Apr 19, 2010 Apr 21, 2010 Tuesday April 20, 2010
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Apple to $500
Our EconomicTiming.com forecast from October 23, 2009 that Apple's (AAPL) market share would propel the stock to $500 a share is on track. Back then, with Apple at $205, people assumed we were just as crazy as when we forecast oil to drop to $30 and Bank of America (BAC) to rise to $20. The key takeaway from the recent Apple earnings report (see conference call transcript here) is that seasonality no longer exists for the company. By selling 8.75 million iPhones at the beginning of the year (131% growth), Apple has entered new territory. The fact that this company's hottest product is an iPhone that needs to be replaced every 18-24 months is a fact that not many analysts have noticed. I realized it when Steve Jobs spent a few minutes at the iPad event explaining that Apple was now the world's #1 mobile device company.
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Good Earnings: Can Apple Maintain the Craze?
Apple's (AAPL) earnings Tuesday were impressive (see earnings call transcript here). While most of the earnings beat was driven by better than expected smartphone sales, I have to say, the iPad also seemed to have beat my expectations. Here is where I went wrong as far as the iPad, and what it means going forward. To be clear, while I was bearish on the iPad, I was not necessarily bearish on Apple as a whole. Apple's international smartphone sales have been impressive, and smartphone sales in the United States could have more room to grow if Apple expands to Verizon (VZ), as rumors have suggested.
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iPhone 4 teardown: 19% larger battery, very close to production
One of the things that surprised me about the iPhone 4 pictures that Gizmodo posted was the lack of photo gallery of internal photos — save this one shot showing an Apple-labeled ribbon cable. But Gizmodo only posted it as proof that it was Apple OEM hardware: The single photo didn't answer all of the burning questions about the internals. Where were the rest of the shots? The CPU? Wi-Fi hardware? What about the micro SIM? Well fear not, the Giz did take a bunch of photos of the next-gen iPhone's guts after all, the problem is that they're not as revealing as one would expect. Take for example this photo of the logic board, it's completely covered by shielding, which Jason Chen was scared to remove for fear of “breaking the device.” Now contrast that with this high-res photo of the iPhone 3GS motherboard from iFixIt's iPhone 3GS teardown. Big difference. Quite simply: Giz should have flown Kyle and company into town to properly conduct and photograph the teardown. iFixIt's Kyle Weins told Cult of Mac that the iPhone 4 DVT (Design Verification Testing) unit, or “mule” as some Apple insiders call it, was closer to production than he expected (”very very close” in fact) while lamenting that the Gizmodo tear down photos were “so bad.” Weins asked them why they didn’t remove the (”very removable”) EMI shields, no word on that answer. Weins worries that the pre-leak of the DVT iPhone hardware could set consumer expectations for the device too high: What sucks for Apple is if they have to cut features for some reason. Of course the prototypes would have all the features they’re considering (flash, camera, etc.). But realities force feature removal at the last minute, like they did with the iPod Touch. I’m sure the iPod Touch prototypes had cameras in them. Here's the big Gizmodo “kitchen table” shot: Giz concludes: Apple really, really shrunk down their parts to make this phone thinner. It might weigh 3 grams more than the 3GS, but remember, the battery is 19% larger than before. Everything else is way reduced to fit the smaller case. So there you have it, Giz took a screwdriver to the iPhone 4 but were afraid of breaking it so they didn't answer the burning question: is Apple testing the same new “A4″ chip that's in the iPad in the iPhone 4 hardware as well? I'm placing a big fat bet on yes.
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Did lost iPhone lead to blog bidding war?
While rival gadget blogs Gizmodo and Engadget were both approached by the seller of the now famous iPhone, they appear to have approached a possible purchase far differently.
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‘The Guy Was Pretty Hectic About It’
Jeff Bercovici called the owner of Gourmet Haus Staudt: What [the “finders” of the phone] never did, however, was notify anyone who worked at the bar, according to its owner, Volcker Staudt. That would have been the simplest way to get the phone back to the Apple employee who lost it, who “called constantly trying to retrieve it” in the days afterward, recalls Volcker. “The guy was pretty hectic about it.” Theft. ★
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Zune HD: yes, it plays Doom
No matter how weak or powerful the gadget, one brave soul will always broach the all-important question: can it play Doom? Just four days after hacking the Zune HD and unleashing the OpenZDK, the Zune community has received its answer. ZuneBoards forumgoer Netrix has opened the portal to the familiar alien hell, where gamers will writhe in agony as they struggle with tilt and touchscreen controls. Those who persevere regardless will find the app runs any of the original Doom WAD files. Full installer available at the source link; see OpenZDK's power in action after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading Zune HD: yes, it plays DoomZune HD: yes, it plays Doom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ZuneBoards |Email this|Comments
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Apple Says "No Dice" On Child Friendly Programming App
Unfortunately, Apple's streak of app rejections has been extended to what was being deemed as a "kid-friendly" programming app, that showed stories, games and other animations that were made by children, according to Wired.com.Approximately 40 years ago, Alan Kay had come up with a concept of a small tablet-type computer that would give children the capability to be able to learn programming.While Apple's iPad met the tablet expectations, a new app called Scratch however, did not. It was removed from the iPhone and iPad App Store last week. It had been based on MIT's Scratch platform, which had been built on top of a programming language that Kay had come up with called Squeak.Software developer John McIntosh, who is unaffiliated with MIT, had made the Scratch app for iPhone and said that it had been removed in a blog last week.Clearly he wasn't thrilled with Apple's decision. "Both children and the internet are bigger than Apple, and things that are good for children of the world need to be able to run everywhere," Kay had emailed Wired.com.This month, Steve Jobs had personally mailed an iPad to Kay, who gave praises to Apple's tablet product as being something "fantastically good" for drawing, painting and typing. However, Kay opted against giving the full thumbs-up until his question of whether Scratch or Etoys -- another programming language that Kay came up with for kids -- could be usable on the iPad.Kay now apparently has that answer.Why the plucking from the App Store? McIntosh stated that Apple had removed it because it supposedly violated a rule in the iPhone developer agreement -- clause 3.3.2 to be exact, which make the case that iPhone apps cannot contain any code interpreters other than Apple's.John Gruber, the first to report the removal of Scratch said that the removal was because of Apple's intention of the "no interpreters" rule, which is to block meta-platforms like Adobe Flash.While there is still the off chance that Apple could still eventually approve the app, some critics are expressing worry that other than just attacking Adobe, Apple's policies in place could limit creative innovation within the App Store, a quality that has lead to the App Store's popularity.What say you MaclLifers? Is this a stifling of creative ingenuity? Or is Apple right in its ways? Feel free to leave comments below!Image courtesy of fastcompany.com
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Top 1,000 Paid iPad Apps Bringing In $372,000 A Day?
$372,000 is the estimated revenue that is being generated by the top 1,000 paid iPad apps claimed Weather HD developer vim, according to MacNN. That number is coming from the company's own analysis and experiences within the App Store, as well as numbers coming in for the top 100 apps via Applyzer. Figuring that the estimate is fairly on the money (no pun intended), the burgeoning iPad app market could wind up being about $136 million a year, says vimov.Should iPad apps follow in the steps of the iPhone, and following May, wind up selling in about a 40 to 60 percent ratio internationally, vimov is estimating that the iPad app market could explode to $272 million a year. If you want to take it a step further, should the iPad app market follow the iPhone's growth from 100 million apps in two months to 4 billion apps in 19 months, could produce about $1 billion a year! Lest we forget that 30 percent of that money involved goes back to Apple.But the analysis does ignore apps outside of the top 1,000 and also proceeds to make a few educated guesses. The above numbers are based on 500,000 iPad owners that are regularly scooping up new apps, but in actuality the amount of device owners is well beyond that. Also, as is the case with some iPhone owners, it's being expected that some iPad owners will ultimately reach their limit of apps, and the appeal could decrease due to cost. As most know, a lot of iPad apps are more expensive than that of the iPhone's and could lead to a price reduction, to meet the 'ol laws of supply and demand. Regardless, this should only add to Apple's continual record breaking profit numbers.
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Adobe’s Mike Chambers on Section 3.3.1 and Adobe’s Response
Mike Chambers: While it appears that Apple may selectively enforce the terms, it is our belief that Apple will enforce those terms as they apply to content created with Flash CS5. Developers should be prepared for Apple to remove existing content and applications (100+ on the store today) created with Flash CS5 from the iTunes store. We will still be shipping the ability to target the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5. However, we are not currently planning any additional investments in that feature. They’re resting their hopes for Flash as a mobile platform on Android. ★
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Google acquires server hardware startup Agnilux, a bevy of former Apple / PA Semi employees in tow?
It's no secret that Google's been on something of a shopping spree as of late, buying startups left for right like it was trying to win the final round of Supermarket Sweep. This latest one's a bit more interesting, though. Agnilux was borne of former PA Semi / Apple engineers, and its director of application software, Scott Redman, used to be a software architect at TiVo -- basically, it's got some talent behind it, and although no projects have ever been announced, the New York Times suggested back in February that "some kind of server" was being made, and there was a partnership with Cisco that we'd assume has now gone the wayside. At any rate, the company -- and probably more important, the employees -- now seem to be the property of Google, who could probably use a few good server men and women in pretty much all aspects of the company.Google acquires server hardware startup Agnilux, a bevy of former Apple / PA Semi employees in tow? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.PermalinkCnet | peHUB |Email this|Comments
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Apple Conference Call: “Future Product Transition”
In a question related to revenue for next quarter, the response included four factors: a stronger U.S. dollar, a Mac portable transition, the educational buying season, and a “future product transition.” The “future product” could be the new iPhone, which is expected to launch in June. As for the portables, while the MacBook Pros were just updated, the MacBook awaits a refresh, as does the MacBook Air, assuming it's not discontinued. Besides that enigmatic statement, there were more than a few interesting questions and answers for this call. The iPad was a popular topic. While units sold wasn't updated at the call, next quarter iPads will be reported as a “line item on our data summary,” meaning units sold and revenue. That's a clear indicator of success. More concretely, the iPad 3G will ship on April 30 in the U.S., and come to nine additional countries in May. There are more than 5,000 accessories compatible with the iPad, and more than 3,500 specific apps for the iPad. Price came up more than once, which Apple considers to be “aggressive” on the iPad. Nonetheless, regarding price cuts, the reply was “nothing to announce today.” It was just so awkward hearing someone praise AT&T. The iPhone, which sold a record 8.572 million units, saw a 41 percent jump year-over-year, three times better than the overall smartphone market. The iPhone is seeing crazy growth in Asia Pacific, Japan, and Europe, up 484, 183, and 133 percent respectively. The iPhone in China is seeing a sales increase of nine times and revenue doubling, but that has more to do with the lackluster launch than real success so far. In an awkwardly answered question about iPhone exclusivity, it was admitted that multiple carriers increases units sales and market share where it's done, but that “the formula doesn't work in every single case.” Also, AT&T has made some “big strides” in network improvement. Good grief, why not just admit AT&T pays more per phone than Verizon ever will and be done with it. It was just so awkward hearing someone praise AT&T. Speaking of awkward, in response to a question about whatever happened to the Apple TV, it was stated sales are up 34 percent YOY, but that's still a “small” number that we will likely never learn. There was a little rationalizing about how the Mac and the iPhone compete in much larger markets, hundreds of millions of units sold per year, so that's why the Apple TV remains a “hobby” for Apple. Note to Apple: 200 million televisions were sold last year. Additional random bits: Not much was said about the Mac, except that you can forget about a MacBook mini because Apple executives can't think of “a single thing” a netbook does well. As for the iPod, as noted, while sales were flat, revenue was up. That's because the iPod touch saw 63 percent sales growth. Apple still owns about 70 percent of the media player market. Half of people buying Macs in Apple Stores continue to be new to the platform. There are now 286 Apple Stores, which saw 47 million visitors last quarter. Apple expects to open 25 Apple Stores in China, up from two, by the end of 2011. Apple has $41.7 billion in cash on hand, enough to purchase Adobe twice over and put an end to Flash without the passive-aggressive behavior. Apple considers the advertising initiative iAd a “toe in the water,” or possibly in Google's eye, depending on how you look at it. As always, the company is excited about the “product pipeline.” Overall, a great quarter and a pretty good conference call. I'm looking forward to “future product transitions” for all.
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AAPL 2Q'10: revenue up 49%; profit up 90%
Apple reported another record March quarter in its conference call with analysts this afternoon: The Company posted revenue of $13.50 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.07 billion, or $3.33 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $9.08 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.62 billion, or $1.79 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 41.7 percent, up from 39.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 58 percent of the quarter’s revenue. Apple sold 2.94 million Macintosh® computers during the quarter, representing a 33 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 8.75 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 131 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 10.89 million iPods during the quarter, representing a one percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter. Between The Lines' Sam Diaz has more of the story and notes that shares of AAPL were down slightly in regular trading, closing at $244.59, but were up in after-hours trading. If you missed it, you can listen to a re-broadcast or you can subscribe to the Apple Quarterly Earnings Call podcast in iTunes. (Note: the podcast hasn't been updated as of press time, but should be available by sometime on Wednesday.)
