Month: September 2012

by Matthew on How-To

How to Login Locally on Windows 7 without Specifying Hostname

Just a quick tip for today. I found my self fixing a problem earlier that required I logged out as a user and back in as an admin and back in as a user to test etc… Although the Windows 7 PC was attached to a domain, I didn’t want to log in with a domain account. Instead, I had two local accounts set up. One in the admin group and the other in the users group.

The typical way of not logging in to the domain is by entering the following in the username box:

hostnameusername

After a while this can get a little tedious, especially as the hostname was a mix of country and serial number. A quick work around is to simply type in:

.username

Putting the . before the username instructs Windows 7 to log the user in locally rather than on to the domain.

I figured if you run in to the same problems sometime that this might be of benefit to you.

 
by Matthew on News

Why iOS Users Update far Quicker than Android Users

Each time a new version of iOS launches, a huge number of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users quickly grab the update. The adoption rate is quite amazing and in fact, it has got better since iOS 5 launched last year due to over the air updates being available.

Chitika has done some analysis of the numbers and found that within the first 48 hours that 25% of iOS devices were running iOS 6. Comparing that to the latest version of Android which is currently Jelly Bean 4.1, we see a HUGE difference in uptake. At the moment Jelly Bean is only on 1.2% of devices and it has been available far longer than 48 hours. In fact, it has been available since early July this year.

So why do iOS users update far quicker than Android users? There are a couple of reasons for this. Let me explain below:

First, Apple control all hardware and software for iOS and the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This means that there are only a handful of devices available and as Apple have built those few devices they can quickly make compatible versions for all the latest generations which is currently the iPhone 3GS up to the iPhone 5 as well as the iPad 2 and 3. All except the latest generation of the iPhone run the same screen size although the 3GS has a lot lower PPI. But, we are talking about 2 screen sizes and 3 different resolutions which isn’t many (for the iPhone that is).

Second, Apple doesn’t let carriers control the updates. All updates are pushed out by Apple either over the air or via a download in iTunes.

If we quickly compare that to Android:

First, many hardware manufacturers create devices that run the Android operating system. As of May this year there were apparently 3,997 different devices that run the operating system. Each have one of many screen resolutions and sizes which need to be taken in to consideration.

Second, carriers often control the updates for Android devices on their networks. The reason is that they each need to adapt the software to be more compatible as well as bake in changes to make it a “Sprint” device for example. The main group of users who get the latest seems to fall in the line of those that run an official Google Nexus device of the latest or previous generation. Most others get updates, if at all, months later.

Although this is just an unfortunate way of how it works on Android… ie, the diversity of devices and manufacturers and carriers, it does show the benefit of a single operating system running on a handful of devices all updatable on the same day. The downside for Apple of course is that users get little in the way of diversification. You typically get stuck on a similar device that runs the same OS that cannot be customised too much, unless you jailbreak of course.

The Apple model works great for many, think 5 million sales of the iPhone 5 last weekend, while for Android, it works great for those users because they get to customise their device and choose from a plethora of different devices of which one will suit their needs.

What OS do you prefer and why? Does the easiness of the Apple updates… ie, knowing your device will probably get it, make you sway towards Apple? Lets not get in to any fanboy type stuff here. It really is OK for someone to prefer Apple while another prefer Android although I’m still interested to know which OS you prefer and why.

 
by Matthew on General

What Not Provided in Google Analytics Search Data Means

If you run your own website/blog and use Google Analytics to track the data, you should now be seeing in your organic keyword list a label of (not provided) which will likely be at the top of the list accounting for a large percentage of traffic. If you watch your analytics account regularly you might also have noticed that this number seems to be constantly increasing in percentage share of all keyword searches. The image below shows what one particular keyword search shows:

For those of you who use the keyword list to find related topics to write about, it seems that Google is ironing this practice out a little.

The changes began happening on the 18th October 2011 when Google made the switch from http://www.google.com to https://www.google.com for users that are signed in to the service. Notice the https on the latter which means that all searches done are secure when users are logged in which in turn means that the keyword data is not passed on to Google Analytics. A graph showing the effect can be seen in the image below. Note that the flat line seen at the left (oldest date) is completely flat for years before and suddenly starts ramping up on the 18th October 2012 although it seems to take a few days for the effect to kick in.

