It's that time of the year again at which point the really funny folks come out to play. Google is always game for a joke or two on April 1st, and has begun the tomfoolery with a little adjustment to its famed Maps app. Essentially, it brings a Pokémon Challenge element to the revered navigation tool, and since it's now April Fools' day in many parts of the world already, the Big G has already delivered its prank to tech fans.
You may remember the schematics leaks from a few days back, which supposedly gave us an insight into what Apple was planning with the next iPhone, aptly named the iPhone 6. But while it was certainly questionable as to whether the documents actually shed any light upon the enigmatic device, renowned designer Martin Hajek has turned the sketches and dimensions into some beautiful conceptual renders.
We've all got our pet hates. Some people can't abide those who smoke, or perhaps have a particular disdain for anyone that bites their fingernails. With us, it's people who shout when talking on their phones.
Oculus had already caused a storm in the start-up community having generated a strong following on Kickstarter, but it was the acquisition earlier on this week by Facebook for $2 billion that really thrust the virtual reality gadgeteer into the spotlight. With a current emphasis on gaming, Mark Zuckerberg made it clear that he has big plans to integrate Oculus' VR technology across the wider digital spectrum, revolutionizing the way we communicate and interact with the world around us. Today, a neat concept by Chaotic Moon has thrown up an interesting idea, showing a user navigating through a virtual shopping mall using a VR headset, and giving an early insight into just how Zuck and co. might eventually utilize Oculus.
In the past couple of weeks, we've been hearing quite a bit about Apple's supposed Healthbook endeavors with iOS 8. The app, which will supposedly be structured in a similar manner to which Passbook currently operates in terms of its card-like user interface, is to be a one-stop solution for iOS users looking to focus on health, fitness and wellbeing. Although there's been no word on if, or even how said feature may integrate with Apple's ever-rumored 'iWatch' plans, one concept maker has thrown together an interesting video of how Healthbook may harness the power of iWatch to deliver a complete experience.
The introduction of the radically-redesigned iOS 7 brought a shock to the system of many everyday iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users back in September, but after the previous year's Maps fiasco and the subsequent shake-up this led to in the iOS design team, the techies among us saw it coming. With Jony Ive's influence now apparent throughout the company's mobile OS, we fully expect OS X to follow suit given Apple's craving for uniformity, and designer Danny Giebe has presented us with a concept idea of what this may look like.
With so many innovative products out there intended to help you keep your treasured devices free from the scrapes, scratches and bumps that they may encounter on a daily basis, it's little wonder that the makers of these cases and covers are short on ideas for unique sales pitches. A company by the name of Sir Lancelot's Armor launched an interesting product this week in the form of the Holy Grail - an iPhone case comprised of bulletproof glass - and although it was never stipulated that the film would itself be bulletproof, the guys over at Ars Technica couldn't resist putting it to the test.
In the run-up to the release of any high-end device, there's always a certain level of excitement and anticipation, and with speculation having suggested that the iPhone 6 will be notably larger than any previous Apple smartphone, it's no wonder that analysts are already projecting a spike in upgrades and Android switchers. The iPhone 6 concepts have been arriving thick and fast, but today's effort from the folks of ConceptsiPhone has simply blown us away, packing a 5.5-inch edge-to-edge display into an undeniably beautiful form factor.
The iPhone 5s, Apple's current flagship, is scarcely six months old, but in smartphone terms, it's an old-timer. In a day when our supposedly beloved handsets have a shelf-life of around one year before we dispose of them and look for something else, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that talk of the iPhone 6 has been prevalent for a good few months already. And now, an interesting concept of the next-gen Apple smartphone, which packs a sumptuous, iPad Air-like design, has been showcased by perpetual designer Ran Avni, and in combining the most popular iOS device with best-designed gadget on the Cupertino company's roster, there was only going to be one outcome..
Even though numerous reports have given us a vague idea of what Apple may have in store for the iPhone 6, most of the details remain a mystery, and since it's going to be quite a few months before the company's next big thing manifests itself, anything that Apple has decided on could be subject to change. Amid the leaks and speculation, concept makers have been teasing some spectacular ideas, and while some, such as Sam Beckett's earlier design, try to be indicative of what we'll actually be seeing, others simply dare to dream. The following concept, which features a holographic display, does exactly this, and while Tim Cook's men probably don't plan on adding such a feature to the next iPhone, we can't help but fall in love with this little effort from SET Solution.