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Why the 13" MacBook Pro still uses Core 2 Duo CPUs
Filed under: Macbook ProSince the MacBook Pro refresh last week, many have wondered why the 13" MacBook Pro wasn't updated with Intel's latest i5 processors. My dad, for example, had been waiting on a MacBook Pro update since January, but since the 13" stuck with Core 2 Duo processors, it took a bit of explaining on my part to convince him the 13" MacBook Pro had been updated at all. Lots of theories have been thrown around as to why the 15" and 17" MacBook Pros got i5 and i7 processors while the 13" models stayed Core 2 Duo. Predictably, these theories range from somewhat plausible to tinfoil hat territory. Someone asked Steve Jobs why the 13" MacBook Pro still used the older processors, and the recently chatty Steve replied, "We chose killer graphics plus 10 hour battery life over a very small CPU speed increase. Users will see far more performance boost from the speedy graphics." TUAWWhy the 13" MacBook Pro still uses Core 2 Duo CPUs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Steve Jobs - macbookpro - Apple - Intel Core 2 - Intel Core i5
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Apple Inc. F2Q10 (Qtr end 03/27/10) Earnings Call Transcript
Apple Inc. (AAPL) F2Q10 Earnings Call April 20, 2010 5:00 pm ET
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Hands-on with Fruit Ninja for the iPhone
Filed under: Gaming Halfbrick Studios is an Australian game developer that's done a few licensed games on other platforms before, and they're arriving on the iPhone today with Fruit Ninja, a simple-but-fun arcade game that has you hacking fruit in half on the iPhone's touchscreen. The game just went live on the App Store moments ago. We at TUAW got a chance to play the game early, and our exclusive hands-on review is after the break. Fruit Ninja is simple but polished -- while the game mechanic is well done and well-supported with excellent graphics and sound, the gameplay itself is almost too shallow to support the rest of the design. The game's only 99 cents, and there's definitely 99 cents of entertainment here, but I wish there was even more.TUAWHands-on with Fruit Ninja for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - AppStore - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - Game
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Next-gen iPhone splayed, battery probably not meant to be replaced by the unwashed masses
It's been pretty low-key, so we totally understand if you haven't heard anything about it yet, but it turns out there's a next-gen iPhone floating around somewhere outside Apple's sphere of reality-distorting influence. We'll spare you the backstory there, but Gizmodo saw fit to do a little non-destructive (more on that in a moment) teardown of the device today. There's actually not that much to see or learn from it, but we couldn't help but notice the prominently-placed translucent tab underneath the battery imploring only "authorized service providers" to proceed, which we figure is a pretty strong sign that Apple will continue its nefarious legacy of blocking owners from managing their own juice -- a fact that's corroborated by Giz's claim that it takes the removal of two screws and a suction cup to get in there anyhow. As for the delicate, decidedly un-iFixit-like nature of the teardown, the site explains that it didn't want to "damage the connections beyond repair," and since the silicon is all buried under a tightly-manufactured metal plate, we don't get to learn whether the phone's rocking an A4 processor right out of the iPad parts bin. Of course, worst case, we expect to know that tidbit at the launch event -- or, failing that, mere moments after the suckers go on sale when the first retail units donate their bodies to science. Hang on tight, everyone.Next-gen iPhone splayed, battery probably not meant to be replaced by the unwashed masses originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Gizmodo |Email this|Comments
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Claim Chowder: Tomi Ahonen on iPhone Sales
Tomi Ahonen, former Nokia executive and self-professed expert on mobile phones, 11 days ago: You read it right. I am writing the first history of the once-iconic iPhone, written now in early April 2010, before Apple has released its first quarter earnings for 2010. This is literally the peak of the short reign that Apple’s iPhone had as the most emulated smartphone. […] And mark my words, the numbers are now very clear, Apple’s market share peak among smartphones, and among all handsets, on an annual basis, is being witnessed now. Yes its true, Apple cannot grow market share into 2011. But its not for reasons you might think. [ten thousand words of gibberish snipped] The Apple iPhone sales pattern differs from all other major smartphone makers because Apple only releases one new model per year. So the sales take off strongly and then decline as the rivals keep releasing newer phones. Apple’s best quarter is its Christmas quarter. This year they were not able to grow market share. And we already know, that Apple’s January-March quarter was a heavy fall from the Christmas level of sales (as it always is, this is the normal pattern). Apple, today: The Company sold 8.75 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 131 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. So the “heavy fall from the Christmas level of sales” we “already know” about was, uh, an increase of 50,000 iPhones. This was the most iPhones Apple has ever sold in a quarter. (And does not count the 63 percent year-over-year growth in sales of the iPod Touch.) ★
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Downloads page at Apple.com no longer being updated
Filed under: SoftwareOn March 16th, we reported that although the "Downloads" tab had been removed from Apple's homepage, the downloads page itself was still available. However, about 10 days after that, Apple apparently ceased updating the page. The most recent app listed under "Recently Added" is March 26th, and we've been told that developers who have sent in apps have not gotten any response. Many applications will now check and report when new versions are available, but if you are looking for applications to fit a specific need, you can still use VersionTracker and MacUpdate.TUAWDownloads page at Apple.com no longer being updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - Unofficial Apple Weblog - MacUpdate - Apple.com - VersionTracker
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What We're Reading: Apple Leaks
Hacker culture, Hitler meme videos, and a tech executive in Vogue top the reading list.
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The Way of The Warrior Geek: Protecting Yourself & Your iPad
If you commute to work in anything other than a tank, you know it's a dangerous world out there. If you drive, you've likely found yourself trapped behind a vehicle in the left lane with its left turn signal on for the past ten miles. Riding a bike might be a great way to fight off a fierce case of chair-rump and stay in shape, but weaving through heavy traffic is more like a contact sport than travel: you're worth five points if taken out by a car door, ten if seen wedged into the grill of a delivery truck, and fifteen points if that truck was being driven by an albino. If you're one of the brave thousands, who like a few of the Mac|Life staff, bus it or take the train into work, you'll know that we too have our unique challenges. We endure the patently unwashed, standing face-to-armpit crammed into train cars like sardines; we're subjected to other people's loud, banal 7am conversations, and are subjected to the meandering, presumably one-sided insanity of crazy folk having a conversation with themselves. And that's just the mornings. Fortunately a decent set of noise-canceling headphones and your iPod or iPhone puts most of these wrongs to right. Even better - hook those world-beating in-ear honeys up to a brand new iPad and your worries will be washed away in a sea of multimedia boo-yah and productivity the likes of which your fellow travelers have never seen!Or not.Those of our readers old enough to remember connecting their iPods to their Macs via FireWire will no doubt also recall the rash of robberies and thefts connected to that revolutionary device when it first came out. Heck, there's most likely someone being rolled for their 32GB iPod touch right now. Given the iPad's larger form factor, easily recognizable touch and swipe gestures and the gotta-have-it factor attached to all new Apple gear, Cupertino's new latest will no doubt prove irresistible to tech-savvy thugs. Don't believe us? Maybe you'll listen to San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit, who have taken the time to warn their system's users about their becoming a potential target of crime by waving that shiny new tablet around on the train. With more transit authorities in the United States and Canada fast following suit, it's beginning to look like enjoying an iPad on public transit is just as good as pinning a target to your back. For safety's sake, you'll just have to leave your iPad at home, pulling it out only for holidays and funerals. Yeah right.iPad commuters of the world - this is your time! Fear not the beat down, nor the veiled threat of the sweatshirt-swaddled hooligan! Unleash your inner Warrior-Geek and multi-touch your tablets with pride - Mac|Life will show you the way!1. Hide Your iPad in the Open The Tao of the Warrior Geek is one of subterfuge. One of the best ways to keep your iPad from being the object of thug’s attention is to disguise it as something else. While we’re all about DIY solutions, there’s a number of great off-the-shelf products out there. Take the DODOcase, for example. Handcrafted in San Francisco, each faux-leather and bamboo case is designed to mimic the look of a Moleskine notebook, right down an elastic strap to keep your iPad nestled away safely when not in use. It looks so convincing that only the hipster sitting next to you will know for sure.2. Use Common SenseNo, not Thomas Paine’s pivotal argument for American Independence, the other one. You might think you’re just tapping away at your iPad to pass the time you’re forced to wait on a deserted platform for a train or outside late at night for a bus, but in reality, your actions are nothing more than a billboard for Darwinism. For a Warrior Geek to thrive in a hostile environment, it must be understood that it’s survival of the fittest out there, and the fittest may well be after your iPad. Don’t become another crime statistic: Use your head! When you’re outside of the house, be sure to only use your tablet, not to mention any other expensive electronics devices, in well-lit, well-travelled areas. Most cities with rapid transit systems will have Designated Waiting Areas at every stop the train makes. These areas tend to be monitored with CCTV, and offer emergency communication systems should you run into trouble. Bad guys don’t like that sort of thing. 3. Tinfoil Hats! To paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson, there’s no such thing as paranoia - It’s all true. As a Warrior Geek, you must be alert to the attentions of others, even while wearing headphones or playing Doodle Jump. If you think someone means you harm chances are, they do. We meet a lot of people in our day to day lives, and you don’t get that vibe from everyone, right? Go with it: A little truthiness goes a long way. Don’t forget to keep your cellphone charged up in case you need to make an emergency call, and remember that the transit police and security attendants are there to help you should you need it. Life in Every BreathAs a Warrior Geek, you understand that great gadgets often come with great peril. We’ve discussed camouflage, common sense and paranoia.Let us now discuss fearlessness.The money you paid for your iPad was hard-won: Be cautious with your sexy new tablet and minimize the risks of using it in public as much as possible, but never forget to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Boldly venture forth into the world with your tablet! Just don’t make eye contact with that crazy guy talking to Elvis two seats up on the train. You’re on your own for that one.
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Unaffiliated Apple Analysts Out-Perform Wall Street Analysts Again
Turley Muller was the most accurate, once again. (And even he vastly underestimated the total number of iPhones sold.) If you’ve got money invested in Apple stock, take note of these track records. ★
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Podcast #137: The 4G iPhone Leak and 3G iPad Sale Date Announced
Hey did you hear? A new iPhone prototype was found and sold to Gizmodo. We talk about the specs and story behind the story. It's all very cloak and dagger. The 3G iPad gets an on sale date, April 30. It's a Friday, so afterwards we can all meet at the local happy hour and ignore each other while we play with our new toys. Plus, we answer your hard-hitting Twitter and Facebook questions! Okay, they weren't that hard-hitting. Got a question, but you're afraid to leave a voice message because of Witness Relocation Dept. rules? Drop us a question via Twitter twitter.com/maclife.This week's Battlestar Applactica picks:Beatwave - freeAirVideo - $2.99Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Livequestion/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit thelength of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls eachweek and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week'spodcast.To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.
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Google buys chip start-up from ex-Apple designers
After Apple bought P.A. Semi in 2008, a few engineers struck out on their own to found Agnilux. Now Google has decided to snap up the stealthy start-up.
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Recording Video on Your Mac: It Gets Even Easier
Regarding Ask in Feb/10 (“iSight to iMovie to Email,” p81), it’s easier to record a video message with QuickTime Player. And Photo Booth is even easier, especially for the grandmother who was mentioned in the original question.Right you are! A few people wrote in to correct us on that, and we appreciate the feedback. While the iMovie method we outlined does work, using QuickTime or Photo Booth is definitely a simpler solution.If you’re using Snow Leopard, launch QuickTime Player and select File > New Movie Recording. An iSight window pops up, and you can just click the Record button and go for it. Click the Stop button when you’re done, and QuickTime saves a MOV file to your ~/Movies folder. If you need a smaller file size, select File > Save For Web, and have QuickTime export a version for iPhone (Cellular), which is the smallest. Our 2-minute, 30-second MOV file was compressed from 17.6MB in its default version to just 4KB in iPhone (Cellular) size.Recording a movie in QuickTime 7. Hi, Grandma!If you’re using Leopard or Tiger, QuickTime Pro 7 can also record a movie. Select File > New Movie Recording, click the Record button in the resulting iSight window, and click Stop when you’re done. It automatically saves a MOV file in your Movies folder too, and you can select File > Export For Web and choose iPhone (Cellular) as the export version for the smallest file size.QuickTime Player's Save For Web command lets you compress your video--the iPhone (Cellular) size is plenty small.And Photo Booth is yet another option. Launch that puppy, click the Film button, and then click the Record button. When you click Stop, the video shows up in Photo Booth’s shelf and is saved to your ~/Pictures/Photo Booth folder. (And you can quickly send a copy to your Desktop by just dragging it there from the Photo Booth shelf.) The resulting 640x480 H.264 MOV file should already be pretty small, and Photo Booth doesn’t offer any more built-in compression, but you could always open that file in QuickTime Player and use Save For Web (or Export For Web in QuickTime 7) to compress it a little more.In Photo Booth, select the video button (outlined in red in the screenshot) and then click the red Record button.
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Apple earnings soar on strong iPhone sales
Apple Inc reports a strong surge in second-fiscal quarter earnings, thanks to strong sales of iPhones and Mac computers.
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Peace in the home: Sharing an iPad with your spouse
Filed under: iPad I'm sure many of you find yourselves in the sometimes-uncomfortable position of alpha geek in your households. It's a lonely perch, with responsibility for every gadget and gizmo under the familial roof; more frustrating, your spouse and children don't share your perfectly rational enthusiasm for all things iGlorious, and can't understand your willingness to spend a Saturday morning on line with strangers at the mall. You might even be faced with some completely unfair public criticisms of your parenting skills or attention span. It's a tough spot. Believe me, I know how it is. Imagine my glee, therefore, when my wife (no Luddite, but no raving technophile either) expressed her eagerness for an iPad. She's entering her final year of graduate studies, and with so much classwork reading available as PDF files, the iPad is a natural choice for her use; besides, she has grown deeply dissatisfied with the Kindle's lack of backlight and challenging PDF handling. With bilateral consensus on the purchase -- and if you think that's an easy sell on a $500-plus expenditure, think again -- we opted to get a 32GB unit and forgo the 3G version that I had told myself I was waiting for. It's delightful, it's wonderful... and it's raised an entirely new set of issues. Taking the iPad from its core single-user metaphor and sharing it between two people, even two people who love each other and collaboratively tackle the much larger challenges of raising children together, is a tall order. I've been building a list of adjustments and adaptations, in the hope that we can help other couples find their way. Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyrose18/ / CC BY-ND 2.0 TUAWPeace in the home: Sharing an iPad with your spouse originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments IPad - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Amazon Kindle - Parenting - Publishing
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What would you have done with lost iPhone 4G?
You find a prototype of an iPhone 4G in a bar. What do you do with it?
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New Apple ads for pet lovers, travelers
Filed under: iPhone Apple has released two more iPhone ads: "Backpacker" and "Dog Lover." "Dog Lover" (seen after the break) explores a family adopting a dog and keeping track of it, demonstrating the following apps: Petfinder (free) Facebook (free) Hey Walkies (free) iCam ($4.99 USD) Note that Petfinder can also be used if you want to be owned by a cat, I mean find a cat or other animals to adopt. "Backpacker" follows a new college graduate as he makes a trip to Spain and features the following apps in addition to a demo of Photos and the App Store: Hostelworld (free) Jibbigo ($24.95 USD) -- The one featured translates Spanish. There are also Chinese and Japanese versions available. [Via 9To5Mac] TUAWNew Apple ads for pet lovers, travelers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments IPhone - AppStore - Apple - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Facebook
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Om Malik on Flash Player for Smartphones
Om Malik: Whether you agree with Apple’s steadfast refusal to allow Flash on its mobile devices, the lack of Flash doesn’t appear to be hurting Apple device sales. Even without Flash support, Apple recently reported it has sold a total of 50 million iPhones and in only a few days, 500,000 iPads, not to mention a vast number of iPod touch devices. Some consumers do refuse to buy a Flash-less Apple device, but I’d wager that they’re in the minority. Number of iPhones with Flash Player: 0. Number of competing phones with Flash Player: 0. We keep hearing that the second number is going to change. If and when it does, we’ll see whether it’s a competitive problem for the iPhone and iPad. And for what it’s worth, I still haven’t seen a definitive answer as to whether Google plans to make Flash Player a standard component for Android, even when Adobe releases it. ★
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Once Again, Apple Tops Consensus
The least surprising news of the day has got to be that Apple Inc. (AAPL) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate...again. This is something that the PC staple has been doing for years now, and is nowhere near as exciting a story as the top secret iPhone that was left at a bar last week. But we'll talk about it anyway.In what the company called its “best non-holiday quarter ever,” Apple announced earnings per share of $3.33, which easily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43. Revenue of $13.5 billion soared from the previous year's $9.08 billion (and that's without any help from the iPad).
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iKit introduces iPhone 3GS Flip Case
Posted by Dennis SellersiKit has introduced the iPhone 3GS Flip Case, which offers hands-free video viewing at a cae, desk, or anywhere with a flat surface. It features a protective polycarbonate body, flipstand with a screen protector.
