According to yet another Steve Jobs biography, Apple's late CEO wanted to hide a golden ticket with the millionth iMac computer and fly the winner out to Cupertino for a tour of the facilities. Jobs said he would even wear the Willy Wonka outfit for the whole thing. This was revealed by Ken Segall, an ex-Apple employee who handled the Think Different campaign back in the day, and helped design the original iMac. His book, Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple's Success, just came out today; here's the excerpt detailing Jobs' golden ticket plans.

Steve's idea was to do a Willy Wonka with it. Just as Wonka did in the movie, Steve wanted to put a golden certificate representing the millionth iMac inside the box of one iMac, and publicize that fact. Whoever opened the lucky iMac box would be refunded the purchase price and be flown to Cupertino, where he or she (and, presumably, the accompanying family) would be taken on a tour of the Apple campus. Steve had already instructed his internal creative group to design a prototype golden certificate, which he shared with us. But the killer was that Steve wanted to go all out on this. He wanted to meet the lucky winner in full Willy Wonka garb. Yes, complete with top hat and tails.

Unfortunately, such a contest would require a purchase to enter, which is against California law, so it never happened. For all of the press heaped on Steve Jobs for being a relentless taskmaster, it's easy to forget sometimes that he actually had a pretty good sense of humor. If you've read Walter Isaacson's official biography, you will have heard about some of the shenanigans Steve Jobs got up to when he was younger, but it's good to see the playful streak lived on later in his career as well.

Still, it's kind of hard to imagine Steve Jobs in a top hat, isn't it?

You can order your copy of Insanely Great now from Amazon.

$16.95 - Buy now

Source: Insanely Great via MacRumors

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes has pair of stories up saying that Apple may be looking to re-design the iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air, and imac next year. This according to "upstream supply chain" sources.

Apple has asked makers in the supply chain to develop flat panel modules and LED light bars for two iPad prototypes, codenamed J1 and J2, the sources revealed.

Stranger still:

Apple's new generation iPad will enter mass production soon with the launch set for March 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain; however, the sources revealed that internally Apple does not view the new iPad product as iPad 3, but rather an upgraded iPad 2 and the real iPad 3 will not be launched until the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest.

iPad 3 likely will ship when Apple can make Retina display panels cheaply enough, at high enough yield rates, to make sense.

Source: Digitimes, x2

Apple has pulled the trigger on quad-core "Sandy Bridge" i5 and i7 equipped, ThunderBolt port sporting, FaceTime HD packing, iMacs and as Steve Jobs would say, they're real screamers.

“Our customers love the iMac’s aluminum enclosure, gorgeous display and all-in-one design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With next generation quad-core processors, powerful new graphics, Thunderbolt technology and a FaceTime HD camera, we've made the world’s best desktop even better.”

The new iMac features quad-core Intel Core i5 processors with an option for customers to choose Core i7 processors up to 3.4 GHz. These next generation processors feature an integrated memory controller for an amazingly responsive experience and a powerful new media engine for high-performance video encoding and decoding. With new AMD Radeon HD graphics processors, the new iMac has the most powerful graphics ever in an all-in-one desktop.

Now that MacBook Pros and iMacs have both gotten the FaceTime HD treatment, however, we're left to wonder where the's the love for iOS? iPad 2 didn't get FaceTime HD (it stuck with the same, lame front facing VGA camera from iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4). Could iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5 finally go FaceTime HD this fall?

Or would you rather not have an HD camera staring you in the FaceTime?

[Apple PR]

Based on a recent patent filing, it looks as if Apple may be looking at even more ways to buy and share apps. This approach would be a bit more social as it would allow your friends to share applications with you that they think you may enjoy. This could work through the network, through a cloud service, or through IR.

The patent explains a way in which you could have a list of applications that are able to be shared. When sharing, the person receiving the recommendation would have access to either the full apps with a trial period limit, a demo, or a restricted (lite) version. I'm assuming this would probably depend on each developer's preference. The user would see a list of applications to share and they could drag them to a specified location in order to share them with others.

There is also talk of this being a way for Apple to offer incentives to people who refer applications to others. Whether those incentives would include App Store credit, promotional material, discounts or something else isn't clear. Regardless what it is, it's definitely something I could see as a good model to boost App Store sales even further.

The patent also shows that this model could be used across several devices including iPhones, iPod Touches, iPads, and Mac computer platforms. This makes sense considering Mac will now offer an App Store as well. We can only assume a lot of apps will offer compatibility with Macs in the future.

