Mark Gurman, writing for 9to5Mac 9to5Google received a tip saying that although Apple may improve the Maps app for iOS 5, they’ll still use Google for the actual map data, just like they’ve done since iOS 1 (iPhone OS):

Now, sources have told 9to5Google that although Apple is working to improve the iOS Maps application, iOS 5 will not bring an Apple developed maps service and Google Maps is still in.

This makes a lot of sense. There are two major map data providers, TeleAtlas, which is now owned by TomTom, and Navteq, now owned by Nokia. Almost everyone else has to license the data from them, with the exception of Google who has since re-mapped and compiled their own map database. The companies Apple purchased, PlaceBase and Poly9, seem to do really interesting things with map data, but don’t seem to have any map database themselves, and while Apple has been compiling location data, there’s no evidence they’ve re-mapped roads the way Google has. (Though they may be in the process of doing that.)

So if Apple is working on updating the iOS Maps app, my best guess is it will be in the layers above the raw map data, and once again they’ll use user interface and experience, and very cool software as the differentiator, no the pipes themselves. If you own the UI, you can swap out the pipes whenever you want, like they swapped out Skyhook for Google, and then Google their own database for location.)

Anything specific you’d like to see in iOS 5 Maps?

[9to5Google]

iOS 5 Map app will still use map data from Google? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TechCrunch has word that iOS 5 will include an all-new, completely revamped notification system with widget support to boot.

The other big news for iOS5 — and yes, I've completely buried the lede here, thanks for reading! — two things: completely revamped notifications and widgets.

We’ve previously heard that Apple was planning on giving iOS notifications a major face-lift, and Apple did hire the man responsible for webOS‘ elegant notification system, so this really could be the next generation improvement a lot of us have been hoping for.

Throwing cold water on those holding out for new iPhone hardware, however, they once again suggested Apple has no plans of bringing a new iPhone to the party at WWDC.

Apple is pushing for journalists to come to WWDC because the software announcements will be huge (and they likely know that journalists hearing there will be no iPhone 5 announcement may choose to stay home instead this year). And the changes will be vital for all developers in the Apple ecosystem(s) to know about.

In addition, rumors that Nuance technology would be fully baked into iOS 5 doesn’t sound likely according to their sources, but they’re still hearing iCloud will be in full effect at the announcement.

There are plenty of great iOS notification concepts floating around, but we’ll have to wait for WWDC to get a real grasp on the new system and what kind of widget support will be included.

What do you think it could look like?

[TechCrunch]

iOS 5 to include widgets and revamped notification system, no iPhone 4S at WWDC is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• foursquare: Now with a new “worldwide” button and a new friend finder. [Free - iTunes link]

• SpotWorld: A social travel guide of the entire world. Discover and learn about the best spots to visit in any destination and interact with community-generated itineraries. [Free, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

• Word Wall HD: Help your child develop early reading skills. Watch them develop into confident and strong readers. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

• Danny Musico’s Celebrity Fitness: Work out now with Danny Musico! Get that 'A-list Physique' courtesy of Hollywood's most popular celebrity Fitness Trainer. [$1.99 - iTunes link]

• Leafsnap: Electronic field guides being developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. [Free for iPhone - iTunes link] [Free for iPad - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Friday, May 27 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

On the very first episode of TiPb TV we joked about the 11 inch MacBook Air being more like an iPad pro, but deep inside Apple’s secret labs they might be working on making it exactly that according to Japanese blog Macotakara

Few weeks ago, DigiTimes told that Apple to launch MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt in June-July. And additionally, an anonymous source told more information, Apple already made test equipment of Thunderbolt MacBook Air driven by A5 processor.

According to this source who saw live A5 MacBook Air actually, this test machine performed better than expected.

While Apple has been big on taking iPad ideas “back to the Mac” this year, if true it would have to be a proof of concept. Because, as much as I love my iPad 2 for things like Infinity Blade, I quickly run back to my 11 inch MacBook Air to run Photoshop and other intensive apps. Having all that power in a tiny portable is still too good to give up, even if an Apple A5 MacBook Air would have 48 hours of battery life and other benefits.