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How Gizmodo got its iPhone scoop (Q&A)
It wasn't the only gadget blog that had a crack at the purported iPhone 4G prototype, but Gizmodo was willing to pay, says Nick Denton, CEO of Gizmodo's parent company.
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Apple's financials: so how'd we do?
Posted by Dennis SellersApple announced its second quarter results for fiscal year 2010 on Tuesday. So how did the Sellers Research Firm (that's me) do in my prognostications? Well, better than the Street. However, all of us proved to be way too pessimistic.
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TUAW Liveblog: Apple Q2 2010 Earnings Call
Filed under: Apple FinancialThe fun is just beginning... listen along here. TUAW Q2 2010 Results LiveblogTUAWTUAW Liveblog: Apple Q2 2010 Earnings Call originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - AppleFinancial - IPhone - IPad
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Apple's Lost iPhone an Island-Worthy Mystery
Maybe it's karma for the way Apple has dealt out restrictions on its App Store developers lately. Or it could be the mother of all technology marketing stunts, coming a week after a competitor releases a well-reviewed smartphone. In any event, Apple may have lost more than a prototype fourth-generation iPhone, left behind in a Silicon Valley bar by an employee whose name everyone now knows thanks to a popular tech blog. A company whose penchant for secrecy is rivaled only by those writing the last episode of "Lost" may have indeed suffered an embarrassing security breach.
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Sorry, but the Apple TV is still a hobby
Posted by Dennis SellersApple TV units were up 34% year over year for Apple's second fiscal quarter of 2010—but, sorry Apple TV fans, it's still classified as a “hobby” by Apple.
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Apple announces stellar second quarter earnings
Filed under: Apple FinancialEstimates, shmestimates. Apple reported adjusted earnings of $3.33 per share, blowing past the consensus Wall Street numbers. Total revenues were $13.5B. That's more than $700 millon above even the most optimistic predictions. Gross margins up to 41.7 percent, from 39.9 percent a year ago. We're listening in on the conference call right now, and Apple is reporting remarkable sales across the board. Apple is reporting their highest quarter of iPhone sales ever, with 8.75 million iPhones sold in the last quarter, the best sales during the same period ever. Additionally, iPod touch sales are up 63% year over year, and Apple has kept a hold on 70% of the mp3 player market, with 10.9 million iPods sold in the last quarter. iTunes is also a profit machine, churning out $1.1 billion in revenue. 185,000 apps are now available, and there have been over four billion downloads on those apps for iPhone and iPod touch. We'll have more information forthcoming as the call carries on, but it appears that Apple is continuing to impress with their sales and reach in the market. TUAWApple announces stellar second quarter earnings originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - Steve Jobs - IPhone - IPad - Unofficial Apple Weblog
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Apple has another record quarter, posts $3.07b profit
Apple might not be too happy about having a fourth-gen iPhone prototype get stolen, but there's nothing like cold, hard cash to turn a frown upside-down -- and the company certainly made plenty of it in the second quarter of 2010, posting a $3.07b profit on $13.5b in revenue. That's the Apple's best non-holiday quarter ever -- profits were up 90 percent while revenue was up 49 percent -- and yet another record quarter for Steve and the gang. Mac sales were up 33 percent from a year ago with 2.94m units sold, iPhone sales were up 131 percent with 8.75m units sold, and iPod sales were down one point with 10.89m units sold. We're just about to jump on the analyst conference call, we'll let you know if we hear anything good -- we wonder what people might be asking about? Update: Oh, why not -- let's liveblog this thing. Follow along after the break at 5PM ET.Continue reading Apple has another record quarter, posts $3.07b profitApple has another record quarter, posts $3.07b profit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Apple |Email this|Comments
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News: Notes from Apple's Q2 2010 earnings conference call
During Apple’s Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results Conference Call, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer and Apple COO Tim Cook made several comments concerning its media-related products, including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. In his opening statements, Oppenheimer said that sales of the iPod touch were up 63% year-over-year, with overall iPod revenue growing 12%, the strongest growth seen in the last two years. According to NPD, the iPod has…
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MarketWatch First Take: Impatient customers enable Apple blowout
Apple's quarterly report blows past Wall Street expectations on all fronts, even with the prospect of a new iPhone on the horizon.
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What Will the Next Gen iPhone Mean for Apple's Stock Price?
Images of Apple's (AAPL) potential next generation iPhone have been featured on Gizmodo. Consumers, along with Apple competitors Google (GOOG), Research in Motion (RIMM) and Nokia (NOK), have gotten a sneak peak of what lays ahead for Apple's product road map. Based on the hardware details provided by Gizmodo, the new iPhone will feature a few key improvements to the iPhone 3GS that could help drive further iPhone sales, slow declines in iPhone pricing and lead to a long-term boost in Apple' stock. We estimate that the iPhone constitutes nearly 50% of our price estimate for Apple's stock.
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Apple's retail business sees revenue increase 38% year-over-year
Posted by Dennis SellersDuring the its fiscal 2010 second quarter that ended March 27, Apple saw its retail store chain increase revenue by 22%. That's up 38% year-over-year.
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Is Apple's Spell Wearing Off?
A quick spin through the comments to blog posts about the loss of Apple's iPhone reveals a surprising amount of vitriol.
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iPod unit sales flat, but iPod revenue up 12%
Posted by Dennis SellersAnalysts expected iPod sales to dip in the latest fiscal quarter, but they remained basically flat (down 1% year-over-year). Apple sold 10.89 million iPods during the quarter, generating revenue of US$1.7 billion (that's a total revenue increase of 12%).
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Apple Q2 2010: Another Quarter, Another Record
Only Apple could make success seem banal, reporting the best ever earnings for a second fiscal quarter today. Apple reported revenue of $13.50 billion and a net quarterly profit of $3.07 billion, or $3.33 EPS, once again beating the Wall Street consensus, and comparing quite favorably to $9.08 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.62 billion, or $1.79 EPS, a year ago. It was indeed another boringly great quarter, but if Steve Jobs is yawning with success, he didn't show it in the press release. “We’re thrilled to report our best non-holiday quarter ever, with revenues up 49 percent and profits up 90 percent,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve launched our revolutionary new iPad and users are loving it, and we have several more extraordinary products in the pipeline for this year.” For those with less interest in profit and more in the magical product pipeline, Macs were solid, iPods flat, and iPhone sales bucked the cyclical decline. Apple sold 2.943 million Macs, up 33 percent from 2.216 for the same quarter last year. While laptop sales were up 28 percent from a year ago, desktop sales jumped 40 percent. That doesn't alter the 60/40 split between laptops and desktops, but it was still a good quarter for the iMac. It was a good quarter for iPod sales, too, despite them being flat, at 10.89 million sold versus 11.01 million last year. While that's technically a one percent decline in units sales, revenue was up 12 percent, likely fueled by the increasing success of the iPod touch. That's very good news. Also very good were iPhone sales, which tend to be cyclical, peaking with model launches and declining until the next launch. For last quarter, Apple sold 8.752 million Phones, compared to 3.793 during the same period last year, a 131 percent increase. However, Apple actually increased the number of iPhones sold from the first quarter of 2010, which saw 8.737 million sold. That's big news as we approach the next iPhone launch, expected this summer. While nothing was mentioned about the iPad, expect that to come up in the conference call, which will duly be reported on TheAppleBlog.
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Apple Soars: Is This a Great Country or What?
(Click chart to enlarge)Apple (AAPL) today reported a 90% gain in second-quarter profit; net income rose to $3.33/share, from $1.79 a year earlier; sales rose 49% to $13.5 billion, topping expectations of $12 billion; shares rose 6% in after-market trading. Apple's market cap is now only $30 billion shy of Microsoft's (MSFT).
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Mac sales grow 33% year-over-year, desktops up 40%
Posted by Dennis Sellers In a press conference regarding its latest quarterly financials, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said Mac sales were up 20% in America alone, representing a 26% increase in revenue.
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Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say 'UK industry sources'
How the mighty have fallen. Where just last year companies Apple and Nintendo were renowned for their ability to keep completely silent about impending hardware, these days the thrill of exposure and some media pressure go a long, long way. Now, if Computer and Video Games' sources are to be believed, Nintendo's had another leak: an October release date for its autostereoscopic 3DS handheld in the UK. That's well within the original "before March 2011" timeframe, and apparently a surprise for game publishers currently planning software for Holiday 2010. Besides, since Europe typically gets Nintendo systems after the US and Japan, some lucky dogs might get the system even earlier -- we'll let you know when we see it ourselves at E3 this June.Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say 'UK industry sources' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CVG |Email this|Comments
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Will Apple Continue Its Scorching Run?
One of the odd features of this earnings season is that some of the biggest names out there have had the most "boring" of charts heading into major news. In stocks that have strongly trended--and in many cases hit new lifetime highs, not just recent ones--there really isn't a lot that appears worthy to comment on.In some respects, the chart is really telling us exactly what investors believe about the future prospects of the stock. And in the case of Apple (AAPL), they are indicating the belief that the share price can grow significantly and rapidly without encountering any major obstacles.
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iPad user case: Pro blogger
Filed under: iPadOver the past few weeks, we've heard many people say, "The iPad is cool, but what would I do with it?" This new series aims to answer that question. We'll examine one user case per post, from couch surfer to mobile professional, and describe just how that person uses his or her iPad. As a professional blogger, there are 5 things I need to do my job: A comfortable, reliable keyboard A text editor RSS feeds Web access A reference tool for compiling research The iPad lets me get nearly all of that accomplished. Let's start with what works. The keyboard The iPad's software keyboard is more usable that I expected. It's forced me to develop a hybrid typing method that's part hunt-and-peck and part touch typing. Years ago, I learned to keep my fingers in the home position, lightly touching the keys. On the iPad, "lightly touching" means "pressing," so now I hover just above the keys. The landscape keyboard is just a bit smaller than a standard keyboard, so I can't keep my hands in the true home position. However, knowing each key's location without having to look is tremendously helpful. With a bit of practice, my muscle memory has adapted to the smaller keyboard. The real key, as with the iPhone, is to be fearless and type. The iPad will correct the vast majority of your mistakes. That being said, I don't want to write more than a few hundred words with it. Even with the above accommodations, I still make more errors than I do with a physical keyboard. Therefore, Apple's Bluetooth keyboard is essential. It's a breeze to set up, fits squarely in a bag and is barely wider than the iPad itself. With the iPad docked and the keyboard in place, I'm ready to write. TUAWiPad user case: Pro blogger originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - IPad - Apple - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Typing
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Your next textbook could be an iPad
Posted by Dennis SellersOn March30, Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania announced that all students will receive a 13″ MacBook laptop and an iPad. Seton Hill is not the only university embracing the iPad: George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon will offer incoming freshmen a choice of a new MacBook or the iPad....
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Apple Posts Q2 Profits
For those of you that follow all things fiscal, Apple's released their Q2 profits, and to be blunt, things are looking pretty rosey.Cupertino's got a lot to be proud of: During the last quarter, Apple shipped 8.75 million iPhones , beating their own expectations by 1.75 units. As for the company's computer sales, 2.94 million shipped to consumers, once again smashing the company's sales expectations. Even the iPod is showing signs of coming around, shipping 10.89 million units. Not to shabby, considering the fact that they only expected to sell 9 million. Once again, the iPod was the best selling MP3 player according to the latest data.
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Lenovo talks up LePhone, shows off app store ahead of May launch
Lenovo's Android-based LePhone (not LePhono, sadly) may not be officially launching in China until next month, but the company did just hold a launch event of sorts in the country, in which it revealed a few new details and did a fair bit of boasting. According to The Wall Street Journal, Lenovo says that it's aiming to sell "millions" of the phones in the next five years, and "tens of millions" after that -- although not just involving this particular phone, obviously. Lenovo COO Rory Read also reportedly further added that the company is ready for a "tough fight" against Apple's iPhone, and that Lenovo will have a "better brand position" that RIM, which hasn't yet gained a significant foothold in China. That's certainly plenty ambitious for a company new to the cellphone space, and should no doubt only further fuel those rumors of a certain acquisition. In other le news, Lenovo also apparently further demonstrated the tweaked version of Android that the handset will use (first seen at CES), and it has shown off its own app store for the first time, which can already be browsed at the site linked below.Lenovo talks up LePhone, shows off app store ahead of May launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.PermalinkI4U News | Wall Street Journal, Lenovo App Store |Email this|Comments
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Apple announces record March quarter revenue, profit
Posted by Dennis SellersCa-ching! Apple has announced financial results for its fiscal 2010 second quarter that ended March 27, 2010. The company posted revenue of US$13.50 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.07 billion, or $3.33 per diluted share.
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iPhone sales increase way above industry average
Posted by Dennis SellersIn a press conference regarding its latest quarterly financials, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said that sales of 8.75% of iPhones in the latest fiscal quarter was more than three times the IDC estimate of 41% growth of overall smartphone growth for the period, as estimated by the IDC research...
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Apple revenue jumps almost 50 percent
Apple posts revenue that's 49 percent better than a year ago, in its strongest non-holiday quarter yet.
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Analyst: Apple might be eyeing AMD acquisition
Posted by Dennis Sellers There are rumors that Apple and AMD execs are talking about the former using the chips of the latter in upcoming products. Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group, even thinks there's a slim chance that something more could be in the works.
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News: Apple Q2 2010: 10.89m iPods, 8.75 million iPhones sold
Reporting its second quarter financial results today, Apple said it sold 10.89 million iPods during the quarter, compared to sales of 11.01 million iPods in the year-ago quarter, and down 48 percent from the previous quarter. Apple also sold 8.75 million iPhones in the quarter, a 131 percent increase year-over-year, and up from 8.7 million units in the prior quarter. The company posted revenue of $13.5 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.07 billion,…
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Apple Q2 Earnings: Another Great Quarter
Revenue and profits are way up. iPhone, iPod, and Mac sales all beat consensus estimates. iPhone sales were up 131 percent year-over-year — an astounding number, given that they sold more iPhones this quarter than during the holiday quarter. Best non-holiday quarter in company history. Here’s Apple’s data (PDF). ★
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Jobs gets credit for helping promote California donor bill
Posted by Dennis SellersOn Wednesday the California State Senate's health committee will review a bill that, if passed, will make California the first state in the nation to create a live donor registry for kidney transplants. The bill will also require California drivers to decide whether they want to be organ donors when they...
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iPhone/iPod/iPad apps for April 20
Posted by Dennis SellersHere are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store.
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Macsimum Recommended Reading' for April 20
Posted by Dennis Sellers“Mac & the iPad, history repeats itself: For those of us around Apple for the launch of the 1984 Mac, things are awfully familiar.”—Ask TOG (http://macosg.me/2/5i)
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Prosoft releases Drive Genius 3
Posted by Dennis SellersProsoft Engineering has announced Drive Genius 3. Improvements have been madeto speed and overall performance as well as new features like DrivePulse,Enhanced Defrag, RAID Support,Enhanced Repartition and Email Notifications,says Greg Brewer, CEO of Prosoft Engineering.