Also notice that sometime in March that there is another large increase (perhaps double) suddenly. This I cannot track right now, but is possibly related to a particular popular browser forcing all Google users to the https version and thus, obscuring more keyword information.

What can you do with the (not provided) data?

Although you wont be able to see the keyword information as Google doesn’t add this to Analytics for HTTPS searches, what you can still see is a breakdown of what pages were viewed. To do this you can click on the (Not Provided) link found in the organic keyword search information and then see the graph above. Just below the graph are several boxes which one of them is called “Secondary dimension”. Click on this option and type in Landing Page in the little search box and then click on the Landing Page box that appears just below. What you will see next is a list of landing pages each with (Not Provided) to the left of them. If you run a high traffic website where various pages have 1000’s of visits over a few months then you will probably notice that the top set of the pages tends to be in the same order as the ones with keywords (your top pages report). But, with lower traffic sites, or the pages that don’t get viewed much on a high traffic site, you still might find some insight in to what type of content you should be adding to your site.

 
by Matthew on News

Google will soon drop support for IE8 on Google Apps – XP users take note

Google is keeping to its promise by dropping support for Internet Explorer 8 on Google Apps. The reason for this dates back to a blog post made last year when Google stated that only the current version and immediate prior version will be supported of any browser. At the moment that means both IE8 and IE9 are supported. Next month Microsoft will be launching Internet Explorer 10 (26th Oct 2012) which means that supported versions after that on Google Apps will be IE9 or IE10 with support for IE8 dropping out.

Dropping IE8 could cause problems for some users

Dropping a version of a browser isn’t really big news as it only prompts the user to update to a more modern, faster and more secure version of the browser. The problem lies with Windows XP… you see, the latest version of Internet Explorer that will run on that operating system is Internet Explorer 8. At the moment, 42% of Windows users are on XP which means that a large number of them will struggle to access Google Apps. Although Apps will likely work there will be some functions that will not and as time goes on and technology advances there will be more warnings and errors as well as things that simply do not work within apps.

What can XP users do to carry on working with Google Apps?

There are several options. If you use Windows XP at home then one option is to install another browser such as Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari. The latest versions of those will run and will fully support Google Apps on Windows XP.

If you are a corporate user then unfortunately you are at the mercy of your IT team and management above them. Some companies might already have plans in place, specifically those companies that utilise Google Apps. An option here is to also install one of the other browsers, but some companies will not allow you to do that yourself.

Perhaps the easiest option is to use a “new to me” plugin called Google Chrome Frame. Google Chrome Frame is a free plugin that gets installed on older versions of Internet Explorer and allows you to use those older versions of IE while utilising more modern web browser features. As the name suggests, you are running Google Chrome in a frame on Internet Explorer.

In my opinion, the best option is to try install another browser such as Chrome and if that doesn’t work, try use the Google Chrome Frame plugin mentioned above.

As for the lifespan of Windows XP, Microsoft has currently listed the end of life data as April 2014 which means that after that point there will be no more security updates and development work done. Perhaps now is a good time to plan saving for a new computer within the next 18 or so months although I have to admit that I still use Windows XP on some computers and still think it works extremely good. It’s a shame to see it killed off although in 2014 it is far over a decade old which is quite an impressive life span.

 
by Matthew on News

iPhone 5 Orders now Shipping in 2 – 3 Weeks

I mentioned yesterday that the iPhone 5 was announced recently. Today the pre-orders went active around 8am in the UK. Within just a few hours, the first batch of pre-orders have now sold out. This means that any pre-orders made now will be shipped 2 – 3 weeks after the release date of September 21.

How can you get an iPhone 5 at launch?

Obviously the online Apple store is not an option, so what I would suggest you take one of the following options:

1.)Queue up at the store on the morning of launch. Apple stores tend to have more stock than non-Apple stores, so your best bet is to wait in line. Some who are extreme queue up for days before the event and camp out, but having attended the iPhone 4 launch my self, it took just a few hours in a queue from arriving at the time the shop opened.

2.)You could try the various carriers. A number of them such as Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and O2 will be selling the device although at the moment it isn’t clear when they will be shipping out the new smartphone to users. This might be an option should you want it on contract to lessen the blow of the £529 price tag.

3.)Try an Apple reseller. These stores in the UK are occasionally tucked away in a corner somewhere and queues can be a lot lower. Some even take reservations over the phone if you let them know which model you get.

