Apple Patents Nearly Invisible 'Microslot Antennas' Allowing for Smaller Devices

Apple has been awarded a patent (via AppleInsider) for 'microslot antenna' technology, which could enable 'invisible' radio antennas to be embedded into the housing of a Mac, iPhone or iPad to save space inside and allow for more compact devices. 
 
Notebook computer with integrated wireless antenna (20) on device housing
The antennas would use microscopic slots in the housing, with widths of just a few microns, making them almost invisible to the naked eye. The patent shows a variety of possible locations for the antennas on a laptop, though the same approach would likely be taken with iPhones and iPads also. 
 
Top view of microslot antenna design supporting multiple frequencies
Current devices may contain antennas for GSM, 3G/LTE, GPS, wifi and Bluetooth, though some of these may be combined. The iPhone 5, for example, uses just two antennas for the five functions, using rapid frequency switching to enable one antenna to do two jobs. Eliminating the need for internal antenna space altogether would, though, allow for slimmer and smaller devices. 

As TechCrunch observes, this could also create the possibility of an all-aluminum case. Apple has previously had to have a small area of glass or plastic to provide radio windows for the internal antennas. Microslot antennas would eliminate this need, perhaps leading to more Mac-like iPhones and iPads in future. 

Apple's interest in the possibility of implementing microslot antennas dates back to at least 2007 when the patent was filed, meaning that the concept may be requiring significant refinement before arriving in a shipping product or may have been scrapped entirely by this point. Still, it is clear that Apple is continuing to look for ways to handle the increasing complexity of wireless communications while maintaining its design goals for size and aesthetics.

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/12/apple-patents-nearly-invisible-microslot-antennas-allowing-for-smaller-devices/

Breaking: Android 4.2.2 (Build JDQ39) Update Rolling Out To GSM Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, Nexus 10

Nexus owners may have a reason to stay up tonight, as a couple of Reddit users report that Android 4.2.2 has begun rolling out to the GSM Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7.

There's not much word regarding what the update (which carries build JDQ39) includes just yet, but readers may remember that Google promised a Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming fix in the "next release" of 4.2 after 4.2.1.

http://www.androidpolice.com/tags/4-2-2/

HP Officejet Pro X576dw review

A multifunction printer without the jitters

The good: The HP Officejet Pro X576dw includes the company's first page-wide array print head that increases print speeds and improves overall output quality, while the network-ready printer also gives users the ability to print from the cloud and install a suite of customized apps for use with the onboard 4.3-inch color touch-screen display.

The bad: Small businesses looking for extra features will be disappointed to find that the X576dw doesn't include a stapler or other document organization options.

The bottom line: The Officejet Pro X576dw delivers a generous serving of features exclusive to HP, including a new Pagewide printhead that grants it the speed benefits of a laser printer while maintaining the color print quality of an inkjet, making it worthwhile for offices shopping for a professional imaging solution.

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Introduction
The $799 HP Officejet Pro X576dw multifunction inkjet printer defies established industry logic that says laser printers are better for small businesses requiring speedy text output at a budget cost without a primary concern for print output quality. HP's new PageWide technology deserves the credit for this crossover -- it's featured in all of the company's new "X" series printers and uses a fixed print head instead of a traditional motorized assembly and belt system.

The application of this new feeder combines the speed of a laser printer with the color printing acumen and low cost of consumables that attracts small workgroups to an inkjet. HP also pushes the X576dw into a new generation of print services through a large touch-screen display that works sublimely with the company's collection of ad-hoc mobile printing services, like ePrint, Google Cloud Print, and the HP ePrintCenter apps.

If you can look past the omission of a tactile control panel to see the benefits of "print anywhere" versatility, the Officejet Pro X576dw's advancements in printing technology will make it an easy to use, cost efficient partner for small businesses and larger work groups.

Design and Features

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The HP X576dw is the top-of-the-line model in the "X" series, and its size certainly communicates that stature. Its dimensions (20.3 inches tall and 20.3 inches wide) put it in the same weight class as larger workgroup laser printers, but it's surprisingly portable around the office, thanks to two handles that sit just underneath the scanner to save your lower back from heavy lifting. Since this is considered a "professional" class device (hence the moniker), the relative size of the X576dw is due to the dual paper trays that feed media into the printer.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

In terms of paper handling, you have a choice of three locations to access: there's the main input tray on the bottom that can hold 500 sheets of paper, a 50-sheet autodocument feeder on top for scanning and copying a stack of documents, and an additional 50-sheet multipurpose feed tray that folds down from a door on the left side of the printer.

