Nov 2, 2008 Nov 4, 2008 Monday November 3, 2008
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Mac OS Ken: 11.04.2008
Ziphone Creator Finds Bug in iPhone and iPod / Electric Pig Handicaps the iMac, Mac Mini and November 10 Rumors / Investing 101: How Hedge Funds Play Havoc with Premium Stocks / Apple Sued Over PowerBook G4 Memory Slot Issue / Apple and Psystar Seek November 2009 Court Date / Apple Continues Proactive Consumer Response / Report: iPhone Dev-Team Jailbreaks iPhone 2.2 beta 2 / Marware âGame Gripâ Makes iPhone More Gamer Friendly / Microsoft Places âIâm a PCâ Kiosk Outside of UK Apple Retail Store / Original Apple Sign and Wozâs Toolbox Up for Auction
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Apple's Future in the Mobile Phone Market
Apple (AAPL) released its 3th quarter report a week ago. It was another great quarter for Apple: the company that introduced the iPhone in 2007 reported that it became world's third-largest mobile phone supplier. The main goal of this article is to try to predict what is expected of Apple in the long run in the mobile phone market. Apple reported revenues of $4.6B on 6.9M hand sets (667USD per unit). Nokia reported revenues of $12.7B on 118M hand sets (107 USD per unit).
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Change is coming... to the Apple Store
Filed under: AppleSorry, couldn't resist. Yes, the Apple Store is down right now (apparently worldwide no, just US and Canada, sorry) despite Apple's denial of any new products before the holiday season. Chances are this is just routine maintenance, although it's definitely Tuesday... so we'll see.Update: Looks like it's the holiday window dressing and possibly some changes to the refurb section.Thanks to all the night owls who sent this in.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Flash on Tap sets spring conference dates in Boston
Posted by Dennis SellersFlash on Tap, a Flash design and development conference and beer tasting festival, has announced its spring conference dates: May 28-30, 2009, in Boston. The conference organizers, Infrared5, Influxis and Red5Server have planned both educational and inspirational sessions.
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WSJ: Apple's iPod boss stepping down, replacement stuck in legal limbo
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video He might not be a household name, but Tony Fadell is the chief of Apple's iPod division and part of the executive team responsible for the iPhone's development. At least he was. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources "familiar with the matter," reports that Fadell is jumping off the Infinite Loop for personal reasons but will remain at Apple's disposal in a consulting role. Here's the kicker: Mark Papermaster appears to be the named successor assuming IBM's lawyers don't put a stop to Apple's plans. None of this matters of course since it's common knowledge amongst investors that Steve Jobs does everything from inventing the iPhone to replacing printer cartridges around the Apple campus -- his staff is just there for tax purposes.Read -- WSJ rumorRead -- Tony Fadell BioWSJ: Apple's iPod boss stepping down, replacement stuck in legal limbo originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink|Email this|Comments
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RapidWeaver 4.2 now localized into French
Posted by Dennis SellersRealmac Software has updated RapidWeaver, its web site creation application for Mac OS X, to version 4.2. The software is now fully localized into French, German, Italian and Japanese, as well as featuring a number of bug fixes and performance tweaks.
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Report: Tony Fadell, iPod chief, to leave Apple
The longtime Apple executive is set to leave the company, to be replaced by IBM's Mark Papermaster as head of Apple's iPod division, according to a report.
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Berger's Questionable Apple Track Record
FBR chip analyst Craig Berger, an analyst who doesn't cover Apple (AAPL), issued an interesting note today regarding iPhone production rates. He noted that according to his unqualified "checks" (whatever they may be), iPhone production rates may fall up to 40% in calendar Q4 (fiscal Q1). It's interesting that a semiconductor analyst thinks he is even in a position to be able comment on a company that he doesn't cover — a practice that seems to be the trend this year. But this wouldn't be the first time that Craig Berger has commented on Apple's production rates and it certainly wouldn't be the first time he was dead wrong. As a matter of fact, saying that Craig Berger has been "dead wrong" in his forecasts with Apple would be a gross understatement as the data below illustrates. I would even go so far as to actually view Craig Berger's projections as being extremely bullish. See for yourself. In February 2008, nearly halfway through fiscal Q2 2008, Berger gave a very bearish outlook for Apple's production rates for several of Apple's products for Q2. Remember, this was at a time when the prevailing sentiment on Wall Street was that the United States was in a recession and that Apple's products simply couldn't withstand a "slowdown" in consumer spending. Shares of Apple had been beaten to pulp in February, much as they are today. Berger's comments in February seemed to be based more on misplaced bearish beliefs about the economy than actual channel checks. At least, that's what his defective predictions would seem to indicate to almost any observer.
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Macsimum iPhone Video: Get out and 'Rock the Vote!'
Posted by Dave MertenToday's election day in the United States. Get out and vote! With all the problems going on right now in the US and the world, now is your chance to try and make a difference. Don't think your vote doesn't count either. The last Presidential Election was decided on less...
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The latest additions to the MacMerc Store are a bag of hurt
At Apple's Spotlight on Notebooks event last month, the post-presentation Q&A brought up the subject of Blu-Ray and specifically its absence from Apple's product line. At the time, Steve Jobs chimed in by commenting, "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we're waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace." Since then the bloggosphere and the twittersphere have adopted the the term "bag of hurt" and have applied it to many inelegant or difficult technologies...many of them Apple creations. Today in the MacMerc Store, two new items have been added to our catalog that poke fun at the "bag of hurt." The first is an actual bag. The Tote Bag of Hurt is a simple black tote bag suitable for carrying all your Blu-Ray discs to your media PC or perhaps your Psystar Mac OS X-compatible PC. It comes in basic black and sells for USD$17.99. The second "bag of hurt" item is the Bag of Hurt T-Shirt--perhaps we should call it "the Shirt of Hurt." Everybody has those days when they feel like a bag of hurt, now you can warn people up front. The shirt is available in basic black in sizes ranging from Small to XX-Large. The Bag of Hurt T-Shirt sells for USD$21.90.
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Snocator is ski, snowboard guide for iPhone
Posted by Dennis SellersUseful Networks, a developer of location aware applications, has launched a new iPhone app that combines tools for skiers and snowboarders.Snocator (pronounced “snow-kay-ter”) uses interactive GPS trail maps to show users exactly where they are on the mountain, and plan out their next run, rendezvous or overpriced hot chocolate from...
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Crash Course, Blambot's free font for November
This month, the free font offering over at Blambot is one of those awesome looking "sound effects" fonts that make comic books so exciting to read--Crash Course. The font's creator, Nate Piekos describes Crash Course: CRASHCOURSE BB is a tall, chunky sound effects font that's been smashed to bits. It's cracked and splintered for BIG sound effects. it sounds like it's clobbering time! Crash Course comes in Regular and Italic and the upper and lowercase characters have varied crack patterns.
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Apple's new iTunes surprise: No more jailbreaking
Apple seems to be crippling the jailbreaking of iPhones with its new MacBooks, driving would-be jailbreakers to try...Windows.
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XChange announces three new products for designers, prepress
Posted by Dennis SellersXChange International has announced three new products for the prepress market and designers.
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Time names the 23andMe retail DNA test 'Invention of the Year'
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Time Magazine has released its annual Best Inventions issue, and topping the list is the 23andMe retail DNA test, a kit which which offers consumers 23 clinical reports on their genetic risk for everything from Psoriasis to Prostate Cancer. It may not be as well known as last year's iPhone (or YouTube the year before that), but the $399 package might signal a significant revolution in preventative medicine... or it might bring mankind a disturbing new form of eugenics. Whatever you use it for, the process couldn't be easier: the kit comes with a tube that you spit in and mail back to the company, which in a mere 4 - 6 weeks will notify you that testing is complete. As you wait for the results to be posted online you might want to spend some time contemplating the ethical dilemmas posed by this technology. Time names the 23andMe retail DNA test 'Invention of the Year' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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PhidgetTemperatureSensor for Mac OS X updated
Posted by Dennis SellersPhidgets has updated its PhidgetTemperatureSensor for Mac OS X. The new version of the 1051 shows improvements in both reliability and accuracy through the addition of on-board filtering, cold junction compensation and optimized calibration methods. The upgrade replaces the previous version of the product.
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Apple chimes in to debunk those Mac mini / iMac rumors
Filed under: Desktops There was a day during an age not far removed from our memory in which Apple would remain dead silent on any murmuring going on regarding its wares -- clearly, that day has passed. In a rather unprecedented move, an actual spokesman named Bill Evans emerged from the Cupertino cocoon in order to put to rest all those wildly speculative rumors going on about new iMacs and / or Mac minis. Quite frankly, he uttered that "[Apple's] holiday line-up is set." Our take? This move is likely being made in order to assure prospective holiday shoppers that buying now is "safe," and that new gear isn't just weeks / days / nanoseconds away. C'mon, you know a well-oiled machine like Apple doesn't want all sorts of about-to-be-outdated Mac inventory clogging its supply chain when Macworld rolls around, don'tcha?[Via CNET]Apple chimes in to debunk those Mac mini / iMac rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Why You Will Not See Opera on Your iPhone
Opera Software says Apple's restrictive rules prompted it to pull the plug on an iPhone browser.
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Multi-mode WiMAX/LTE chips to hit markets in 2009
Posted by Dennis Sellers2009 will see the introduction of a new class of wireless communications chip that features dual-mode support for both WiMAX and LTE, according to ABI Research. The thrust of demand for such chips comes from those wireless device makers seeking to reduce the number of their SKUs; they will welcome...
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HistoryHound for Mac OS X now searches web archives
Posted by Dennis SellersSt. Clair Software has updated HistoryHound, the utility for indexing and searching web pages that you've bookmarked or visited recently, to version 1.9.6. The upgrade adds the capability to search web archives that you've saved from Safari, OmniWeb or Shiira.
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The Mac Night Owl: 'A hard look at some of Apple's design mistakes'
Posted by Dennis SellersOn today's commentary, Gene “Mac Night Owl” Steinberg offers “A hard look at some of Apple's design mistakes.”
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Classics: E-Book Reading At Its Finest
The wait is over as Classics is officially available. As previously mentioned, Classics is a highly refined e-book reader that provides users with a collection of public domain books. What sets Classics apart from the plethora of similarly available apps in iTunes is that first, each book was painstakingly formatted for the iPhone/iPod touch, and second, the interface is truly amazing. When you first open Classics, you're presented with a bookshelf with your available choices. The current version offers you eleven books including: Alice in Wonderland, Flatland, and The Metamorphosis. You can rearrange your books to your liking, but as it stands, there is no option to add or delete books. Once you've decided on a book, you just tap to open it. The developers took great care in giving you the most minimal of interfaces so the words can shine. All there is, is a title bar (that also acts as a progress bar for how far along in the book you are), a Home button, and a Table of Contents button. Beyond that, everything else is the beautifully formatted page. (more…)
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Worldwide computer microprocessor market hits record levels of unit shipments again in quarter three
Posted by Dennis SellersWorldwide personal computer microprocessor shipments in the third calendar quarter of 2008 (3Q08) reached record levels again, according to new data from IDC. However, the outlook for the processor market in 4Q08 and 2009 is very murky, according to the research group.
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The Completely Fair and Balanced Mac|Life Guide to Waiting in Line to Vote
The Mac|Life staff has a case of election fever. Although, it may be electionitis--we're still waiting for a call back from the ear, nose and vote specialist. (Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!) Regardless, we're all jazzed to make our voices heard tomorrow, and hope you are too. (Unless you're not a U.S. citizen, or you're a nonvoting felon, or you're under 18. You can still make your voices heard by busting out some inspirational Hammer lyrics.) read more
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Apple confirms no new products for rest of 2008
The mothership has spoken: despite rampant speculation about various Mac updates before the holidays, Apple says that the holiday lineup is already locked and loaded. Read More...
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Apple debunks Mac Mini, iMac rumor
Apple is done with Mac product releases in 2008, a company representative confirms in a rare response to speculation regarding the Mac Mini and iMac.
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'MacVoices' looks at taking control of your wireless network
Posted by Dennis SellersOn the new MacVoices Glenn Fleishman, who has written the book (again) on making the most of your wireless network in Take Control of Your 802.11n Airport Network.
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Useful PDF formatting tips for iPhone
To the bewilderment of users coming from the Windows Mobile smartphone world, Apple's mobile platform, the iPhone and iPod Touch, don't come standard with user access to a file system and a file reading application to read those files. Instead, it's what longtime Apple calls a "third-party opportunity." Here are some tips for formatting PDFs for the iPhone.
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The MUG Event Calendar': Apple rep, 'MacNotables' members to make visits
Posted by Dennis SellersThere are no tricks, only treats, on this week's MUG Event Calendar.”
