iLounge

Code referencing next-generation versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV has been found in the iOS 5.1 beta released to developers last night. According to a report from 9to5Mac, iOS 5.1 contains references to an iPhone5,1—the iPhone 4S is listed as iPhone4,1—as well as an iPad 3,3, a full number higher than the iPad 2’s 2,x designation. A separate report indicates that iOS 5.1 also reveals the codename for the next-generation Apple TV, which is said to be J33. While such references do indicate that Apple is working on such hardware, they are not indicative of an impending—or even planned—release.

Apple has seeded its first beta version of iOS 5.1 to developers. According to the company, the update—listed as build 985117b—provides improved dictation support for text input views on “supported devices”. In addition, Apple warns that devices should be backed up either using iTunes or iCloud prior to installation, and that devices updated to iOS 5.1 beta will not be downgradable back to prior versions of the operating system. iOS 5.1 is available now to registered developers from the iOS Dev Center.

An iPhone 4 has spontaneously overheated aboard a commercial flight. According to a press release from Australian airline Regional Express, a passenger on flight ZL319 from Lismore to Sydney had his/her personal iPhone 4 emit “a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow” sometime after landing. In accordance with regulations, a flight attendant extinguished the handset, which was handed over to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for analysis. A photo of the handset shows the rear glass to be shattered, with a burnt-looking area in the vicinity of the battery. Further details, such as if the handset was jailbroken or connected to a charger, are currently unknown; a somewhat dubious report from earlier this year indicated that a separate iPhone 4 unit had overheated and caught fire while in use. [via BGR]

Apple is adding Sharp as a supplier of LCD panels for the next-generation iPad, according to a new report. Citing people familiar with the situation, the Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp’s Kameyama No. 2 plant will manufacture panels for the device, which is expected to launch next year. In addition, Apple is said to be investing in facilities at Sharp’s panel making factories, although the size of the investment is unknown. Sharp already supplies panels for the iPhone, and will be supplying panels for the next-generation iPhone, which is also expected to launch next year, according to the report.

Photos of a Brazilian-built 8GB iPhone 4 have appeared online, confirming a report that Apple was making handsets there. Citing an unnamed reader, MacMagazine (Translated Link) reports that Foxconn’s factory in Jundiai, São Paulo, Brazil has been making iPhones for over a month, and that the photos supplied by the reader depict one such unit. The white iPhone 4 in the photos appears to be identical to current units, save for a change in the regulatory text at the bottom rear. While it still says “Designed by Apple in California,” that is followed by “Industria Brasileira”—which translates to “Brazilian Industry”—instead of the usual “Assembled in China”. In addition, it carries the logo of ANATEL, Brazil’s telecommunications agency. It is currently unclear when customers might start to receive handsets built in Brazil, or to which markets such handsets might ship. [via Cult of Mac]

Samsung has started to air a new commercial for its Galaxy S II phone, in which it pokes fun at those who line up to purchase new iPhones. The commercial is set outside several Apple retail stores, and shows customers waiting line for an iPhone, only to see another person using a Galaxy S II, and inquiring as to what the handset is. The Galaxy S II owners then boast of the device’s larger screen and 4G data speed, much to the chagrin of those waiting in line. The commercial is available for viewing on YouTube, or in embedded form below.

Garmin has released an update to its StreetPilot Onboard apps adding several new features including traffic camera support, live weather information and Facebook and SMS sharing. Available as a $10 in-app purchase, photoLive Traffic Cameras is an optional feature in the new version that augments Garmin’s existing traffic monitoring by providing access to real-time photos from traffic cameras across the U.S. and Canada to enable drivers to see traffic and weather conditions at a glance. Over 10,000 traffic cameras are included with photo updates every few minutes and users can also save their favourite cameras for quick one-touch access.

Garmin StreetPilot 2.0 also adds the ability to view live weather conditions and five-day forecasts for the user’s current location and destination and enables quick sharing of points of interest via Facebook or SMS. Additional enhancements include improved searching to get updated results while typing and an integrated POI and speed limit editor to allow users to customize their own points of interest and even add photos of locations. Garmin StreetPilot Onboard is available from the App Store in several region-specific versions: Garmin N. America ($60), Garmin U.S.A. ($50) and Garmin U.K. and Ireland ($75).