If you find yourself constantly refilling paper in all three, you can also purchase another 500-sheet input tray from HP that fits on the bottom and adds a few extra inches of height to the overall measurements.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Completed prints exit through a parking bay in the middle of the device that can hold up to 300 sheets, but keep in mind that the recommended monthly page output of this printer is 65,000 pages. That's a lot of printing, and should be more than enough for any small business from real estate agents to small law offices and anything in between.

The printer's auto-document feeder for scanning paper stacks.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The printer also features an automatic duplexer that saves you money on paper costs by automatically flipping the page over for double-sided prints. The left side also has a large panel that gives quick access to the paper feed assembly and duplexer, should you need to mitigate a paper jam. It also gives a peek at the jewel of HP's new PageWide technology: an 8.5-inch print head that stays static inside the machine, so the sheets of paper do the work as they move back and forth past the nozzles to apply the inks.

A tray opens on the left to reveal the duplexer and a glimpse at the new static print head.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

So what are the benefits of this new page array over traditional inkjet print heads that rely on a stepper motor, a belt, and a stabilizer bar to control its precise movements? Well, the new system means big improvements to print quality with less horizontal stripes marring graphics and text on the output page -- imaging geeks call that "printhead banding," and it's caused by a clogged nozzle or a misaligned bidirectional print head. Without a moving print head, you'll notice more solid, densely formed prints and even shading throughout.

The PageWide array also gives a dramatic speed boost to outbound prints, with HP blasting out up to 70 pages of color text per minute in its new "general office mode." The elimination of the moveable head also means an end to the printer jiggle -- a name given to the "dance" that occurs when the head vigorously passes over a sheet of paper and causes the whole device to move around on a table.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The X576dw uses four pigment inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Using HP's prices for the compatible HP 970 (black) and 971 (color) cartridges on the Web site, a page of black text alone costs 2.5 cents and a page of color is 3.2 cents per page -- both prices are fair compared to the average cost of toner cartridges in laser printers. You can also save a little more money by paying up front for HP's high capacity inks.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

HP extends its trend of touch-compatible printer displays to the X576dw with a 4.3-inch color screen positioned on the left of the device. The color graphic display (CGD) takes on the familiar shape of the original iPhone with a rectangular screen fit inside a rounded edge, with virtual buttons that illuminate to help with navigation and selection.

Though the sensitivity of the display is indeed a large improvement on some of HP's earlier touch-screen models, it's still prone to precision missteps when it comes to scrolling through the landscape menu pane. Unless you start a finger swipe on the outside of the display, the menu has a tendency to continue moving even after your finger lifts off the screen -- frustrating if you're trying to quickly parse through a lot of apps. The quirks of the display add time to the learning curve, but you'll have an easier time once you train your finger to unlearn the familiar iPhone gestures you might be used to.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

In addition to a direct USB connection (like most vendors, HP does not include a USB cable with the printer), you can set up the Officejet on your home network through Ethernet or Wi-Fi, which also lets Apple users make an easy connection through AirPrint on a compatible iOS device. Using AirPrint, you can print out a photo from your iPhoto library by simply choosing the connected printer and hitting Print. Browser printing through Google Cloud Print is also supported by the X576dw and available for personal registration through the ePrintCenter hub online.

I tested the Wi-Fi connection process and found it simple to navigate through the initial setup screens with help from the instructions on the driver disc. HP's latest Auto Wireless Connect reduces the set up time to less than two minutes (if you make your network visible, that is). If network privacy from intrusive leeches is your concern, you can also manually input your network username and password details on the virtual QWERTY keyboard and the printer should immediately connect. Macs and PCs alike on CNET's lab network were able to see the printer without the need to install any additional software.

In addition to Apple AirPrint, this printer also features HP's ePrint technology that lets you send jobs from any connected device to the printer using the uniquely assigned e-mail address. You can even navigate through the settings and change the e-mail address to an easier designation to give out to friends and family that you deem responsible enough to take control of your printer -- you can take ownership of that in the control panel (Wireless > Web Services > Display E-mail) and it's very easy to set up, but does come with a few restrictions.

For one, the printer must be on and also connected to your network. For another, it can't print Web pages, although you can simply copy and paste the text into a document as a workaround and even create your own customized e-mail address.

The ePrintCenter is an online hub where you can view job history, change settings, add printers to your account, browse and install apps, and cancel print jobs. All the extra applications are free and open to user reviews. HP breaks them down into categories within the App Store: entertainment, home, kids, news/blogs, photo, and tickets. Each one promises to streamline the printing experience by offering shortcuts to your favorite coupons, news articles, weather reports, recipes, and so on.