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★ iPhone-Likeness
Anyone involved in Mac software development is familiar with arguments over whether a particular app is “Mac-like”. In the early days of the Mac — the first decade or so — the entire Mac community was largely in agreement about just what this meant. To be un-Mac-like was to be ignorant of the fundamental concepts and norms of the Mac OS. It was something you could spot in an instant — software designed by engineers who just did not get it. In the last decade, however, accusations of “un-Mac-likeness” have largely degenerated into meaningless hand-waving. You still occasionally see UI mistakes that are genuinely un-Mac-like — like, say, outright Windows-isms such as ordering dialog box buttons OK/Cancel rather than Cancel/OK — but in most cases, when someone complains “that’s not Mac-like”, what they really mean is “I don’t like that.”1 The overriding factor, I think, is that the overall scope of the Mac platform (and Windows, too, for that matter) has grown so large that it supports a wide variety of UI design philosophies and styles. iPhoto and Aperture have very different styles, both visually and functionally, but yet they’re both photo management apps made by Apple. There are still fundamental norms and conventions which all Mac software should adhere to, but there no longer exists a single, simple, overall design style or philosophy that defines Mac-likeness. The iPhone, on the other hand, is very much where the Mac was in the 1980s. It is new, innovative, and ambitiously stretches the bounds of what current hardware can support. Like, the Mac, the iPhone has established UI conventions that aren’t just different, but contrary to the conventions of what has preceded it. Apple has sketched out a remarkably clear picture of what it means for an app to be “iPhone-like”. And, just as many third-party Mac developers in the ’80s struggled to design Mac-like software because they couldn’t shake preconceptions forged in the “everything is just text” pre-Mac era, many third-party iPhone developers aren’t wholly getting the iPhone-like part. In many cases, I think, it’s because they can’t shake preconceptions forged designing Mac software. I’ll put forth one central, overriding guideline for iPhone UI design: Figure out the absolute least you need to do to implement the idea, do just that, and then polish the hell out of the experience. I further suggest the following, more specific, guidelines: Each screen should display one thing at a time. That “thing” may be a list, but it should just be a list. Minimize the number of on-screen elements. Make UI elements large enough to be easy to tap; place them far enough apart that there is little risk of tapping the wrong target by mistake. Eschew preferences as much as possible, and assume that nearly all users will use the default settings. As you show more detail, conceptually you move from left to right — but it’s best to minimize how deep you can get while drilling down to the right. These guidelines describe nearly every iPhone app designed by Apple, and apply to the ones I like most from the App Store. Notes on Notes As a case study, consider the iPhone’s built-in Notes app. This app is an excellent example of what it means to be iPhone-like.2 There are only two screens in Notes. First, a list of all Notes. A row in the list shows the note’s title and the date on which it was last modified. The list is always and only sorted chronologically, most recent first. There are only two things you can do at this screen: open an existing note by tapping it, or create a new note by tapping the “+” button that is always visible at the top of the list. There are no folders. There are no other sorting options. When you create or edit a note, the toolbar at the top offers two buttons: “Notes”, which points back to the left and takes you to the list of notes, and “Done”, which ends the editing mode by putting the keyboard away and using the full screen to display the contents of the current note. There is no explicit “Save” button — changes are always saved automatically. There is no “Cancel” button when creating a new note; just hit “Done” or “Notes” before typing anything and no new note will be created. There is no separate title field. The first line of text in the note is used as the title. Change the first line of the note, and you change the name of the note. After opening an existing note, there is no “Edit” button — to switch to editing mode, simply tap the content area of the note itself and the keyboard will appear, with the insertion point at the position where you tapped in the note. In an interview with Kyle Baxter in July, Brent Simmons said this regarding his design for the iPhone version of NetNewsWire: “Clarity is more valuable than density.” The iPhone’s Notes app is clear and sparse — or, perhaps better put, clear because it is sparse. The only metadata displayed on the note screen is the modification date. The toolbar at the bottom of the note has just four buttons: A left arrow to move to the previous note. An envelope to send the note as an email message (without leaving the Notes app). A trash can to delete the note (with a two-button Delete Note/Cancel confirmation panel). A right arrow to move to the next note. The left/right buttons aren’t necessary functionally, but they are necessary in order to avoid annoyance. Without them, to scan through multiple notes, you’d need to do a “back to the list, tap the next note, back to the list, tap the next note” dance. This is the entirety of the Notes app. I’ve looked at several note-editing apps available in the App Store, and most of them seem to have been designed without any recognition of just how clever and well-designed Apple’s Notes app is. Notes exposes its core functionality clearly and obviously, launches very quickly, requires very few taps to use, and uses just two simple levels of hierarchy (the flat list of notes, and the notes themselves). After more than 16 months using the Notes app, I’ve found that having the list sorted chronologically is exactly what I want nearly all the time. That’s not to say Notes, as it stands today (which is to say, as it stood when the original iPhone debuted, since it hasn’t changed since then) cannot be improved. The biggest missing feature, clearly, is syncing. Email is currently the only way to export notes from Notes, and there is no way at all to import. There practically begs to be some way to transfer snippets of text from your computer to the Notes app on your iPhone, but there is none. This is a major feature, and, currently, the biggest opportunity for third-party note apps. A search feature would be nice. I imagine something along the lines of the search field Apple added to the Contacts list in iPhone OS 2.0, sitting at the top of the list of notes; type a search string and the list of notes would be filtered to display only those which match. Notes doesn’t rotate. It should, for the benefit for those who prefer typing on the horizontal keyboard. And that’s pretty much it for my Notes wish list — a pretty short list. I think the logic behind this goes something like this: I like the Mac UI overall; but I don’t like this specific UI design; therefore this specific UI design is not Mac-like.↩ No, I don’t like the Marker Felt font Notes uses. But that’s a subjective cosmetic niggle.↩
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Windows 7 installed on a new MacBook Pro, sparks fly
Filed under: Laptops It's a next-generation operating system and mirror all in one![Thanks, Brian H.]Windows 7 installed on a new MacBook Pro, sparks fly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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First Look: Netflix "Watch Instantly" for the Mac
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Quick Tip: Increase/Decrease Your Mac’s Volume With More Precision
Sometimes you need more precise adjustments to your Mac's volume. The volume up/down buttons on the mac have 16 settings, but if you're in a quiet room sometimes even the first full setting is too loud. I often listen to music in the office, but need to hear if someone says something to me. It's just background music for me while I code or read email, so I want it to be really quiet. If you need more precise control of your volume, simply hold down Shift+Option and then volume up or down. You will have a total of 64 volume levels (4 levels for each square), giving you the ability to get the volume perfect for your own needs. Also, if you hold down just the Shift key while changing the volume, it silences the volume change “click” sound.
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Ng:moco's Young aims to create an early EA for the iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone, App StoreTouch Arcade has an interview up with Neil Young. Just like you, I was only slightly disappointed to learn that it was the Neil Young formerly of EA who recently formed ng:moco, quickly becoming one of the most high-profile iPhone game houses, not that other one. But only slightly, because also like many of you, I'm looking forward to Rolando and the "over a dozen" other games ng:moco is releasing on the App Store, and I'm interested to see what ng:moco has to say for themselves about the little iPhone game empire they're building.Unfortunately, TA didn't get a price or a strict release date out of Young for Rolando, but he does say that the game's shaping up well -- he even says creator Simon Oliver "could be the first Miyamoto of the iPhone," which, even if an exaggeration, is an interesting idea. They also discuss the plan behind ng:moco, a company which, like EA in the earlier days of PC gaming, aims to bring together publishers, designers, and promotion and sales all under one big roof. And the volatile issue of iPhone App pricing comes up, but I agree that the big balance on price always seems to be quality -- looking at a system like the Xbox 360's marketplace, you can justify almost any price for a game, as long as the user has an experience that feels worth what they paid.And finally, they hit on the iPhone's competitors, and it sounds like Young thinks Android phones have a ways to go -- the difference is not in the hardware (touchscreen, size, and so on), but it's in the usability and interface, and in those arenas, Young says, Apple still has the edge. Very nice interview with a company that seems destined to play a big part in the iPhone gaming market.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Fastmac's beefy iPhone battery extender makes its debut
At 3100mAh, Fastmac's battery extender for the iPhone 3G offers some serious boosts to the iPhone's talk time, audio/video playback, and standby times. And, best of all, it's made right in the USA.Read More...
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Analyst: Apple cutting iPhone production
One analyst thinks Apple is reducing iPhone production by up to 40 percent as it works through inventory and prepares for an economic slump.
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iheartradio brings Clear Channel to iPhone
Ars looks at Clear Channel's new iheartradio iPhone application. The app tries to make listening to your favorite radio station easy, but there are so many bugs that we were left unimpressed.Read More...
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iVerse Media releases digital comics for iPhone, iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersiVerse Media's first wave of titles are now available for sale at the Apple App Store. Titles are now available from companies like Arrden Entertainment, Antarctic Press, Bluewater Productions, and Image Comics Creators.
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Foundry shipping Ocula collection of 3D stereo plug-ins
Posted by Dennis SellersThe Foundry is now shipping Ocula, a collection of plug-in tools designed to solve common problems with stereoscopic imagery, boost productivity in post production, and deliver a more rewarding stereoscopic viewing experience, says CEO Bill Collis. Ocula plug-ins are designed to automatically replicate key processes on left and right channels...
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Ziphone author demos iPhone crash to Forbes
Filed under: Security, iPhone, iPod touchZiphone creator Piergiorgio Zambrini has discovered a bug with the iPhone that causes the phone to crash when it starts to play a specially-created video. Forbes.com recorded a demonstration. The bug apparently affects the audio track of the video, which takes down the iPhone operating system. I could not independently verify the bug, because the links to the movie (and the movie file itself) shown to Forbes were no longer available online. The bug does not permanently damage devices, according to Zambrini. He said he hasn't yet contacted Apple's security response team. Forbes.com informed an Apple spokesman about the flaw and is still awaiting an official comment. Zambrini claims he emailed Steve Jobs personally about the bug; around the same time, he applied for employment at Apple. Apple has not yet responded to his resume. It strikes me that Zambrini is trying to appeal to Apple in the same way that your ex-girlfriend tries to appeal to you by spray painting the front of your house. In the Forbes.com article, Zambrini now claims his goal "...is not to work for Apple." Zambrini created Ziphone, a popular iPhone unlocking tool. Thanks, Taylor!Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Nov. 3 'Macsimum Podcast' now available
Posted by Dennis SellersThe Macsimum Podcast for Nov. 3 is now available here and the RSS feed is here.
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Apple rep: We're "looking into" MacBook Pro trackpad issues
Some users have been having issues with their new MacBook and MacBook Pro trackpads—the clicks just aren't registering. Don't worry, though, as Apple already knows.Read More...
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News: AT&T + Firethorn release Mobile Banking for iPhone
AT&T, in cooperation with Firethorn Holdings, has released its new Mobile Banking on AT&T application for the iPhone. The app allows users to check account balances, view account history, make transfers, and pay bills, and supports the access of accounts from multiple financial institutions. Participating banks include Wachovia, SunTrust, USAA, Carolina First, America First, Arvest, Bancorp South, Synovus, Mercantile Bank, and more. Mobile…
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Video Games Lead in Online Sales
The recent economic turmoil is poised to make this holiday season a downer for many retailers who had hoped to end the year on a positive note. Each week through the end of the year, Compete will be tracking which retail products are drawing the most online interest from shoppers. A look at the leading products from this past week suggest that while consumers' budgets will be pinched this year, certain products, such as video game consoles will be as popular as ever. Highlights for the Week of October 19-25
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Smule iPhone Apps: Just The Tip of The Iceberg
Had you noticed that Sonic Lighter (by Smule) was recently updated to be relevant to the pending presidential election? That's right — a simple, silly, virtual lighter, now has the capability to give you first hand political polling results from around the world, for the two lead presidential candidates. Select your party preference, light up, and view the globe to see how everyone else is voting (or would vote if they were American). The location data from Smule's applications can be uploaded (with your permission of course) to their servers for real time processing. The results are geographical polling results or recently lit flames. This example just scratches the surface of what Smule is capable of, and I recommend keeping in mind that when 'playing' with one of Smule's iPhone applications, a boatload of ingenious potential is lurking in the shadows. To give you an idea of the horsepower behind the team at Smule, peep their about page. Go ahead, I'll wait… These guys have more PhD's (and PhD's in progress) than any of the iPhone software development shops I've heard of (and probably more than many indie OS X development groups as well). Point being, this isn't just another group of high school whiz kids programming in their parents' basement to make a few extra bucks — these folks have years of schooling to back up their incredible body of work. To me, that alone is enough to pause and find out what's going on at Smule that's unique enough to have that kind of talent behind the wheel. (more…)
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ClassicsOnline launches online collection of 320-kbps, DRM-Free classical music
Posted by Dennis SellersNaxos has launched ClassicsOnline (COL), an online, independent classical music store, which has what the company says is the universe's largest online classical music catalog (nearly 22,000 DRM-free albums) at 320 kbps.
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Cocotron lets you develop in Cocoa for Windows, with a little extra work
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Software, Odds and ends, Leopard, Developer It kind of sounds like a developer's dream: create an app in Cocoa that automatically works on Windows, too. But that's what Cocotron promises, and the folks at Ecamm say the dream is there, even if it requires a lot of elbow grease. They tried using Cocotron to port an app called FileMagnet, and two months after they started, they say they did it. You can see the results above, and as they say, "Visual Studio was never opened."But of course it wasn't exactly one-click. They had to implement a number of Apple-specific methods, and there were UI bugs, strings support, and dreaded Vista compatibility to work out. But the good news is that Cocotron is all open source, and from what the Mac Daddies say, the devs working on the project are super helpful and supportive. So, not only is it getting better every day, but every bit of implementation that gets done is something that won't have to be repeated. Sounds like a lot of "fun" (for varying values of "fun" of course) for developers to be had here. The lines between Mac and PC, no matter what the commercials say, are blurring more and more every day, and this could turn out to be a way to develop in an environment as welcoming as Cocoa, and then bring programs back into an environment as widespread as Windows.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Porsche Breaks the Hedge Funds
Speaking of The Economist, they have a great summary of how Porsche more or less pantsed a bunch of hedge funds and stealthily took a controlling share of Volkswagen. The story itself is interesting, but there’s a larger lesson. Common sense would suggest that it would be Volkswagen taking over Porsche, not the other way around. I see Volkswagens on the street everywhere; I sometimes go a week without seeing a single Porsche. But unit sales are not the goal of business, profit is — and Porsche’s is a more profitable business. (Insert your own analogy between Porsche and Apple here.) ★
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FileMaker opens early registration for 2009 Developer Conference
Posted by Dennis SellersFileMaker Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, has announced early registration for the 200 FileMaker Developer Conference.
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'Macsimum Recommended Reading' for Nov. 3
Posted by Dennis Sellers“Half of Apple's iPhone 3Gs sold internationally: Two separate disclosures by Apple and AT&T last week combine to revealed that the iPhone, once driven largely by domestic sales, has grown into a big international business with the arrival of the 3G model.”—AppleInsider
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iPhone gains battery life, camera flash, loses sex appeal with FastMac's iV
Filed under: Cellphones Why yes, FastMac -- we want 24 hours of talk time, 72 of audio, 20 of video, and 31 of standby on our iPhones and iPhone 3Gs. Throw in a camera flash that doubles as a flashlight, and the ability to charge a USB device like a Bluetooth headset right off the phone, and you've got a deal on this iV charging kit of yours! Oh, there's a catch? It's a wee bit bulky, with an aesthetic similar to that of mophie's Juice Pack? Hey, it could be worse. This largification -- along with $79.50 -- is apparently the price you pay for digital endurance.[Via Macworld]iPhone gains battery life, camera flash, loses sex appeal with FastMac's iV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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New MacBooks and MBPs can handle up to 6GB of RAM
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBookIs it just me or is it pretty mindblowing what Moore's Law is doing to our computers these days? I remember when 64mb of RAM was great, and even a few years ago, I wondered why anyone would ever use 1GB of RAM (I've got 2GB in my gaming PC, and I still almost think it's too much). But apparently TidBITS has been doing some testing, and they've discovered that not only can the new MacBooks hold 4GB of RAM as Apple recommends for a limit, but stuffing a whopping 6GB in there is possible and doable. There are two DDR3 slots in the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, and they come with either 1GB or 2GB in each DIMM slot.TidBITS says you can switch out one of those 2GB DIMMs for a 4GB, and voil, as long as they're the same speed and type, apparently almost everything is hunky-dory. TidBITS says there are two drawbacks: one, that dual-channel architecture requires identical DIMMs, so that's out if you're running a 4GB and 2GB configuration. Plus, it'll cost you an arm and a leg, especially if your leg is priced at around $600, which is what a 4GB stick runs. Even the DDR2 is pricey at that level (then again, if you don't like memory prices, just wait about five minutes, because that's basically how often they change).And for some reason, there's an issue with running two 4GB sticks in there (for a total of 8GB), but TidBITS surmises that may be fixed by the time Snow Leopard rolls around. Personally, I'd love to see a program that needs 6GB of RAM -- maybe a high end 3D modeler or a financial simulator of some kind. But it's good to know that if you really need that much memory (and have the cash to spend on it), there you go.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Krell Kid and Papa
Krell’s KID and Papa combo comprise the best iPod audio system we’ve ever heard—but it’s not the best iPod audio system possible.If you’re not an audiophile with a fetish for the absolute highest fidelity in audio reproduction, nothing we can say will ever persuade you to drop 4 Gs on an iPod dock-and-amp combo. That would be 10 times the price of the costliest iPod you could mate with it, for those of you keeping up with the math at home. read more
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Article: iPhone Gems: Flying, Radio Tuners, and Miscellany
Today's edition of iPhone Gems is another highly random mix of nine titles, all of which have caught our attention over the last week or two on the App Store. We've broken them down into three sections: Flying, Radio + Audio Titles, and Everything Else—the last one a collection of titles that add to previous multi-game or multi-application reviews we've published. Read on for the details; our pick of the bunch is Weather Underground's…
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lafcpug going to DV Expo
Posted by Dennis SellersThe Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group will once again stage its own brand of infotainment and education Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 pm inside the LA Convention Center as part of the 12th annual DV Expo in Los Angeles, California.
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Tap Tap Revenge NIN Edition
Brilliant idea. Take a very popular free game (Tap Tap Revenge), work out a licensing deal with a popular band (Nine Inch Nails), and then sell a special version of the game using music from that band for $5. The comments on the App Store page for the game are effusive. While most of the recording industry continues to plot ways to frustrate its customers, Trent Reznor is finding ways to make money and delight his fans. ★
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Manipulating interfaces on screens you cannot see
Ars shows you how to click buttons on your Mac's screen when there are no buttons you can actually see. System Events scripting provides the solution for this otherwise frustrating situation.Read More...
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Fraser Speirs on Apple Retail Store Field Trips
Sounds like it would be a great thing for Saturday mornings. That the educational aspects of the trip are well-done makes no difference with regard to my criticism, however. Nothing will convince me there’s any place for something so blatantly commercial on a school day. ★
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Vista Internet Use Up (and Mac Down) in October
Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt comments on the latest Internet market share numbers from Net Applications. Seems Vista got a bump in October while the Mac went down, and he’s curious as to why. It’s important to note that, as Philip himself explains, these numbers are an inexact measurement in the first place: The first thing to be said about these results is that Net Applications’ “market share” report doesn’t actually measure share of market as a percentage of revenue or unit sales. That’s the business Gartner and IDC are in. Still, it’s interesting to look at the numbers to see what tentative conclusions could be drawn. The first thing I noticed when looking at Windows as a whole over the last year is that, while the trend is downward, there have been three points (Feb, Apr, and Jul) in addition to October where a gain was scored, so a monthly increase in and of itself is not out of the ordinary. (more…)
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Coladia releases Secret of the Lost Cavern for Mac OS X
Posted by Dennis SellersColadia has released the Secret of the Lost Cavern game for Mac OS X. It costs US$39.99; a demo is available for download.
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Glyph rocks on iPhone; GTS World Racing gets two-player mode
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Found Footage, iPhone, App Store, iPod touchHandmark has released one new game for the iPhone and iPod touch, and updated one of their existing titles. The new game is Glyph, a game in the jewel-matching genre that has been a hit on PCs and other handheld platforms. The game has more than 200 levels across 2 different modes. In the Quest mode, you are trying to break through layers of rock by matching like-colored stones to make the glyphs visible. In Action mode, you touch groups of stones to clear them as they come up from the bottom of the screen. Your task is to try to keep the stones from making it all the way to the top of the screen. There's beautiful music playing in the background, although you can choose your own soundtrack from your music.Glyph is available now in the App Store (click opens iTunes) at an introductory price of US$1.99 -- the regular price will be US$4.99.In other news, Handmark has announced an update to GTS World Racing that provides a two-player mode so you can race against friends over Wi-Fi. The update is available for free through the App Store.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Mac Users Can Now Opt-In to Netflix Watch Instantly
Netflix has finished their first phase of beta testing the Mac version of their "Watch Instantly" movie player. Mac users with Intel machines can now brave the wild and wooly world of beta testing by opting in to test out the new service. The media player is based on the Microsoft Silverlight media technology used during the 2008 Olympics webcasts.read more
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Kensington releases plethora of computer products in time for the holidays
Posted by Dennis SellersKensington Computer Products Group has announced a variety of computer accessories and products in time for the holidays. Some of the accessories are for iPhone and iPod users.
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Mac Mini, iMac updates coming next week?
Apple could be getting ready to make some tweaks to its desktop Macs next week, adding the touches unveiled last month with its new MacBooks.
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Apple sued over alleged faulty PowerBook G4 memory slots
Posted by Dennis Sellers Another, day, another lawsuit. Apple is facing a new class-action lawsuit that charges the company with failing to fully recognize the scope of a memory slot defect in its PowerBook G4 notebooks, which has left thousands of customers with no choice but to foot hefty repair costs on their own,...
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Apple, Psystar trial could be a year away
Posted by Dennis SellersCourt filings indicate that the copyright dispute over Mac OS X in the Apple vs. Psystar battle could drag out for more than a year. The two companies filed paperwork with the California court hearing their dispute in which they ask the court to set a trial date on Nov....
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Ross Video ships Mac compatible SoftMetal 4.0 software
Posted by Dennis SellersRoss Video) is now shipping SoftMetal 4.0 software, launched at IBC 2008. Version 4.0 is currently shipping at no charge to all current SoftMetal customers. SoftMetal is a line of multi-definition video servers designed for live production and master control applications.
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Russian President Medvedev pictured with MacBook Pro
Filed under: Odds and ends, Macbook ProThe Kremlin has released photos of Russian President Dimitry Medvedev holding a meeting with his aides and what appears to be a new MacBook Pro. The president also recently addressed the nation in a video blog post, where his MacBook Pro was seen in a similar meeting. The logo had been removed from the video early on, but is visible around the 1:20 mark. Other videos on the Kremlin's website show Medvedev with a variety of computers. Medvedev has previously been photographed using an iPhone, though some speculated it was a black-market acquisition. At the time the photo was taken, the iPhone was not yet available for sale in Russia. This follows in the footsteps of other high-profile world leaders using Apple products, including former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt's switch to a Mac last month. Thanks, Andrei!Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Apple cutting back iPhone production, analyst says
Apple Inc. may be drastically scaling back production of its popular iPhone for the crucial fourth-quarter shopping season as the economy slips further into a recession, according to a brokerage report.
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Analyst: Apple cuts iPhone production
Posted by Dennis SellersApple has cut its calendar fourth quarter iPhone production plans significantly more than originally estimated, according to a report by Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Craig Berger. Instead of a 10 percent sequential production drop in quarter four, Berger's “recent checks” suggest iPhone production could fall “more than 40 percent” from...
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Netflix expands 'Watch Instantly' test program for Mac users
Posted by Dennis SellersNetflix, the online movie rental service, is expanding its “Watch Instantly” test program for Mac users to include any subscribers who want to sign up.
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Track the election on your iPhone
With polls in the east coast a little more than 12 hours away from opening we turn our attention to the election. Regardless of which side you’re on, it’s hard not to get swept up in all the excitement surrounding such an historic event. Since a presidential election only happens every four years, the anticipation is [...]
