The iPhone 4S may not look very different from the model it replaces, but there are plenty of internal hardware changes as well as a new voice-command feature. If you've got a question about the new iPhone, we've got the answer here.

Though Steve Jobs has passed away, we'll see for years to come his influence on the many things he touched during his lifetime, from the company he cofounded to the industry his ideas dominated. "You're going to have devices 20, 30 years from now that still bear the influence of the seminal vision that he had," Laura DiDio, the principal analyst with Information Technology Intelligence, told MacNewsWorld. Certainly the engine that will drive his vision into the future will be Apple, the company he cofounded.

Much of the Galaxy Nexus' mystery was taken away Friday after a Romanian leak and video (below). The Gadget.ro slip shows a design mostly in line with a small peek where the entire front is dominated by its touchscreen. Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) would let it use software-based buttons and, significantly, drop the search button that had once been common to most Android phones....

Hercules (http://www.hercules.com), which specializes in digital DJ controllers and a digital audio specialist, has debuted XPS 2.0 30 DJ Club, a pair of compact computer speakers inspired by the professional PA systems used by DJs. It will be available next month for US$59.99.

The wide metal grate protecting the central driver and the speakers' contrasting lacquered and matte finish also highlight their DJ personality. The Hercules XPS 2.0 30 DJ Club offers a "DJ touch" for fans who want to listen to music in the comfort of their bedroom or studio.

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Viva Media's Crazy Machine is now available at the Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com) It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$9.95.

Here's how the game is described: "Turn the crank, rotate the gears, push the levers, Use the catapult, explode it, or fly it. From grilling sausages with a pulley, gears, rubberbands and a candle to firing a cannon with a basketball, these wacky brain-teasers will light up your imagination with creative and addictive fun."

Crazy Machine has over 70 elements and 200-plus challenges. It also boasts 3D graphics and real time shadows.

Myriad Group AG (http://www.myriadgroup.com), which specializes in mobile technology, has unveiled Myriad Alien Dalvik 2.0, which will purportedly not only enable Android apps to run across non-Android smartphone platforms, but will now enable the Android ecosystem to be extended across multiple devices and screens such as tablets, e-books, TVs, automotives and even avionics.

Myriad will be showcasing Alien Dalvik 2.0 and its multi-screen strategy, demonstrating Android apps on an iPad for the first time at CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 next week.

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Following the launch of its original Bamboo Stylus in April, Wacom (http://www.wacom.com) has announced its new range of colored pens matching Apple’s iPad Smart Covers.

Available in white, blue, green, orange and pink, the colored Bamboo Styluses are designed for note-taking, annotation, drawing, sketching and visual thinking. With the proven precision nib, Wacom now also offers exchangeable nibs to suit the usage needs of iPad owners.

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Sonnet Technologies has announced the DiO Pro CompactFlash and SDXC USB 3.0 Media Reader, which enables digital videographers and photographers to transfer files quickly from CompactFlash (CF), SDXC and SDHC memory cards on location, in the studio, or at the office.

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Expanding on and modernizing the advice in its best-selling titles about backups, Take Control Books has published "Take Control of Backing Up Your Mac,"
 a 228-page, US$15 ebook written by award-winning tech writer Joe Kissell.

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I'll give the folks behind the Callet (http://www.thecallet.com) props for trying something different. Their US$19.99 product merges an iPhone case with a wallet into an all-in-one product -- at least in theory.

The US$19.99 case/wallet (hence the name Callet) utilizes the concept of a phone cover with accessible pockets. It's made from a Gel-Polymer and sports slit pockets to hold your cash and cards.

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The Korea Times is reporting that the passing of Apple chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs is likely to alter the legal battle between the two companies. Samsungís legal team are said to have held an emergency meeting at which it was discussed its strategy moving forward. A source within Samsung who did not want to be identified told the Times that new CEO Tim Cook perceived as being more pragmatic and could be open to a renewal of Apple-Samsung relations....