That’s assuming it would be running Mac OS X Lion, which they no doubt have experimented with on A5 (just as they experimented with earlier versions of Mac OS X on Intel back in the PowerPC days). If it’s running iOS 5, then I have to wonder if it would have a touch screen, which is something Apple said they don’t think works on a laptop.

What do you think? Do you want to add MacBooks to the A5 family? To the iOS family? Would it be the best of both worlds or the worst?

[Macotakara]

Apple secretly working on a MacBook Air with an iPad A5 chipset? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

According to an article by Buinessweek, Apple is set to unveil its music streaming service at WWDC. The service which has been dubbed iCloud will mirror your existing iTunes music library; also, if needed, it will increase the quality of your content.

Armed with licenses from the music labels and publishers, Apple will be able to scan customers’ digital music libraries in iTunes and quickly mirror their collections on its own servers, say three people briefed on the talks. If the sound quality of a particular song on a user’s hard drive isn’t good enough, Apple will be able to replace it with a higher-quality version. Users of the service will then be able to stream, whenever they want, their songs and albums directly to PCs, iPhones, iPads, and perhaps one day even cars.

All of this will certainly come at a cost. Until it is officially announced, we won't know what that cost will be. Let us assume that it will be a monthly subscription. This would enable Apple to make some money and also pay the music labels a monthly fee. The music labels would then at least be able to claw some money back from music that has been downloaded by nefarious methods and stored in the cloud. You can now see why Apple is getting the blessing of the music labels.

Would you pay a reasonable monthly subscription for this type of service? Is it a better service than Google or Amazon are currently offering? Let us know in the comments!

[Buinessweek via Engadget]

Apple's iCloud service will mirror your iTunes library and improve its quality too? [rumor] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Apple has applied for another patent this week which is entitled "Display that emits circularly-polarized light". What this means to us is that we may see improved viewing experiences on our iPhones and iPads if this technology makes it to future devices.

If you have tried viewing your iPhone outside in sunlight, it is a good experience however the iPad is not good at all. Put a pair of sunglasses on and the whole experience becomes nearly unusable. With this patent application, Apple is proposing a liquid-crystal display that reduces perceived distortion when viewed through linear polarizing filters; or in other words, sunglasses!

The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface,” the application reads. “By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter. The invention would allow for superior outdoor viewing of displays, like iPhone or iPad screens, by reducing perceived distortion created when a user wears sunglasses.

There is no doubt that this is a well needed addition to any device with a screen that needs to be read outdoors. If the iPad is to be taken seriously as an eReader as well as all of its other features, it has to improve its outdoor viewing experience. Patents like this show Apple are working to do just that!

[AppleInsider]

Apple looking to improve screen visibility when outdoors and wearing sunglasses is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Here is how to quickly turn your iPhone 4 LED into a Flashlight. Click Home. Launch camera. Switch to video. Turn on the flash… and by then you’ve knocked your foot or your head or lost sight of whatever it is you were looking for. Luckily, you can get your flashlight on much faster with SpringFlash, an awesome tweak from Cydia. SpringFlash allows you to use the activator app, which is installed when you jailbreak your device, to get instant access to your iPhone 4′s LED light. Setup is easy, hit the jump to find out how.

Setup

1. Launch Cydia from your jailbroken iPhone 4
2. Search SpringFlash
3. Download the tweak Note there will be no app icon with this tweak, nor will there be an option in the settings app on your phone.

Once the app is installed, you then go to your activator option in your settings app and choose which way you would like to have your iPhone 4′s LED activated.

Once you have chosen the way you would like to have it activated, there is no respring required, it just goes into action!

If you have any questions, or any other awesome Jailbreak tips to share, leave them in the comments!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to news@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward…)

Daily Tip: How to quickly turn your iPhone 4 LED Flash into a flashlight using SpringFlash [jailbreak] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Rene, Georgia, Chad, and Seth bring you an iPhone 5 rumor rundown – world phone, tinySIM, offset LED flash, curved glass, and more! Will iPhone 3GS get iOS 5? Apple smites Lodsys, how do you take notes on your iPhone, and camera tips! This is iPhone Live!

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Hosts

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iPhone Live 153: Electronic doohickeys is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog