Feb 16, 2009 Feb 18, 2009 Tuesday February 17, 2009
-
Mac OS Ken: 02.18.2009
Piper Jaffray Analyst Predicts 2Q FY 2009 Decline in Mac Sales / Sacconaghi: Apple Ideas on Netbooks and Revamped iPhones / ThinkEquity: New iPhones Putting Squeeze on Flash Manufacturers / âUnwired Airport Express Bundleâ Fuels Wireless Broadband Speculation Down Under / Apple Suggests Workaround for iWork â09 Files Not Opening in iWork â08 / Apple Reaches Tentative Settlement Over SF Store Accessibility / VMWare Updates Fusion to 2.0.2 / ProcessAway Developer Gives App Away Until Apple Sells It / Zdziarski Develops AMBER Alert App (Pending App Store Approval) / âSouth Parkâ App Rejected by Apple as Potentially Offensive / iProng Magazine Optimizes for iPhone and iPod Touch
-
Macsimum iPhone Video: Demo of new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system
Posted by Dave MertenToday's Macsimum iPhone video demonstrates Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. As you can see in the video, the new OS is quite peppy, but you don't want to go trading your iPhone in just yet.
-
Roth Soft releases RSReport 2008.2
Posted by Dennis SellersLehrerOffice is a new product from Roth Soft. It's office software for teachers that's written in REALbasic.
-
Tonight on the 'Your Mac Life Show'
Posted by Dave MertenPhotoshop World is happening this coming March 25-27, 2009 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. It's always an amazingly mindbending 3 days of learning, information and fun and the ringleader of this particular circus is Scott Kelby. Scott will join Your Mac Life tonight to alk about what...
-
Apple's planned iPhone refresh putting the squeeze on flash memory manufacturers
Posted by Dennis SellersApple's planned refresh of iPhones is putting increased pressure on flash memory manufacturers managing dwindling inventory, according to one analyst (as reported by
-
Truphone adds AIM to IM, PayPal to credit options
Posted by Dennis SellersTruphone, a mobile VoIP service, has integrated AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) into its iPhone and iPod touch applications. Now customers on both devices can use Truphone to also instant message their AIM friends via their AIM identity.
-
Did Microsoft kill Android at Mobile World Congress 2009?
Daniel Eran Dilger Despite racking up a big list of top-tier phone set manufacturers in its Android Open Handset Alliance, Google’s mobile operating system was nearly non-existant among OHA members’ announcements at the GSMA Mobile World Congress. Is Microsoft to blame? .Android is clearly a threat to Microsoft’s plans for Windows Mobile. After all, how does one [...]
-
Study: Wi-Fi gains traction in the living room, but mobile devices still dominate shipments
Posted by Dennis SellersWi-Fi's large installed base in mobile PCs and home networks promises that it is likely to be a primary connectivity solution for living room-centric consumer electronics (CE) devices, reports In-Stat. Attach rates for Wi-Fi among game consoles are already approaching 80 percent, says the research group.
-
Multi-touch comes to photo services
Posted by Dennis SellersECCE Terram, a provider of solutions for the digital photo market, will be showcasing its expanded software solution for photo laboratories in the area of ordering programs at the PMA 2009. Along with the 2.0 version of the “iPhone Photo Order Client,” the first Offline Client solution for computers with...
-
Free O'Reilly 'Developing Applications for webOS: A Preview' webcast February 25, 2009
Posted by Dave MertenIn this live, online event, Mitch Allen, Palm's Software CTO and a member of the Palm webOS™ design team, will recap the material included in the introductory chapter of Palm webOS: Developing Applications in JavaScript Using the Palm Mojo™ Framework, a joint collaboration announced this week by Palm and O'Reilly,...
-
'iProng Magazine' launches new mobile iPhone/iPod touch app
Posted by Dave MerteniProng Magazine is pleased to launch a new mobile version of the iProng.com website geared toward making each new issue of iProng Magazine easily accessible on the iPhone and iPod touch via a single tap of the screen.
-
OpenGL Bootcamp in Europe slated for April
Posted by Dennis SellersBig Nerd Ranch Europe is offering a five-day OpenGL Bootcamp at the old monastery Kloster Eberbach near Frankfurt, Germany, April 20-24.
-
Truphone to launch Local Anywhere later this year
Posted by Dennis SellersTruphone, a mobile VoIP service, says that later this year it will launch Local Anywhere, a single-SIM, multi-country mobile service that will make any mobile call within the set of supported countries into a local call.
-
Apple's GarageBand draws attention to online music lessons
Colbie Caillat's 2007 hit Bubbly is so popular online that about 800,000 people have watched YouTube videos of musicians teaching ...
-
Wendy's Wellness game released for the Mac
Posted by Dennis SellersSugar Games, the creator of such casual games as Rainbow Web and Rainbow Web 2, has released Wendy's Wellness, a new, US$19.95 time management game for Mac OS X (10.3 and higher).
-
Analyst: outlook good for iPhone, less so for Apple TV
Posted by Dennis SellersToni Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research mentions in a research note that a discussion with Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, Chief Financial Officer Petter Oppenheimer and Worldwide Marketing Senior Vice President Phil Schiller point both to an upgrade to the touchscreen device as well as to the possibility of “different...
-
Piper: Q2 Mac sales on pace to decline
Based on one month of data, Mac sales could decline on a year-over-year basis for the first time since 2003 unless Apple has new products up its sleeve, according to Piper Jaffray.
