Apple launches cheapest iMac

Apple has launched a cheaper iMac, aimed at boosting sales as tablets eat up the market share. The new model has a slower processor, lesser storage space and lower-end graphics, but is Rs 13,000 cheaper than the current iMacs.

The new iMac has a 21.5-inch Full HD screen with dual-core 1.4GHz Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 500GB hard disk and Intel HD Graphics 5000 as standard configuration, priced at Rs 79,900 in India (US pricing is $1099). Buyers can also choose 1TB SATA, 1TB Fusion Drive or 256SSD storage options, which raise the price. Connectivity options of the new iMac include 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity, four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports and Bluetooth 4.0 and SDXC card slot.

This new model has been positioned as the new base model for the iMac lineup and will sell alongside the iMacs that were launched last year.

Apple will start shipping orders for the new iMac from today itself, with delivery time of 24 hours.

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Five Prominent Features Of Apple's iOS 8

The most valued technology company in the world, Apple has unveiled the latest iteration of the software that powers the iPhone. Dubbed iOS 8, the mobile platform was star of Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) keynote. As already reported by us, the software will be rolled out later this year (probably in September). The next iPhone will run iOS 8 out-of-the box. Existing devices such as the iPhone 4S, 5, 5C 5S, iPad 2 and above, and fifth generation iPod Touch are eligible for the update.

The new software comes with aesthetics and functionality enhancements. Here's the list of prominent new features and significantly tweaked apps.

Widgets

Apple has added widget support to the iOS. However, it's not what most were hoping for. These aren't your Android-type homescreen widgets. It will only show up in Notification Center. For now, native apps such as Weather, Stocks, facebook, and Twitter are supported. There's no clarity whether third-party apps will be compatible with this new feature right away or developer will have to modify their apps.

Healthkit

iOS 8 offers developers the ability for health and fitness apps to communicate with each other. This means that Apple's Health app will now gather the information from various health apps and fitness devices at one place. So that you can access the important data at a single glance. For instance, data from Nike+ app can be put to a good use in other third-party apps.

HomeKit

The new Homekit app in iOS 8 promises to give you the total control over your home automation systems. According to Apple, this feature uses secure pairing so only your iPhone can unlock your garage door. If integrated properly, you can expect Siri to turn the lights on and off for you. However, it won't be useful in India. Rather than splurging money to set up home automation system, it makes more sense to hire a maid in India. Plus, she will never ask for Wi-Fi connectivity.

Keyboard

Apple has integrated a brand new text prediction system QuickType in iOS 8. Apple claims that this feature will understand your usage pattern to give relevant suggestions. Based on past conversations, iOS 8 will also figure out where you're likely to be casual or formal in the conversation. Moreover, Apple has opened up the keyboard, so you can now install third-party keyboards such as Swype on your phone and set it as default. 

Messages

You can now send voice, images, and video messages right from the iMessages app. Similar to Snapchat, you can send messages that self-destruct. In group messaging, you can mute threads, leave group, remove contacts. You can also share your location with friends via messages. You can choose to display this information for an hour, day, or forever. 

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All Apple Apps must be optimised for iOS 7 from 1st Feb 2014

Apple is requiring all apps submitted to its App Store after 1 February 2014 to be optimised for iOS 7 and built using the latest version of the Xcode 5 development framework. The change applies to both new apps and updates.

Over the past few years, Apple has been encouraging developers to support the latest editions of its OS more rapidly.

This is likely to be even more important with iOS 7, which represents the biggest upgrade in terms of functionality between versions of Apple’s mobile OS, featuring a distinct new look that older apps will not fit into.

According to Apple’s developer support centre, 76 per cent of all iOS devices are running the latest version, compared to 20 per cent using iOS 6.

Xcode 5 includes 64-bit support and access to features such as multitasking APIs. An app can be built against the latest version of Xcode without having to be redesigned, according to TechCrunch, but may need to be reworked to function correctly for iOS 7.

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