Other than that, you might be able to pick one up at somewhere like Carphone warehouse although I suggest you hunt around.

As with all, or most, iPhone launches, Apple runs out of stock quite quickly so in the future it’s best to just try and order as soon as pre-orders open up if you want to avoid queues and have the device delivered to your door.

 
by Matthew on How-To

What to do if a Dropbox Device is Stolen

I wrote a couple of weeks back about two-step authentication that was added to Dropbox and how it can make your Dropbox account more secure. Two-step authentication is only part of the challenge though and only protects you from people trying to break in to your account. What happens when one of your Dropbox devices is stolen? Unfortunately the results can be grim depending on how secure you have kept the device that was stolen although there is hope for iOS and Android users. Let me take you through a quick guide on what you can do to make things a little safer and potentially remotely remove files that are stored in Dropbox on that device that was stolen.

First things first, all aspects of security need to be thought about. Remember that if you run Dropbox on a Mac or Windows laptop or desktop computer then ALL files are typically copied locally unless you specify otherwise. This means that if someone gets your computer and you have no password or a week password then the intruder can simply open up your local Dropbox folder and have access.

My first quick recommendation is log in to Dropbox on the web (if you use two-step authentication then make sure you already have your backup password if your phone that gets the authentication code is the one that is stolen). When logged in, click your name at the top right and then on Settings. When the settings have loaded up, go to the Security tab and unlink the device so that it is no longer connected to your account. Unfortunately, this doesn’t include a remote wipe, so if they have access to files then you are simply preventing them from accessing your online Dropbox account and making any changes.

I recommend full-disk encryption

When laptop or desktop devices are stolen I more worry about the data that is stored than the device that is stolen. If I have good enough backups then the computer can be replaced and although annoying and leaving you with a vulnerable feeling, your data is safe. But, if you have no backup and lose your data, that is way more costly.

There is a risk with storing information anywhere. If information isn’t protected correctly then potentially anybody can gain access to it. This is why I recommend you use encryption. I personally use full disk encryption on the Mac although if you just want to keep files in a secure folder, you could potentially just secure that particular folder. For more information on why it is important to secure your device with a password and encrypt the data, take a read of my full disk encryption post. This also includes instructions or links to instructions on how you could secure your data.

Should an encrypted device with a good password be stolen then you can take more comfort in the fact that the intruder will likely just reformat the device and use the hardware. In a lot of cases the intruder is interested in the hardware.

What if your iOS or Android Dropbox device is stolen?
Luckily with iOS the device doesn’t store files locally (typically). By simply using the unlink method mentioned above you can disconnect your stolen iPad or iPhone from Dropbox and when the intruder loads up the app they VERY briefly see a list of folders and files but in less than a second they are taken back to the login/register screen.

The same, I believe, is the case for Android although I have been unable to test as I have no available Android device. Users on the Dropbox forum indicate that Android will also be presented a registration screen when the device is unlocked.

Another option, and one that all iOS users should have active, is Find my iPhone which comes part of icloud.com and is built-in for free on iOS 4+ devices in the mail/calendar settings menu. Activate this and if your device is stolen you can track it, lock it, remotely wipe it or set an alarm on it with a message. My preferred method is to use an 8-digit pin (company restrictions mandate this to get email). I’d first unlink from Dropbox as it’s quick and easy. I’d then remotely lock with a stronger password and track for a while and if no luck with that, I’d initiate a remote wipe.

Either way, if your iOS device running Dropbox is stolen a simply unlink in Dropbox’s web interface will clear the contents for you.

How to prepare now

Although the chances are that you are reading this because of a Dropbox device being stolen, hopefully it can bring some hope in that if you are on Android or iOS then you can simply unlink. But, if you are reading this and your device hasn’t been stolen then go enable two-step authentication now and look at adding passwords to all devices as well as encryption and backups where possible. It’s all about preventing access both virtual through a hack or physical through encryption to ensure that your data doesn’t get in to the wrong hands.

 
by Matthew on News

YouTube Returns to the iPhone

It’s actually difficult to say that YouTube was taken away from the iPhone because technically it hasn’t been taken away yet for regular users. But, as soon as Apple release iOS 6, which could be as early as tomorrow, the built-in YouTube app will be gone. It was taken away at some point in the beta version of iOS 6 due to the contract between Google and Apple ending. Well, it is now coming back thanks to an app released by Google on the App Store today.

