springdial

Apple filed a patent recently which may (or may not) appear on the new operating system for the iPhone 4G.  Based on the popular jailbroken app called Springdial, this feature could place all your contacts as icons for easy access.  iPhone Alley is saying that not only does this patent copy Springdial, it also ventures into customization territory.

“What we weren’t expecting from Apple is that this patent goes a little farther than just putting speed-dial buttons on your home screen. The patent defines these custom icons as being able to perform a broad range of things, such as launching any app you specify that is personalized to the contact or display info about the contact. One option it mentions is having the icon for the contact (most likely someone with an iPhone) show up on your home screen based on that person’s proximity to you (and your iPhone). (Example: Person “A” gets within a set range of you, and his/her icon pops up on your home screen.)”

Apple patent

This degree of personalization on the home screen would be a nice touch.  The only problem with this is that patents are like popcorn.  Apparently this could be a “defensive” patent by Apple to protect itself from legal wrangling from other phone companies.  It’s always good to push the envelope, and perhaps Apple is attempting to do that with this patent.  Certainly it will constitute an improvement to accessing phone numbers and contact information, which is critical in the mobile market these days.   We will have to wait until June or July before we find out what exactly Apple plans to do.   (And look, the camera, above the speaker is still there!)

The world’s most expensive iPhone has been unveiled. It features 22K gold casing studded with 190 diamonds in all.  But the diamonds aren’t just any diamond you’d find in jewelry stores.  The $3.2 million iPhone 3GS Supreme features a rare 7.1 ct diamond as its home button with 136 diamonds lining the front bezel.  The rear Apple logo is made with 53 flawless diamonds.

There have been other tailor-made iPhones encrusted with gold and gems, but this iPhone probably rank top as the world’s most expensive iPhone.  It is reportedly made for an Australian businessman.   To complete the diamond theme, this iPhone comes enclosed within a chest cut from a block of granite.  It seems only fitting to dig out that rare iPhone gem from a block of fine granite.

Via Stuart Hughes

This is a post by the App Machine

How do you want your next iPhone served?  Cool new look like the new Macbooks? Better camera with flash and optical zooming?

Well, Gizmodo has released a concept iPhone 4G design along with imaginary specs. 

• Titanium and Glass.
• OLED screen
• 3G
• GPS
• Front camera for iChat
• Removable battery
• 3.2 Megapixel camera
• Video
• 32 GB

These are just some of the fantasy features iPhone fans crave.  Throw in copy and paste and MMS to make this next generation concept iPhone design complete!

From Mac Life