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Quake to Shake Up iPhone/iPod touch
The iPod touch may in fact be the “Funnest iPod Ever”, as recent ads claim. Games like Spore Origins and Cro-Mag Rally that embrace the device's unique (and frustrating) controls are certainly amusing time-wasters. It's not necessarily true, however, that being the most amusing iPod also makes it the “best portable device for gaming”, as Steve Jobs has claimed. One thing it lacks, when compared to dedicated platforms like the DS and the PSP, is game variety. Developer ZodTTD hopes to help broaden the scope of iPhone/iPod touch gaming by bringing popular FPS Quake to the platform. To date most iPhone/iPod touch games have been puzzle and casual titles, with some notable (and successful) exceptions like RPG port Vay. The platform has yet to see many offerings that appeal to core gamers. Reviews for more ambitious games like Kroll and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed reveal that while players are impressed with the hardware capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch, titles to date have not been living up to their full potential in terms of gameplay quality and longevity. If it is accepted by Apple (it was submitted by the developer last week), a working version of Quake on the iPhone would go a long way towards proving to core gamers that the device is a true contender to established rivals like Sony and Nintendo. According to the developer, Quake will be a free download for all iPhone and iPod touch users. Controls are screen-based, as accelerometer control was found to be unwieldy and unsuited to Quake gameplay. The game is played in landscape mode and features full audio support. ZodTTD also makes the ambitious claim that future releases will include network play, downloadable mods and additional content. The reason for Quake's original success was due largely to its multiplayer mode and customizability. It'll be interesting to see if these same features will make it a hit on the iPhone/iPod touch as well. View the original post by ZodTTD and actual gameplay footage here.
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Marware announces Eco Vue for 2G iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersMarware has released the US$29.99 Eco Vue for the second generation iPod touch 2G. It's made from cornstarch polymers with a lining of recycled polyester and is designed to “give you the look and feel of leather, without the guilt.”
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'Classics' reading platform released for iPhone, iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersClassics, a software reading platform for a growing collection of literary masterpieces, is now available on the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available at an introductory price of US$2.99.
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Ars Guide: Windows-to-Mac Key Switching
Ars shows you how to test and remap keys on your Windows keyboard for use with Mac OS X. There are a few tricks involved, but it's doable. Read More...
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VoxOx 'universal communicator service' is Mac compatible
Posted by Dennis SellersTelCentris, a telephony company based in San Diego, today announced that it has launched the public beta of its free consumer service, VoxOx, which unifies today's key communication channels—voice, video, IM, text, social media, e-mail, fax and more— into a single interface. And it's Mac compatible.
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IntelliScanner releases Mac compatible Wine Collector 300
Posted by Dennis SellersIntelliScanner has released Wine Collector 300, a “smart scanner” for wine enthusiasts. It costs US$279 and works with Mac and Windows systems. It bundles the IntelliScanner mini portable barcode reader and wine management software to automatically provide wine bottle details using an Internet-enabled database and AutoFill technology.
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Why Android just might beat the iPhone
Open source gives Google a killer advantage against the iPhone.
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iWebTemplate introduces free Google Tool Set
Posted by Dennis SellersiWebTemplate has introduced their Google Tool Set, a free, web-based resource for Mac enterprise and web developers. Offered exclusively for click and mortar, web site or online business, it's a browser-based collection of tools designed to help anyone get a better handle on their AdWords, Google Ads, or Google Ranking.
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Prepare for Election Day with your iPhone
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touchHere at the TUAW home office, we're quite distracted by the pending election of the USA's 44th President. However, since this is an Apple blog, we can't go all political -- but we can combine our interests.Here are four ways you can prepare for the big day with your iPhone.1. Quiz yourself about the candidatesHow well do know the man who'll receive you vote? Fit 2 Vote [App Store link] displays a quote made by either John McCain or Barack Obama. Your job is to identify the quote's origin. Once you've correctly attributed 50 quotes, you're deemed "fit to vote." Fit 2 Vote costs $0.99US.2. Report on your polling placeVote Report [App Store link] is the mobile end of the Twitter Vote Report, a network of software developers, designers, and others that allows voters to instantly share the conditions at their polling places. Use your iPhone to alert the media, your neighbors, friends or anyone involved about wait times, machine malfunctions, and especially clever signs in the parking lot. Vote Report is free.[Incidentally, has anyone ever, in the history of democracy, been swayed by a posterboard sign viewed minutes before voting? You've got to wonder why those people are standing out there in the rain.]3. Track live resultsBy now the rhetoric has nearly died down and all that's left is the results. Election [App Store link] provides real-time polling results that can be sorted by state, candidate, percentage and more. You can even limit the results to your candidate, and best of all, there's no stumping. Election only reports the numbers. Election costs $0.99US.4. Perform electoral mathVotetastic [App Store link] lets you fiddle with electoral votes and observe the results. For instance, you can select a contested state like Ohio and either turn it "red" or "blue." Doing so moves those electoral votes from one side to the other. Votetastic is really more of a game than a tool, as it doesn't report on real data, but it could be fun to see if your own predictions come true. Votetastic costs $0.99USRead|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Class action suit filed over PowerBook G4 memory slots
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple in a California District Court, alleging that the company hasn't done enough to correct a memory slot defect common to PowerBook G4 notebooks. Ahh, a blast from the past. Read More...
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News: Marware unveils Eco Vue for iPod touch 2G
Marware has announced its new Eco Vue case for the second-generation iPod touch. Made from corn starch polymers and recycled polyester, this eco-friendly case features a reinforced, form-fitting design, open access to all ports and controls, a strap closure system, and an included clear screen protector and cleaning cloth. The Marware Eco Vue for iPod touch 2G is now available for pre-order and sells for $30. ...
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Review: 'IG-Drive-mini: ultra portable storage solutions'
Posted by Dave MertenBy David Sparks With the miniaturization of hard drive technology, it is now easy to carry an extra few hundred gigabytes in your laptop bag. I currently carry a Western Digital Passport drive for just this purpose. The problem is that the Passport drive is slow. It is fine for...
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Western Digital releases Mac compatible WD TV
Posted by Dennis SellersWestern Digital (WD) has introduced a way for consumers to play their stored digital content on their HDTV in Full-HD 1080p resolution. The WD TV Media Player connects to a user's TV or home theater and plays digital movies, music and photos from WD's My Passport portable drive or other...
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Belkin FlyThru designed as a checkpoint-friendly laptop case
Posted by Dennis SellersBelkin has released the FlyThru laptop case. It's designed to allow travelers to no longer have to remove their laptop from the bag in the airport security line. FlyThru isolates your laptop on one side, allowing TSA agents to identify it through a clear window.