The good news with this version of the app is that it looks extremely good. YouTube on the iPhone has been the same ever since the launch of the iPhone. The new version makes accessing YouTube feel a little more up to date. It runs smooth, has a number of new features built-in and is actually great to use.

One thing I find disappointing at the moment is that Google hasn’t released a version for the iPad which could potentially leave users out in the dark when iOS 6 is released. But, there’s still a bit of time for Google to remedy this. My personal thoughts are that Google is just taking a bit of extra time due to the difference in screen size. The YouTube app on iPhone is far different to the version on the iPad and Google will need to take this in to consideration.

Of course, not only YouTube is being removed from iOS 6. Another big app which is part of the iPhone and iPad line is Google Maps with street view built-in. Simply put, Google Maps will be gone when iOS 6 is released as Apple has replaced Google Maps with its own mapping technology. This also means that the very handy Street View is gone. It is likely that Google will also release a Google Maps app for iOS 6 within the next few weeks. I believe that many people will download it. Google has years of experience with mapping technology and street view is extremely handy for getting more perspective on a place you are trying to find.

Apple Maps are not bad though. Essentially, it’s another mapping system. A few novelty features include the 3D flyover which looks amazing (Google now offers this as well). Also, the vector based maps work extremely well. iOS users will also benefit from the navigation functions built-in. Google withheld navigation from iOS users (not sure why… could be so that Android had the upper edge or that the contract simply didn’t allow it). Either way, iOS 6 users will get navigation with Apple Maps although note that it is only current generation devices only. From my understanding, iPhone 4 and older and iPad 1 (possibly 2 as well) also do not get it.

I look forwards to what Apple is announcing tomorrow. We should hear more of iOS 6, but also another important one is the iPhone 5 that is expected.

 
by Matthew on News

WordPress 3.4.2 Update now Available

One of the most important things you can do for your WordPress blog is keep it updated to the latest version of the software. The company behind WordPress make it quite a simple process to update thanks to the site structure and how the update package is provided.

You have a few options on how to upgrade. The easiest, but it does carry a bit of risk, is to use the automatic update service. If you are already running on version 3 of WordPress then the top tool bar should show a small icon next to your site name with a number next to the icon. This will show you how many updates are currently available. Updates that WordPress detects are core updates to the software as well as plugin updates and some theme updates. Click on the icon to proceed to the next screen.

When the next screen is showing, you will see it divided in to 3 sections. The top section is for the major updates to WordPress… ie, the core files. If you are running the latest version WordPress will tell you so but still give you the option to re-install over the top of the current install, or download copy of the files in zip format. The re-install is a handy way of refreshing the core files and can be used from time to time including times when you think your blog may have been hacked. A re-install of the software can wipe out some damage done by hackers although not all hackers attack the core files.

The second section is for plugins. If WordPress detects that you have plugins that are out of date then this is the place to update them. If you want to do all at once then click Select All and then click on the update button.

Below that you will find theme updates. I have only ever seen WordPress themes in there and not custom themes, so if you want updates for those you might want to check with the site you purchased or downloaded your theme from.

Risks of using automatic updates

Some of the risks involved with automatic updates includes file permissions. To get it working you might need to elevate permissions a little on your server. By doing this, you are more susceptible to attacks, so proceed with caution. Also with automatic updates they happen extremely quickly, which is a bonus in some ways, but if you want to reverse your decision it is always too late within a fraction of a second of hitting the update button. This could potentially wipe out any custom changes you have made.

Make a backup before updating

One way to cut down on risks is to make sure you are keeping regular backups of your content. I’ll go in to this in a lot more detail in a later post, but if you have backups, and keep multiple backups, you can more easily roll back any changes that an automatic update makes. Sometimes this can be a life saver although in most cases, actually in all cases for me, I have found the automatic way to be a good enough way forwards.

Manual updates

Another option to update is to do it manually. To do it this way you’ll need FTP access to your blog. This is also a little beyond the scope of this post but I will cover it in more detail in the future.

Why update

WordPress is updated by the team behind it for many reasons. One of the reasons is that they want to add more features to the software to make WordPress a better solution for its users. Another reason WordPress gets updated, and perhaps the most important, is that software is vulnerable to attacks. As weaknesses are found by hackers, WordPress needs to be kept updated to close those security loop holes. WordPress 3.4.2 was just released today and simply fixed a number of security holes that have been found within the software.