GetSpotOn has released Fondu, a new social networking app designed to create a community for sharing bit-sized reviews about restaurants, bars, cafes and other similar venues. Described by the creators as a “Foursquare for foodies,” Fondu allows users to write short reviews of places they’ve eaten at and provide simple ratings of one to four “petals.” Users can search for nearby places or draw from a list of their recent check-ins on Foursquare and quickly and effortlessly add mini-reviews and ratings. In contrast to other social networks and online review sites, Fondu is designed to focus only on the reviews from people that a user wants to hear from: friends, family, foodies or others that they trust rather than having to read through a larger collection of essentially anonymous comments from strangers. Reviews can also be published from within the app to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare for extended sharing and users can cheer and comment on their friends’ reviews, bookmark interesting places for later and give tokens of appreciation to places they particularly like. An integrated map provides a graphical display of nearby popular spots and the service also provides an index of trending reviews in the nearby area or around the world. Fondu requires iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store as a free download. [via TechCrunch]

Over the weekend, Sprint started to air a new commercial touting the abilities of the iPhone as well as its own unlimited data offerings. “There are half a million apps and counting on the iPhone,” the commercial’s narrator states, while images of popular app icons are shown rising above various rural and city landscapes. “Apps that can take you anywhere, and do anything. You might say there’s no limit to what this amazing device can do. So the question to ask is, ‘Why would anyone want to limit the iPhone?’ We don’t. Truly unlimited data for your iPhone. Only from Sprint.” Notably, the commercial does not focus on any specific iPhone model; Sprint offers both the 8GB iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on its network. The 30-second ad is available for viewing below in embedded form or on YouTube.

The Omni Group has released an update to OmniFocus for iPhone adding improvised integration with Siri on the iPhone 4S. With the latest version of OmniFocus for the iPhone, users can now create reminders on-the-go with Siri which will be automatically imported into their OmniFocus inbox upon launching the app. Since neither Siri nor the iOS Reminders apps yet provide any APIs for third-party apps, OmniFocus accomplishes this by connecting directly to the user’s iCloud account to retrieve new reminders. Users can also specify a date and time for a new reminder and it will be set as a due date in OmniFocus and location-based reminders will be assigned to the corresponding context in OmniFocus if one is available. The update also fixes bugs related to location reminders, undo support and Forecast mode. OmniFocus for iPhone is available from the App Store for $20.

Loud Crow Interactive has released A Charlie Brown Christmas for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Based on the 1965 animated classic, the app presents the tale in an interactive storybook form narrated by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown along with the original dialog and digitally remastered illustrations, animation and music. The app provides interactive features on every page as the story unfolds allowing users to perform such tasks as playing Schroeder’s piano, finger painting and going carolling; users can also participate in the Super-Colossal Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Display content to unlock rewards and decorations for their very own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. Word and note highlighting helps children improve reading and musical skills and individual words are repeated with the tap of a finger. A Charlie Brown Christmas is a universal app and is available from the App Store for $7.

New code found within iOS 5 suggests that Apple is considering releasing a unified iChat client for its mobile platform. RazorianFly points to a series of tweets from developer John Heaton, who found references to a variety of services, all consolidated under an IMService banner. Specifically, the code references iMessage, FaceTime, Jabber, and AIM; consolidating all those various messaging protocols under one application would substantially simplify messaging on the devices. Such a move could also lead to similar changes to iChat for Mac, which currently handles only the latter two protocols, while FaceTime is a separate app, and iMessage is currently unsupported on the Mac. [via Mac Rumors]

Navigon has released a major update to its line of navigation apps for iOS devices adding a redesigned user interface and new map management capabilities. The Navigon 2.0 apps, available in several region-specific versions now provide a refined and more intuitive user interface, reducing complexity and making the application easier to use, especially while on the go. Users can now easily switch between different pages with animated menus and multi-touch gestures, rotate and zoom maps in any direction when in 3D mode and tap points of interest on the map to instantly add them to a route.

Navigon 2.0 also adds a new MyMaps function allowing users to manage which maps are loaded onto their device for more efficient use of on-device storage. For example, users who own the North America version can select specific U.S. states and Canadian provinces they want stored on their device with the ability to download additional regions at a later time as needed. This also reduces the size of the Navigon download and app installation package as maps for selected regions are downloaded over the air after installation using a Wi-Fi connection. In conjunction with MyMaps, users can also subscribe to a new FreshMaps feature for a one-time fee that delivers quarterly map updates with the latest verified navigation data and points of interest. Navigon 2.0 is a universal app requiring iOS 4.3 or later and available from the App Store in several versions for specific regions: Navigon North America ($40), Navigon USA ($30) and Navigon Europe ($75) as well as numerous other regional editions.

AOL has released a major update to its AIM instant messaging client for the iPhone and iPod touch sporting a new redesign from the ground up with several new features. AIM 5 adds support for storing and syncing message history across multiple devices so that all messages are more readily available, with the ability to take conversations “off the record” for privacy requirements. Group chat has also been included and enhanced to make it simpler to talk and share with multiple users and users can now share photos and locations directly in a conversation stream. The app also adds the ability to copy and paste messages, set quiet hours for muting sounds and push notifications, modify incoming message sounds and see notifications for activity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in addition to the AIM network. AIM 5.0.1 is available from the App Store in two versions: a full version, AIM ($3) and an ad-supported AIM (Free Edition). An iPad native version is also available but has not yet been updated to version 5.0.

