M.I.C. gadget (via MacRumors) has found another front panel and LCD screen for the next-gen iPod touch. This time the part was found at a Chinese e-commerce site selling for around $95USD.

The part clearly shows a front-sided hole that would leave room for a front-facing FaceTime camera, and the part is labeled “Apple (c) 2010″.

An iPhone parts supplier is responsible for the store, and this supplier claimed that they got these parts through a “special channel”, maybe this is the iPod touch 4th generation prototype which is leaked from the factory.

MacRumors just recently revealed images they had received claiming to be an Apple manufactured (complete with Apple ©, the same as the LCD in question) front panel/LCD screen. Only marginal difference have been found between this new panel and the first one MacRumors revealed.

More and more evidence is mounting that the new iPod touch expected to be announced sometime next month, likely the second week, will be equipped with at least one camera, possibly two. Both a front and back camera, capable of making FaceTime calls.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has purportedly answered an email sent to him by a customer enquiring whether a fix was on the way for the performance issues seen by some iPhone 3G users who have upgraded to iOS 4.

Here is the customer’s email:

I’ve waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I’ve read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I’m not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.

And Jobs replies:

Software update coming soon.

Sent from my iPhone

Of course, Jobs said nothing else about the release, but one could make an educated guess and assume he is referring to iOS 4.1 which has been in development for some time, and has reportedly fixed some of the issues seen with iOS 4 on iPhone 3G. I would wager that the update will be released whenever Apple holds their annual music/iPod event (likely Mid-September) bringing the OS to all of their iOS devices including the iPad.

Fortune is reporting on a findings on Charlie Wolf, a Needham analyst, who has broken down Apple’s Mac sales by market segment for Q2 2010. He then compares them to overall PC sales in the same segments. Calling the growth that Wolf found “strong” is an understatement, especially in the government market segment.

- At 35%, Mac shipment growth in June easily exceeded the market’s growth rate of 20.9%.
- Mac shipments grew 31.4% in the home market, topping the market’s growth rate of 25.2%.
- At 49.8%, the Mac’s growth in business was three times higher than the market’s 15.7%.
- Mac shipments in government grew 200%, sixteen times faster than the market’s 12.1%.

The next strongest segment, the business market, saw it’s strongest growth (around 100%) with companies that fall in the “large” and “very large”.

Lastly, Wolf notes that Apple’s growth in Europe. The iPhone has sparked renewed interest in Apple’s products, and thus their unit share has doubled and revenue tripled in the past six year.

So, here is yet another report backing up the fact that Apple is experiencing massive growth in all areas.

Patently Apple is reporting that an Apple patent application has surfaced revealing how Apple may implement system transitions on a single Mac. That is to say, transitioning between a mouse-driven Mac OS X, and touched-based iOS.

All of this would be triggered by sensors like a rotation hinge in an iMac-like computer or accelerometers detecting the orientation of the screen. Vertically, the machine would function as a traditional desktop computer. Horizontally, it would function more like an iPad. Lastly, the patent describes yet another way this transition could occur, which is touch sensors in the display that will activate an iOS mode when coupled with a change in the screen’s orientation.

The change in the orientation of the display can be detected by one or more sensors. For example, an accelerometer in the display can sense the force of gravity along an axis, and the measured force can be used to determine an angle of the display with respect to the ground (i.e., the plane perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity). A transition between input modes can be performed when the orientation of the display crosses a predetermined threshold, such as when the vertical angle (tilt) of the display crosses a predetermined angle.

All of the methods described in the patent lead to one end, and that is, the transition from high resolution mouse-based controls in a vertical orientation, and lower-resolution touch based controls when in a horizontal orientation. Additionally, this transition technology isn’t limited to desktops in the patent. Notebooks are included too.

I buy this one. Not just because it’s from the horse’s mouth, but it sounds likely. It wouldn’t be hard for Apple to build an iOS layer on top of Mac OS X. I’m thinking this would look like Mac OS X’s Dashboard feature, but this is purely speculation on my part.

Leo Laporte explains why he’s dumping Google Buzz. This of course in itself isn’t terribly interesting, but how he’s come to this decision, is.

Kevin Rose, the boy wonder behind Digg, is reporting details in a blog post regarding the revamp of the Apple TV (which could possibly be rebranded to “iTV”) reportedly slated for September.

Rose goes on to report that the iTV will have it’s own App Store dedicated to the device, along with ad-supported TV channels, MobileMe integration, and iPad integration so the device can be used as a “big badass remote control” that would allow for direct control of iTV content.

Rose’s timeframe sounds correct. We’ve heard previous reports that suggest Apple has scheduled the event for Mid-September. In fact, most everything he has said all sound reasonable. However, I’ll bet my last dollar that the iPad will not be the only way to control the new iTV. It’s a lot to expect someone to have a $500 device lying around to control a $100 device hooked to your tv.

