Apple are thought to be opening the doors of their World Wide Developers Conference on June 11th this year, and the star of the show is likely to be iOS 6 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

According to a finding by Cult of Mac, the Cupertino company have booked up their old haunt the Moscone Center in San Francisco for the date. Though listed as a "corporate event" (which, we suppose, all WWDC events technically are) the date lines up nicely with the expected opening of doors for the annual event.

Last year's WWDC saw Apple lift the covers off iOS 5, which then made its way into the iPhone 4S that October. We see no reason why Apple wont use the event to introduce iOS 6 this year.

It's also likely Apple will have the full, final build of Mountain Lion on show at the event. Last year Apple showed off Mac OS X 10.7 at the event, and with Mountain Lion already doing the rounds in a preview build, it seems a bit of a no-brainer.

Traditionally, Apple used WWDC to show off the lastest iPhone model, but with the iPhone 4S bucking the trend last year, we expect a similar Autumn showcase for the iPhone 5, at a separate event.

iOS 5.1, the latest version of Apple's touch-based mobile operating system, is now available to download for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users.

Launching alongside the Retina Display packing new iPad, iOS 5.1's biggest new feature is tailored for Japanese audiences, bringing Siri support to the land of the rising sun.

To grab the update, either hook your iOS device up to iTunes through your computer, or use the Software Update feature within iOS to carry out an over-the-air, cable free update.

Apple list the full line up of changes as follows:

o Japanese language support for Siri (availability may be limited during initial rollout)

o Photos can now be deleted from Photo Stream

o Camera shortcut now always visible on Lock Screen for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)

o Camera face detection now highlights all detected faces

o Redesigned Camera app for iPad

o Genius Mixes and Genius playlists for iTunes Match subscribers

o Audio for TV shows and movies on iPad optimized to sound louder and clearer

o Podcast controls for playback speed and a 30 second rewind for iPad

o Updated AT&T network indicator

o Addresses bugs affecting battery life

o Fixes an issue that occasionally caused audio to drop for outgoing calls

RELATED| Hands-On: New iPad 3 initial review

After a September 2011 no-show from the annual iPod Nano range update, it now looks as if Apple are ready to reveal the next generation of their miniaturised MP3 players, and with it will come a much-missed returning feature.

Leaked images purportedly of the seventh generation iPod Nano show it packing both the rear clip AND video camera that had been dropped after the 5th generation of the device to scale it down even further.

The camera is said to be a 1.3MP snapper, but one with significant problems holding it back. According to MicGadget, its auto iris is causing images to blur, as well as capturing "overexposed photos".

It's not like Apple to release something with such notable problems, but as the blog states it's just a two-month old prototype, it's likely these issues will be ironed out before any eventual release.

That is, of course, providing that the leak is the real deal. Apple are rumoured to be re-launching the Nano in the Spring. We'll just have to wait and see what delights they eventually deliver.

Via: 9to5 Mac

Coming slightly out of left-field here compared to the company's usual offerings, Samsung are to be showcasing a new range of high-end speaker docks at next week's CES show in Las Vegas.

A pair of high-end systems are on the way, with Samsung claiming that they've "raised the bar in sound quality for mainstream audio products."

First up is the DA-E670 Audio Dock. It's capable of outputting 40 watts of power, as well as packing in its own subwoofer. More unusually though is its ability to support both iOS devices (iPod, iPhone and iPad), as well as Samsung's own Galaxy S line of mobiles and PMP devices. We're not sure yet whether this means the device will also be compatible with other Android mobiles, but it'll be music to the ears of the legions that bought the Samsung Galaxy S II, looking to beef up its audio output potential.

Even more exciting is the audiophile-grade DA-E750. It uses Samsung's vacuum tube amplifier technology, and looks to combine the best of digital amps with the warmth you'd find with traditional vacuum tube audio systems. As with the DA-E670, it'll support Samsung's AllShare technology and Apple's Airplay.

Looking very intriguing indeed. No word on pricing or availability on this pair yet, but we'll hopefully get some ears-on time with the kit come next week's big tech show in Vegas.

Both retailers Best Buy and accessory manufacturers Mophie have issued separate product recall notices following fears that batches of iPod and iPhone battery packs may be faulty, and potentially dangerous.

Best Buy have asked customers to return Rocketfish-branded iPhone 3G and 3GS battery cases with a posting on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website. 31,000 products in the US may be affected alongside 1,000 units in Canada, with 14 reports of overheating in the US. This has lead to three customers suffering minor burns and four reports of minor property damage.

Mophie likewise have posted a recall notice on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, after receiving 110 reports that their iPod Touch battery case line was becoming uncomfortably warm. This in turn has lead to 44 reports of the excess heat warping the product, and nine customers suffering burns.

Those affected by the recalls should get in touch with Best Buy or Mophie immediately. Those affected by the Best Buy recall will be compensated with a $70 gift card, while Mophie are offering replacement units.

Rumours are stirring that Apple may be preparing to kill off the much-loved iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle models.

The move has been suggested for some years now (ever since the iPod Touch was introduced), but an anonymous TUAW source is claiming that the hammer has now finally fallen on all non-touchscreen iPod players. This is despite SteveJobs' claims back in March that there were "no plans" to kill off the iconic mp3 player.

iPod Classics, the closest iPod designs to the original ground breaking iPod, still have a considerable following, not least of all because of the huge hard drives (up to 160GB) they offer.

The Shuffle, according to the rumours, will be completely discontinued, and not replaced, with the touchscreen iPod Nano set to become the entry-level iPod model.

Apple have an October 4th press event lined up, with the iPhone 5 almost certainly the star of the show. However, the Autumn Apple event has traditionally been reserved for the iPod line. Could we find some new iPod products launched alongside new smartphone hardware next week too?

Tech Digest got a little starstruck at this year's IFA 2011 conference, as we got to meet electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre.

The electro star's presence caused quite a stir at the show, not least of all thanks to his startling AeroDream One iPad/iPhone/iPod dock.

Think you've seen all that the world of iPod docks has to offer? Think again; Jarre's AeroDream One takes Hi-Fi docks to a whole new level, with the emphasis on the "Hi" part. The docking port sits on top of an 11ft column, which necessitates the need for a fixed ladder on the side of the speaker to reach it.

It's also got enough punch to match its gigantic size, pushing out an ear-popping 10,000 W through its 5 channel amplifier.

The AeroDream One is very much a luxury item, and priced at € 399,000 (£349,873) is definitely a statement piece as much as it is a speaker system. As such, Jarre sees it just as at home in concert halls as the homes of the wealthy elite.

We have a chat with Jean-Michel in the video interview above, discussing his range of Apple product docks (which includes more affordable miniature versions of the AeroDream One among other designs), the state of the music industry and the inspiration behind his latest mad venture.

The summer sun means plenty of on-the-go tunes running your iPod's battery down faster than you can say "Club Tropicana". Lucky owners of iPod Touch mp3 players today are offered a little extra juice with which to get into the groove thanks to Mophie.

They're launching their latest battery add-on for iPod Touch players, called the Juice Pack Air. A portable 1000mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery, it clips onto the iPod, offering an extra 34 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback, fully charging a near-dead iPod touch in just 100 minutes.

"We have created a solution for the new iPod Touch that combines the exceptional protection and power of a mophie Juice Pack Air case with enhanced design to improve the overall performance of the iPod Touch," says Susan Schedel, vice president of sales and marketing for Mophie.

"Our goal is to help people rock, talk, surf and send for as long as possible on one battery charge, and our Juice Pack line has been incredibly successful in achieving this for Apple users since the first iPhone and iPod Touch devices were introduced."

Pick up the Juice Pack Air for £39.95 from Amazon.

The JailBreakMe team have just announced the release of JailBreakMe 3.0, the latest in their series of hacks that counteracts Apple's security measures, giving you further customisation control over your iOS device and allowing you to access the unofficial Cydia App Store.

Working with any Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod that's running iOS version 4.3.3, it's one of the simplest jailbreaks to apply so far - simply head over to Jailbreakme.com from your device's Safari browser, click the Cydia install button and Bob's your uncle.

The team are claiming that this is the safest Jailbreak yet, and is easily reversed by a simple iTunes restore, but be aware that it does leave your device vulnerable to online attacks (especially if you use OpenSHH) and there's no gaurantee it'll play nicely with the iOS 5 ugrade due later this year.

As ever, apply at your own risk (but let us know how you get on if you do!)

Name: OnBeat (JBL)

Type: iPad / iPod speaker dock

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £144.20 from Amazon

Image Gallery: Click here

iPhone/iPod docks are two-a-penny these days, but iPad docks? Even more than a year after the tablet's launch, they're still a relative rarity. JBL's latest speaker dock, the JBL OnBeat, could well be your one-stop-shop dock when it comes to blaring out music from an iOS device, thanks to a dock that supports iPhones, iPods and larger iPad slates. But is it any good? Read on to find out.

The JBL OnBeat has a rather snazzy oval shaped design, with swathes of silver edging and a peppered grille covering the speakers. Available in black or white, from the centre of the dock comes an interchangeable cradle arm. Two brackets (one for iPads and one for iPhones/iPods) are included, snapping easily onto the rotating arm that allows you to pop the iOS units into landscape mode.

While you can technically dock an iPad in landscape mode with the JBL OnBeat, we wouldn't recommend it; the arm seems designed to better distribute weight in a portrait position for iPads, and we'd imagine the arm would weaken over time. Of course, this isn't a problem for lighter iPods and iPhones.

Head around to the back of the OnBeat and you're greeted by the familiar and welcome 3.5mm aux input which will let you hook up practically any audio source that employs a regular headphone jack, as well as a USB port for firmware updates and a composite video output for pumping video content to a big screen.

A small 10-button remote is provided that offers basic playback controls (play, pause, volume up or down, track forwards or backwards, and a few menu navigation controls), and while it works perfectly well with iPods and iPhones, again iPad support causes problems. In this case it's purely down to industrial design; the iPad takes up more room on the front of the speakers, and depending on your angle in relation to the IR sensor for the remote, Apple's tablet may obstruct your remote inputs.

Sonically, the JBL OnBeat packs a punch, but no more than other docks in the £150 range. Mid range frequencies seem to benefit most of all, which leads to a warm sound that, while lacking a little in crispness, helps to prevent the dock from sounding tinny and cheap. Bass is a little lacking overall, and volume levels too high and lower frequencies distort noticeably. Treat the OnBeat then more as a casual player rather than a party centrepiece or audiophile unit and it won't disappoint.

Verdict:

The JBL OnBeat sits at the top of the iPad dock pile, but that's not a particularly hard feat considering how few there currently are on the market. Not being able to place an iPad in landscape mode safely will frustrate users looking to add a little more sonic "oomph" to their tablet movies, but it's a perfectly serviceable unit for iPod and iPhone users. If your dock must be a jack of all trades when it comes to supporting a wide range of Apple products then the JBL OnBeat is for you, otherwise your money will be better spent elsewhere.

Apple's Scott Forstall SVP of iOS software took to the stage today at WWDC 2011 for the iOS 5 announcements for mobile devices. According to findings from rankings experts Comscore, Forstall noted that "iOS is the number one mobile operating system, with more than 44% of the market," as of April 2011, with Android presumably a very close second. 14 billion apps have now been downloaded from the App Store, a simply mind-boggling figure, resulting in $2,500,000,000 being paid to app developers.

Calling iOS 5 "a major release" that would be "incredible for our developers and our customers", Forstall then dived into the new features.

To begin with, over 1,500 new APIs will be introduced, but gathering the biggest cheers was the news of a much-needed overhaul of the Notifications area. iOS 5 will feature a Notifications Centre that aggregates all pushed notifications into one place, accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen, much like in the Android OS. If a notification happens whilst you're in an app, a top-of-the-screen animated bar will let you know without interrupting your previous activities. It's also available from the lock-screen, meaning you can get to the message or notification quickly without unlocking and hunting down the corresponding app first.

Next up was the Newsstand feature. It allows you to easily manage the recently added subscriptions features, quickly pushing new issues to your iOS device. All issues are then collected in one place, presented like a real-life news stand, downloading issues in the background.

Twitter integration was the next key update. A single sign-in menu will configure Twitter with all compatible apps, saving your credentials so you don't have to re-enter them every time. Twitter will also be integrated into apps such as Camera and Photos, allowing you to quickly send snaps to all your Twitter contacts, as well as send Safari pages and Maps data.