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Presented By:
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Remo Software's Mac recovery line released
Posted by Dennis SellersRemo Software has announced a series of data recovery software tools for the Mac. Remo Recover (Mac) is an exclusively designed application with all-round poise of simplified recovery tasks and sophisticated recovery technology, according to the company.
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Macworld’s Live Coverage of Apple’s Q2 2010 Financial Call
Starts at 5pm EDT. My money says Steve Jobs is not on the call, and Apple will have nothing more than “no comment” to say regarding the much-publicized stolen iPhone 4G. But, we can hope. ★
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iPhonegate: Lost, Stolen Or A Conspiracy?
Readers and technology blogs have questioned whether an iPhone found in a California bar was stolen or lost, or whether its discovery was a marketing ploy by Apple.
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iPad killer apps: The TUAW consensus
Filed under: iPadKiller apps define a platform. They spark the insight as to why a particular device is right for you, allowing you to make the connection between its purchase and how it will work in your life. Here at TUAW, we decided to brainstorm through the iPad apps that we've used, and to focus in on what we consider to be the iPad's killer items. These are items that really bring the iPad to life, highlighting it as a device and showcasing its features beyond what you could normally get on an iPhone, iPod touch, or even on a competitively priced netbook. Here are our choices for those special stand-out apps. TUAWiPad killer apps: The TUAW consensus originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - IPad - Apple - IpodTouch
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iPhone Dev Sessions: Making a Splash Screen
All too often an iPhone application’s launch sequence is an overlooked detail. The most common approach is to misuse the provided Default.png file as a splash screen. As it turns out, this detailing of an application is more than a little challenging if you want to get it right and stay within Apple’s guidelines. The key to a smooth and professional looking launch sequence starts with knowing exactly where the application will land at startup. Some applications start at exactly the same place each and every successive launch, others attempt to preserve the application's state and launch into the screen where the user last used the application. Keeping this in mind can change the strategy of how the launch sequence is implemented. This includes screen orientation as well as how and even if the status bar it to be displayed. One may witness flickering of the status bar from blue, to black or from black to blue during the launch sequence. This is mainly due to the fact that there are two places to change the behavior of the status bar. One is hidden in the info.plist file, and the other is typically via code in the Application Delegate’s applicationDidFinishLaunching method. The info.plist configuration is used before the main window is loaded, and the code in the Application Delegate is used during the launching of the main window. The reason one may want to utilize both styles is to take advantage of a full screen splash page, and then enable the appropriate looking status bar once the application has finished loading. For the purpose of this example application, we will assume that the user state is preserved between executions, and we do not know exactly what the screen will look like when the user enters the application. We will therefore be implementing a full-screen splash view that will have the status bar hidden during the launch sequence. Once the splash view has disappeared, a black opaque status bar will be utilized throughout the application. It is also assumed that the application will launch in portrait mode, and that the first screen the user will see will also be in portrait mode. Editing the Configuration File The first order of business is to take care of the status bar. In Xcode, locate the info.plist file for the project. To add an additional property to the plist file, simply select one of the entries and click on the plus tab that appears to the right and select Status Bar Style from the drop down list: Edit Projects plist File There are only three different styles to choose from. Try each style out to see which one fits the needs of the application being developed. For this example we will set the style to UIStatusBarStyleDefault. UIStatusBarStyles: UIStatusBarStyleDefault — Gray (the default) UIStatusBarStyleBlackTranslucent — Transparent black (specifically, black with an alpha of 0.5) UIStatusBarStyleBlackOpaque — Opaque black If on the other hand the desire is to hide the status bar when the application launches, then yet another property needs to be set. In this case, add the “Status Bar is initially hidden” property to the plist file and be sure to check the box next to the property. Editing the Application Delegate code So now that the status bar style is set, and initially hidden, how does one get the status bar to display again? You can actually turn the status bar on and off programmatically via code. This is particularly handy when the need arises to display a full screen view, such as the splash screen this application is utilizing. In the applicationDidFinishLaunching method of the Application’s designated AppDelegate class, add the following line of code to make the status bar visible again: - (void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(UIApplication *)application { // Override point for customization after app launch [window addSubview:viewController.view]; [window makeKeyAndVisible]; [[UIApplication sharedApplication] setStatusBarHidden:NO animated:YES]; } Adding a Default.png Image Surprisingly, the size of this file is not as important as the naming convention of the file. Default.png is a case sensitive PNG file. The image should be 480320 according to Apple. Following Apple’s conventions, this image should look like the view that the user will see when the application has launched, and not the actual splash screen. Xcode provides a mechanism to create a Default.png file from an attached device running the application. From the Organizer window, select the device, click on screenshots and click capture. To make that screenshot your application’s default image, click Save As Default Image. Even though the image that is created includes the status bar as it looked when the screen shot was captured, the iPhone OS replaces it with the current status bar when your application launches. Just to be clear, this is not a splash screen…not yet. Long Launch Sequences to Varying Views So far, this is what most applications will implement if they implement any sort of controlled visual experience when the application launches. If you follow Apple’s guidelines, and the image you produce is the first screen that the user will see, all is good. Except, what if the launch sequence is not as fast as the user expects? What if the application preserves state and lands on a different view based on the users last know state? Then this technique is not up to the task. Photoshop a branded image representing the application and save it as a PNG image sized at 480320. Do not include a status bar of any kind in the image file being created. Add this image file to the project. Now the application sort of has a splash screen, through a misused implementation of the Default.png file. To correct this, simply add an image view as a property to the App Delegates header and create it as follows: splashView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, 320, 480)]; splashView.image = [UIImage imageNamed:@"Default.png"]; [window addSubview:splashView]; [window bringSubviewToFront:splashView]; At this point, the image view is utilizing the exact same image file that was created in Photoshop. There's no chance of the initial view being different than the Default.png file at this point. The one remaining problem is the timing of when to remove the image view from the subview. This can be handled in one of two ways… Controlling the Duration of the Splash Screen The first option is for those with quick startup times that just want a splash screen. In this situation, create a method to remove and release the splash view, then calling that method via a timed perform selector call as follows: [self performSelector:@selector(removeSplash) withObject:nil afterDelay:1.5]; The removeSplash method does just that, removes the image view from the subview and releases the object. -(void)removeSplash; { [splashView removeFromSuperview]; [splashView release]; } The second method uses the same remove splash method, but relies on the built in event management to trigger when the method gets called. [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(saveClaim:) name:@"RemoveSplashScreen" object:nil]; Now all that needs to be done is to post the notification from anywhere. This technique is particularly useful if the reason that the launch sequence is taking a long time has nothing to do with code that was implemented in the App Delegate. [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] postNotificationName: @"RemoveSplashScreen" object: nil]; This technique can be employed from anywhere within the application. Removing the observer after the fact may avoid crashes if there is an opportunity for this notification to be fired multiple times. Releasing an object when no object it there to be released can lead to troublesome crashes to track down. The quick and dirty is to use the delay on the performSelector call. Conclusion And there it is, a splash screen that conforms to Apple’s guidelines. No hidden APIs, no hacks, no special sauce. A simple, straight forward approach to making the initial interaction with the user as pleasant as possible. References: iPhone OS Reference Library UIApplication Class Reference UIStatusBarStyle iPhone OS Reference Library iPhone Development Guide Capturing Screen Shots Mac OS X Reference Library Threading Programming Guide Cocoa Perform Selector Sources Mac OS X Reference Library NSNotificationsCenter Class Reference
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Apple iPad suppliers rise on sales hopes
A handful of companies that make parts for the iPad got a slight lift Tuesday ahead of Apple, Inc.’s quarterly results on the hopes that the company may say more about the success of the touchscreen computer.
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iPhone OS 4.0 beta 2 hits the scene
That's right: a little under two weeks since the launch event and the release of the first beta, Apple has pushed out beta 2 of its next-gen iPhone OS 4.0. Considering that our units have seemingly gotten buggier over time the longer they've had beta 1 loaded, we've got high hopes for this one -- hopes that stand a very real chance of being crushed, of course, as long as this isn't a gold build. Guess we're still months off from that, huh? Stay tuned for a report of anything that's changed, new, awesome, or lame. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]iPhone OS 4.0 beta 2 hits the scene originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Apple |Email this|Comments
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Mark Fiore’s NewsToons App Now in App Store
Remember when this was the hot Apple news? ★
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iPhone OS 4.0 SDK Beta 2 available for download
Filed under: DeveloperGood news on the iPhone OS 4.0 SDK front. Apple has just posted a brand new beta, ready for you to download. The new beta comes complete with firmware for each of the supported devices (namely the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 3G, and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch). As usual, the details of this release remain behind the NDA wall, so you'll need to scoot on over and check them out yourself. Apple will be releasing 4.0 into the general iPhone population this summer. An iPad version will debut in the fall. The servers typically get slammed whenever a new SDK is released, so you may want to wait a few hours if you encounter any problems connecting to the developer site. Good luck and happy developing! Update: Minor bug in the OS 4.0 beta 2 firmware discovered. Workaround: Take screen shots via Xcode.TUAWiPhone OS 4.0 SDK Beta 2 available for download originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments IPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - iPhone 3G - IPad
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Chaos Rings and Sonic 2 out, Square Enix games on sale
Filed under: Gaming Square Enix has released their Chaos Rings game that we heard about a while ago. At US$13.99, it's one of the most expensive iPhone (not iPad -- yet) games you'll find, but the reviews are terrific so far. The game appears to be a classic Square Enix title, complete with great graphics, a deep storyline and a tight battle system. I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet, but it definitely looks intriguing, and if the game matches up to the hype, we could have a new bar set on Apple's handheld platform. To celebrate, Square Enix is putting all of their other games on sale, including dropping Final Fantasy 1 and 2 down to $7 each. If you've been waiting to pick up one of their other titles, now's your chance, and maybe you can add the money you save into the price of the new game. And finally, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is now out from Sega for the iPhone. Unfortunately, the game uses the same Sega emulator as all of their other games, so it's not exactly glitch-free or polished gameplay. Still, it's playable, and it's definitely the second Sonic game, recreated on the smaller screen. You can pick it up for $5.99.TUAWChaos Rings and Sonic 2 out, Square Enix games on sale originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Square Enix - iPhone - Final Fantasy - Game - Video game
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Gizmodo: Lost next-gen iPhone returned to Apple
Watching Apple's every move is a spectator sport. And the spectators have been agog this week over reports that tech blog Gizmodo ...
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Has Gizmodo Broken the Law With Its iPhone Story?
Ian Betteridge has an excellent post examining the legal implications of the stolen next-gen iPhone affair, including citations from the relevant sections of the California code. Betteridge concludes that Apple will not press charges. That’s certainly the question right now. ★
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Pulitzer winner's editorial-cartoon app approved
Though Mark Fiore's app was rejected from the App Store for being overly political in December, once Steve Jobs called its rejection a mistake, it took less than a week to get it approved.
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First Looks: Harman/Kardon Go + Play Micro Portable Hi-Fi Speaker for iPod/iPhone
As the latest speaker from JBL and Harman/Kardon, Go + Play Micro ($300) shares a lot in common visually with its 2007 predecessor Go + Play: this vaguely alien boombox still uses a huge brushed metal handle to let you carry five total drivers -- now two sets of two small front-firing drivers and one down-firing bass driver -- in an 18.5"-wide, 8.5"-deep matte black plastic and metal-accented enclosure. New to Go + Play Micro is full iPhone support,…
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Thieves steal iPad, finger
Filed under: iPad Ugh, this is a grisly one -- Bill Jordan picked up an iPad for someone else the other day from an Apple Store in a Colorado mall near him, and as he walked away, some thieves grabbed his bag away so quickly that it took part of his finger off. Scary stuff -- apparently two young men followed him out of the store down to the parking garage, jumped him and grabbed the bag. There was a scuffle which Jordan's pinky finger didn't survive. After rushing off to a hospital, he was told part of the finger had to come off. We've heard of thieves targeting Apple Store customers before, and especially since the iPad is such a hot commodity, those bags can unfortunately make a big target. Be careful out there. Two videos (both in Flash, unfortunately -- sorry about that) on the robbery after the link below. [via Engadget]TUAWThieves steal iPad, finger originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments IPad - Apple Store - Apple - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Jordan
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Pioneer shows off iPhone remote controllable Blu-ray players
The "works with iPhone" stamp has taken a whole new meaning for Pioneer as it's just added two new Blu-ray players due in May featuring iControlAVR app support baked in. You won't be taking advantage of the VSX-1020's (VSA-1020 in Japan) 3D compatibility with the BDP-330 or higher end BDP-LX53, but owners will enjoy return of last year's well-received Precision Quartz Lock System with the addition of YouTube streaming and RSS feeds. Taking advantage of the Apple tie-ins will require hooking up to the network and a WiFi dongle is extra, check out the screens from the remote app after the break and decide on your own if physical buttons (or only being able to bring a touch interface to certain discs) was just too much of a hassle.Continue reading Pioneer shows off iPhone remote controllable Blu-ray playersPioneer shows off iPhone remote controllable Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AV Watch |Email this|Comments
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News: Apple releases iPhone OS SDK 4 beta 2
Apple has released the second beta version of the iPhone OS 4 Software Development Kit for the iPhone and iPod touch. As with the prior beta release, a main Xcode and SDK beta is available for download, as are pre-release builds of the iPhone OS 4 software for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as the second- and third-generation iPod touch. Both the new SDK and pre-release builds are available now for download by registered iPhone developers from the…
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Bill Gates on college tour's first day
In an interview with CNET, the philanthropist and Microsoft chairman reflects on the Bay Area leg of his three-state college tour.
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News: Sena Cases rolls out four cases for iPad
Sena Cases has introduced a quartet of new cases for the Apple iPad. The Executive Sleeve is a pouch-style case featuring a leather exterior, a padded protective middle layer, accent stitching, velvet inner lining and a top flap with magnetic closure. It sells for $80, as does the Folio, a vertical flip-open case offering the ability to use the iPad while in the case, a leather exterior, an integrated stand, cut-outs for access to ports and controls,…
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Princeton Identifies Issue with iPad Wi-Fi Connectivity
There's a lot of "stuff" that we here at Mac|Life like to call "things" going on behind the scene to make your iPad, Mac and other web-enabled devices connect to the interwebs. As we're sure you're aware, sometimes that stuff and those things don't work the way they should. According to AppleInsider, Princeton University has identified a breakdown in the typical operation of stuff and things: A software glitch in the iPad is causing the tablet to continue to use a network-assigned IP address after its lease has expired. Under normal circumstances, an iPad connecting to a given network, let's say Princeton University's wireless network in this case, is supposed to renew it's lease after a given period of time. A failure to renew this lease can cause other devices on your network to have difficulties in connecting to the internet. This failure to renew an IP address can also lead to your iPad not being able to connect to the internet. It's a recipe for frustration.Princeton believes that the issue is the result of a glitch in Apple's iPad/iPhone OS 3.2, and has alerted iPad users attempting to connect to the university's wireless network with the following message:"Until a fix is provided by Apple, [Princeton UNiversity IT Services] recommends that iPad owners use the Workaround for 'iPad/iPhone OS 3.2 Stops Renewing DHCP Lease, Keeps Using IP Address' Issue. That temporary workaround may prevent the iPad from malfunctioning in this manner. iPad devices that continue to malfunction while connected to the campus network may need to be blocked to maintain the stability and reliability of campus network services."With iPads continuing to fly off the shelves at an alarming rate, an Apple-branded fix for this issue will no doubt be made available in the very near future.