Expect to need to upgrade your blog every few months on average. The process tends to always be painless although it still doesn’t mean that you should prepare just in case some unique modification you have made or some obscure plugin you use isn’t compatible.

 
by Matthew on News

iPlayer for iOS now Allows you to Download Content

The BBC has updated its iPlayer app for iOS devices. The biggest change is that the app now lets you download content over WiFi for viewing while off line. The app lets you download content for up to 30 days at a time.

There isn’t much more to say about the app other than a recommendation to grab it, if you’re eligible to download it (ie, pay a fee or be in the UK). The app plays any content from the iPlayer service and with the download option added, makes it handy for WiFi or WiFi+3G owners who might want to catch up with a show whilst on the move.

You can grab the app from the Apple App Store or via the iTunes App Store on your Mac or PC.

 
by Matthew on General

A look at the iPhone 5 and iPad mini

It’s that time of year when Apple will likely be launching a new iPhone. Traditionally, Apple released iPhones in June/July although after the launch of the iPad 2, they moved the launch date in to October (iPhone 4S launch that is). This year, it seems that Apple might be opting for a launch in September to change the timings a little so that the iPhone and iPad are about 6 months apart. This makes sense as Apple wants as many people as possible to buy both of its flagship iOS devices. By moving them 6 months apart it allows more time for people to save up and buy the next product.

A brief history of the iPad mini rumours

When the iPad launched in 2010 originally, it was quickly followed by rumours that an iPad mini was following that year. Of course, that never happened. The same rumours came about last year saying that an iPad mini was being launched in 2011… again, it didn’t happen. The same rumours have come up this year again and at the moment, it hasn’t happened although there’s still a few months to go before the end of the year. This time around it seems that Apple might indeed be launching a smaller iPad as larger media outlets have commented on rumours and also generated some themselves… or I should say “someone familiar with the plans at Apple told them”. This year, Google launched the Nexus 7. We’ve also had the Amazon Kindle Fire as well as other smaller tablets and the sales of those, although not as large as the iPad in terms of numbers, still show that there’s a lot of interest in the 7 – 8 inch tablet market.

Will the iPad mini be a large iPod touch or a mini iPad?

With the launch of a 7 or 8 inch iPad it has led many to question exactly how it will work. Will it run iPod touch/iPhone apps but stretched out, or will it run regular iPad apps squashed down a little? I think it will be neither of those although I’m sure there might be an X2 option or a shrink down option for those wanting some compatibility. What I think will happen is that Apple will launch another sized device spec for developers to work on in the interface builder in Xcode. One of the main things that keeps iOS apps working well is the touch targets that Apple recommends. If you increase the size of a regular app then you have a weird looking app, as seen on other 7 inch tablets. If you shrink down a regular iPad app then you end up with a bunch of touch targets that are uncomfortably small (in a lot of cases). This makes for a bad user experience which leads me to think that there will be simply another option to drag out in interface builder where developers can add more to what an iPhone app would have but take a bit of what an iPad app will have. It will create more work for developers as they will need to plan for 3 interface sizes, but the potential in extra sales could be what makes it a decent enough deal for developers. Some developers will probably sell separate apps for each screen size although some will just stick them all under the friendly + sign and call them universal for all.

My thoughts on the iPad mini

I quite like the thought of an iPad mini. After testing a Galaxy Nexus 7 tablet from Google recently, I can see why a device larger than a phone but smaller than an iPad is needed. For me, it will probably fall in to the consumption category rather than the creative category like the full iPad does (for me at least). Think of the price as well… rumours hint at somewhere between £250 and £300 which if Apple can stick to the lower end of that, they will be on to something very good… again. Lets move on to the iPhone 5 rumours…

What will the iPhone 5 bring?

Just like the original iPhone was a game changer, so was the iPhone 4. It added so much more to the smartphone that it was another instant hit. Apple added the Retina display, a gyro, a glass front and back and a funky antenna (that got a lot of attention for the wrong reasons). Either way, it raised the bar again, particularly with a new sleek design. The 4S was more of the same. Siri isn’t particularly exciting and has been in beta for far too long now. You also feel like a dork using it in public and it is quite limited to what it can do as Apple hasn’t updated it much. I quite liked the antenna changes on the 4S as that fixed the problems I had with the iPhone 4.