The Safari browser itself also gets an update. A new Safari Reader button is added to the toolbar, which turns a page into simple text, removing unneccesary images and adverts, and allowing the text content to be emailed to a pal instantly. These pages can then be stored using the Reading List function, collecting all the Safari Reader pages in one location. These can also be organised by tags too. Tabbed browsing is also another welcome addition to Safari.

Next on show was the Reminders feature. It lets you create simple lists of things you need to get done, assign them to dates in the calendar, and even add a location too, geo-fencing your to-do list. It will sync across all your iOS devices, pulling the info into your Calendar app if you so chose.

A Camera button is added to the lock screen, allowing you to quickly snap an eventful moment without fussing with the lock slider. If you use a passcode you can still bypass that to access the Camera app, though your previously taken photos will remain protected should your phone have fallen into the wrong hands. The volume button can now optionally be set to take photos too.

Editing gets easier thanks to pinch to zoom within the Camera app, while holding a section lets you adjust exposure settings. You'll now also be able to crop, rotate and reduce red-eye from within the app, reducing red-eye if you and your pals are demon born.

Mail was the next feature to get updates. Rich-text formatting, indentation control, draggable addresses (from To: to Cc: or Bcc:) and flagging are all added, with S/MIME security added for good measure. Dictionary functions can now also be accessed within the Mail app.

New iOS owners without PCs or Macs will be glad to see the PC Free feature added. You no longer need to tether iPads, iPhones or iPods with a machine the very first time you use them, with a "welcome" screen running you through all the necessary set-up functions. Software updates are now available over-the-air, and as these are delta updates, only adjusting the specific changes made, you shouldn't be left with massive downloads. It also mean iTunes can synced over Wi-Fi too.

Game Center also gets updated. Its mostly a social update, displaying scores of your friends' friends, and also offering friend recommendations and game recommendations. Game downloads can now be made directly from Game Center, with turn-based games playing directly from the OS.

The iMessage messaging client was also revealed, letting you send souped-up messages between fellow iOS users, regardless of device. Text messages, photos, videos and contacts can be shared, and group messaging is also supported. Being cross-device compatible, all messages on an iPhone or iPod are mirrored on your iPad, and vice-versa. It works over both Wi-Fi and 3G, and isn't related to your network tariff plan.

Developers get the SDK for iOS 5 right away from today, hitting consumers' devices by "the fall". iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPad 2, plus the third and fourth generation of iPod touch will all be supported. The iCloud features also revealed will be supported by iOS 5 too.

Remember earlier in the week we showed you a spyshot of an iPod Nano with space in its chassis for a camera? Well, it looks mighty possible that it may well be the real deal after a very similar Apple patent application has now appeared online.

Uncovered by Apple Insider, the application shows an iPod Nano with a built in camera, as well as a host of other cool sounding new features such as temperature and motion monitoring tools, with stats visisble from a screensaver, which would further increase its usage as a fitness aid. There's also a microphone inside according to the patent, obviously necessary for capturing sound should it be capable of video recording too.

There's also a hint that iPod Nano apps will be on the way too, with games and calendar tools potentially featuring.

It's quite a lot to fit into that tiny Nano frame! With Apple's annual iPod refresh expected to be in September, we're sure we'll have more to share then.

The next, seventh generation of the iPod Nano could bring back a camera to the range's list of features, if a spy shot of a new iPod Nano chassis turns out to be the real deal.

The leaked photo sees a camera hole sitting in the top left corner of the Nano's rear side, apparently dropping the device's clip in favour of snapping capabilities.

The 5th iPod Nano generation also featured a camera, but was dropped when Apple scaled the unit down dramatically for the 6th generation. The report over at Mac Rumours suggests that the camera in question here would be of the 1.3MP variety, meaning it is likely just to be used for low-res video recording and little else.

There's every chance of course that this is a knock-off fake too. Apple usually refresh their iPod line around September, so more details will undoubtedly surface then.

Following the controversy surrounding recent reports that iOS devices were logging and saving every single place that a user visited, Apple have rolled out the new iOS 4.3.3 update which should "fix" the privacy invasion.

Rather than tracking every single movement you make, the update now means that only a week's worth of location data is stored, which is now no longer backed up to your computer. The cache of data is now also deleted from the iOS device should you switch off location services in the settings menu.

