When you look at what Google and Apple are doing with applications and creating an ecosystem ... others are just playing catch-up."

Blow by blow

Google and Apple have taken very different approaches to the battle. Here's a look at how that bout is playing out:
Apps: Apple is winning the app war now, with about five times more apps than Google. But app developers have to get their products cleared by Apple's standards police (remember the 6,000 sexy apps that got purged last week?) before they can appear in the App store. That's a process that can take months.
Google has taken the opposite approach, opening its platform to developers. IDC's Stofega says that developers are embracing Google's approach, and as Android adoption grows, more developers are writing Android apps. That could bring some of the higher-quality apps to Google's side. Google has a lot of ground to cover, but app war may just be beginning.
Devices and prices: IPhone OS runs on three devices: the iPhone 3G S, the iPhone 3G and the iPod Touch, with prices ranging from $99 to $299 with a new contract.
Android is currently available thorugh three carriers on on 10 smartphones in the U.S., with prices ranging between $79 to $199 with a new contract. It also runs on a number of other devices, including several netbooks and the Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader.

6 ways iPhone and Android differ

ISuppli's Rebello said Google's strategy of offering Android on more phones, with more carriers and varying price points was the same winning strategy for RIM's BlackBerry devices.
"Apple has a confrontational 'our way or the highway' strategy, but it's the Google model that's winning over carriers," he said.
Availability: The iPhone is available exclusively on AT&T (T, Fortune 500) in the United States, and there have been well-documented problems with how that partnership has negatively impacted many customers' experiences.
Google is carrier agnostic and, unlike Apple, allows wireless companies to take a cut in the app revenues. As a result, wireless companies are embracing Android. The only major U.S. carrier without an Android phone is currently AT&T, but the wireless company just announced it will begin to sell five Android phones by June.
"Google's strategy isn't about keeping one carrier happy but about enabling mobility, hardware and software to a variety of different tiers," said Stofega. "There are advantages to serving a number of different masters, and that's where Apple has some problems."

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