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Enderle tenuously links Microsoft-Apple struggle with U.S. election
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, HumorRob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, a division of Enderle Global Enterprises, represented by Enderle, Enderle & Enderle, and a block south of Enderle Toyota*, says Apple has made mistakes with its marketing that mirror those of the Republican party in this year's presidential race. In a meandering article (littered with mild expletives) that very thinly connects the election with Apple and Microsoft, Enderle says a winner for either contest will benefit from its opponent's negative advertising. "In the U.S. election, the negative campaigning probably has done more to motivate the Democratic base and get moderate Republicans to switch sides than anything the Democrats could have done alone. Apple's campaign has truly pissed off Microsoft, and Windows 7 is that company's way of saying, 'Steve Jobs can kiss my a**,' or more simply, 'enough,'" he wrote. Enderle continued, "Apple would have been better off to fix its crappy laptop keyboards" than to focus on marketing. Enderle was famous for predicting an early demise for the iPhone, and is routinely (perhaps inaccurately) identified as an independent analyst when giving his opinion. [Via MacDailyNews.] *Joke shamelessly ripped from this episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. (About 2:40)Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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First Looks: Speck SeeThru for iPod nano 4G
Sold in six colors, Speck's SeeThru for iPod nano 4G ($25) is a transparent plastic shell with integrated screen protection and a detachable combination cord manager and video stand. If you're interested in using the case with the nano by itself, you can; the case's substantially open bottom has a lip to keep the nano inside. Otherwise, you can attach the rubber piece to the bottom of the case for both cord management and additional coverage. It's…
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First Looks: Just Mobile Xtand for iPod touch 1G + 2G
Virtually identical to the Xtand for iPhone and iPhone 3G, Just Mobile's Xtand for iPod touch 1G + 2G ($40) comes with an aluminum table stand and a rotating iPod touch mount, complete with two sets of four rubber edge clips designed to keep the two different iPod touch models held in place. In our brief initial testing, the clips weren't ideal with the second-generation touch, but we'll continue to test more and see how it all holds up....
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Netflix opens Mac streaming for public beta
After over a year of waiting, Netflix streaming is a go for Mac users—at least in public beta form. Ars gives the Silverlight-based streaming a try. So far, so good.Read More...
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Harnessing the Power of iTunes Star Ratings
During the past few months I've grown a little bored with my music. Even my favorite tracks have become routine. So to inject some life into my iTunes library I've been getting my hands on a monthly playlist of Indie Rock tracks (from completely legal and reputable sources, of course). But as I've been listening to these lists of 100-200 songs I have run into a new problem — how to rate them. Of course my favorite songs, the ones I would listen to over and over again, get a 4 or 5-star rating. But the rest of the tracks invariably end up getting a 3-star rating. I tend not to use the 1 or 2-star rating because in my mind if a song is rated that low then it's not worth keeping. And then there are other problems with the star rating system. For example, what about holiday songs? Sure, that Relient K Christmas album might get a 4-star rating, but I don't really want it picked up in my “highest rated” smart playlist unless it's actually Christmas. And if I begin to exclude every “exception” then my smart playlist ends up with 35 rules. The rating system is such a powerful tool since it's one of the few ways to actually “tag” your music on the go and I didn't want to abandon it altogether. So, in an attempt to learn how to use iTunes star rating system to the fullest, I have asked friends, colleagues, and the internet for ideas on how to harness the star to create perfect playlists. (more…)
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Remap the function keys on a standard PC keyboard
There are several hints here on remapping the function keys on a standard PC keyboard when used with a Mac (in my case, a Mac mini). The standard key map does use F8 to F12, but lacking are volume controls, shut down switch, and others. Several people suggested using ControllerMate or Keyboard Maestro to handle this problem. Here's another solution...Somewhere, I found a hint suggesting to use Griffin's Proxi to solve this problem. After installing Proxi, create a new trigger by using "insert Trigger" from the little gear icon, then select Hotkey Monitor. You can then choose the desired key. Then select a new task (Insert Task, Key Press). I choose to set up volume control on F4/F5, and mute on F3. This works like a charm.
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10.5: Virtualize machine-specific 10.4 in Fusion 2
First of all, this hint (which is based on some very good previous hints appearing here) is only of academic interest, almost as a proof of concept, for now (at least until Apple will change their licensing terms). So, let's take it only as an -- I hope interesting -- exercise to understand things a little better.So, why would one hypothetically want to do all this? Well, it could be very good for running legacy, up-to-Tiger-only programs (see, for example, Photoshop 7, which won't run on Leopard; etc.) and/or for testing software in a Tiger/Intel environment, without being forced to have a partition dedicated to Tiger. So, Apple, it would really be a great thing to permit virtualization of *all* your Intel-compatible OSes, both server and client, starting from Tiger and upwards.Now, assuming you have a machine-specific Mac OS X 10.4.x Tiger DVD for Intel, and want to try...
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Avoid FileVault problems when using Adobe Updater
The Adobe updater application (used to search for and install updates for many Adobe products) does not always work properly when run from a FileVault-protected account. Some updates install, but others simply quit with an error every time (Camera raw updates are especially bad). There are two fairly simple workarounds:Try to locate the update on the Adobe website, download it, and run the installer manually. The update should install fine this way.Log in from a non-FileVault account and run the Adobe updater application. The update should install fine and be usable for all accounts.Admittedly, most people could have easily discerned the workarounds, but it took me many months to realise that FileVault was the culprit, so this might help someone else who is wondering why Adobe updates won't install.
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News: Mix: Rhinoball, Payday Roulette, iPhone 3G refurbs?
AvatarLabs has released RhinoBall, a new game for iPhone and iPod touch promoting the upcoming film Bolt. In the game, players take control of Rhino the hamster, who is attempting to catch up to his friend Bolt by rolling his ball along city streets filled with cars and other obstacles. The game uses accelerometer-based controls, and is available now as free download from the App Store. Veiled Games has released Payday Roulette, its first game for…
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First Look: Classics
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touchHave you ever been stuck on a train, plane, or bus and wanted a good book to read? With Classics [iTunes Link], you can easily pick up your iPhone and begin reading a small collection of classic literature and novels. As I mentioned last week, Classics takes a new approach to reading books on the iPhone. The book selection interface reminds us of Delicious Library, as it has a wooden bookcase with the library of books stacked on it -- the developers will add new books with future (free) updates. You can re-arrange your books by tapping on a book and dragging it around. Once you select a book, it will load, and you will see the reading view. If you are continuing where you left off, a bookmark will appear and slide off the page; otherwise, you will presented with the first page of the book. To turn the page, you simply slide your finger in a page-turning motion (right to left or left to right, depending on if you want to go forward or backwards respectively). The page turning is really addictive, and you'll find yourself reading quickly through the text just so you can flip to the next page -- yes, it's really that addictive. By tapping on the list icon in the top-right corner, you will be presented with an index of the chapters; you can tap on any of these chapters to jump to the beginning of the section. When you tap the back button in the top-left, a bookmark will slide onto the page, saving your place for later. After extensive testing over the past two weeks, I have become addicted to reading in Classics. But, there are some improvements I would like to see. There is a good selection of books to read, but I would like to see this list expand (and bring more recent books to the bookshelf). I would also like to be able to search through one (or all) of the books to find a single passage. In addition, the ability to control the font size would be nice. Overall, this application is stellar, and while there is some room for improvement, I would have to agree that this is a great way to read older books on the go. Classics is definitely not a mainstream eBook reader, because you cannot add your own books. So, if you're looking for a reader that gives you more flexibility, you might want to try Stanza [iTunes Link].You can download Classics from the iTunes Store for an introductory price of $2.99. Be sure to take a look at our gallery of screenshots.Gallery: First Look: ClassicsRead|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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RapidWeaver 4.2 update brings add-on control, localizations
A new version of Realmac Software's web design app RapidWeaver features more control over third-party add-ons and formatting fixes. The ability to speak four new languages rounds out a mature version 4.2 update.Read More...