Later but more elaborate tributes to Steve Jobs have emerged from Pixar and U2's Bono. Pixar after some silence replaced its whole front page with a classic photo of a 1990s-era Jobs framed by Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter and President Ed Catmull. The two credit Jobs with getting Pixar to where it is now, having taken the Graphics Group out from Lucasfilm and fostered it until it shifted from short projects to full-length movies....

Americans visiting the online Apple Store to pre-order an iPhone 4S encountered multiple limitations on what they could buy. The unlocked GSM iPhone 4S won't be available until November in the country despite Canadians and some other regions having the option from the start. No reasons have been given, although it may be either supply or an agreement with AT&T....

Well after its advertised launch time, Apple has now begun accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 4S at their online Apple Store. Preorders are also available directly from Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. The servers, however, seem overloaded at the time of publishing so may take a while to get your orders in.

The iPhone 4S was introduced earlier this week and includes an A5 processor, faster graphics, an improved 8MP camera as well as the new Siri Voice Assistant.


The iPhone 4S comes in 3 different capacities 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, priced at $199, $299 and $399 respectively with contract. Carrier options in the United States include AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. We posted a detailed price comparison chart earlier today.

Those upfront prices assume that you qualify for a carrier-subsidized device. If you are presently in a contract with your carrier, you may not qualify. Apple provides this online tool to see what your pricing would be.

Apple reveals that in the U.S., the iPhone 4S will be available unlocked starting in November.

The iPhone 4S will also be available in-store on October 14th.

Update: Apple seems to having trouble with accepting pre-orders:




Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Begin
• Steve Jobs's Thirtieth Birthday Present
• Watch Pirates of Silicon Valley on TNT Tonight
• More Steve Jobs Tribute Photos From Our Readers
• Steve Jurvetson on Steve Jobs

On cue, the online Apple Store and numerous carriers including AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon have begun taking online preorders for the iPhone 4S. The picks include carrier-locked models as well as the full-price but unlocked GSM versions for those who want to switch carriers or avoid early cancellation fees....

Apple yesterday was awarded a patent describing embodiments of a "coordinated group music experience," a technique that combines two emerging entertainment forms, referred to in the patent as "silent disco" and "mobile clubbing." All three involve sharing music wirelessly to personal devices that are then relayed to the user via headphones. Apple's patent describes a way for participants to enjoy music together, but not necessarily the same music at the same time....

Game developer Firemint has released a new update (version 1.12) to its fast-paced racing iOS games, Real Racing 2 and Real Racing 2 HD for iPad, to fully exploit the A5 processor found in the iPad 2 and forthcoming iPhone 4S. The update brings significant upgrades to graphics quality, a split-screen local multiplayer mode over AirPlay for up to four players, real-time racing telemetry using dual screens for the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, 720p AirPlay resolution and more....

The New York Times today published an article with some details of Apple Co-Founder and Chairman Steve Jobs' last weeks, which saw a steady stream of colleagues and friends visiting or calling to say goodbye -- many of whom were gently rebuffed. According to the report, Jobs learned in February that his time was running out, though he did try a new drug regimen before the end that he hoped would stave off the inevitable....

Japanese carrier KDDI on Friday local time became one of the first out of the gate to detail its full iPhone 4S launch plans. Its discounts on the Apple smartphone are steep and give the 16GB model away for free on a two-year contract for 4,980 yen ($65) a month with unlimited data. The 32GB version is also steeply discounted and costs 10,320 yen ($135) on similar terms, while the 64GB version will cost 20,640 yen ($269)....

Acer and ASUS are both expected to try a very different strategy to drop below Apple's base price in the ultrabook arena, tipsters said late Thursday. At least Acer would start off 2012 by making a 15-inch model using cheaper fiberglass, not aluminum, to get the light weight. Digitimes was told that Acer had wanted to aim for the fall but moved it back due to "unfavorable market conditions."...