-
South Park App Rejected by Apple
There are thousand inside jokes we could reference while talking about the rejection of the South Park iPhone app. We could call shenanigans, blame Canada, or we could sing a rousing rendition of the "Imagination" song. Unfortunately, none of those jokes will squelch the sadness that resides in our hearts at this time. read more
-
Missing Sync 2.0 Brings Apple Users and Their BlackBerrys Closer Together
Once upon a time, RIM appeared to be on the verge of joining this century and offering native Mac syncing support for Apple-friendly users of the BlackBerry smartphone devices. Unfortunately, nothing has yet come to pass with regards to this tantalizing release, so BlackBerry owners are stuck, for better or for worse, with third-party solutions for the time being. One such solution is Mark/Space, Inc.'s The Missing Sync for BlackBerry 2.0, whose name actually depends on RIM continuing to ignore their Mac customers. The Missing Sync recently received a major update that will likely leave BlackBerry owners much more content to wait while RIM drags its heels. One of the most significant new features introduced is over-the-air syncing via Bluetooth, which is something I really wish my iPhone could accomplish, since it has everything needed to do so except for the software implementation. Not only can you sync via Bluetooth, but with Proximity Sync, you can do so automatically whenever your Mac and your BlackBerry are in range of each other. As an added bonus, Proximity Sync does not interrupt anything else you happen to be doing on your computer or your phone at the time, either. The Bluetooth features may be the show stopper, but there are other new features as well. The Missing Sync now supports iTunes playlists, syncing of other media, and video transfer to and from your BlackBerry device. Not to mention storage and archiving of your SMS and call history, which can be very handy if you bill clients for call time and/or need to settle a lover's quarrel with hard evidence that yes, she did in fact say that, and you have the text to prove it. The Missing Sync for BlackBerry 2.0 is available now for $39.95. Existing users of version 1.0 may qualify for a free upgrade, depending on when you purchased it, or special upgrade pricing of $29.95 is available. Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
Symantec launches Norton Online Family
Posted by Dennis SellersSymantec Corp. has announced the public beta of a new web-based service, currently named Norton Online Family during the beta period, that's designed to help parents protect children online and connect with their online lives.
-
17-inch unibody MacBook Pro gets disassembled, examined
The battery on the now-shipping 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro may not be removable for average, warranty-abiding users, but that didn't stop the folks at iFixit from removing it and just about everything else that isn't soldered on. As you might expect, however, apart from that over-sized battery, the internals aren't too different from the 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro, although the 17-incher unsurprisingly has a pair of noticeably larger fans to keep everything cool, and iFixit describes the component density as "amazing." Hit up the link below for the complete teardown, and try your best not to imagine a matte black MacBook Pro after catching sight of that battery.[Via Mac Rumors] Filed under: Laptops17-inch unibody MacBook Pro gets disassembled, examined originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Apple releases MacBook SMC Update 1.3
Posted by Dennis SellersApple has released MacBook SMC Update 1.3, a firmware update for the white (as in not the “unibody”) MacBook model with Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics.
-
Podcast #77: Apple Slams Jailbreaking and Streaming Video Makes Us Giddy
Apple believes jailbreaking to be the work of the devil, and that it constitutes copyright infringement. Rumors are flying around the Internet that Apple is prepping a VOD service, and the staff wonders if Sebastian Bach is available for next weeks podcast. Rock On!read more
-
Analyst: Mac, iPod sales down in January
Posted by Dennis SellersIn a note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says that, based on his analysis of new numbers from the NPD research group, Mac and iPod sales were down year-over-year in January. Of course, that comes as no big news considering the economy.
-
Tuitalk launches service providing free mobile to mobile international calls
Posted by Dennis SellersTuitalk and Boingo have teamed up to promote the new Tuitalk mobile service. With Tuitalk's mobile client, people will be able to make free international mobile-to-mobile phone calls over Wi-Fi networks to more than 40 countries, according to Oguz Oktay of Tuitalk.
-
Aragom Space War
New iPhone game from Peter N Lewis: Aragom is a fast paced space war game, reminiscent of the old TRS-80 Star Trek game. It’s not going to win any awards for the graphics, but, for such an old concept, it’s surprisingly well suited to touchscreen play. And it’s not just nostalgia on my part — my five-year-old son digs it too. $3 at the App Store. ★
-
Card counting iPhone app frowned upon in Vegas
Usually, it's Apple who has the problem with a potential app. Now, it's The Man taking issue with one that Cupertino deemed fit for distribution. Nevada gaming officials have been tipped off a card counting application that can be installed on the iPhone and iPod touch, which would obviously give Blackjack gamers an upper-hand over the system. According to control board member Randy Sayre, using a device to "aid in the counting of cards is considered a felony under Nevada laws governing cheating," and considering that the program can even be used in "stealth mode," it could be easy to miss unless you're really on the lookout. Of course, it's up to individual casinos to determine their policies on cellphones, but if you were planning to counter this recession by racking up on ten straight 21s this weekend, you might want to seriously consider the consequences first.[Via TUAW]Filed under: CellphonesCard counting iPhone app frowned upon in Vegas originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Twittering Without a Client App
Many of us are hip to Twitter these days, and there are a myriad of options for keeping track of the resulting tweets. I personally bounce between the webpage itself and Tweetdeck (while on my Mac). But sometimes I want to trim down my open windows to the bare minimum. Here's one way to keep up with your Twittering, without having any windows open. Twitter w/o Windows You'll need Geek Tool to monitor incoming tweets. (Geek Tool is a free utility that runs as a Preference Pane and lets you embed shell output, URLs, and more in your desktop.) I set up a new Shell Command entry, with the following command (all on one line): curl -s -u username:password http://twitter.com/statuses/friends_timeline.rss | grep title | sed -e 's// /' | sed 's// /' | sed 's/ //' This command uses the shell command curl to pull the RSS update feed of those you follow. Be sure to substitute username:password with your own Twitter credentials. The sed commands mainly perform a find and replace to clean up the output, removing html title tags and leading spaces. If you're looking for more information on the curl and sed commands, pop open your Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities), and type man curl or man sed for the manual of usages for each. Geek Tool offers other customizations like font and positioning on screen so play until you find your sweet spot. Using either Quicksilver or Google's Quick Search Box (Quicksilver's new sibling), will allow you to post tweets easily without a client app front and center. With either, you can quickly invoke the input window, type your 140 characters, and send it off to Twitter — and like that, the interface vanishes until you need it again. Using Quicksilver requires that you download an Applescript which gives you a 'Tweet' action, and then modify a Keychain setting for your Twitter login credentials — the latter can be a bit messy for a novice. Quick Search Box is much easier in comparison, only asking you to add your Twitter account details in one of the preference windows. Once you've setup Quicksilver or Quick Search Box, invoke the interface, type your Tweet, and send it off. Easy peezy, lemon squeezy. This setup may not be useful for everyone, but it is nice when you want minimal interference while you work. I'm quickly finding this interface to be my preferred mode of interaction with Twitter.The GeekTool/Quick Search Box (or Quicksilver) combo do nicely to sit in the background until you're ready, and then fade back out as soon as you're through with them. Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
Feb. 17 'Macsimum Podcast' now available
Posted by Dennis SellersThe Macsimum Podcast for Feb. 17 is now available here and the RSS feed is here.
-
Apple software updates for Feb. 17
Posted by Dennis SellersComm-Unity Network Systems has updated MMColor, an interface plug-in that allows you to create and edit color in FileMaker Pro, to version 1.6. The upgrade includes compatibility improvements with the recently released FileMaker Pro 10, as well as several enhancements to slider placement on Zoomed and Scrolled Layouts.
-
'Macsimum Recommended Reading' for Feb. 17
Posted by Dennis Sellers“MWC 2009: Palm Pre out-iPhones the iPhone: I got my first in-person look at the Palm Pre smartphone Monday in Barcelona, and I came away a believer. Having not gone to CES last month, I hadn't yet seen Pre in person, and while I trusted my fellow bloggers when they...
-
Pomfort releases PaintGrade plug-in for Apple's Aperture
Posted by Dennis SellersPomfort has released PaintGrade, a plug-in for Aperture, Apple's software for pro photographers. It provides color correction of your photos and graphics.
-
GSM Association sets 2012 target date for universal cellphone charger
Well, this is certainly interesting. Just a couple of days after a top European Union commissioner mused about the need for a universal cellphone charger, the GSM Association has now come out and announced that it and 17 of its partner companies are indeed working on such a solution, and that they plan to have a common format in place by 2012. That rather ambitious date will be a bit easier to meet considering the group's choice of connector, micro-USB, which has already gained quite a bit of acceptance as a common format. The use of micro-USB apparently won't be firm requirement by 2012, however, with the GSMA simply saying that the "majority" of new phones sold by then will support what they're describing as the universal charging solution (or UCS), which itself will have to meet a number of strict requirements in order to be broadly compatible. Of course, while everyone including the likes of Nokia, Motorola, LG, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson have signed on with the GSMA, there are a few big names absent, not the least of which, unsurprisingly, is Apple, so there's certainly still quite a ways to go before we have a truly universal standard.[Via BBC News]Filed under: CellphonesGSM Association sets 2012 target date for universal cellphone charger originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Composer 7 enables deployment within Mac networks
Posted by Dennis SellersJAMF Software, developers of the Casper Suite client management application, has released Composer 7, an update of the software package-creation utility for IT systems administrators. The upgrade allows administrators to create software installation packages for computers operating within Mac networks.
-
CNET News Daily Podcast: Why rivals are talking about Apple in Barcelona
At the biggest cell phone conference of the year, Apple's competitors are chattering about the company and the iPhone-despite Apple's absence from the show.
-
Microsoft Finally Found a Group They Can Impress
Joe Wilcox has an article on Microsoft Watch about Microsoft's new ads with kids. The series is called The Rookies, and there's a second spot up. Joe is less impressed with the second spot than the first, but goes on to explain how these ads have potential, Microsoft needs more of them (I'm sure more are coming), the kid should get an 'A' on the project, etc. That's all nice, but it misses an awkward thing about this whole series. Cute? Yes. I've liked them both. But then we all know kids and animals are everyone's favorite commercial subjects. Still, why isn't anybody stating the obvious? When you're 4.5 or 7 years old you have no idea what the phrase “I'm a PC” is supposed to mean. Joe mentions the buzz Apple got with the old Switcher ads, but those were adults making real decisions. What can these kids do? Explain why mommy or daddy got a PC? Can they even tell us what a “PC” is? If you think Kylie and Alexa wouldn't have been equally “impressed” if Mom or Dad were using Macs, or Linux, or something by Fisher-Price, you're kidding yourself. As near as I can tell, Microsoft has opted to use a group that can't truly speak for itself. But maybe that was the only choice left: They tried getting teens and 20-somethings with “The Social,” and failed. They tried getting young adults with “Wow!”, and failed. They tried getting older adults with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates, and failed. They tried getting non-technical adults with “Mojave Experiment,” and failed. They tried getting any adults with the initial volley of “I'm a PC,” and failed since a) they've moved on, and b) each one affirms what Apple has said all along: A Mac is not a PC, it's better. So now Microsoft has cute kids — using whatever their parents put in front of them — proclaiming they're a PC. Fine. Maybe it'll pull in some sales for them. If so, good for them. Personally, I think Microsoft has had to set the bar too low in terms of who their software is supposed to impress. Then again, Microsoft Live Photo Gallery isn't likely to impress the average iPhoto user, presuming they're old enough to make a choice. For me, I'm less inclined to look for the next Mikey or Oscar Mayer bologna kid in one of these ads, and more curious to see when Microsoft will move on to the next logical group: Animals. With the Super Bowl well out of the way, I'm sure the Budweiser Clydesdales are available. Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
Juicy Development adds NRP, Hartmann, more to Talk Radio for iPhone
Posted by Dennis SellersJuicy Development LLC released today version 2.0 of Talk Radio for iPhone. Talk Radio is designed as a companion for truck drivers, business travelers, and vacationers. It's available at the Apple App Store for US$2.99.
-
iFixIt dissects the unibody MacBook Pro 17-inch
After a month delay, The good dudes over at iFixIt.com have started disassembly of the new MacBook Pro 17-inch. They’re not done yet, but promise to post a complete wrap up of their findings when they are. My favorite part so far: Ignoring all manufacturer warnings, we are removing the non-removable battery. Hold your breath! There are three tri-wing [...]
-
BlizzCon 2009 coming in August
Posted by Dennis SellersBlizzard Entertainment has announced that BlizzCon 2009 will be held Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
-
Amosu hands-on: pink, pricey, and plenty of diamonds
While scavenging for pricey handsets to hang on the gilded walls at the Mansion, we luckily bumped into one Alexander Amosu, of Amosu fame. The Amosu brand is synonymous with gold, encrusted and dripping with gemstones, and most of all, pricey. In his bag of tricks we found three fully-kitted BlackBerry Bolds, a pink iPhone, and an iced Motorola Aura. If you lined them up on a table -- which, of course, we did -- you'd be looking at some 12 plus carats and a price tag somewhere up around 50k. Sure, we're normally harsh on these types of things, but seeing them up close, we could almost kinda get it. Huge sparkling gallery after the break, so if you have shades, now's the time to don them. Filed under: CellphonesAmosu hands-on: pink, pricey, and plenty of diamonds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Casinos on lookout for iPhone card-counting app
Nevada's Gaming Control Board issues an alert warning casinos about an application called "A Blackjack Card Counter." It helps determine the optimal times to bet in blackjack.
-
Samsung introduces four new digital cameras
Posted by Dennis SellersSamsung has extended its SL-Series of digital cameras with the introduction of four new models, comprising two 12.2 mega-pixel and two 10 mega-pixel digital cameras.
-
iPhone dominates Mobile World Congress 2009 without Apple
Prince McLean, AppleInsider While reports have suggested that Apple may attend next year’s CES to “sit amongst its competition” in consumer electronics, the company has elected not to attend the GSMA Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona this week. That hasn’t stopped the iPhone from dominating talk at the mobile conference. iPhone dominates Mobile World Congress [...]
-
Chinese Tech Stock Weekly Summary (Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2009)
The following is excerpted from IRG's weekly stock report: • • •
-
Understudy Adds Netflix and Hulu to Front Row
If you're a fan of the under-appreciated OS X application Front Row, have we got good news for you. A new plugin for Front Row has popped up in Google code that enables streaming video from within Front Row. The plugin, Understudy, brings Netflix and Hulu right into your Front Row interface. read more
-
Digital Foci to launch Photo Book next month
Posted by Dennis Sellers Digital Foci will launch the USS$189 Photo Book, a a portable digital photo album with an eight-inch 800600 digital LCD color screen and 4GB of internal memory at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Show held March 3-5 in Las Vegas.
-
First official resource for webOS programming
Posted by Dave MertenOn the heels of the enthusiasm that has greeted the debut of the Palm webOS platform and the Palm Pre phone, O'Reilly Media and Palm Inc., today announced that they're collaborating to create the first official resource for programming the new webOS platform.
-
Apple nixes 'potentially offensive' South Park app
South Park Studios wanted to let iPhone owners stream show episodes, but Apple rejected the app due to its content despite selling episodes of the show on the iTunes Store.
-
Photos: Toshiba TG01 touch-screen hands-on
Think the iPhone's touch screen is big? Check out this monster from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
-
Hyundai's phones are creatively ridiculous
We associate the Hyundai name more closely with cars and ten-year warranties than we do phones in these parts of the world, but Hyundai Mobile does a little business selling low-cost phones in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (cars... phones... right, makes sense). We had a chance to check out some of the offerings today, and yeah, let's just put it this way: some of these devices are a bit off the beaten path. Pictured above from left to right are the MB-400 (bearing absolutely no resemblance to any existing device), the MB-910 touchscreen watch phone, and the lovely MB-105 "Chico" (which -- interesting fact -- features a whopping 50-message SMS storage capacity). The Chico wasn't functional for us, but follow the break for some hands-on time with the unfortunate iPod rip and one of the nicer watch phones we've seen come to market. Odd couple, isn't it? Continue reading Hyundai's phones are creatively ridiculousFiled under: CellphonesHyundai's phones are creatively ridiculous originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
ProcessAway Cuts Out Apple; Will They Get the Horns?
If you're a business, it's hard to plan your budget, release schedule, promotional work, etc. around an app's release in the iPhone's App Store, since you basically submit your application and then wait for Apple to get around to approving it, the time frame for which is inconsistent and not at all transparent. Well, one company has decided not to wait for Apple's approval to begin delivering their solution to their customer's, albeit in a temporary way. The makers of ProcessAway, a credit card payment app for the iPhone, have decided to begin offering their app for free to interested parties via ad hoc installation. The version distributed is a 30-day free trial that they will renew upon request until Apple approves the application and offers it for sale via the App Store. Once (if) the app is approved, customers who want to keep using the app will have to pay the full price, which is currently listed at $19.99. Podcaster tried something similar when they were originally blocked from App Store access, and Apple eventually came down on them, disallowing distribution via ad hoc install. In that case, the app had already been rejected, so it is a bit of a different scenario. RapaDev LLC, the company behind ProcessAway, claims that they aren't trying to oppose or bypass Apple, but just want to be able to get their products in the hands of customers as soon as possible, without waiting around for approval. It's unclear how Apple will react to this move. On the one hand, they definitely won't like the impression it gives that developers can choose to bypass their authority if it seems more expedient. On the other, RapaDev isn't trying to take away revenue, just offer a free trial to those interested, which should generate more sales. It just feels like something Apple would hate. We'll see. Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
More than 70 new exhibitors announced for NAB Show 2009
Posted by Dennis SellersMore than 70 new exhibitors will showcase the latest technological innovations that help bring content to life during the 2009 NAB Show, held April 18-23 in Las Vegas. These companies will join a variety of NAB Show exhibiting veterans on the 850,000 square feet of space that make up the...
-
Apple is top of mind for execs at MWC
The iPhone maker isn't here in Spain at Mobile World Congress, but top executives have a lot to say about the company's "closed" strategy in the mobile market.
-
Apple to open new retail store in Greensboro, North Carolina
Posted by Dennis SellersApple will open a new retail stores in Greensboro, North Carolina, this weekend. The Apple Store Friendly Center is located at 3320 West Friendly Avenue.
-
Scanning 35mm Slides
At $2,199, the Nikon CoolScan 9000 ED is a top-of-the-line film scanner.I have a large number of 35mm slides that I would like to convert to digital format and put on a CD. How can I do this on the Mac? read more
-
Maclife Contest: I need 3G! Challenge
Is your current cell phone on its last legs? Do you crave 3G speeds, or are you just tired of that generations-old flip phone--the one with the cracked screen and the 7 that only works when you press real hard?read more
-
Backstage: Three Paragraphs on Street Fighter IV
We haven't posted much about games on Backstage in recent months, but today's North American release of Capcom's Street Fighter IV for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ($60 each) had us dusting off our consoles for the first time in ages. It may or may not be a mild exaggeration to say that gamers have been waiting 17 years to play this title: for those who may be unfamiliar, Street Fighter II was a literally breakthrough one-on-one…
-
ProcessAway iPhone software released directly to the public
Posted by Dennis SellersPerplexed by “the cryptic review and approval process Apple uses on iPhone applications submitted to the App Store,” Rapadev LLC says they'll make their ProcessAway app for the iPhone and iPod touch available by request from their web site. It allows users to process credit cards directly from their device.
-
Yahoo Jumps into the Mobile Fray
What would you rather have, an iPhone or a My Phone? Both Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo (YHOO) think you want a My Phone. On the iPhone section of its Website detailing the revamped Yahoo Mobile service, due to launch publicly in March, Yahoo marketers try to drum up interest in the new offering by using this headline in its marketing campaign:
-
Microsoft's New Mobile OS Takes Cues from iPhone
Once again, Microsoft (MSFT) is throwing some flattery Apple's (AAPL) way by following its lead. Earlier Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft announced the latest version of its mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5. The new OS takes cues directly from the iPhone. It has “an improved touch-screen interface, making it easy to take action with a finger” (so advanced) and a dashboard-like interface with different application icons in honeycomb cells (screen shots).
-
Keynote Systems adds iPhone to its global network
Posted by Dennis SellersKeynote Systems, which makes Internet test and measurement solutions, has added the iPhone, BlackBerry, LG Dare, Samsung Instinct and Nokia N95 within Keynote's on-demand test and measurement network in New York, San Francisco and London.
-
Apple's 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro gets unboxed
We had heard that quite a few early birds were receiving shipping notifications, and sure enough, Apple's 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro has left the docks. One proud owner has even taken the time to host up a handful of unboxing shots as proof, and while nothing here is out of the ordinary for those acquainted with Apple's newest 15-incher, the actual machine just looks a touch longer and wider for some reason. Maybe it's just our eyes.[Thanks, Derek and Michael]Filed under: LaptopsApple's 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro gets unboxed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Regulators: iPhone card counting app a felony
I live about 15 miles from Atlantic City and was surprised to see the iPhone land on the front page of our local newspaper this morning, and not in a good way. The AP story “Card Counting iPhone application prompts Nevada to warn casinos” is about an application called A Blackjack Card Counter (iTunes, $2) which [...]