HP tells me that it plans to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) in the near future so software engineers can design their own shortcut apps for the store. Adding apps to the X576dw's home screen is as simple as hitting the Get More button that takes you directly to the store to download new apps, rate them, and even add your own comments. The apps have potential, but prepare to battle long load times that require you to navigate through several submenu layers.

Performance
The X576dw's affixed print head system lends itself to a boost in print speeds compared with its traditional competitors, though keep in mind that these comparison units are relative to the fact that CNET doesn't typically review printers for the SMB market. Tested using the new "General Office Mode" as the default quality setting, the X576dw fared almost as well as the Brother MFC-7860DW, an SMB laser that earned high marks for its quick print speeds.

HP Officejet Pro X576dw(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Black Text (PPM)

Color Graphics (PPM)

Photo (PPM)

Presentation (PPM)

Brother MFC-2270DW

19.28 

21.24 

17 

Canon Pixma MX870

7.18 

2.55 

0.8 

3.5 

Epson WorkForce 840

12.48 

4.51 

0.86 

6.79 

HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus

12.26 

5.93 

1.57 

6.26 

HP Officejet Pro X576dw

18.5 

17.3 

15.39 

You could just as easily mistake the excellent print quality of the HP Officejet Pro X576dw for output from a laser printer. With solid lines in both color and black and white, and especially darkened grayscale prints, the documents are of high enough quality that I wouldn't hesitate to hand them out at a client meeting. The print also exhibits equally impressively photo output quality with crisp, vivid colors and minimum blurring even in finer text sizes. As previously stated, my testing also revealed output immunity from color banding, a graphics printing affliction commonly attributed to a maladjusted print head. In this case, the lack of a traditional moving printhead works to the X576dw's advantage.

Service and support
HP backs the Officejet Pro X576dw with a standard one-year warranty that includes 24-7 toll-free phone support and live Web chat during weekdays. HP's Web site also contains downloadable drivers, software, and manuals; e-mail tech support; FAQs; and a troubleshooting guide. You can return the product within 21 days of delivery.

Conclusion
HP changed the face of printing when it introduced Cloud printing and the ePrintCenter back in 2010, and the company once again demonstrates its commitment to innovation with its first page-wide array product. With zippy new print mechanics, a streamlined design, and the added bonus of mobile printing through onboard apps and mobile features, the X576dw is an ideal companion for small workgroups and businesses that want a taste of the future of printing.

http://reviews.cnet.com/multifunction-devices/hp-officejet-pro-x576dw/4505-3181_7-35603919.html?ttag=fbwp

The New York Times is back with the curved glass iOS iWatch story

According to a report from Nick Bilton for The New York Times citing people close to the situation, Apple is currently in the process of developing a wristwatch that utilizes curved glass. This isn’t the first time Bilton has reported that Apple has wearable devices in the works, and there has recently been many rumors that Apple could indeed compete with a Bluetooth watch of its own. Back in December 2011, Bilton reported that a small group of people at Apple were “conceptualizing and even prototyping” wearable devices. The group, which at the time was likely lead by wearable computer expert Richard DeVaul, was said to be prototyping a “curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist.” DeVaul jumped ship to Google in 2011, but according to Bilton, Apple is pushing ahead with its bendable iOS wristwatch.

In today’s report, Bilton claimed the watch would run iOS and stand out from the competition due to Apple’s unique process of implementing curved glass in wearable form factors:

In its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Apple is experimenting with wristwatch-like devices made of curved glass, according to people familiar with the company’s explorations, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to publicly discuss unreleased products. Such a watch would operate Apple’s iOS platform, two people said, and stand apart from competitors based on the company’s understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.

Late last week, following sketchy reports  in December that Apple was collaborating with Intel on a Bluetooth smart watch, Apple employee #66 and founder of the company’s Human Interface Group Bruce Tognazzini published an interesting article on the potential for a watch to “have a profound impact on our lives and Apple’s fortunes.”

Today Bilton seemed to speculate that Corning’s new flexible glass could play a role in an Apple watch. CTO of Gorilla Glass-maker Corning, Pete Bocko, told NYT that its bendable Willow Glass is finally ready for primetime:

“You can certainly make it wrap around a cylindrical object and that could be someone’s wrist,” Mr. Bocko said. “Right now, if I tried to make something that looked like a watch, that could be done using this flexible glass.” But Mr. Bocko warns that it is still quite an engineering feat to create a foldable device. “The human body moves in unpredictable ways,” he said. “It’s one of the toughest mechanical challenges.”

We also made our case for a Bluetooth 4.0 iPod nano watch back in 2011, and last month discussed what it might take for Apple to make the product a reality.