Is this a feature you think you'd use? I frequently get family and friends asking for app recommendations and this could potentially make my life a bit easier when it comes to sending them a list of apps I recommend. I could simply send them straight to their device. And if Apple wants to give me some perks for doing so, even better!

Patently Apple

I've long dreamt of a world where, instead of launching Front Row's movie interface or DashBoard's widget screen on a Mac, I could just launch a version of iPhone/iPad's iOS and use all my existing apps and games -- and a newly discovered Apple Patent for a dual-mode iMac touch shows Apple might one day may that dream come true.

Or not. As with any patent there's no way of knowing which will ever end up as real shipping products and which will live on only as doodles and descriptions. However, Apple is moving inexorably towards iOS and multitouch so perhaps this one has a shot?

What do you think? Is a world where you can slide away your keyboard and mouse Magic TrackPad, flip down Mac OS X, and start multitouching your way through IOS a world you want to live in?

TiPb nation, rev up your ZOMGS and get ready for SQUEEE -- the Apple Online Store is down world wide.

Now before you get too excited, this is not for the White iPhone 4. That's been delayed until later this year. Unfortunately, this time it's probably not for any iOS devices. If the rumors are true, what we'll see today are 12-proc Mac Pro, updated iMac, 27" LED displays, and maybe -- just maybe -- the MagicPad multitouch trackpad for the Mac.

Give us your best guesses in the comments and we'll find out just as soon as the store comes back up.

China, like France and Korea wants in on the larger screen iRumors, and is certainly willing to raised the stakes -- in addition to a 9.7" iTablet, Commercial Times is also saying Apple plans a 22" multi-touch iMac.

Apple will outsource production of the 22-inch model to Quanta, with Taiwan-based Sintek Photronic supplying the touchscreen panels

There have been touch-enabled Windows displays for a while. The thrill of the interactivity, however, has been tempered by the simple fact that it's tiring to hold your arms up and gesture a lot on a giant display. This is presumably why Apple has so far integrated multi-touch into their MacBook trackpads rather than their screens, and into the Magic Mouse rather than into the iMac display (don't get us started on why they haven't simply offered an iMac trackpad peripheral or better yet -- a Magic Mouse app for the iPhone!)

It's hard enough imagining a consistently comfortable usage paradigm for an iTablet (how do you hold it to type, to watch a long movie, to read a long novel, etc.), harder still to riddle it out for an iMac display -- unless Apple plans for it to be an occasional-use method, a bonus for of interactivity.

Of course, Apple hasn't announced any of this yet, but speculating about rumors is fun, especially when it involves technology from the iPhone, that could expand or be returned to the 4th gen iPhone. So let us know what you think.

[DigiTimes via MacRumors]

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they're fair game.

So who's on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad's Pick: Eliminate Pro

This week's has to be Eliminate Pro by ngmoco:) The iPhone community has been yearning for a solid FPS for a while and ngmoco:) delivers. There is debate as to how the energy system works, but at the end of the day, Eliminate is free and you can frag with your friends over 3G and Wi-Fi. What more could you want? [Free + in-app purchase - iTunes link]

Chris' Pick: iMac (Late 2009)

My pick of the week is the new iMac. We just got one for my wife, and the added functionality combined with the iPhone is great. Adding in the MobileMe account, my wife is ecstatic with the iMac/iPhone combo, and I have to admit I am more than a little jealous. [$1,999.00+ - Web link]

[I got one as well. Phenomenal. - RR]

James' Pick: AppleTV 3.0

When Apple announced the iTunes LP and movies extras, I hoped the functionality would be rolled out to AppleTV and the iPhone. With AppleTV 3.0, it has. The previous 2.0 OS was getting a little long in the tooth, so having a fresh UI and some new features has breathed some new life in Apple's "hobby".

Leanna's Pick: Touch Pets Dogs

Touch Pets Dogs is absolutely adorable and my new addiction. The idea behind this game is that you have one or more virtual puppies that you must take care of by feeding, playing, training, etc. Touch Pets Dogs is very creatively made and your puppies respond great to your gestures. Want to pet your puppy? No problem, just rub your finger on his little body and he'll respond by pushing his neck toward you just like a real dog would. This game has a similar feel to The Sims in that your puppies have various attributes you must keep up or else your puppy will get sad. Touch Pets Dogs also runs live, so if you go too long without playing with your puppy, you will receive a push notification telling you that you have a sad puppy! Touch Pets Dogs also uses the Plus+ network to meet other puppies, go on play dates, and possibly find a love interest for you puppy! If you pick this one up, look up llofte and meet my puppies! [Free/1 bowl of food - iTunes link, $0.99/10 - iTunes link, $1.99/20 - iTunes link, $9.99/120 - iTunes link, $29.99/400 - iTunes links]