-
Yahoo Mobile Coming, Google Likely Doesn’t Care
The search engine that had a strong claim on the web long before upstart Google came along may be down, but they aren't out. They're planning a massive undertaking, a cross-platform release of a mobile suite of applications that, at least according to them, could revolutionize the way you use the web from your mobile device. Yahoo Mobile (not Go. Forget Go ever existed.) will drop simultaneously for mobile web browsers, as a dedicated iPhone app, and as a dedicated app for other smartphones as well (which will be far easier now that everyone is launching an App Store clone). They aren't being too clear about the specifics, but it's basically shaping up to be a mobile web portal, which sort of is, and sort of isn't like Google Mobile. Yahoo Mobile will integrate Mail, Messenger, News and Calendar, although it's not made explicitly clear whether those will just be available as links to web-based content or integrated into an iPhone app. They also talk about Opera mobile being integrated into the package, but whether or not that particular piece of the puzzle makes its way onto the iPhone is another story. This will be Yahoo!'s first major foray into the arena of the iPhone (if you don't count the curious oneConnect social network application), and it will pit them head-to-head against their dominant rival Google. If I'm at all an accurate judge, I'd say Google is reserving fear for when something actually materializes, and even then, I don't think Yahoo! can offer up anything to seriously challenge their dominance of the iPhone platform. Somehow getting Opera onto Apple devices would be a coup, but if it happened, it would just pave the way for Chrome Mobile, which would probably end up as another “W” in the Google column. Is it just me, or does anyone else sort of feel like Yahoo! should just throw in the towel at this point? Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
onOne's PhotoTools 2 available for Photoshop
Posted by Dennis SellersonOne Software, a developer of software tools for photographers, has released PhotoTools 2 Standard and Professional Edition. PhotoTools 2 is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 that utilizes the power of Photoshop Actions to provide a range of imaging tools including effects, corrections and production automation.
-
Apple patents involve device drivers, video encoder, greeting card system
Posted by Dennis SellersThree Apple patents involving communicating between device drivers in a computer system, a video encoder, and have appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. Patent number 7493626 is for the former.
-
New 17 Inch Macbook Pro Unboxing Pics
Late last week Apple Gazette reported that the new Unibody 17inch Macbook Pro had begun shipping. That was met with some skepticism. Thanks to our good friend over at Stutsman Software, we now have a great set of unboxing pics which should put to rest any doubt that the new Macbook Pro is, indeed, shipping. Enjoy…
-
News: Apple rejects 'South Park' iPhone application
Apple has twice rejected a South Park application for the iPhone and iPod touch because the content was “potentially offensive.” Originally previewed in October, the app would allow users to stream clips, download wallpapers, read news, browse the show’s complete episode index, and choose character likenesses to use as contact images. A member of the team working on the app told Boing Boing Gadgets, “After a couple of attempts…
-
Settlement reached in disabled access lawsuit involving Apple retail store
Posted by Dennis Sellers The attorneys for two disabled Oakland (California) women have reached a settlement with Apple Inc. over their lawsuit alleging the San Francisco store is not accessible to persons in wheelchairs, reports ifoAppleStore.
-
Spare Change Software introduces Waypoints 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersSpare Change Software has released Waypoints 1.0, a waypoint manager for the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch. It's available for US$2.99 at the Apple App Store.
-
Use a free tool to simplify ARD configuration
For years, I've been using a self-developed application that I call Seize The ARD to help with configuring users' Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) settings. I want to share with the friends of macosxhints.com, because of all the solutions the community has provided have helped with some of the needs I have had, so now I'm giving back.Seize the ARD allows you to share Apple Remote Desktop preferences with other users, reducing the amount of time spent configuring a user's ARD settings. Preferences such as computers, scripts, scanners, smart lists, and so on can be configured on one machine and shared out to other users running Apple Remote Desktop. This also provides the ability to manage what is available to other users.This is a nice tool for multiple labs and staff that want to use the same exact settings and views, and allows the administrator to c...
-
iPhoto 8.0 and photo editing on certain older Macs
Not exactly a hint, but more of a heads up for people -- the current version of iPhoto (8.0, i.e. the one that comes with iLife '09) -- requires a Quartz Extreme (QE) compatible graphics card in order to edit photos. It doesn't tell you this when you install, so like me, you could waste a lot of time converting your library, tagging faces, etc., before you realize this restriction.If your card doesn't support QE, then you can run iPhoto, but you won't be able to edit photos correctly -- you just get a white box, or a black screen in full screen mode. Oddly, if you do something such as click the rotate button, it does actually rotate the image, even though you can't see it. As a bit of background to this, as my main machine I run a G5 XServe with twin 2.0Ghz processors and a 32mb ATI PCI graphics card (don't ask). Everything else has always worked fine, but this one is annoying because there was no prior warning when installing iLife '09. Before you spend ages tagging...
-
Fix a SynergyKM machine reconnection problem
I use Synergy on a regular basis to seamlessly control two computers and monitors via one keyboard and mouse. I have been using the Mac OS X GUI version of synergy called SynergyKM for some time, but I have always had a problem with it that if I disconnect, the only way to reconnect is restart the machines. SynergyKM is a System Preferences pane, and I tried for a long time to troubleshoot it, but I never could nail down the problem. I finally found a simple solution today: Replace the binaries inside the System Pref Pane with what I suspect are newer binaries from the original Synergy source.What you will need:SynergyKMThe Synergy binariesInstal...
-
PrintMagic for Mac OS X updated to version 5.0
Posted by Dennis SellersSteve Becker of MacEase has released PrintMagic 5.0 for Mac OS X. It's an update of the printing utility that's been completely rewritten and has an improved interface.
-
ColorSplash released for iPhone
Posted by Dennis SellersHendrik Kueck has released ColorSplash, a new application for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available for US$1.99 at the Apple App Store.
-
Unifiq debuts Aspire 1.0 life planning software for Mac OS X Leopard
Posted by Dennis SellersUnifiq has released Aspire 1.0, life-goal planning software for Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”). It takes a radically different approach to traditional productivity tools, providing a visual workspace to brainstorm, prioritize, review, refine, track and help improve anyone's life goals and long-term plans, according to the folks at Unifiq.