This chart is a great (and snazzy) reference for web developers looking to use HTML5 (and who wouldn’t?).

Hint: FAIL.

Sage advice from Frank Chimero.

Apple has seeded a second build (Build 10H529) of Mac OS X 10.6.5 to developers. This new build comes less than a week after the previous build was pushed out to developers. iPhoneinCanada goes on to note that this build fixes the two documented issues seen in the previous build.

Apple is no longer asking developers to focus their testing on iCal, but instead now asks them to take a look at the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) network file services.

Apple hasn’t even waited a week to release the second build of 10.6.5, which suggests that Apple is working on this update at break neck speed. Perhaps we’ll see a slowdown in seeding cycles in the future, but there’s also a great chance we’ll be seeing a public release of this update in the near future.

Apple has rolled out a new “Compare Macs” feature which allows users to compare technical specifications between up to three models. You can access this new feature either here or by selecting the feature in the Mac product line menu bar.

Additionally, Apple has added collapsable areas to their configuration pages all grouped by configuration types (hardware, software, peripherals, etc).

I’ll eat my hat if the bulk of this isn’t made with HTML5, and what HTML5 can’t do Javascript picks up the slack. It’s an impressive feature.

Fortune is reporting that Apple and Time Inc. have finally come to an agreement, and Apple is now allowing Time to offer their print magazine subscribers free access to corresponding issues published on the iPad. Additionally, non-subscribers can purchase individual issues for $3.99.

Until now, the iPad versions of People, Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune have cost the same as the newsstand price — $3.99 for each issue of People, $4.99 to $5.99 each for the rest — even if you were are already paying to get the paper edition in the mail.

That changed with this week’s People iPad app, which is, for the first time, free to People subscribers. Fortune and the rest of Time Inc.’s (TWX) flagship magazines are expected to adopt the same pricing structure within the next 30 days.

Sounds like a good deal. However, and this is the shame of it, you still can’t subscribe to the magazine from within the app.

Fortune is reporting that iPad supply constraints are just now beginning to ease up slightly. The shipping window for an iPad bought via Apple’s online store in the U.S. used to quote a 7-10 day shipping timeframe. Now it quotes a 3-5 day timeframe.

“iPad demand remains strong with production ramping above expectations,” writes Fidacaro. He has revised his iPad build forecast for Apple’s (AAPL) fourth fiscal quarter to 7 million units, up from 6 million units. And his 4Q iPad shipment estimate now stands at 4.75 million units, a 45% increase from Q3.

Another report from GigaOM claims that a research note from Ashok Kumar, a Rodman Renshaw analyst, that states that production for the iPad and iPhone 4 is finally beginning to meet demand.

The wait for a new Apple iPhone 4 order should be shorter by the end of September, which would help Apple sell 14 million new handsets in the third quarter and another 15 million in the final three months of 2010 according to an industry analyst. With the expectation that LG is ramping up production of 9.7-inch display panels, iPad orders should flow faster as well, with Apple having the capability to sell 5 to 6 million tablets this quarter.

So, if you’re waiting to get your hands on either one of these devices, your wait appears to have just shortened a bit.

Just like it says on the tin.

Apple has launched a new TV commercial for iPad, that should be airing anytime now. As usual, Apple has also posted the ad to their site.

The ad itself (much like the last one) demonstrates the device’s capabilities while describing it as “playful”, “literary”, “friendly”, “Magical”, and many more.

The last ad in this series aired in May, and it was very reminiscent of the Newton ads from the mid-1990s. However, this ad has definitely veered away from that pattern, and let’s the product do more of the talking, instead of a narrator.

Wired has pointed out that Apple’s Director of Applications Technology for the App Store, Phillip Shoemaker, was a former App Store developer himself. That would be expected. Hire a guy who knows the ropesOH MY GOD HE USED TO MAKE FART APPLICATIONS FOR THE APP STORE. Yes, it seems Mr. Shoemaker was the creator of such fine works as “iWiz” and “Animal Farts” sold under the GrayNoodle LLC. name.

“Simulate the experience of urinating for a long time,” iWiz’s app description reads in iTunes. “Convince your friends that you’ll never stop. iWiz allows you to simulate urination: faster, slower, or just a trickle.”

The game Animal Farts features various cartoon images of animals with their buttocks facing forward, giving users buttons to trigger “Fart,” “Poot,” “Drop” or “Wiz” sounds accompanied with animations illustrating said emissions.

An Apple spokesperson said that his applications were approved for the App Store before he was employed at Apple.

“Phillip’s apps were written, submitted and approved before he became an Apple employee,” an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement. “His experience and perspective as a developer is one of the valuable things he brings to Apple’s developer relations team. Apple’s policy allows for employees to have apps on the App Store if they’re developed and published prior to their start at Apple.”

