With another acquisition, Apple now has more maps than my dad’s glovebox. (Scary!) Meanwhile, the company may allow in-store purchases coming FROM INSIDE ITS APP, its engineers are investigating the spoooooky mystery of depleting iPhone 4S batteries, and a couple more iOS technologies may show up on the Mac like, uh, free candy. Okay, look: The remainders for Monday, October 31, 2011 are getting a bit too old for trick-or-treating.
Way back in August, it was rumored that Apple might have acquired 3D mapping company C3 Technologies. Now, 9to5 Mac claims to have confirmed that Apple is indeed the firm’s new owner. Combined with other previous purported purchases, including Placebase and Poly9, it would seem to put Apple on the fast track towards creating its own replacement for Google Maps. Or, alternatively, the company has set its sights on finally taking down, once and for all, that pesky Rand McNally.
Apple Retail Stores to Allow Self-Checkout via iOS App for Accessory Purchases (MacRumors)
Last week, Apple launched a new in-store pickup service. Now, it may be on its way to letting customers buy items right through the Apple Store app, then walk out the door with their purchases in hand. It’s less like going to a store, and more like going to the library. Of iPhones.
Apple engineers contacting iPhone 4S owners to solve battery life puzzle (The Guardian)
Like our own Chris Breen, you may have found yourself confounded with the puzzle that is the iPhone 4S’s battery life. Turns out Apple may be puzzled as well. According to The Guardian, Apple engineers have been contacting users with battery problems, trying to help them suss out what’s causing the drain. Some reports suggest that a bug in the automatic time-zone setting feature may be the culprit. Others have deemed the power loss a metaphor about the current state of the economy.
Apple looking to bring AirPlay Mirroring, iMessage application to Mac OS X (9to5 Mac)
Rumor has it that two more iOS features might make their way Back to the Mac: Both AirPlay Mirroring, currently a feature of the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, and iOS 5’s iMessage may be bound for OS X. We know you’re going to ask about Siri, but inside sources tell us that there’s a union issue with Alex.
iOS 5 details (Design Archive)
You’ve probably already read my exhaustive iOS 5 review—if you haven’t, don’t worry, it will only take you about a week—but if you’re looking for the true nitty gritty of Apple’s latest mobile OS update, check this blog post; it goes so far as to measure the number of pixels between home screen icons in iOS 4 vs. iOS 5. I don’t even have a ruler that precise.
Product News:
Plex 2.0 – Plex has revamped its iOS media manager app to include a new home screen design, access to a universal media queue and shared media via myPlex, remote access, better subtitle management, an audio boost, and more than 150 bug fixes. $5.
Elements 2.1 – Second Gear has released version 2.1 of its iOS text editor app. It now offers iCloud syncing support for scratchpad, appearance, and settings, as well as the ability to copy Markdown-generated HTML to the clipboard. The update also includes a number of bug fixes, and now requires iOS 5 to run. $5.