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Earnings Preview: Apple
Apple (AAPL) is expected to report Q2 earnings after the market close on Tuesday, April 20, with a conference call scheduled for 5 pm ET. GuidanceThe consensus estimate is $2.45 for EPS and $12.04B for revenue, according to First Call. During the Q1 earnings call management provided robust Q2 guidance. Revenue is expected between $11.0B-$11.4B. Gross margin is expected to be about 39%. Operating expenses are expected at approximately $1.46B, while other income and expenses are seen at about $30M. The tax rate is anticipated to be about 29%. Earnings are expected in the range of $2.06-$2.18, boosted by the new accounting principles. Keep in mind the company has a history of conservatism when providing guidance. Apple has reported positive earnings surprises in each of the last four quarters. iPhone is expected to be the strongest growth driver for Apple. The Q2 results will not include iPad sales as the device did not launch until after the period officially ended.
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Do Apple's Earnings Even Matter?
I always marvel at the quarterly earnings at Apple Corporation (AAPL). Not necessarily because of the impressive fundamentals, but because of the game being played. Corporate earnings are a game. The best managements know how the game works and they play the analysts for fools by consistently managing expectations. No one does this better than Apple. Every quarter they beat and every quarter they sandbag earnings. Like clockwork, the analysts peg their estimates near Apple's “projections”. And Apple blows them out of the water. This quarter should be no different. But today, I was particularly intrigued to see CNN's list of quarterly estimates. They are broken down by analyst, but also show a few “unaffiliated” estimates. What's interesting to note here is how much higher the “unaffiliated” estimates are. The average “unaffiliated” estimate calls for revenues of $12.6B while the consensus analyst estimate is for just $12.15B – a full $450MM difference. The average “unaffiliated” EPS estimate is for $2.75 while the consensus Wall Street estimate is for $2.48 – a full $0.27 difference. We're not talking about a small difference here. This is night and day. It makes me wonder just how these two parties could both be considered reasonable sources, yet so far apart in terms of their estimates?
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Analyst: Apple Could Be Weighing AMD Acquisition
Rumors are flying once again that Apple may drop Intel for AMD to supply the maker of personal computers with microprocessors, but hardly anyone is talking. The latest round of speculation follows a report that AMD representatives have been spotted several times exiting meetings with Apple's top brass. The meetings reportedly included AMD briefings that spurred work in Apple labs that may lead to placement of the chips inside some upcoming products.
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How will Apple punish Gizmodo?
In case you've just awoken from a coma, an Apple engineer lost a prototype iPhone a full two-months before it was even rumored to ship. Gizmodo purchased and photographed it to the squeals of joy from 15,000,000 eager visitors to its site. Apple asked for it back, and Giz complied. Now that the castaway iPhone was returned to its rightful owner what will Apple do to punish Gizmodo for exposing its nubile new handset to the world? I'll take a shot: Apple legal will subpoena Gizmodo's ISP request all of its email for three years so that it can find the leak. (No wait, Apple did that to me.) Invitations to the next special event? Forget about it. Actually Giz is invited to the next press event but they have to sit in the Leper section (yes, there is Leper section) “We're sorry Mr. Lam, but your AppleCare appears to be expired” They finally installed those laser eye beams that Steve's been requesting during his liver transplant and he plans to beta test them on Brian Lam's forehead. A side effect of Steve's extensive physical therapy is that he can now throw tanks like Spiderman — and he's coming to New York. “There's a package from Apple on our doorstep, and it's on FIRE! Quick, someone stamp it out!” Suddenly the GPS chips in the Gizmodo iPhones stop asking for permission to “use your current location.” All the Gizmodo MobileMe accounts now sync their contacts, calendars and email to a “special” server in Cupertino. Two words: sudden crashes. “Unfortunately your iPad 3G order has been delayed until 2012.” No more free meals at Cafe Mac. Seriously though, can Apple really retaliate against a large media entity like Gizmodo? Isn't the golden rule not to piss off the people that are reviewing your gear? So I ask you fair reader, what would Steve do? Photo: Wired
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Article: iPhone + iPad Gems: Edutainment - Baby Einstein, Fish School, The Lorax + Seuss Send
Welcome to this week's first edition of iPhone and iPad Gems. This edition looks at five new edutainment titles for the iPad and iPhone from established, high-quality developers: Duck Duck Moose previously released wonderful singalong apps for songs such as The Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald, Disney has developed innumerable pieces of educational software, and Oceanhouse Media has published iPad and iPhone-ready books based on Dr. Seuss's…
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Apple: We want our device back
Filed under: iPhoneApple's Senior VP and General Counsel Bruce Sewell sent a letter to Gizmodo's Editorial Director Brian Lam requesting that their mystery iPhone be returned. From the letter: "It has come to our attention that GIZMODO is currently in possession of of a device that belongs to Apple. This letter constitutes a formal request that you return the device to Apple. Please let me know where to pick up the unit." Brian then posted GIZMODO's reply for all to see: "Bruce, thanks. Here's Jason Chen, who has the iPhone. And here's his address. You two should coordinate a time. [Blah Blah Blah Address] Happy to have you pick this thing up. Was burning a hole in our pockets. Just so you know, we didn't know this was stolen [as they might have claimed. meaning, real and truly from Apple. It was found, and to be of unproven origin] when we bought it. Now that we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's, I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner. P.S. I hope you take it easy on the kid who lost it. I don't think he loves anything more than Apple." It's the flippant, disrespectful (using "Bruce," not "Mr. Sewell," the "burning a hole in our pockets" line and calling the unfortunate late-20s employee who lost the phone "the kid") tone that permeates this letter -- and, indeed, their handling of the entire ordeal -- that irks me. Also, there's no conceivable way they can claim that they didn't know it was Apple's property, "found" or not. We don't know how this story will end, but Giz's adolescent, "Whoops-a-daisy" mockery won't win them any new fans. Enjoy those "warm, fuzzy, huggy feelings of legal compliance."TUAWApple: We want our device back originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - iPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - iPhone 3G - General counsel
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After Hours: Apple, Yahoo, Juniper results due in late session
Results from Apple and Yahoo are among those due in the evening as the pace of earnings seasons ramps up.
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Native Instruments releases Maschine 1.5
Posted by Dennis SellersNative Instruments has released Maschine 1.5, a free update of its computer-based music production system. The upgrade has more classic drum machine features, improved host integration, new sampling functions, an extended sound library, and a more efficient workflow.
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Super Talent introduces value SSD product line
Posted by Dennis SellersSuper Talent has announced a new value solid state drive (SSD) product line dubbed Super Talent VSSD. The company says it offers shorter OS bootup time, faster application loading and less system power consumption.
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Field Agent for iPhone pays you to do chores
New iPhone app promises to pay you a few bucks here and there to fill out surveys, take photos, and do various other bits of legwork.
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New Renderworks tutorial available from Daniel Jansenson
Posted by Dennis SellersNemetschek North America has announced the publication of a new training guide for users of Vectorworks software. Architect, author and experienced Vectorworks user Daniel Jansenson wrote the guide, “Remarkable Renderworks,” to help users gain proficiency in the rendering tool designed to work with Vectorworks software.
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Your Macsimum Podcast for April 20th
Posted by Frank PetrieToday on Your Macsimum Podcast: “REVIEW: Bento for iPad,” “Move over, kid,” “If The Suit Fits…” and ”...Story 4.”
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BlackBerry OS 6.0 screenshots and details leak out
The leaks, they keep coming. Boy Genius has some new images and details on BlackBerry OS 6.0 today, and while we've got our fair share of questions, there's no denying that what we're seeing looks like a substantial and much-needed improvement to the platform. First off, it appears that RIM's acquisition of Torch Mobile has paid off with a totally new WebKit-based browser, complete with tab switching, redesigned favorites, and pinch-to-zoom. About time, we'd say. Pinch-to-zoom and multitouch are also said said to be present system-wide, along with kinetic scrolling, and long-pressing on the screen brings up a new modal context menu. That's definitely intriguing. The media player, photo viewer, and messaging apps have all also been re-done, and we're told the new inbox offers Facebook, Twitter, and RSS integration. The best part? BGR says this is all due out in June / July, "100%." Now, here's the interesting parts. First, it's obvious that this system is made for and demoed on a touchscreen device, yet BGR says it was being shown of by an "AT&T connect." That suggests Ol' Blue is about to get a touchscreen BlackBerry of its own to counter Verizon's Storm sometime soon -- perhaps that leaked slider? We can't say for sure. What we can say for sure is that this is the third set of 6.0 leaks we've seen that have content about San Francisco and the earthquake in Haiti displayed on the screen -- and while RIM has said the previous two leaks were just mockups, it's more than a little odd that SF / Haiti has become a theme here. What does it all mean? We may never know, but whatever -- just hit us with that new browser and we'll stop asking questions.BlackBerry OS 6.0 screenshots and details leak out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BGR |Email this|Comments
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Do Friends Call You "Colorful"? Enter this Month's Contest!
Color-Crazy ChallengeAs promised in our “Modernism Meets Its Mac” story (March 2010 issue), this month we’re giving away a Pantone Flight Stool--literally ripped off the wall from the Barneys store in Manhattan! The contest challenge is simple: Show us your most vibrant, vivid, and harmonious use of color. Whether you send us a photo, illustration, or video, your submission must be original. Our editors will vote on the best entries and award the winner a trio of prizes from Pantone.Win! New Pantone Flight Stools list for $549, but we’ll refrain from pricing our Barneys wall model! Our winner will also receive a Color Cue 2.1 color-capture device ($249) and Color Bridge fan deck ($119).Include your full name, email and mailing addresses, and phone number with your entry. Send us your entry as an email attachment (under 5MB!) to contest@maclife.com with the subject line “Color-Crazy Challenge.” Deadline for entry: April 30, 2010. Contest results will appear in the Jul/10 issue.
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News: Princeton identifies iPad networking issue
Princeton University has published a document outlining the iPad's wireless networking issue that has led the school to block several of the devices from its network. According to the document, the iPad sometimes fails to release its IP address within the time allotted by the school's Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, posing a potential problem for other devices that are assigned the same IP address by the server once…
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Steve Jobs: If you want porn, get an Android
In a reported reply to a customer, the Apple CEO says his company feels a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone.
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Verbatim Tough-'N'-Tiny USB Drive
It wasn’t that long ago that we burned files onto CD-Rs and were amazed by their gargantuan 702MB of storage. But even they seem antiquated now--we routinely carry around several gigabytes of data in our pockets on USB flash drives. Verbatim’s new line of Tough–’n’-Tiny drives takes flash drives to the next level of shrunkeness, reducing them to a speck of plastic and embedded electronics that seems barely big enough to fit into a USB port.Shown here at actual size (next to a quarter for perspective), Verbatim's tiny flash drive fits in even the most cramped USB ports.At 1.19x0.5x0.06 inches, the Tough-’n’-Tiny is hardly bigger than small piece of chewing gum. Verbatim includes a lanyard for attaching the drive to your key ring, cell phone, or some other object that’s less likely to be lost. Which is a good thing--since it is so small, it’s very easy to misplace the tiny drive. We keep files scattered across several flash drives and portable hard drives, but the Tough-’n’-Tiny is the first one we worried about losing. If the worst does come to pass, Verbatim includes a Windows-only app for securing your data with a password, but Mac users can roll their own solution by creating an encrypted disk image with Disk Utility on their Mac.Functionally, the drive works exactly as you’d expect. Pop it into a USB port, and it mounts in Finder, where you can copy over files to take with you. Verbatim makes the Tough-’n’-Tiny in three color/capacity versions. The orange version holds 2GB, while green and purple ones hold 4 and 8GB, respectively. Once we figured out the correct orientation, we had no problems using the Tough-’n’-Tiny in a variety of Macs and USB hubs. Verbatim says the drive is “resistant to everyday encounters” with water and dirt, and it worked just fine after we dropped it into a glass of water in the name of science.
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Sonic 2 Available for Download in the App Store
If you're looking for a great excuse to delve into the heady waters of procrastination today, we suggest that you kick it old school by downloading Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog 2. You'll be in good company, as several members of the Mac|Life staff are already tapping and swiping away at the app (just don't tell the boss).A direct port of the Sega Genesis platform classic, Sonic 2 is just the thing to scratch that classic gaming itch for those that understand that better graphics don't always make for a better game. The game can be played at it's native resolution, making for a smaller gaming experience on an already small iPhone screen, or it can be embiggened and forced to take full advantage of all of your smartphone's screen real estate. Always on top of all things pew-pew, TouchArcade warns that Sonic 2 is best enjoyed on an iPhone 3GS, stating that they noticed significant frame rate drops and general performance hits on older hardware. The game is available in the App store as we speak--Go! Play!
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Earnings Preview: All Eyes on the Future at Apple
Apple (AAPL) reports earnings this afternoon.Most signs point to another strong quarter -- not a blowout, but a good one -- with Apple's iPhone and Mac leading the way. As usual, investors will focus as much on Apple's June quarter guidance as its March quarter results.
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Questions about iPhone video conferencing
Now that we know for certain that the upcoming iPhone has a front-facing camera there are a number of questions that it raises. (My guesses in parenthesis). Does the inclusion of the front camera mean that Apple will finally unveil a native iChat application for the iPhone? (Why yes. Yes it does.) Will it include video conferencing? (Of course, but only on the iPhone HD.) Will third-party VOIP apps (like Skype, Fring, iCall, Line2, etc.) also be allowed to stream video? (Probably, but it might take a while for their updated apps to get approved.) How will AT&T/Verizon handle the billing? (By charging a lot, that's how.) Will video conferencing be included in the unlimited (*cough* 5GB) data plan? (You're kidding, right?!) Will the crush of video data bring the creaky AT&T network to its knees? (Yes. Yes it will) How will the Verizon network prevail? (It will prevail) Photo: Gizmodo How would you answer the above questions?
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The iPhone 4 Is Real: Anyone Buying the “Drunk Engineer” Story?
