In case you haven't heard, Apple set a date for its next media event with a casual "we've got a little more to show you" invitation sent to the media on Tuesday. The October 23 soiree is expected to unveil the iPad mini and possibly refreshed iMacs and Mac minis, but we'll just be happy for the arrival of iTunes 11, which Cupertino teased at last month's media event. Here's a look at what else went down on Tuesday you might have missed...
The folks at Boxee unveiled their latest hardware product on Tuesday, dubbed the Boxee TV. A more traditional-looking home theatre box, the device promises to "bring together broadcast TV channels, DVR and internet apps into one simple experience." In addition to watching live, over-the-air TV broadcasts or unencrypted basic cable, Boxee TV features two tuners so you can watch one show while recording another. "No Limits" recording pushes your DVR into the cloud rather than including local storage, although it's currently only available in eight markets in the U.S., but will roll out elsewhere next year, requiring a $14.99 per month subscription. Finally, Boxee TV includes Netflix, VUDU, YouTube and Vimeo built-in, all for only $99. The only bad news is that you'll have to wait until next month to get one.
Owners of the fifth-generation iPod touch are beginning to realize that the media player isn't built quite as impressively as the iPhone 5. According to iDownloadBlog, the newest touch doesn't even include an ambient light sensor -- which explains the lack of an "Auto-Brightness" setting. A reader reportedly went straight to the source for answers, penning a query to Apple VP Phil Schiller. The veep reportedly responded, confirming that "the fifth-generation iPod touch does not have a built-in automatic light sensor," claiming "it's just too thin!" So, mystery solved on that one, much to the chagrin of iPod touch owners, we're sure.
Now that Apple has confirmed a media event for next Tuesday and everyone is focused on the iPad mini being launched there, the rumor mill can get back to worrying about the next iPad. According to DigiTimes, we may have a bit of a wait, with a report Tuesday claiming Apple has notified suppliers that the next version won't arrive until the middle of next year, rather than the first quarter we've gotten used to. Assuming Apple introduces a slight upgrade to the existing "new iPad" next week with a Lightning connector, the move would make sense -- although DigiTimes sources claim that "revised version" may not come until the first quarter of next year.
The Verge reported on Tuesday that the imminent release of Windows 8 may have a tough time finding a home with business customers. According to findings by Forrester Research, only 33 percent of companies using Windows plan or expect to make the transition, with 10 percent planning to skip it entirely. 47 percent of the businesses surveyed have yet to even consider Redmond's big upgrade. Those numbers pale in comparison to Windows 7, which found 66 percent of companies were excited about the transition, 27 percent uncommitted and a mere one percent planning to skip it entirely. The report notes, however, that the backlash from the prior Windows Vista likely had more to do with faster adoption of Windows 7, but either way, it's an ominous sign for Microsoft -- and only mere days before their big Windows 8 launch.
CNET is reporting that T-Mobile may finally get the iPhone early next year. That's the word from Morgan Stanley analyst Nick Delfas, who provided no further details on how he came to this conclusion. However, given the magenta network's ongoing upgrades on the 1900 radio band required to make the iPhone 3G-capable on T-Mobile and the company's plans to merge with MetroPCS, we can only assume that the fourth-place U.S. carrier now looks a tad more lucrative than it might have just a few months ago. In any event, T-Mobile continues its efforts to lure users of unlocked iPhones -- although they no longer specifically mention the name of Apple's handset, nor show its picture now.
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