Update: The Wall Street Journal has weighed in with more info on Apple’s watch prototypes:

Apple Inc. is experimenting with designs for a watch-like device that would perform some functions of a smartphone, according to people briefed on the effort. The company has discussed such a device with its major manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Foxconn, as Hon Hai is known, has been working on a spate of technologies that could be used in wearable devices, one of these people said. In particular, the Taiwan-based company has been working to address the challenges of making displays more battery-efficient and working with chip manufacturers to strip down their products. The technologies are aimed at multiple Foxconn customers, this person said.

http://9to5mac.com/2013/02/10/the-new-york-times-is-back-with-the-curved-glass-ios-iwatch-story/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+%289+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence%29

Review: Logitech K811 Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard – a month later it replaces three Apple keyboards

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811 is lighter than Apple’s and also makes a great Apple TV controller. It switches between a growing number of Apple devices in seconds.

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Logitech’s Mac peripherals here and we really couldn’t wait to get our hands on their latest piece of kit, the ‘Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811 for Mac/iPad/iPhone‘. I’ve used this keyboard for almost a month now and can heartily recommend it but for a variety of different use cases than a typical keyboard. Here’s why:

The Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811 is about the size of Apple’s Wireless Keyboard with a shallower angle – something similar to what you are used to if you use a MacBook. In fact the similarities don’t stop there. Instead of adopting Apple’s desktop keyboards’ white, non-backlit keys, Logitech’s Easy-Switch keyboards look a lot like Apple’s MacBook Keyboards with backlit black keys on a brushed aluminum. Note in the images below how the Logitech starts a little higher at the bottom and ends up much lower. That gives the typist a much smaller angle and something closer to what you’d expect on a MacBook Pro/Air.


There are a few important differences that make Logitech’s offer something to consider.
The best feature and the biggest differentiator is that you can easily switch between threeBluetooth devices.   Sure you can attach any Bluetooth keyboard to any number of devices, but you must manually pair them each time you switch (and shut down the previous connection).  Not so with Logitech’s aptly-named “Easy Switch”. You can pair three different devices and quickly switch between them with the push of a top row function button.

In testing this actually works as it should. Our family ended up using the Easy Touch in the TV room almost exclusively. When my wife wanted to type up a long email on her iPad, she’d just grab the keyboard, hit the #2 Bluetooth and type away.  When I wanted to put together a draft blog post idea onto my iPhone, I hit the #1 Bluetooth switch. The #3 switch was reserved for theApple TV now that it accepts input from Bluetooth keyboards.
This is why the Easy Switch topped 9to5Mac’s best keyboards for Apple TV.
That’s right, I barely got a chance to use it on my Mac. (Not true really I tested it on the Mac and it works just fine – in fact, I’m typing this review on the Easy-Switch).

a good size comparison

The Easy-Switch has some other advantages over Apple’s default models. It is significantly lighter than Apple’s Wireless keyboard. Backlit keys are ‘key’ for typing at night – for instance while watching TV, in bed or even if you are using your iPad on a Red-eye. The illumination happens when you need it thanks to motion-sensing technology which then turns the backlighting off when you aren’t using it (saving battery life). This is a great feature but I sometimes found I’d have to actually type a letter for the backlighting to come on. Also, it has adjustable brightness but I find it always goes back to default lighting after turning off and on (I like it all the way up). Small gripes.

Maybe the nicest advantage to this keyboard is that it is rechargeable via micro-USB rather than taking AA batteries like Apple’s Wireless Keyboard. I found that I would need to replace the batteries in Apple’s Keyboard every few months. By contrast, I’ve had the Logitech, backlighting and all, for almost a month and I’ve only charged it once (and it wasn’t even asking for a recharge).
The keyboard itself is slightly different from an Apple keyboard which takes just an ever so slight amount of getting used to. Logitech explains it like this:

The bottom line for me is that it looks and feels a lot like my MacBook Pro which I type on 95% of the time. The keys are more concave and slightly smaller which yields better spacing but for the most part any difference isn’t noticeable. The ‘PerfectStroke system’ might as well be called the ‘MacBook Pro system’ because it feels very similar – which is to say great.
Overall, the Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811 is the best keyboard I’ve found so far for the growing amount of Apple devices in my household that utilize a Bluetooth keyboard. We no longer need  separate keyboards for each Apple device that we have (which are growing ever more popular), it is light, rechargeable and has backlighting. Apple should make this keyboard.

http://9to5mac.com/2013/02/10/review-logitech-k811-bluetooth-easy-switch-keyboard-a-month-later-it-replaces-three-apple-keyboards/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+%289+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence%29