Matt's Pick: Trip Cubby

I recently began a new job for a production company and found myself driving all over Texas for commercial shoots. I soon realized that I needed an app to keep track of my trips. While I sifted through several apps, I finally came across Trip Cubby and haven't looked back. Trip Cubby has a nice and easy workflow for entering data. It remembers recent locations, your last mileage entry, displays graphs, exports as CSV attachment and even has an online sync. If you are one of those people that need to keep track of mileage for deduction reasons, then this app is for you! [$6.99 - iTunes link]

Rene's Pick: Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic

Joss Whedon didn't bring his A game to Dollhouse, not the way he did with Buffy, Angel, or Firefly. For Astonishing X-Men, assisted by the amazing art of John Cassaday and the gorgeous (and uncredited!) colors of Laura Martin, he brought the A+. It was simply the best X-Men I've read since the original Phoenix Saga (yes, I'm that old). If you didn't catch the comics, trades, or omnibus, Neil Adams' company and Marvel Studios have brought it -- at least the first chapter of it, Gifted -- to Motion Comics life. 2 episodes of 6 are available now. I hope they do all 24 + the Giant Sized conclusion. Grab it from iTunes, sync it to your iPhone. Watch it now. With beer. [$10.99 Season Pass - iTunes link]

Your Pick?

You're part of team TiPb too, so what's your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us -- and everyone -- know in the comments!

Apple today announced new 21.5" and 27" iMacs, a new line of MacBooks, mightier Mac Minis, and a Magic Mouse (with iPhone-like multi-touch), and new Apple Remote.

• The new iMacs [PR link] include cinematic 16x9 displays, quad-core option,
• The new MacBooks [PR link] have plastic unibody construction, 7-hour non-changeable batteries, LED backlights, and glass multi-touch trackpads (basically like the pros but without the aluminum)
• The new Mac Minis [PR link pending] are now up to 2.66GHz and up to 4GB, and a special version with Snow Leopard Server pre-installed.
• The Magic Mouse [PR link] is wireless and has a seamless multi-track surface, and laser-tracking engine. Click, swipe, and scroll anywhere.
• The new Apple Remote is black and aluminum, with a large 4 way (re: Muero in comments -- not sure if it's a click wheel), and now 2 separate buttons beneath, menu and play/pause (which used to be inside the 4 way).

More as this develops!

According to Daring Fireball, Apple is set to introduce new products tomorrow morning, including:

Redesigned Plastic MacBooks, Redesigned (‘Impressive’) iMacs, Updated Minis (Including One That Ships With Mac OS X Server), the Multi-Touch Magic Mouse, and, as the Wildcard I’m-Not-Sure-I-Really-Believe-It-Myself Out-There Rumor, Maybe Even Some Sort of Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs

Last year, Apple held a special event, Spotlight Turns to Notebooks, to debut their last before-the-holidays offerings. Would they just dump so much new, and frankly interesting, products tomorrow morning without benefit of stage or keynote? Sure, but we'd be lying if we said we wouldn't prefer the song and dance to go with them.

TiPb will cover whatever does get released, however it gets released, mainly as it pertains to anything that looks to have cross-over with iPhone technology like the "multi-touch trackpad" (why not just make an official Apple Mac trackpad app for the iPhone and iPod touch?)

Keep your eyes peeled for the Apple Online Store going down...

Mac Mini, iMac? Check. Check. Mac Pro. Check. Airport Extreme. Check. Time Capsule. Check. Yep, that's the rumor list Apple just plowed through one after the other, with nary anything resembling a "Spotlight on Desktops" Event in sight.

Nary anything, aside from the friendliness of the new routers, approaching iPhone updates either -- though we imagine new developers eyeing Macs to get into iPhone App-making with have their hands, and charge cards, full today.

You getting anything?

We repeat, this is not a drill! The Apple Store is Down! Reports are flooding in from all over the intertubes... Details are sketchy but could this be the Mac Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro update to bring in Nvidia chipsets and Nehalem cores? What about a new 30" LED Display? How about those iPhone friendlier Airport Extreme and Time Capsule base stations we just heard about? And what does this mean for that Apple Special event we heard rumored for March 24? Almost certainly no new iPhones yet, but last March was the iPhone SDK Road Map event...

Find your loved ones. Cling to them. And hold to hope. The Apple Store WILL be back. And it will once again restore your childlike sense of wonder.