By now, many of you will probably already know that Gizmodo actually got their hands on that iPhone prototype they've been reporting so heavily on, by paying $5,000 to someone who found the phone at a bar near Apple headquarters. You may also know that Apple has asked for its return, which Gizmodo (and many others, myself included) are taking as evidence confirming that it is indeed the next iPhone. The story of how it was lost reads like something out of a movie in the Gizmodo account, even though many of us drunkenly lose our phones everyday and it obviously isn't that dramatic of an experience. Then again, we aren't losing the prototype of a highly coveted device built by an incredibly secretive company. Which brings me to my next point. Is anyone buying that this guy (Gary Powell, an iPhone engineer working on the Baseband technology) actually just got drunk and forgot the thing on his bar stool? I'm not an engineer working for Apple, and my phone is just a widely available 3GS and not the yet-to-be-released iPhone 4 or whatever it'll be called, but that phone is also the last thing I'm likely to misplace. I'd sooner lose my wallet or my keys, in fact. But if it's a plant, why go to such lengths to engineer a simple leak? I think it may be as simple as the ante-upping nature of Apple's hype machine. After the year or more lead up to the iPad's unveiling, including photographic and video leaks, first-hand accounts from all kinds of sources, and the will-they or won't-they ballet that went on for months and months, building a good head of buzz up around the next iPhone in the time remaining would be rather challenging using Apple's conventional tactics. Many eyes are stuck firmly on the iPad and what's next for it, and won't be distracted by the usual grainy photographs. More on iPhone iPhone OS: Where the Delete KeyBelongs Mac Love iPhone 4G Rumor Mill Heats Up With Photos,Corroboration Mac Love Opera Mini on the iPhone: Nice Toy, Could it Ever BeMore? Mac Love Apple's Time MysterySolved Mac Love A hands-on exclusive that conveniently makes its way to one of the most prominent and widely-read tech blogs operating on the web today is definitely one way to wrest the spotlight away from the iPad and back onto the iPhone, where Apple needs consumer attention to be come June. It may seem elaborate, but when you consider the cost of such a plan versus a widespread marketing campaign, and that Apple's secretive-chocolate-factory reputation remains intact, it starts to seem very reasonable indeed. Whatever the case, it looks like we know what the next iPhone will have in store. Here's a quick rundown of the highlights in case you missed them: Front-facing camera (almost certainly for video chat) Separate volume buttons Micro-SIM (like the iPad) Better back camera and camera flash Aluminum border with metallic buttons Optical glass or ceramic back for improved signal reception Slightly smaller, higher resolution screen Secondary mic for noise cancellation 16 percent larger battery Gizmodo tore the phone down, too, and found out that the internals are all Apple production parts, which makes it incredibly unlikely that this isn't the real thing. It remains to be seen whether or not the final production units that ship this summer will look exactly like this, but I think it's safe to say we'll see something pretty darn close. The best part of the new design in my opinion? Not the industrial styling that brings it more in line with the current iMac and MacBook offerings, though that's pretty awesome. No, it's all the phone-oriented improvements Apple seems to be making. I'd never trade my iPhone in for anything, but I have to say that it hasn't been the greatest cell phone I've ever had, in terms of strict telecommunications functions. The new back for improved signal transmission, the second, noise-canceling mic, the larger battery and the front facing camera all point to this being the best iPhone yet for actual real-time communication, which is definitely something worth getting excited about.
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Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens
Our colleagues at Engadget Chinese are on the ground at China Sourcing Fair 2010 in Hong Kong, and as you can imagine, they're finding a great many devices that exhibit "a really heavy cottage flavor" (or, as we say in the states, "really, really KIRFy"). The BestPower X200, which we first saw in an FCC filing in February, doesn't borrow its form factor from any current iPhone iteration -- oh, no, that would be too simple. This one looks back five years or so, when "iPod phones" were little more than a beautiful fanboy's dream. And if you are a time traveler from back in the day, when Lost was in its first season (and was almost enjoyable), this thing will surely inspire some gadget lust: dual SIM cards, quad-band GSM, 2.4-inch (1.3 million pixel) display, Bluetooth, FM Radio, MiniUSB, MicroSD, and a media player -- what's not to love? And all this can be yours this August for a mere $1,500 HKD (that's about $193 US dollars). Video after the break. Gallery: Keepin' it real fake: BestPower X200Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreensKeepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Engadget Chinese |Email this|Comments
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Marco Arment’s iPhone OS Font Test Page
Back in 2007 I put together a test page to see which fonts were included in the original iPhone OS. It’s fallen out of date. Marco Arment has made a new version, and it’s a bit more cleverly coded, in that unsupported fonts all show up rendered in Marker Felt, making them easy to discern. The bad news: the swell new fonts Apple has included in the iPad’s OS (like Baskerville, Futura, Gill Sans, and Hoefler Text) are not included in the iPhone OS 4.0 beta 1. And in both OSes, they’re still including the anemic Courier New but not good sturdy Courier. And don’t get me started on including Arial when Helvetica is right there. ★
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What's up, dock? Henge ships low-cost MacBook docks
Filed under: Accessories, MacBookI've often heard an excuse from people who refuse to even consider a MacBook or MacBook Pro when they're in the market for a laptop. The story goes like this -- "I have this really cool Dell / Lenovo / Sony / Asus computer and when I get home, I can just pop it into my dock to hook up all the cables!" While docks have been available for Apple laptops, they're usually pretty pricey and not very well marketed. That's all about to change. A newcomer on the scene, Henge Docks, is creating a full line of MacBook docs that are just starting to ship. The first models to receive the docking goodness are the 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro (aluminum unibody), and the rest of the Apple laptop line is available for pre-order. The docks take advantage of Apple's current design trend to put most ports on one side of the MacBook line. Your MacBook fits vertically in the dock, and any cables attach to the dock -- not to your MacBook. In many cases, cables are supplied by Henge, but other wiring (the MagSafe power cable, for example) has to be suppled by the buyer. As I mentioned, the pricing on these docks is great. For the 13" aluminum unibody MacBook, the dock is only $59.95, while the 13" MacBook Pro dock sells for $64.95. Henge is sending us a review model to take a look at, and we plan on giving one or more docks away to lucky readers in the near future.TUAWWhat's up, dock? Henge ships low-cost MacBook docks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - MacbookPro - MacBook - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Laptop
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Thieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at it
We'll be honest with you -- it literally pains us to write this. If you're the queasy type, we'd probably suggest scrolling on down and continuing about your day. For the hardcore still with us, the story goes a little something like this: a Denver-area man headed out to his local Apple store to pick up an iPad for a colleague (read: not even for himself), and in an interview, he admits to not even really understanding the fascination with Apple's new product. After doing his good deed and plopping down the plastic, he casually curled the strings atop the Apple bag around his hand as he headed for the exits. Unfortunately, a pair of thugs met him along the way, yanking the bag, the iPad and all of the flesh surrounding his pinky finger as they bolted for a getaway. Currently, police are investigating surveillance footage in hopes of tracking down the crooks who pulled off the stunt... and, uh, a bit more than they likely bargained for. Video after the break if you've still got the stomach. [Thanks, Chris]Continue reading Thieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at itThieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CBS 4 Denver |Email this|Comments
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Review: Bananagrams is addicting without the clicking
Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App ReviewPerhaps you've seen them, in Word Wars or another Scrabble movie; people who are a wee bit obsessive about their word games. For the iPhone-carrying among them, there is the official Scrabble app or Words With Friends. For people who like a little more variety in their word game apps, there are a hundred other options. Today, we look at one of the better ones, Bananagrams [$.99], which is quickly developing a fanatic player base similar to the Scrabble fans. In bookstores, libraries, and cafes around the world, people are playing Bananagrams face to face. There is also an online version through Facebook. While Bananagrams shares a lot of gameplay with Scrabble, it's really much more similar to a less famous game called Pick Two!, which was released in 1993, and to the homebrew game of Speed Scrabble. Since Bananagrams hit it big a few years ago, Parker Brothers has responded with the Scrabble Apple, and the Bananagrams company also released Pairs in Pears. There was also an official Bananagrams tie-in book. As we said, there are a lot of word game freaks fans who like to build crosswords competitively. If you're interested in ways to play a quick game like this on the iPhone, read on to see what all the fuss is about. Gallery: BananagramsTUAWReview: Bananagrams is addicting without the clicking originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - Scrabble - Bananagrams - Facebook - Apple
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iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Available for Pre-Order Pickup April 30
Ok so bear with me, as this gets a bit confusing. Apple has announced that the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G is coming to the US on April 30 for pre-order customers, and everyone else can buy it at 5 p.m. same day. But the picture above is directly from the Apple store, showing the same model shipping on May 7. Weird, right? This is good news for those of you who have been waiting in the wings, but it's been a few weeks now with the iPad live in the streets, and with plenty of people with time to make a review. So are there going to be big lines for the 3G model? Do people really want to step up now, or have they already played with the device and decided it's not for them? My guess at the moment is that there will be lots of 3G models sold, but not as many in the first week as there were traditional iPads. Of course, I will say that I'm probably wrong, but it's worth throwing it out there.
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News: Apple posts two new iPhone 3GS TV ads
Apple has posted two new iPhone 3GS TV advertisements online. Both new spots continue Apple’s recent trend of iPhone advertisements that are more testimonial in nature, while featuring a single iPhone using a variety of apps in front of a white background. “Dog Lover” features a female narrator talking about searching local dog shelters to find a new pet, taking and sharing photos, finding nearby dog parks, and checking a monitor video…
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iPad 3G: Available April 30 in the USA
Filed under: iPad Apple today announced retail availability of the iPad 3G -- which also features Wi-Fi, of course -- for Friday, April 30th at 5:00 pm. The Loop reports those who pre-ordered the 3G version of the iPad should start receiving shipments that day same day. The iPad 3G includes a US$130 premium over the standard Wi-Fi-only iPad, but that provides the luxury of joining AT&T's data network on an at-will basis. Rather than being locked to a 2-year contract, iPad 3G can purchase a month of data at a time. Two plans are available: 250MB will run you $15 and the unlimited plan will set you back a cool $30. While resident iMac-fiend Steve Sande didn't wait for the iPad 3G, I did and I'm excited to make another trek to the Apple Store next Friday. What about you, dear readers, anybody out there a little less green and a little more eager to go shopping? [via The Loop]TUAWiPad 3G: Available April 30 in the USA originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - IPad - Wi-Fi - Unofficial Apple Weblog - AT&T
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Lonely Planet London City Guide App is Free for Volcano Relief
Stranded in London as a result of the Icelandic volcano, well seek out the numerous fun sites in one of the world’s most beautiful cities with the “Lonely Planet London City Guide” application. With the flight cancelations across Europe, Lonely Planet is providing its “London City Guide” App for free until Thursday so that the myriad paths of London can be traversed without getting lost! The three creators and ridiculous amount of users in the Lonely Planet community have compiled 2000 plus hours of research to provide this must-have tour guide for the ancient city. Not only does the “Lonely Planet London City Guide” App hand over online and offline interactive maps with GPS plotting and photographs of the key locations, it also has hundreds upon hundreds of independently reviewed eateries, shops, sightseeing stops and places to sleep and instructions on how best to get around and do what is desired. And there is history! The App is like opening an interactive encyclopedia where an introduction to London is given, “Sprawled endlessly along the banks of the Thames, London has been a beacon,” just below the search bar that easily brings up everything in the program. Scroll down and read up on how the print industry began on Grub Street, which was originally just the name of a single street – that is currently Milton Street – and now applies to most British literature. The history shared spans all of London’s vast years and arts! Festivals, events, costs and even planning advice are provided within the informative guide. Get it while its free! IMPULSIVE Review Grade: A+
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A $5,000 next-generation iPhone
Flash is coming to Android, Seagate media player offers Watch Instantly with Netflix, and we have more details on the mystery of the apparent iPhone 4G prototype.
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Report from the iPadDevCamp
Filed under: iPad I was just at the eBay/Paypal campus in San Jose last week for 360iDev, but I wasn't able to stay for the iPadDevCamp that went down there last weekend; it featured one of the first big gatherings of iPad developers. Fortunately, GigaOm's David Klein did stay, and he brings us a nice report of the goings-on there. He touches on a wide range of topics, from all of the fascinating apps being developed to fun live events like Rana Sobhany (one of the panelists at 360iDev) mixing the turntables with two iPads. You can read through all of Klein's impressions on the apps that he saw, but I'll pick out a few that seem interesting to me. Audiotorium is a note-taking app that picks up audio while you write along (and it's on the App Store right now), Relay connects your iPad and your computer almost like magic, and there were a few apps that used the iPhone as a controller, including a three-iPad-and-one-iPhone slot machine (pull the iPhone and the three iPads "spin" symbols) and a game called Tank or Die that used the iPhone to control tanks on the iPad. It's good to hear that there's a lot of creativity coming out of the iPad dev community already. Hopefully we'll see some of these prototype apps in the store soon.TUAWReport from the iPadDevCamp originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - AppStore - Apple - IPad - Unofficial Apple Weblog
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iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Models available in US on April 30
Posted by Dennis SellersYesterday the 'Net was abuzz with reports that Apple would ship its 3G enabled iPad on May 7. Wrong. Today Apple announced that the Wi-Fi + 3G models of the device will be delivered to US customers who've pre-ordered on Friday, April 30, and will be available in Apple retail stores...
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iPad 3G available April 30 in U.S.
Apple announces that its iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G will be available at month's end in the U.S. for customers who preordered.
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Gameloft Previews “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction”
(Image courtesy of touchArcade)After getting a hands-on preview last month at GDC 2010, Gameloft unleashes some very cool screenshots and a gameplay trailer of their latest Tom Clancy effort for the iPhone and iPod touch.touchArcade has scored a deluge of screenshots from Gameloft’s forthcoming title, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction. Already available this month for Xbox 360 and coming later this month for Windows, the coming iPhone and iPod touch version looks nearly identical, right down to sharing cut scenes and voices.The iPhone version of Splinter Cell Conviction is slated to include 10 levels, which Gameloft has previously estimated will take players anywhere from four to five hours to complete. touchArcade was quite positive on their brief hands-on back in early March, so this will definitely be one to keep an eye out for when it hits the App Store.If the screenshots and gameplay trailer aren’t enough for you, stay tuned to Gameloft’s Facebook page today -- they’ve promised a “new revelation” that’s sure to tickle your gaming fancy.
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iPad 3G Will Be Available April 30 After All…Sort of
Good news for those of you who'd already pre-ordered the fancy dual radio Wi-Fi + 3G model iPads prior to this week: you'll have the device in your hot little hands on April 30 as promised. Apple announced today that all existing preorder customers will still get their iPads on that originally announced date, contrary to previous reports. The May 7 date reported earlier does apply, but only to all preorders made beginning this week. You might fare better just showing up at the store on April 30 and taking your chances (though no doubt many of those units will have been reserved beforehand) since Apple also assured buyers that the dual radio iPad would be in retail stores starting at 5 PM on that day. No mention is made of whether or not retail partners like Best Buy will also have stock. Personally, I've been waiting for the 3G version, because I have both an iPod touch and an iPhone, and in my opinion, the lack of cellular network connectivity on the touch places it in an entirely different category of usability. And I don't mean that as a complement. The iPod touch feels almost like an at-home only device, despite the fact that many places nowadays offer Wi-Fi. In terms of my mobile usage, if I can't use it in transit, I likely won't use it at all. More on iPad iPhone OS: Where the Delete KeyBelongs Mac Love iPadDevCamp: The Future of iPadApps Mac Love iPad 3G Available On May7 Mac Love iBooks and the iBookstore: AWalkthrough Mac Love Of course, I'll have to wait till May 10 to even preorder my device, thanks to the delays to the international ship dates of the iPad. Apple is clearly doing everything it can to keep the launch on track in the U.S., but the week-long delay for any new orders being made shows that its supply chain is being severely tested thanks to strong demand. Service for the 3G-enabled iPad isn't locked to a specific carrier, but so far its internal radio will only work with AT&T's 3G network. That carrier is offering plans starting at $15 per month for 250MB, or $30 for unlimited usage. Obviously, it's assumed that these services and the microSIM cards the iPad requires to use them will be available on day one. I know a few people who are already planning on (or already trying to) sell their Wi-Fi only iPads in order to help fund their purchase of a 3G-capable model. By contrast, I also know a few who are completely satisfied and think the 3G radio is an unnecessary and expensive upgrade. Which camp do you fall into, existing iPad owners?