However, App Store data shows that three of Shoemaker’s apps showed up around six weeks after he posted that he was now working at Apple on Twitter. Even stranger, since Wired published the piece, Shoemaker has deleted his Twitter accounts, and removed mention of his apps and GrayNoodle from his LinkedIn profile.

Make of this what you will.

Apple released the Snow Leopard Graphics Update the other day to fix issues experienced by some users when playing high-performance games on a system with Mac OS X 10.6.4 installed. Valve Corporation was the original entity that brought this issue to Apple’s attention, while also telling their customers to hold off on upgrading to 10.6.4 until Apple fixed the issue.

In the weeks since, Valve had been working with Apple and hardware companies to resolve the issue for their Mac-based customers. Valve has now released a note fraught with technical jargon explaining what they did to improve frame rates for their customers. With all that said, some customers have could see anywhere from 15% to 120% in frame rate performance.

We are seeing dramatic performance improvements on iMac (Late 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac mini (Early 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (Early 2009 and Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) models. Depending on the game, video settings and the hardware, we have measured frame rate improvements from 15% to 120% on these systems. On older systems, we are generally already operating at the limits of the hardware, so it is not obvious that any significant performance improvements can be achieved in the future.

What a world of change, just last April, the gaming community on the Mac was essentially nonexistent. Now, Valve has put all of their high profile games on the platform, and opened up their Steam online store to any developer who wishes to do the same.

I can tell you exactly why dirpy exists. You know all of those “videos” that have been uploaded to YouTube that are nothing more than an still image accompanied by a song? Yeah, dirpy exists so you can rip those songs. This of course, is a form of piracy.

I expect the powers that be, to try their damnedest to shut dirpy down.

To me, it just looks like they’ve cleaned up the edges and details and updated the typeface. That said, I like it, although I don’t know why.

Buy a shirt. It’s great way to show your support for “The Incident”, which is a fantastic game.

At this moment, combat troops are leaving Iraq, ending Operation Iraqi Freedom, and begining Operation New Dawn.

Cult of Mac is reporting that Apple has already used Liquidmetal’s technologies in at least one of their products. Specifically, Liquidmetal’s allow was used to make the SIM eject tool that shipped with the iPhone 3G. How do we know this? Atakan Peker, the co-inventor of the metal alloy recognized it by sight alone:

“That’s my metal,” he said. “I recognized it immediately. Take it from an expert, that’s Liquidmetal.”

Apple used Liquidmetal’s technology in a seemingly limited capacity to test the company’s manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, Liquidmetal Technology executives have put in their two cents on to what they believe Apple will be using the alloy for.

“I think they’re going to make the iPhone out of it,” said Dr. Jan Schroers, the former director of research at Liquidmetal Technologies, the first company to commercially develop the space-age technology. “It’s quite obvious from what Liquidmetal has done in the past and what the technology is capable of.”

The report goes on to say that Apple could blow-mold the alloy like glass, to create seamless, intricate, enclosures for their products.

IDG News has translated a report from Economic Daily News that claims a 7-inch iPad will be on sale by Christmas this year.

The Economic Daily reports that Taiwanese companies have won a number of component contracts for the iPad 2. Chimei Innolux will supply 7-inch LCD screens, which use the same IPS (in-plane switching) technology found in the original iPad, which improves viewing angles and color on LCD screens. Touchscreen technology for the screens will come from Cando Corporation, the report says.

There have been several reports recently all claiming that Apple will be releasing a 7-inch iPad model by the end of year or the beginning of 2011. However, there have been no parts, or manufacturing leaks surface to give credit to this claim.

Apple has released the Snow Leopard Graphics Update to the public. This was the same update that was seeded to developers earlier this month. The update itself addresses several issues regarding performance for graphics intensive applications and games.

Here are some of the specific issues the update addresses according to Apple’s release notes:

- Addresses frame rate issues occurring in Portal and Team Fortress 2 by Valve, on iMac (Late 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac mini (Early 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (Early 2009 and Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) or MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) models.
- Resolves an issue that could cause Aperture 3, or StarCraft II by Blizzard, to unexpectedly quit or become unresponsive.
- Resolves an image corruption issue that may occur when disconnecting and reconnecting external displays while the system is running.

As usual, you can download the update via Software Update located in the Apple menu.

AppleInsider points to a report by Caixin Online that claims that China Unicom will begin selling the iPhone 4 in September while also securing the rights to sell the iPad. The iPhone 4 is slated for an early September launch, while no timeframe has been given for the iPad launch.

MacRumors also reported last month that China Unicom executives had flown out to California to meet with executives at Apple to finalize a deal for iPhone 4 and iPad distribution.

Perhaps not, but I would guess that Apple had to bend a little with this deal. China is a massive, almost limitless market, and you can be sure they want a slice of it.