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Tony Scida on the Sonos iPhone App
The iPhone is the ultimate programmable remote for Wi-Fi-enabled home entertainment equipment. ★
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First Look: Handshake for iPhone
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch How many times have you been away from your computer and wanted to give someone your contact information? With a new app called Handshake [iTunes Link], you can send another iPhone (or iPod touch) user any contact information stored on your iPhone. The application works by using Core Location coupled with other technologies to send address book cards over the air.When you first launch Handshake, it will attempt to find your address book card; if it can't, it will ask you to specify a card. Handshake will then connect to its servers, and you will be able to send either your card, a contact's card, or a picture -- just by tapping on one of the main three buttons. You can also change your default card by tapping the wrench in the top-right corner of the application and choosing the blue arrow under "My Card." This is a very simple application, with a very simple idea, that just works. The application will send data over WiFi, 3G, and EDGE connections. Since the application uses Apple's Core Location framework, it relies on GPS, cell triangulation, or WiFi positioning. The lack of GPS on the iPod touch makes the app less reliable than the iPhone, but a new feature in version 1.1 hopes to fix this by allowing users to search for others who are sharing cards. Version 1.1 will also give users the ability to send industry-standard vCards through email to other people, regardless of whether they're using an iPhone or not. Handshake is currently at version 1.0.1, and can be downloaded from the iTunes Store in two flavors: free or paid. The paid version removes the ads. Version 1.1 should be out sometime this week. You can look at our gallery of screenshots to see the additions to version 1.1.Gallery: First Look: HandshakeThanks to Kyle Richter and Ian Baird for the information, and their help!Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Isis Imaging introduces Isis Locus duotone software for Mac OS X
Posted by Dennis SellersIsis Imaging Corp. has released Isis Locus,theUS$64.95 Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”) compatible turnkey software for duotone creation. The software's controls provide an infinite range of image correction possibilities for perfect duotone reproduction every time, says developer Stephen Herron.
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Paul Kent, vice president of MWSF, offers show preview
Posted by Dennis SellersPaul Kent, IDG's vice president of the Macworld Conference & Expo, recently talked with Macsimum News and MacTech Magazine to discuss the 2009 show, which will run Jan. 5-9 in San Francisco. He discussed overall growth,new show floor features and an expanded focus on new Mac users.
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iZATT releases Sea Flags for the iPhone, iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersIzatt International has released Sea Flags, the latest in the Signals Series for the iPhone and iPod touch. Sea Flags provides a way to learn the Maritime Signal Flags system.
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What's Behind AT&T's Free iPhone WiFi Offer?
I was sitting in a rather boring meeting last week when my iPhone buzzed. I took a peek at the SMS, hoping it was a text message from my daughter. It was not. Like millions of other iPhone owners from New York to L.A., I got a message stating that," Your Apple iPhone now has free AT&T WiFi access at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks ..." "Well, that's pretty cool and about time," I thought and turned what was left of my waning attention back to the meeting.
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It's Dangerous to Assume People Are Stupid
In the current US election, I would argue the winner actually will benefit from the excessive negative campaigning done by his opponent, who sacrificed trust and in many cases implied the U.S. voter was too stupid to go to the Web and look things up. The well-executed Mac vs. Windows ads, while at least funny and entertaining, drifted from solid hits to outright hypocrisy as Vista was improved and Apple seemed unable to remember its own advantages. Hint: As a percentage, Apple's ratio of marketing dollars to development dollars leads the industry.
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The Apple Experience
Maybe it is because I am a recent switcher that I notice details long-time Mac owners may take for granted, details that are so minute yet so useful and so quintessentially 'human'. The level of attention painstakingly paid to the many small details found on every Apple product is a testament to Apple's design philosophy, and is what sets the experience of using an Apple product a head above its competitors. Here are some thoughts I have about The Apple Experience. Apple's One-TwoPunch To take at face value alone Apple's own statement, that it is first and foremost a software company, is to be merely skimming the surface. The Apple experience, be it with a Mac, iPod or iPhone, has no equal only because of the way Apple marries software seamlessly to the hardware that serves it. In an Apple product, software and hardware are inseparable: the success of that product weighs equally heavy on the shoulders of both its software and hardware components. Take, for example, the iPod. The two main factors that make the iPod the success story it is are the Wheel (hardware) and the user interface (software). Would the iPod have reigned if it had sported a four-way D-pad instead, as was the norm for devices of that era, with the UI probably taking an entirely different direction as a result? Probably not. Would the Wheel have worked if it served an alternate user interface? Again, probably not. Another software factor that can be considered as equally important is iTunes and its ease of use. (more…)
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Twitter Says it's Ready for Election Day
Biz Stone is not afraid. On the contrary, the co-founder of Twitter is not even a tiny bit nervous that his beloved micro-blogging service might collapse this Tuesday under an anticipated crush of incessantly tweating users. read more
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Sonos Controller for iPhone
Sonos returns with a modern music remote. It's called "iPhone."The Sonos multi-room audio system had us grooving with its simple setup and intuitive interface. The few sour notes we found were the lack of a touch interface and expensive hardware. Now that Sonos has introduced the free Sonos Controller for iPhone and iPod touch, both of these problems have been rectified.read more
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iTunes Gets Political
There are two major candidates for the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. Many voters already know if they’re leaning left or right, but some are still on the fence, bringing confusion and chaos to pollsters nationwide. Fortunately, the iTunes Store can help even the most indecisive Americans form opinions, by providing a wealth of information about the candidates and the issues that comprise Election 2008.read more
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Peek's email device tops voting for Time's gadget of the year, not that it matters
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets We're not going to jump up on our "new media" pedestal and claim that Time Magazine is irrelevant or anything, but man, stick to what you know. Time's gadget of the year list includes some commendable choices to be certain -- but seriously, not a single industry re-defining netbook, multi-million selling iPhone 3G, or 1080p-capable EOS 5D Mark II DSLR in a top 10 list of 2008 gadgets? Puhlease. Seems that voting is still open -- while you can't change the list you can certainly have your say as to whether Peek's eMail-only handheld should be voted above T-Mobile's Android-powered G1 (by a margin of more than 5 to 1) as the best gadget of 2008.[Thanks, Horatio]Peek's email device tops voting for Time's gadget of the year, not that it matters originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
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Inline PDFs in Firefox
The firefox-mac-pdf add-on lets you view PDF files right within Firefox.I just switched from Safari to Firefox as my default Web browser, but the one thing that I miss is the ability to view PDFs right within the browser itself. Can I make this happen within Firefox? read more
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Kinemac
The Kinemac interface is clear, and everything works in real time.read more
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Sextuple Word Challenge
I will play in a Den. I will play 'till the End.read more
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Mac OS Ken: 11.03.2008
Net Applications: Mac OS X and Safari Slip in October / Fudzilla: Something New in Computers Coming Sometime fro Apple / Problems (and Fixes) for Cursor Freezes on New MacBook Pro / Report: Apple Investigating Major Warranty Scam in Australia / IBM Fights to Keep Ex-Exec Out of Apple / BusinessWeek: Sony Banks on Former Apple Exec for Re-Invention / Microsoft Names New GM for MacBU / Netflix âWatch Instantlyâ Enters Public beta for MacIntel
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iDrum for iPhone
iDrum's Pattern View shows your beat in color-coded glory. iZotope knows how to bring new people into the drum-machine world: pretty, flashing colors! Yet this beat creator is not just another time-wasting trifle; it's a powerful tool for new and experienced users alike. read more
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Consumers willing to pay for mobile navigation services
Posted by Dennis SellersAre you ready, willing and able to pay for mobile navigation services? A new study by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Media Lab service thinks you are.
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Three Disruptions in Technology, and How to Benefit
Daniel Eran Hussein Dilger Every once and a while, a new technology platform surfaces that disrupts the status quo, crushing existing business models and reconfiguring how the world works, what new expectations consumers now have, and how investment decisions will be made in the future. Frequently, nobody sees it coming, and those who think they can [...]