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TUAW's Daily App: Homerun Battle 3D for iPad
Filed under: iPad One great app, every day -- that's TUAW's Daily App, every morning on TUAW. We're still seeking an official name for the daily app. If you suggest a killer name for this feature in the comments, we'll send you a t-shirt! There are quite a few baseball games on the store these days (including one from the MLB itself), but Homerun Battle 3D focuses on the best part of the game: hitting home runs. Com2uS released the iPhone version last year (and it's great -- it was recommended to me by the producer of Street Fighter for iPhone), but the iPad version just got released about a week ago and it's excellent as well. You control bat placement in the strike zone and swing by tapping the screen; that's basically it. The simplicity of the game really makes the fun shine, and extras like gold balls and multiplier pitches (every once in a while) make you feel like a real home run hero. The free version lets you hit a few balls around, but the full version allows for character customization, some online challenges, and even head-to-head multiplayer. In-app purchases kind of spread a shadow over the whole thing -- some of the customized gear and uniforms can run very expensive. That stuff is easy enough to avoid, though. The core gameplay is a lot of fun, and whenever you want a quick round of batting practice, it's there for you. Homerun Battle 3D is $4.99 on both the iPad and iPhone, with a trial available on the iPhone. TUAWTUAW's Daily App: Homerun Battle 3D for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments IPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - IPad - Apple - Street Fighter
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Sleep displays via AppleScript
This hint allows you to sleep the display via AppleScript and the Active Screen Corners feature of Exposé. It is based on the script in this blog entry, which allows you to move the mouse cursor to the top left corner of the screen. First of all, you need to set the Exposé functionality (in the Active Screen Corners section) of the top left corner to Sleep Display. Having done that, the following AppleScript will sleep the display: (* Source for the shell script: http://hubionmac.com/wordpress/2009/09/maus-zeiger-in-applescript-via-python-bewegen/ *) do shell script "python -c "import objc;bndl = objc.loadBundle('CoreGraphics', globals(), '/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.frame...
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10.6: Mount remote Linux sshfs disks in 64-bit 10.6
This week, I tried to mount a volume from my Linux server. I had ssh access, so I decided to use sshfs to mount it. THe Out-of-box solution was not working, so here is a complete guide. First of all, you need to configure remote Linux server to support sftp and sshfs: Install Fuse; there is a good installation manual. Make sure you have the fuse kernel module compiled as a module; it is important: zcat /proc/config.gz|grep FUSE. If you see #CONFIG_FUSE_FS is not set, then you'll need to do this: $ cd /usr/src/linux $ make menuconfig File systems ---> Filesystem in Userspace support --> $ make && make modules_install $ update-modules $ /etc/init.d/fuse start Try it locally first; ss...
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iPhone OS: Where the Delete Key Belongs
After almost three years of obsessive iPhone typing, we have grown accustomed to its keyboard. When the iPad was released, things changed. After a week of testing the iPad it became clear that the iPad has the Delete key in the correct place and the iPhone doesn't. In fact, the iPad's placement feels so natural that now when I try to type text messages on the iPhone, I constantly accidentally send texts early while attempting to delete a character. The iPhone is the only device in my routine that has a confusing Delete key location. Check out the screenshots below to see what I mean. What do you think? Has your experience been similar? iPad Wireless keyboard iPhone
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Gizmodo, the iPhone 4th Gen, and Beer
Image via Gizmodo Well, as much as I hate talking about rumors, fact is, this is a mammoth story, and it needs to be addressed here on Apple Gazette. This is going to recap the saga that is the 4th-Gen iPhone, Engadget, Gizmodo, Apple, and everything in between. But before we can talk about what it is and why it's so important, let's first discuss how this all shook out. On April 17, Engadget reported that they had been sent pics of the prototype iPhone. It had been left at a bar in San Jose, and the pictures were now being mailed to various tech outlets. It wasn't said specifically, but at the time the owner of said pics may have been shopping for a price on the device, which was alluded to in the post: There may be a chance to get some more face-time with the handset, but we wanted to get these photos to you guys ASAP. Stay tuned, we're working on more details as we type — for now, enjoy the gallery below! Well, Engadget didn't get the device. But someone else did, and is rumored to have paid $10k for it. Gizmodo. This topic has been pretty hot on the interwebs. So much so that Ken Sweet wondered about it aloud on Twitter: I'm waiting for the backstory on @gizmodo's #iphone exclusive. How was it lost/found? I think @nicknotned has said he'll pay for exclusives. Denton's response was just part of the answer: @kensweet Yes, we're proud practitioners of checkbook journalism. Anything for the story! So Gizmodo buys the supposed iPhone, then on April 19 – must have overnighted that thing – they posted up on the site with the title: “This is Apple's Next iPhone.” Sounded arrogant to me, and frankly, like a load. So I decided to read it, determine that it was probably another hyped up thing to garner pageviews, and went on my way. Except that I may have been wrong. Yesterday, Gizmodo released the story on how they came to acquire the device, and how it came to be found in that bar in San Jose. A software engineer named Gray Powell went to The Gourmet Haus Staudt to enjoy a beer or two, and along with him came his prototype iPhone. As it turns out, Gray works for Apple and is responsible for developing iPhone Baseband Software, which is how the iPhone can make a phone call. He went to the bar, had a few, and left the iPhone on the stool. A drunk guy found it, handed it to a less inebriated gentleman, who decided to hang onto it and give it back to the owner. He flipped it on, looked through some apps and found the owner's Facebook profile, and planned on calling him the next day. Except that he didn't. When he went to fire up the phone, it was now turned off – according to Gizmodo, probably via MobileMe – and now it was a useless piece of junk. So he decided to take off the case on the device and see what was doin. Turns out, it wasn't an iPhone 3G like the case said, it was something different. That's when things proceeded to go a bit differently. We don't know how it all broke down from there exactly, but we do know the end result: Gizmodo paid this guy to buy the iPhone from him, and then they published the results. What they found seems to be the next iPhone, and it's pretty hard to deny that it's at the bare minimum, a functioning prototype. You could ignore all this of course, and just say it's crap. That's what I did. But then Gizmodo called Gray at Apple to get a response: Gray Powell: Hello? John Herrman: Is this Gray? G: Yeah. J: Hi, this is John Herrman from Gizmodo.com. G: Hey! J: You work at Apple, right? G: Um, I mean I can't really talk too much right now. J: I understand. We have a device, and we think that maybe you misplaced it at a bar, and we would like to give it back. G: Yeah, I forwarded your email [asking him if it was his iPhone], someone should be contacting you. J: OK. G: Can I send this phone number along? J: [Contact information] At this point, I don't know how this isn't the next iPhone, or at the bare minimum, a really close prototype. So now the question becomes, what happens from here? From Apple's standpoint, this is a big f-ing deal. An employee took an Apple prototype out into the wild, acted irresponsibly, then lost the device. Now the whole world knows what's coming out sometime in June, and they have no big reveal. No iPad moment. No time to build up suspense about what the device is going to be and get customers lined up for hours to buy it. Instead, all the pomp and circumstance is taken out of the event, and people will walk into that conference center on June 22 with smug looks on their faces and tight-lipped smiles. No applause, no “one more thing,” nothing fancy. This has got to be eating Steve alive. There's been speculation as well that this is a controlled leak, designed to stir up hype about the iPhone and get people in line to make a purchase. I disagree. Apple leaks things to reputable companies like the Wall Street Journal, and does so in a very controlled way. Look at the iPad, for example. At first, you could make the argument that there was nothing but leaks around the device, since everyone out there from CEOs to newspapers were talking about the Apple Tablet. But no one had the device in hand – at least not that we say prior to the big reveal – and no pictures were taken. Every single photoshopped image of the iPad was fraudulent, and just an educated guess as to what could be. It was a bit chaotic, but it drummed up hype for the iPad, which was Apple's intent all along. Were this a leak, I imagine it would've gone down a bit differently. There's no way to tell that the person who found the phone would leak it to the press. It was only after Mister X got the case off of the phone that he discovered what it really was, and that's all by chance. I don't see it being possible that this was a controlled leak in any way, and fact is, we'll never know for sure. So what does Apple do? They sue the crap out of Gizmodo. They fire Gray. They lock down the building even more than before and maybe – just maybe – they delay the launch so they have time to redesign the device in some new way so that Gizmodo looks like an ass. I think it's very likely that the first two will happen, if the ball isn't rolling already. The rest is still unclear. We'll just have to wait until June to show the world. Gizmodo had better buckle down for a fight. When it comes down to brass tax, they purchased stolen property. Sure, Gray “lost” it, and that's how they'll defend it in court. But the mysterious person who found it should've returned it to him right away. Instead, he sold it to the highest bidder – and that's a problem. If Gizmodo is a reputable organization, then they'll claim that they can't reveal their source and will hide behind the constitution. If they're not, they'll rat out their Mister X and he'll go to jail, get fined, or sued himself. No matter what, Gizmodo is going to meet Apple's legal team. Of course, Apple could go another route with Gizmodo, as mentioned in the comments on their very post: You guys better be prepared for the mighty God hammer that will fall after June's unveiling. After that, it's going to hurt, A LOT! For 10k, the thief will lose a lot more than that defending himself in court. Gizmodo may be ban hammered for life from Apple events. This is Not going to end well. The reason that Apple's been quiet now is because they want plausible deniability that this is the next iPhone. Once it's announced however, Jobs will unleash the hounds of war. All those who are responsible for this betrayal will be punished. If Gizmodo is banned from Apple events, that could hurt their bottom line. Apple fanboys might leave the site because Gizmodo would have nothing to offer them. Of course, they would have lots of other things to post about – Apple isn't everything, remember – but it could be a kick in the junk to them at the minimum. But this story is developing quickly, too. Late last night, Gizmodo posted up a letter from Apple. The interesting part though is the response from Gizmodo: Happy to have you pick this thing up. Was burning a hole in our pockets. Just so you know, we didn't know this was stolen [as they might have claimed. meaning, real and truly from Apple. It was found, and to be of unproven origin] when we bought it. Now that we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's, I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner. Followed by commentary about the legal ramifications, per their lawyers: (Our legal team told us that in California the law states, “If it is lost, the owner has three years to reclaim or title passes to the owner of the premises where the property was found. The person who found it had the duty to report it.” Which, actually, the guys who found it tried to do, but were pretty much ignored by Apple. ) Except that's not how it was portrayed in their first post. At least, not at first. I can't confirm this is any way, so I'm not going to make a blatant accusation. And frankly, I could be wrong. But I've spent a lot of time pouring through their post, and in the time period between putting draft 1 of this to bed along with myself, and waking up the next morning, something's been updated. I have no recollection of this passage: He reached for a phone and called a lot of Apple numbers and tried to find someone who was at least willing to transfer his call to the right person, but no luck. No one took him seriously and all he got for his troubles was a ticket number. He thought that eventually the ticket would move up high enough and that he would receive a call back, but his phone never rang. What should he be expected to do then? Walk into an Apple store and give the shiny, new device to a 20-year-old who might just end up selling it on eBay? That sounds like a big case of CYA if I'm correct, which could be verified with Apple at some point, I'm sure. If I'm not, apologies to all around. Regardless, Mister X did know who had the phone at the bar, and could've given it back to him directly just by sending him a message via Facebook. He had his name, after all. So even if this passage was added after the fact, Mister X is still in the wrong and could have – and should have – returned the phone. This may come across at first like it's the score of the century, and a huge scoop for Gizmodo. But the way the device was acquired, from start to finish, is shady and I think that there will be more revealed on this topic in the days ahead. I think at the end of it all though, this might be a lesson about how to deal with Apple and how not to deal with them.
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Apple's patent for Concert Ticket+ could change your concert experience
Filed under: iPhone We know that Apple has a propensity for patenting anything that moves, and most of them don't see the light of day. But Patently Apple has written, in copious detail, about a very interesting one called Concert Ticket+. I would bet money on the likelihood of this one becoming a reality. It all starts with buying concert tickets through iTunes and syncing it with your iPhone. Then, when you get to the concert, the electronic ticket will be received either by a manned or unmanned turnstile using Near Field Communication (NFC). This is the same technology that starts a Prius without a key, or is embedded in my Lexus car key. When turning on the car, an NFC connection must be wirelessly transmitted or the car won't start. It also takes into account other methods of authentication such as bar code scanning. It doesn't stop there. Lots of other information can be provided once the ticket is registered as being collected. E-Tickets for food and merchandise discounts can also be stored on the iPhone and when presented to get a cheaper T-Shirt or soda, the amount spent can be deducted from your iTunes account. Impulse purchasing of apps has been tremendously successful and that concept can be easily transferred from the app store to the concert hall. An electronic coupon for $5.00 off a T-shirt is going to sell a lot of T-shirts. The patent also provides for value added services either free or at a price. You'd probably be able to obtain a concert schedule, lyrics to what is being played or a set-list for free, but if you want a recording of the show you've attended, that can be made available for a price.TUAWApple's patent for Concert Ticket+ could change your concert experience originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments Apple - iPhone - iTunes - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Near Field Communication
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Apple names April 30th, 5PM as date and time for 3G iPad retail launch
There was a bit of confusion with Apple's online store update yesterday as to when the 3G version of its iPad will actually make its retail debut. Let that fog of ignorance be no more, as Cupertino has today named April 30th, a Friday, as the day the WiFi + 3G slate will arrive in stores. In American stores, that is, don't get all excited if you live outside the 50 states. That's also the date when early (read: before yesterday) pre-orders will be fulfilled. Deliveries for those were promised for "late April," though clearly this date has more of the late and less of the April to it.Apple names April 30th, 5PM as date and time for 3G iPad retail launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Apple |Email this|Comments
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News: Apple ships iPad Camera Connection Kit
Apple has begun to ship its iPad Camera Connection Kit to customers who pre-ordered the accessory. Unlike other Apple iPad accessories, the Camera Connection Kit wasn't available for pre-order until March 29, and was listed as shipping in “late April;” a shipment notification received by iLounge claims the dongle set will arrive by April 22. The iPad Camera Connection Kit includes two separate 30-pin connectors, one with an SD card…
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It’s Official: 3G iPad Available in U.S. on April 30th
Following up on e-mails to preorder customers on Monday, Apple has officially announced that the 3G-equipped iPad will be in U.S. stores on April 30th.Not content to be left stinging over their lost iPhone, this morning Apple Inc. announced that the Wi-Fi + 3G model of the iPad will arrive in U.S. stores on April 30th -- right down to the wire on the last day of the month after promising “late April” for preorders to ship.If you were one of those who preordered from Apple’s online store, you can expect a FedEx or UPS truck to pull up to your door at some point during that day. The rest of you will have to wait until 5 pm to hit your local Apple retail outlet -- there was no word in Apple’s press release about the 3G-equipped iPad being available at Best Buy, who is currently selling the Wi-Fi only model released on April 3rd (along with Apple Authorized Resellers and campus bookstores). If you happen to buy online now, you won’t get your 3G iPad until May 7th at the earliest.Apple also reminds 3G iPad buyers that their device is comparable to the existing Wi-Fi model save for one area: They’re only promising nine hours of web surfing over 3G instead of the Wi-Fi only model’s 10 hours. The 3G iPad model carries a $130 premium over the price of the Wi-Fi only version, with 16GB for $629, 32GB for $729 and 64GB for $829.Finally, Apple plans to announce international pricing and actually start taking preorders for both iPad models on May 10th for Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K., with those units expected to ship by mid-June.Stay tuned to MacLife.com the first week of May for the second part of our two-part saga of replacing your iPhone with an iPad -- which we imagine will be made easier thanks to the availability of a 3G connection on the second iPad model.