-
News: GameResort releases Biplane for iPhone, iPod touch
GameResort, maker of Downhill Bowling, has released Biplane: Wings of Raccoon, the developer's second game for the iPhone and iPod touch. Biplane puts players in the role of Captain Raccoon, as he navigates the skies on a mission to defend his island from pirate attackers. The game offers two game modes—arcade and race—as well as tilt-based plane controls, nine race tracks, and 3D graphics. Biplane: Wings of Raccoon is available…
-
Microsoft Unveils WinMo 6.5, My Phone, and Marketplace
Microsoft tried to generate a bit of buzz yesterday with a press event in Barcelona at which they unveiled three new technologies which are designed to help enhance their mobile customers' experience. Enhance how, you ask? By getting them as close as possible to owning an iPhone, even though they still just have some Windows Mobile-based phone. The three new services all take not-so-subtle cues from Apple's tool box, but will they help Microsoft beginning winning back ground from their Cupertino-based competitor? First up, there's Windows Mobile 6.5. While not the long-anticipated full version update from 6 to 7, 6.5 does still represent a major revision, with a completely redesigned lock screen, home screen, and new menus throughout. The obvious intent of the redesign? To optimize the interface for use with touchscreen devices. Everything has big, honeycomb, finger-sized icons and button, and while it doesn't exactly look like Mobile OS X, it doesn't look much like Windows anymore, either. It also comes with an update to mobile Internet Explorer that brings a lot of much-needed improvements and enhancements. Next, there's Microsoft's answer to MobileMe, the contacts/calendar/media syncing service called My Phone, which is integrated into the new WinMo 6.5 operating system. Highlights include the ability to sync multiple kinds of media, not just photos, and web-based accessibility to the data stored on the cloud. You don't have to pay for it, but you don't get iDisk-type features. Plus, Gizmodo called it “fugly.” Finally, Windows Marketplace for Mobile brings Microsoft's own spin on an app store to the Windows Mobile platform. Unlike Apple's store, the Marketplace will be fairly open, and will only require applicants to pass security and compatibility checks before being made available for download. Users will sign in using their Windows Live ID, keeping to Microsoft's “One ID for access to all our questionable services” strategy. In the case of each of the new offerings by Microsoft, one thing is obvious. Redmond (and everyone else in the smartphone market, for that matter) is still playing catch-up. Nothing they introduced today brings any revolutionary advancements to the table, and each is really a Windows-branded reiteration of what has already gone before. But it does represent a change of pace. Microsoft is actually pushing things out the door. First Windows 7, now an overhaul of their mobile offerings. They're getting things done, not just offering glimpses at what might be on the distant horizon. I suspect they don't need me to tell them this, but Apple had better get moving on rolling out some new major software releases of their own. iLife '09 is a nice upgrade, granted, but Snow Leopard would provide the real feather in the cap. iPhone Firmware 3.0 would really put some ground between them and their copycats, provided it actually brings in revolutionary changes like background push notification. With software releases, retail stores, and imminent OS releases, Microsoft is beginning to look like quite the firecracker. Apple, it's time to stop biding your time and make Redmond look like a sparkler to your Roman candle. Green your IT. Save Money. Save the Planet Register at $295/$495 regular Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM's Green:Net.
-
TheAppleBlog Facebook Page
Good morning TABers! I hope all of you (at least all of you in the U.S.) had a fantastically lazy President's Day yesterday. I wanted to let all of you know that TheAppleBlog has jumped on the bandwagon and now has a Facebook page…so if you do the Facebook thing, it's most definitely in your best interest to check out the page and become a fan. So hesitate no more: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheAppleBlog/50220007509 Become a fan, or pay the price.
-
Cerebral Vortex Games to develop iPhone game with funding from OMDC
Posted by Dennis SellersCerebral Vortex Games has announced that they've been granted funding from the Ontario Media Development Corporation's Screen-based Content Initiative.
-
QuickerTek introduces external battery for newly released MacBook Pro
Posted by Dennis SellersQuickerTek has announced the US$449.95 Apple Juicz External Battery/Charger, which works with the “unibody” 13-inch MacBook and the 15-inch MacBook Pro. It purportedly gives MacBook users up to 12 additional hours and MacBook Pro users up to 10 additional hours.
-
Macsimum review: Neat Receipts hardware/software combo is pretty net
Posted by Dennis SellersNeat Receipts by Neat is a mobile scanner and digital filing system that enables you to scan receipts, business cards and documents so you can organize, store and secure all your important info. A Mac version debuted at January's Macworld Conference & Expo. It works pretty well and has a...
-
Mobile Advertising Still Not Ready for Prime Time
The mobile internet will finally come of age this year, mobile video will take off, and the industry will see greater pricing transparency for consumers, but mobile advertising still will not become mainstream, according to predictions from the Mobile Entertainment Forum ((MEF)), which recently released its top 10 list of mobile entertainment trends for 2009.
-
iPhone to the Rescue: When Ice Storm Hits, Residents Turn to Tech
When an ice storm brought down telephone poles and power lines across much of Kentucky, one small-town mayor pulled out his iPhone and began tapping away, posting rapid-fire updates on Facebook to let his constituents know what was going on. "Will is glad to report that power in parts of the South Main and Grapevine areas is back on. Slowly but surely ...," Madisonville Mayor William Cox typed. Days later, he warned: "Will asks people with frozen water meters to PLEASE not use a torch or build a fire inside the meter box. This WILL damage the cutoff and meter!"