So will the iPhone 5 raise the bar? Apple will likely add a 4 inch screen to the device. In the past Apple has always put a 3.5 inch screen in the iPhone. The only thing that changed over the years was the resolution doubling which was a huge increase in quality. I guess they have also added that oleophobic covering to the screen at some point in time although I forget which generation that was, perhaps the 3GS.

A better camera will certainly be added. The iPhone 4S camera is quite amazing for such a small package and I expect that some fancy terminology will be used to explain the iPhone 5 camera. I think another jump in megapixels can be added, perhaps from 8 to 12 as well as a more refined lens. As Apple likes to keep the back of the iPhone flat, we wont be getting any fancy mechanical shutters that add a bulge to the back of the device. I also think that Apple might jump in to HD for the front facing camera. The 4 and 4S appear to use the same front facing camera, but as FaceTime is becoming more popular, I think Apple need to address camera quality on the front side here.

NFC has been rumoured and partly because of the iOS 6 having PassBook. PassBook would sit well with an NFC enabled device. Apple has often added unique features to latest generation smartphones. Last year, users got Siri and this year, I think NFC could be on the cards. AnandTech claims that the iPhone 5 will not have NFC and has quite a complex reason for it relating to how NCF works and the technicalities behind it. Although I can see why it wouldn’t work, I can also see a compelling reason why Apple would want to add some soft of contactless payment… other than QF codes, barcodes and manual codes written on the screen. The new iPhone leaked shots show a part glass back with the top and bottom looking to be some sort of RF window. There must be a reason why Apple added these in, assuming they are just for decoration and also assuming that the leaked parts are real of course. So, NFC is an unknown but could be something that differentiates the next gen phone even more.

The obvious changes will be a bump in CPU and GPU and the device will almost certainly use an A6 processor. There will be a few more pixels to handle as well as a general increase that we all expect to see between generations.

Back to the 4 inch screen… it has been called for. Android smartphone manufacturers have tried to differentiate by adding larger screens and now it seems that Apple might be breaking away from the 3.5 inch size. The main difference with the Apple way of doing it is that they appear to be keeping the exact same width (when held portrait) and instead will simply increase the height of the screen, perhaps by adding another row of icons to the home screen. By doing it this way, the phone keeps the same width which makes it just as easy to use with one hand as your thumb will likely still be able to reach all 4 corners of the screen.

What will that do to apps though? There have been a few ideas on apps and how they will be effected. As there will be now two screen sizes to contend with for the iPhone (and perhaps iPod touch) Apple could handle this a number of ways. First, they could simply add black bars on the top and bottom of apps. That would be unlike Apple though. An alternate option is that apps that can be stretched will probably be automatically be stretched. Think of apps like Mail or your contacts. They have tables in them with cells that run out of the bounds of the screen. Having a longer screen could simply mean that Apple adds another cell of data in to the visible area. Email tends to have 4 and a bit cells showing on the screen. That will probably just make the Mail app and other apps that use tables show another cell of data. As for graphics, could Apple stretch the screen out a bit? I’m not sure as this would also look awkward on some apps. Another option is that they could just throw in a tool bar, but I don’t think that will happen either. The only thing I can think of is that they will just encourage developers to work with a new Xcode, released on the date of the iPhone event and give developers a week or 2 to get apps updated to work with a new size and old sized screens. Perhaps a tool to specify (like springs and struts) what elements/objects can be stretched out for the iPhone 5 or what can be squashed if going backwards. This adds a bit of fragmentation in to the mix though as there are millions of iPhones around the world. But, if Apple stick with 4 inches then it is just a few years of fragmentation while devices get older and eventually break.

Adding the iPad mini and iPhone 5 in to the mix, that could mean that developers need to work with the following devices and screen sizes:

iPhone 3.5 inch
iPhone 4 inch
iPad mini (7.X inches)
iPad 9.7 inch

I guess it’s hard to say that 4 screen sizes can be classed as fragmentation when compared to the number of screen size variations on Android (perhaps in to the hundreds), so I’m inclined to think that Apple will just provide some sort of options in Xcode for developers to work with.

Either way, I’m quite excited to see what Apple has been creating these last few years. All should be revealed September 12 where the iPhone is concerned. Perhaps October for the iPad mini… unless that becomes the new rumour for 2013, 2014, 2015… you get the idea.