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News: iPad Wi-Fi + 3G to arrive on April 30
Apple has announced that iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models will be delivered to U.S. customers who pre-ordered in time for “late April” delivery on April 30. The new models will also be available at Apple retail stores the same day beginning at 5:00 p.m. As with the iPad Wi-Fi, Apple retail stores will offer a free Personal Setup service to each customer who buys an iPad Wi-Fi + 3G at the store, including helping them to setup email and load apps.…
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C64 creators also bringing Amiga, Atari 2600 emulators to iPhone
Filed under: iPhone I just posted at the end of last week about Manomio's decision to go free with its licensed C64 emulator for the iPhone, but today it let us know that there are even more plans in the works. Given the success in porting C64 games (with official licenses) over to the iPhone, Manomio is working on two more emulators right now, including the Atari 2600 emulator seen above (Frogger! Space Invaders!) and an Amiga 500 emulator as well. Both apps are simply tech demos at the moment, and while Apple generally hasn't been very friendly to emulators on the iPhone, Manomio has put in its dues -- the company sorted out the emulator code in such a way that it's Apple-approved, and it's already worked with C64 license owners to make sure the games can be legally released on the iPhone, some free and some as in-app purchases. Of course, chasing down the Atari licenses might be a little tougher than the more obscure C64 titles, but if it's possible to get these old gaming gems on the iPhone, Manumio will probably pull it off. Stay tuned -- when you can play the original Frogger on your iPhone, we'll let you know.TUAWC64 creators also bringing Amiga, Atari 2600 emulators to iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read|Permalink|Email this|Comments iPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - Manomio - Atari 2600
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Apple Follows Trail of Lost 4th-Gen iPhone
(Image courtesy of Gizmodo)The mystery of the presumed lost 4th-generation iPhone prototype appears to finally be solved, and now Apple has come calling for the device back.On Monday night, Gizmodo was busy explaining how it had happened to acquire a certain unreleased handset. In a scenario right out of an espionage flick, Apple’s notorious veil of secrecy was finally destroyed by a 27-year-old software engineer and some German beer.If you haven’t followed the events leading up to today: Late last week, photos of a purported next-generation iPhone started to turn up on various tech sites and were quickly dismissed and even debunked, only to come back just as fast and with a vengeance. By the time Gizmodo paid $5,000 to get their hands on the actual device -- left behind at a German pub in Redwood City, California by a 27-year-old Apple software engineer -- there was little doubt that we were looking at the real McCoy, the next Apple iPhone which is anticipated in early summer this year.Gizmodo summarily photographed and videotaped the device from every conceivable angle, divulging all of its goodness (front-facing camera, higher-resolution display, microSIM slot) and even tearing the device apart to confirm that yes, indeed, this was an Apple product caught in the wild before its release.And then came the above letter from Apple legal, requesting its return.The situation put Apple in a no-win situation: After all, coming down on Gizmodo with all its legal might would only serve to confirm the obvious. Denial (or just ignoring the whole debacle) could also read the same way, while keeping the lost handset out in the wild, which the company also can’t risk.It turns out that a state law helped make the decision -- California doesn’t honor the “finder’s keepers” rule of childhood, and instead a lost item is still the owner’s, who has a full three years to reclaim it. So the device, even though it was left behind by an errant handler, is considered stolen property.The story has a happy ending: Gizmodo has every intention of returning the device to Apple, and even sent a special P.S. in their reply looking out for the software engineer who lost it in the first place: “I hope you take it easy on the kid who lost it. I don't think he loves anything more than Apple.”
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First Looks: Incipio Feather Case for iPad
Due to its experience in creating similar cases for iPhones and iPod touches, Incipio was in the perfect position to dazzle with its iPad version of Feather ($35), billed as a less than 1mm thick hard plastic shell with soft touch rubber on the outside. Bundled with a glossy screen protector, cleaning cloth, and applicator card, Feather is actually capable of fitting inside Apple's official iPad Dock and iPad Keyboard Dock -- two accessories that…
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C64 Developers Also Bringing Amiga 500 & Atari 2600 to iPhone
If you didn’t get enough of an ‘80s flashback with the C64 (aka Commodore 64) emulator app for the iPhone, prepare to really go back to the past all over again.TUAW is reporting that Manomio LLC, the developers of the licensed C64 emulator which is now available free of charge, intend to expand their success with that nostalgic app and are currently working on two new ones -- one for the classic Atari 2600 and another for the Commodore Amiga 500.This is exciting news to those of us at a certain age who grew up with the Atari 2600 as our first home video game console and then later snubbed their nose at the Windows-based PC and even the Macintosh in favor of the Amiga 500, a powerful early competitor to Apple on the hardware and software front that ultimately was brought down by bad management and a lack of sales.Given that Apple has been openly hostile to emulators for the iPhone in the past, you’d think that these projects may never see the light of day. But Manomio “has put it its dues” (as TUAW puts it), including working with the Commodore 64 license holders to make sure everything is legally on the up and up.For now, the projects are simply available as YouTube videos (embedded below), the first of which shows off the Atari 2600 emulator running Space Invaders, Berzerk (Berzerk!!) and Frogger in all their retro glory. Then, hang onto your Karate belt and prepare to be blown away by the Amiga 500 emulator running International Karate and Turrican II.Hard to tell if the Manomio folks will be able to actually include these licensed games when the project does finally see the light of day, but our hat’s off to them for initiating such great apps in the first place. And hey, why stop with the iPhone? It would be great to see universal apps that also play on the iPad...
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Review: Bento for iPad a great companion for the Mac version
Posted by Dennis SellersFileMaker Inc.'s Bento for iPad is a great companion app to its Mac version of the software, as well as a solid stand-alone solution. And at US$4.99, it's a great buy.
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What's an iPhone Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
Wow! Who knew summer and the new iPhone would arrive so quickly? Apparently a next-generation iPhone was found on the floor of a California bar, the phone itself camouflaged by a special case fashioned to make the hottest gadget under wraps look like a run-of-the-mill iPhone 3G. Sounds implausible, yes? Not so fast. While Apple may be the most secretive consumer tech company ever spawned, mounting evidence points to legitimacy. Over the weekend, gadget site Engadget posted a photo of what appears to be the next generation iPhone.
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Best Buy calls on consumers to recycle old electronics, appliances
Posted by Dennis SellersBest Buy has set a target to collect one billion pounds of old or obsolete electronics and appliances for recycling.
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BOSS unveils ME-25 Multi-Effects for Guitar
Posted by Dennis SellersBOSS has released the US$276 ME-25 Guitar Multiple Effects, a line of floor-based multi-effects. The ME-25 inherits its sounds from the company's flagship ME-70.
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Bluetooth Core Spec 4.0 ready to roll
Posted by Dennis SellersOn Tuesday from its annual All Hands Meeting in Seattle, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) unveiled more information about its forthcoming Bluetooth Core Specification version 4.0, with the hallmark feature of low energy technology.
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Eco-Envy for iPad shipping
Posted by Dennis SellersMarware is shipping the Eco-Envi carrying case for the iPad. It retails for US$49.99, is available in black and white and is made of “eco-leather.”
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Military version of RunWallet for the iPod shuffle available
Posted by Dennis SellersGrantwood Technology has released an updated RunWallet, an $11.99 armband product designed to carry IDs, emergency contact information, bank cards, credit cards, car keys, car remotes, house keys, hotel keys, cash/coins during exercise, with the added ability to carry the iPod shuffle or anything else that can be clipped to it....
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Napatech announces 10G PCI-Express Gen 2 capture, in-line adapters
Posted by Dennis SellersNapatech has announced what it says is the world's first 210 Gbps Intelligent Real-time Network Analysis adapters based on PCI-Express Gen 2 with the introduction of the NT20E2 Capture adapter and NT20E2 In-line adapter products.
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Apple countersues Kodak in patent case
The decades-old film and imaging company, which has filed a series of patent infringement suits, now is the target of one brought by Apple.
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EasyDraw update for Mac OS X adds iPad design support
Posted by Dennis SellersDekorra has updated EasyDraw, its vector drawing app for Mac OS X, to version 3.4.1 The new version adds support for the required page size for iPad development.
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Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included
Well, it had to happen at some point. After eons of watching Mac OS and Windows users swiping away nonchalantly on their touchpads, Linux laptop buyers can now also join the multitouch fray. Synaptics has announced official Gesture Suite support for a wide range of Linux-based OS flavors -- Chrome OS, Fedora, Ubuntu, RedFlag, SuSE, and Xandros get name-dropped in the press release -- which will all benefit from its set of multi-fingered touch and swipe responses. The infamous pinch-to-zoom is quite naturally included in the Suite, which will come bundled with new installations of those operating systems. We're not seeing any mention of a downloadable update as yet, but we imagine that'll be corrected in due course, whether by the company itself or the resourceful Linux community. Full PR after the break.Continue reading Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS includedSynaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.PermalinkPC World | Synaptics |Email this|Comments
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MacJournal update for Mac OS X adds 'None' option
Posted by Dennis Sellers Mariner Software has released MacJournal 5.0, the latest version of the journaling software. It adds a “None” option to the settings for smart journals so you can set up a smart journal where none of the listed checks are true.
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EveryMac offers updates specs on new MacBook Pros
Posted by Dennis SellersAn update of the EveryMac site features complete specs (and a handful of Q&As) on the brand new MacBook Pro line and additional Q&As covering the iPad, iPhone, and more.
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Apple's financials: the analysts' predictions and ours
Posted by Dennis SellersApple will announce its second quarter results for fiscal year 2010 today at 2 pm (Pacific) and we'll have all the results here. Here's what the analysts are expecting—per MarketWatch:—and what the Sellers Research Firm (that's me) is predicting.
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Analysts predict another solid quarter for Apple
The company appears poised to report another good quarter, particularly on sales of Macs and iPhones.
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Cramer's Mad Money - Right Rally, Wrong Stocks (4/19/10)
Stocks discussed on the in-depth session of Jim Cramer's Mad Money TV Program, Monday April 19. Goldman Sachs (GS), Citigroup (C), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Wal-Mart (WMT), Procter & Gamble (PG), Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Eli Lilly (LLY)
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Mac OS Ken: 04.20.2010
Daring Fireball Says Fourth Gen iPhone Pics Are More Than Likely Legit / AP Story Says Gawker Media Paid 5K for Fourth Gen iPhone / Gizmodo IDs Apple Employee Who Lost the Fourth Gen iPhone / iLounge Lays Out the Alleged Fourth Gen iPhone Hardware / Glass Back for Alleged Fourth Gen iPhone Brings Back 2006 Ceramic Enclosure Patent / Alleged Fourth Gen iPhone Appears to Have Been Remote Wiped by Apple / Fortune Eyes Apple Stock Going Into the Apple 2Q Earnings Call / Kaufman Bros Analyst Ups Apple Target to 305 Dollars / Catch the 2Q 2010 Apple Earnings Call on the Apple Website at 2 pm PDT (5 pm EDT) / Apple Beats Google as Most Valuable Company in Silicon Valley / New 3G iPad Orders Now Shipping May 7th in US (Old Orders Still Shipping by End of April) / Apple Initiates Replacement Program for 3rd Gen iPod Shuffle Headphones / Apple Sued by SF Resident Over Liquid Sensors in iPhone / Apple Countersues and Files ITC Complaint Against Kodak / PA School System MacBook Spying Case Ramps Up Huge / Reports Say AT and T Fails iPhone Users at Coachella Music Festival / All Things D Says RadioShack Dropping Palm Pre and Pixi / Sprint Confirms RadioShack Ditching Palm Pre and Palm Pixi / NHL Launches Official NHL App (Late in the Season But Free)
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Apple's Sentiment Dominance Continues Ahead of Earnings
Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release Q2 earnings this Tuesday April 20th, after the market close. Average analyst estimates for the Technology Giant are $2.44/share in EPS and $12.06 billion in Revenue. Thirty-seven analysts track the stock with twenty upward EPS revisions in the last 30 days and no downward EPS revisions in the last 30 days. Last quarter, Apple beat average analysts expectations by 1.59/share, 3.67/share vs. 2.08/share. I always find this a tough period waiting to see if the company is going meet, exceed, or miss their earnings estimates. One thing I have discovered of value is to analyze sentiment moves in a stock ahead of the company's earnings release. In the case of Apple, I will use the piqqem sentiment index for Apple to see how sentiment has changed in the last quarter, for the months within that quarter, and from the end of the reporting quarter through today.
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Apple Earnings Preview: Lessons From the Past
Will Apple (AAPL) surge after today's earnings report? Will it plunge as investors take profits? Ah, you've got to enjoy the unpredictability of earnings season. The only thing we know for sure is that the last two days of earnings reports have not been kind to stocks such as Google (GOOG), General Electric (GE), Bank of America (BAC), and IBM. Apple's 2010 stock performance is tracking a similar course to 2007, back when the initial iPhone went on sale. I refer to this kind of stock action as a 'catalyst trade'. For the first time since the recession began, Apple stock is responding to specific catalyst events. After the earnings report we've got the iPad 3G US release, we've got international iPad pre orders, we've got the international iPad launch, we've got the iPhone HD release, we've got the iAd platform introduction, then we'll have the iPod refresh with LaLa implementation, then we've got the holidays...The pace of innovation at Apple is unparalleled. This 2010 stock action is on pace to hit $300 based on these fundamentals, but what about the short run? How is Apple going to react to this report?