Tap tap tap has released an update to its popular Camera+ app for iOS, bringing back the ability to use the volume button to take photos from within the app. Camera+ was originally cast into the spotlight last year when the developer attempted to sneak in the ability to use the hardware volume button as a shutter control after having Camera+ rejected by Apple for openly including this feature and using “iPhone volume buttons in a non-standard way, potentially resulting in user confusion.” Tap tap tap resubmitted the application with a hidden preference for advanced users to manually enable the feature, but unfortunately once discovered, the application was removed from the App Store and did not return until several months later in an update that removed the hardware volume button feature entirely.

Despite Apple’s prior claims of potential “user confusion” arising from this feature, iOS 5 introduced the ability to use the hardware volume button as a shutter control in the built-in Camera app. This presumably opened the doors for Tap tap tap to release an updated version of Camera+ bringing back the original “VolumeSnap” feature from last year. The latest version, Camera+ 2.4VS seems to have been released expressly for this purpose and is available from the App Store for $1 or as a free update for current users.

Google has re-released its official Gmail app for iOS devices as an updated version properly enabling push notifications. First released two weeks ago, the application presented a push notification error when starting up, causing Google to subsequently pull the application from the App Store and promise to release an updated version. Gmail 1.0.1 is otherwise identical to the prior version, except that users will now be prompted to enable Push Notifications when first opening the app and will be able to see badge counts and receive sound and vibration alerts when new mail is received. Gmail is available from the App Store as a free download.

According to The NPD Group’s new Smartphone Track service, Apple’s iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS were the top-selling mobile phone handsets in the US in third-quarter of 2011. The data shows that the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS led the top five, which also included the HTC EVO 4G, Motorola Droid 3, and Samsung Intensity II. Overall, smartphones accounted for 59 percent of all US mobile handset sales, an increase of 13 percent year-over-year. Notably, the average selling price for smarphones declined for the fourth straight quarter to $135; 64 percent of consumers who considered purchasing phones in the $200-$250 range ended up purchasing a phone for less than $200.

Online shopping organizer service Slice has released an official iPhone app allowing users to easily track all of their online shopping activity while on the go. The Slice service provides users with a simple way to collect and organize information about their purchases online, saving time and money by analyzing electronic receipts, tracking order progress and taking advantage of price adjustments. The Slice app for iPhone automatically scrapes through the user’s e-mail inbox to consolidate online receipts, shipment notifications, tracking numbers, return policies and customer service information into a single, convenient view allowing users to see the status of their orders and purchases at a glance without having to track down and manually enter order information.

Push Notifications provide alerts for shipment updates as well as notifications of price drops that may have occurred since placing an order so that users can contact the retailer to recoup the difference. Shipments in-progress are tracked within the app on an integrated map view across multiple carriers along with detailed information about each package and the application also provides easy access to receipts and often hard-to-find return information to simplify the process of returning unwanted purchases. Users can also get reports containing detailed information on purchases right down to individual items, providing more useful information than can be found on a credit card statement. Slice requires iOS 4.2 or later and is available from the App Store as a free download.

NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest wireless carrier, remains in talks with Apple to offer the iPhone in Japan, according to a new report. Citing DoCoMo president and CEO Ryuji Yamada, the Wall Street Journal reports that certain requirements have made it difficult for the companies to come to an agreement. “We haven’t given up our hope of introducing the iPhone”, Yamada told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview, but Apple typically asks carrier to commit to a large volume of phones. “If the introduction of the iPhone results in the mass majority of our products occupied by the iPhone, then that’s a scenario that’s difficult to us to swallow.” Yamada also cited Apple’s refusal to allow carriers to pre-install their own applications—such as DoCoMo’s e-wallet app—as a potential problem. SoftBank had been the lone iPhone carrier in Japan until recently, when the handset arrived on rival carrier KDDI.

Claro, a subsidiary of América Móvil and the largest Puerto Rican telecommunications company, has launched the iPhone 4S in the U.S. territory. According to the carrier’s website (Translated Link), customers can purchase the 16GB model for as low as $100 on a two-year contract, with 32GB and 64GB units priced at $200 and $300, respectively; monthly plans start at $65 and go up to $85. Notably, both higher-capacity models are listed as coming soon, suggesting that the carrier only has supplies of the 16GB model for the launch. The carrier will also sell the phone unlocked, with prices ranging from $670 to $870.