However, those using iPhone 3G and iPod Touch devices will not be supported by the update, meaning their location data is still being tracked and backed up.

This September's expected annual Apple iPod event could lead to some good news for fans of the Nano line, Apple's range of tiny touchscreen mp3 players. A leaked shot from Apple.pro is suggesting that the tiny iPod could be once again getting a camera built in.

A shot of what could be the next iPod Nano chassis has appeared on the site, with a circular, camera-sensor-shaped hole cut away on to the top right-hand corner.

If it proves true, it's not the first time the Nano line has featured a camera. The fifth-generation version also sported a camera, which was dropped when the Nano went on a diet to get into its current square form. It's likely that the clip on the current Nano's rear will have to be dramatically smaller or be removed altogether to fit the camera's inclusion, which doesn't nessecarily bode well for those who like to wear it as a wrist watch.

All speculation at this stage, but Apple.pro have a good reputation for delivering the goods when it comes to leaks, having previously correctly identified the current generation Nano's display module long before its official release.

Roberts are readying the launch of two new DAB/iPod dock combos to add to their STREAM range. The STREAM 63i and colourSTREAM will both be clambering for your attention at an electrical shop near you soon.

The acoustically tuned STREAM 63i is "the perfect sound system for the modern home" acording to Roberts. With a wooden cabinet with high gloss black finish, it features DAB, an FM tuner, Wi-Fi connectivity and SD Card / USB playback, as well as a dock for iPod. CD owners are not left out thanks to the built in CD player, and it also comes with a multi function remote control. Expect to see this retail for around £350.

The colourSTREAM comes equipped with a colour touch screen for navigation. Internet radio stations are accessible via a Wi-Fi connection, with DAB and FM tuners also built in. This iPod dock/radio combo weighs in at around £200.

Both systems also come with 30 station presets, a 30 day trial of Last FM, and a stereo auxiliary input socket for iPod and MP3 playback. Sleepyheads will be pleased to hear they come with a clock and multi function / dual alarm too.

Click here for more info.

Memorex have expanded their range of iPod docks with a few new additions, including the Tagalong and PartyCube, which we've had in the Shiny offices to test out for the last few days.

Not aimed at audiophiles, these unusually-shaped docks are instead intended to be the centre of a party, and can both be taken away and used without mains power.

Cheap as chips (both weigh in at well under £80) and stylish to boot, what they lack in sonic-wow factor they make up for with portability and nifty design.

Anna from Shiny Shiny puts them through their paces in the video above.

Audio specialists Blue have turned their hand to iPod/iPhone accessories with the launch of the Mikey microphone add on for Apple's devices.

A stereo mic that can record CD-quality audio, it's a pricey but essential bit of kit for musicians and sound recording enthusiasts alike.

Anna from Shiny Shiny goes hands-on in the video review above.

Getting into the festive spirit and spreading a bit of Christmas cheer at the same time, Apple have announced that they will be giving away a series of freebies over the holiday period.

12 unlimited giveaways will be given away over the 12 Days of Christmas app, curated by Apple and given away over consecutive days from Boxing Day (December 26th) onwards until January 6th.

Though they've yet to reveal what's on offer, iPhone, iPod and iPad owners will be treated to a "fantastic selection of songs, music videos, apps, books, TV episodes and a film free on iTunes."

Admittedly, they'll probably all be a bit rubbish, but who are we to scoff at freebies, eh?

Pick the app up by clicking here.

Earlier this week I had the chance to sit down with Adrian from Altec Lansing to talk about their new iPad dock, the Octiv 450.

After playing around with it for a few hours I am going to have to admit, I really like it. It is a great accessory for the iPad, not only does it have great stereo audio, the very design aids to the devices over all functionality. Like many people I primarily use my iPad for two things, when I am on the go or as an extra monitor when I am working. I found the dock to be perfect for the latter, with its relatively small footprint, it easily fits on your desk or kitchen counter without getting in the way. Once your iPad is mounted in the dock it holds your iPad snugly in place, while keeping it charged. It also lets you view things in either portrait or landscape mode, and comes with a remote so you can pause, fast forward and rewind video and music content.

Over all the simple, yet intelligent design is a great accompaniment to the iPad and really helps showcase the devices entertainment capabilities.

The Octiv 450 will be available by the end of this week for £129.99