-
The Essential Apple: AirPorts Extreme, Express
Posted by Jeff GraberThe Airport Extreme by Apple fixes a lot of home networking complications. Unlike Time Capsule, the Airport Extreme is a dummy-down and cheaper version for people not needing the extra wireless hard drive. What this does, however, is allow up to 50 users access to a network (get on the...
-
Can 3D 'save' Blu-ray?
Posted by Dennis SellersI wasn't sure for a while, but now I think Blu-ray may just make it. Especially if a new gimmick, er, technology catches on: 3D Blu-ray, or 3D FHD (three-dimensional full-HD). And even without this, Blu-ray continues to, despite the tough economy, continue to gain momentum.
-
The Strategic Reason Behind Microsoft's Retail Push: Windows 7
Many columnists devoted a lot of column inches last week to the announcement that Microsoft (MSFT) is entering the retail space. As usual, these articles were generally variations on the same theme; comparisons to Apple (AAPL), the mention of Wal*Mart (WMT) and DreamWorks executives being hired, the description of stores being full of software boxes piled high, but no deep critique of why Microsoft deems this seemingly crazy idea necessary. No one, at least that I read, hit upon the key strategic point of this development. This is a most costly pursuit for Microsoft, and even though Microsoft is almost certain to fail, this move is necessary. Here's why, in my opinion. The general consensus is that these stores will have some hardware (Xboxes and the like), some fancy mouse or drawing pad units, but largely these stores will be devoted to software. And, they won't just have boxes of software sitting there, because that would provide no additional value for customers who could otherwise buy this software anywhere. Microsoft doesn't care that much about its margins to undertake this move to simply sell direct.In order to compete with the Apple retail stores, Microsoft will need to become a full service provider in these stores, in much the same way that the Genius Bar functions for Apple. In order to fully showcase Windows 7, which must be the OS profit driver upon which the entire empire is based, these stores will need to have technical assistants focused upon ripping out the 23.5% share in Windows Vista, 63.8% share in XP, and 0.29% share of 98 (!) from customers' machines (statistics from January 2009 web share by OS figures, as listed here) and replacing with Windows 7. How else to explain Microsoft's timing, in the worst recessionary retail period in the last half- century, to open retail locations? The company needs to do something urgently to re-make itself as a company capable of solving problems and not creating them. There is good reason why a 7-year old OS has almost 3X the share of an OS it introduced just 2 years ago; it's because Vista is a disaster and there is no longer any possibility to deny it.
-
Toshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthrough
While we weren't originally cheering fans of the Toshiba TG01's somewhat odd "stripey" interface, checking it out in person tells a different tale. It actually makes sense and works surprisingly well, and really, there is a reason why we've seen so many Windows Mobile skinning efforts, the shipped interface needs it. Most functions you need can be found in Toshiba's homescreen UI or can be added -- the video demos some of the options for making changes and panel color choices if the default isn't tickling your fancy. This handset is thin and light and makes the iPhone we used for some scale pics look positively chubby -- it's like having a PSP-sized display in your pocket. The 4.1-inch Regza-inspired screen is clear, the resistive touchscreen is typical hit and miss with fingertips, video and gaming are fast on the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and look gorgeous. You know, if Toshiba sees fit to add some 3G bands other than the 2100MHz included in the first effort, we could easily see this living -- almost unnoticed -- in our pockets. We're still pretty far out from the rumored summer launch of the TG01 so we're expecting to see some changes between now and then, and we also have some concerns about battery life while driving a screen like this, but for now, wow. Video walkthrough, some gaming action, and a big gallery are just past the break. Continue reading Toshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthroughFiled under: Cellphones, Portable VideoToshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthrough originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
Nokia N86 hands-on with video!
We just messed around with Nokia's new N86, and while the form factor and feel of the device seem a little last-gen, there's no denying the camera's quality. Some of the soft button the face of the phone are a little difficult for our large fingers to press, but the d-pad is pure quality, as is the generic-looking numeric keypad -- T9ers rejoice. In traditional N-series fashion, the slide mechanism is practically perfect, with a meaty, satisfying and easy motion to it, and the general feel of the device, including the seamless glossy front, screams quality. The camera we played with seemed a little glitchy in operation -- it's still pre-production -- but the images were excellent. The LED flash won't be able to handle a large dimly lit room, but can do close-quarters indoors shots just fine, and should match up well with other high resolution shooters in the outdoor arena. The OLED screen, but it might not have been set at full brightness -- it's crisp, but not necessarily vibrant. Overall it's a "nice" handset, but somehow 8 megapixels alone doesn't seem to justify another go at this fairly dated and chubby N-series form factor -- but maybe that's just us. Update: We bumped up the brightness and stacked the phone up against the iPhone 3G and found the N86's screen to be considerably brighter -- another win for OLED! There's also now some video after the break! Continue reading Nokia N86 hands-on with video!Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, HandheldsNokia N86 hands-on with video! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink|Email this|Comments
-
The Mac Night Owl: 'the case of multiple email boxes'
Posted by Dennis SellersOn today's commentary, Gene “Mac Night Owl” Steinberg looks at “the case of multiple email boxes.”
-
PowerXChange releases new QuarkXPress 8 book
Posted by Dennis SellersThePowerXChange has released QuarkXPress 8: Production Tricks and Experts' Tips. This US$54.99 tome is a collection of tutorials that offer beginner-level topic introductions, intermediate examinations of production tricks, and experts' tips for using QuarkXPress' features.