We're all familiar with Apple's love affair for thin devices. Although the third-generation iPad surprised many by gaining about half a millimeter of thickness, it looks like Apple could be back to trimming product dimensions by using a new kind of display technology in the next iPhone.

Instead of using a display comprising a number of separate layers, Apple could use in-cell touch display technology, according to a Friday report from Digitimes. The report says Apple would be sourcing its in-cell displays from Toshiba and Sharp.

"The advantage of in-cell is that you're streamlining the manufacturing process, so in time you should be able to drive efficiencies and reduce cost," IHS analyst Rhoda Alexander told Wired. "Additionally, by reducing the number of layers, you reduce the size and thickness of the device, making it thinner and lighter."

Get the complete details HERE!

Apple has shipped a high-priority iOS update to fix multiple security holes affecting the browser used on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

The iOS 5.1.1 update fixes four separate vulnerabilities, including one that could be used to take complete control of an affected device.

Here’s the skinny of this batch of updates:

• A URL spoofing issue existed in Safari. This could be used in a malicious web site to direct the user to a spoofed site that visually appeared to be a legitimate domain. This issue is addressed through improved URL handling. This issue does not affect OS X systems.
• Multiple security holes in the open-source WebKit rendering engine.  These could lead to cross-site scripting attacks from maliciously crafted web sites. These vulnerabilities were used during Google’s Pwnium contest at this year’s CanSecWest conference.

• A memory corruption issue in WebKit. Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.  This issue was discovered and reported by Google’s security team.

Get the complete details HERE!

On Thursday morning, iLounge released mockups of what it says the next iPhone is going to look like, according to the site's own unnamed sources. The main differences in appearance between the next iPhone and the current iPhone 4S? A metal back, a smaller dock connector, a 20 percent decrease in thickness, and a longer 4-inch display.

Concept designs for future iPhones are a dime a dozen and usually look like something Syd Mead might have slapped together after a glue-induced aneurysm. But iLounge's concept looks pretty good. It may not prove to be an accurate prediction in the end, but it's a sensible proposal.

The most obvious change in iLounge's mockup is the 4-inch screen. That's a big bump, as the iPhone's display has stayed at 3.5 inches with a 3:2 aspect ratio since 2007. Why in the world would Apple change it now?

CNN has the details HERE!

The App Store is the window to a wealth of applications that make iOS devices what they are: productive, useful, and flexible. But over time, apps need updating. Why can't they update themselves, or rather, update automatically? Updates occur at seemingly random times to the end user. Depending on the number of apps a user has, an update can roll through the pipes of the Internet every day. All Apple has to do is throw in a setting to limit the updating over Wi-Fi only if users choose to do so, and thus time and effort is saved and levels of annoyance will drop overnight.

Many apps already use iCloud to back up user data, should the developers take advantage of the APIs. But Apple should do this anyway. There's no obligation to do so, and it doesn't have to be for free. It may, unlike other in-built features like Photo Stream, use up iCloud data and it may use up vast amount of free storage. It would be a one-stop solution and potentially save users' data should something nasty happen to their iPhone or iPad.

ZDnet has the story HERE!