Whilst on the train this morning, I overheard a conversation between two guys, discussing that one of their friends is an Apple software developer working on iOS 5 and he had told him some of the great new features that were coming this June.
Now I am a bit sceptical of this, as I am sure if iOS 5 was coming in June, we'd have at least had an advance preview from Apple, like they did with 4. However some of the features they discussed were quite interesting and compelling, so I'm classing this as a "take with a pinch of salt, but why not dream" category. I quickly typed these on notes on phone, then edited when I got home.
1. Video. Multiple claims, loosely detailed below;
- 1080p/50 or 60 recording.
- image stabilisation - achieved by using the centre portion of the camera sensor when stationary, then using data from the gyro / accelerometer to 'slide and tilt' this safe area around as the phone is moved. Will also look for high contrast lines in the image to 'lock' to in the same was as image stabilisation in iMovies on OS X works.
Motion data is embedded in video stream so better analysis and stabilisation can be done by iMovie, or 3rd party App. If Movie imported to iMovie '09 or '11 on OS X, then no further analysis is required.
- HDR video (?? - I doubt this one a lot, processing power needed is very high)
- Super slow motion mode which captures video at 300fps, then play back at slower 24, 30, 50 and 60 fps rates. max of 30 second sequence.
- Ability to pick up motion in picture and pass vectors though APIs for Apps to use (Augmented reality, etc)
2. still camera;
- Some features seen on 3rd party apps to be brought into camera app. Namely stabilisation (only take picture when scene is steady), view finder grids, filter effects, red eye reduction by pre-flashing, etc.
- Much quicker to launch and be ready to take pictures.
- tap to focus, double tap to focus and instantly take pic.
3. iLife suite included free
- iMovies will be overhauled with
- a better interface and intelligent templates (similar to the trailers feature of iMovies '11) which analyse the clips you have put on the timeline and suggests the best transitions, effects, etc.
- Ability to output in a format where additional work can be done on OS X version
- iPad version will have a lot of the features of the OS X version (he wasn't specific).
- iPhoto will replace the current photo app, with many of the iPhoto features;
- faces, locations, events, etc.
- A significant amount of edit features, including colour correction, saturation, etc, trimming, re-sizing, filter effects, meta data editing, etc
- iPad version to also have a lot of the desktop version
- Garageband (??)
- a cut down version of the desktop version. Desktop version may be renamed garageband pro.
- iWedBlog (on iPhone) iWeb (on iPad)
- iPhone version will be able to update blog entries on a website already created with the desktop version.
- A very simple template version of a Blog website can be created.
- iPad version will be able to create full websites.
- iExtra - A media authoring tool that can create DVD type menus, etc, similar to iDVD for for loading to a dedicated MobileMe publishing service
Now some exciting bits;
- Over the air activation - no longer need to connect to desktop iTunes to activate. Seen as a stumbling block for users that want a device but don't have or want a desktop / notebook.
- Over the air (sort of, wi-fi only) software update (for iPhone 5 only)
- Status bar will be made a bit taller and now include 'touch to set' controls, so you can tap the signal strength / carrier name to switch carriers or activate airplane mode / switch 3G off, tap the wireless icon to turn wireless on / off and select network, tap time to select timezone or change time, tap bluetooth icon to switch bluetooth on / off and pair devices, battery to activate a 'battery stretch mode'. (Sounds like some features of OS X are moving to iOS)
- improved multi-tasking and notifications
- Streaming services (iTunes cloud, etc)
- improved AirPlay and AirPrint although no details.
Other bits;
- Ping to become a separate icon, and expand more into social networking, but configurable so can be removed or added back into iTunes.
- Settings to include user profiles (for iPad I believe) so different users can have different settings.
- Facetime improvements including 3 and 4 way group calling, and finally working over 3G (although carriers will be able to disable it, or reduce resolution of images).
- Time Machine backup. Will be able to create a recoverable device image on Time Capsule and wireless SANs that include dedicated support. Again removing the need to have a desktop / notebook.
- A load of corporate features, mainly focused on the iPad. No detail discussed.
- orientation lock to be portrait / landscape / auto toggle on iPhone.
Sounds good, but I am seriously doubting these features. My fingers are crossed though, as some of these are what I've been hoping for.
Phil
Now I am a bit sceptical of this, as I am sure if iOS 5 was coming in June, we'd have at least had an advance preview from Apple, like they did with 4. However some of the features they discussed were quite interesting and compelling, so I'm classing this as a "take with a pinch of salt, but why not dream" category. I quickly typed these on notes on phone, then edited when I got home.
1. Video. Multiple claims, loosely detailed below;
- 1080p/50 or 60 recording.
- image stabilisation - achieved by using the centre portion of the camera sensor when stationary, then using data from the gyro / accelerometer to 'slide and tilt' this safe area around as the phone is moved. Will also look for high contrast lines in the image to 'lock' to in the same was as image stabilisation in iMovies on OS X works.
Motion data is embedded in video stream so better analysis and stabilisation can be done by iMovie, or 3rd party App. If Movie imported to iMovie '09 or '11 on OS X, then no further analysis is required.
- HDR video (?? - I doubt this one a lot, processing power needed is very high)
- Super slow motion mode which captures video at 300fps, then play back at slower 24, 30, 50 and 60 fps rates. max of 30 second sequence.
- Ability to pick up motion in picture and pass vectors though APIs for Apps to use (Augmented reality, etc)
2. still camera;
- Some features seen on 3rd party apps to be brought into camera app. Namely stabilisation (only take picture when scene is steady), view finder grids, filter effects, red eye reduction by pre-flashing, etc.
- Much quicker to launch and be ready to take pictures.
- tap to focus, double tap to focus and instantly take pic.
3. iLife suite included free
- iMovies will be overhauled with
- a better interface and intelligent templates (similar to the trailers feature of iMovies '11) which analyse the clips you have put on the timeline and suggests the best transitions, effects, etc.
- Ability to output in a format where additional work can be done on OS X version
- iPad version will have a lot of the features of the OS X version (he wasn't specific).
- iPhoto will replace the current photo app, with many of the iPhoto features;
- faces, locations, events, etc.
- A significant amount of edit features, including colour correction, saturation, etc, trimming, re-sizing, filter effects, meta data editing, etc
- iPad version to also have a lot of the desktop version
- Garageband (??)
- a cut down version of the desktop version. Desktop version may be renamed garageband pro.
- iWedBlog (on iPhone) iWeb (on iPad)
- iPhone version will be able to update blog entries on a website already created with the desktop version.
- A very simple template version of a Blog website can be created.
- iPad version will be able to create full websites.
- iExtra - A media authoring tool that can create DVD type menus, etc, similar to iDVD for for loading to a dedicated MobileMe publishing service
Now some exciting bits;
- Over the air activation - no longer need to connect to desktop iTunes to activate. Seen as a stumbling block for users that want a device but don't have or want a desktop / notebook.
- Over the air (sort of, wi-fi only) software update (for iPhone 5 only)
- Status bar will be made a bit taller and now include 'touch to set' controls, so you can tap the signal strength / carrier name to switch carriers or activate airplane mode / switch 3G off, tap the wireless icon to turn wireless on / off and select network, tap time to select timezone or change time, tap bluetooth icon to switch bluetooth on / off and pair devices, battery to activate a 'battery stretch mode'. (Sounds like some features of OS X are moving to iOS)
- improved multi-tasking and notifications
- Streaming services (iTunes cloud, etc)
- improved AirPlay and AirPrint although no details.
Other bits;
- Ping to become a separate icon, and expand more into social networking, but configurable so can be removed or added back into iTunes.
- Settings to include user profiles (for iPad I believe) so different users can have different settings.
- Facetime improvements including 3 and 4 way group calling, and finally working over 3G (although carriers will be able to disable it, or reduce resolution of images).
- Time Machine backup. Will be able to create a recoverable device image on Time Capsule and wireless SANs that include dedicated support. Again removing the need to have a desktop / notebook.
- A load of corporate features, mainly focused on the iPad. No detail discussed.
- orientation lock to be portrait / landscape / auto toggle on iPhone.
Sounds good, but I am seriously doubting these features. My fingers are crossed though, as some of these are what I've been hoping for.
Phil
