iZATT releases Braille app for the iPhone, iPod touch

Posted by Dennis SellersIzatt International has released Bumps, the latest in the Signals Series for the iPhone and iPod touch. Bumps provides a way to learn the Braille system. It's available at the Apple App Store for US$
0.99,

Posted by Dennis SellersIzatt International has released Bumps, the latest in the Signals Series for the iPhone and iPod touch. Bumps provides a way to learn the Braille system. It's available at the Apple App Store for US$
0.99,

  • iZATT releases Sea Flags for the iPhone, iPod touch

    Posted by Dennis SellersIzatt International has released Sea Flags, the latest in the Signals Series for the iPhone and iPod touch. Sea Flags provides a way to learn the Maritime Signal Flags system.

  • Apple releases iOS 4

    Posted by Dennis SellersApple has released iOS 4—the latest version of the operating system formerly known as the iPhone OS—for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available for download from iTunes for iPhone 3GS and 3G users, as well as by second- and third-generation iPod touch users. The new OS will also be included...

  • Wavefront International releases Global Impact 1.0 for the iPhone, iPod touch

    Posted by Dennis Sellers Wavefront International has released Global Impact 1.0, their world-view fact comparison utility for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available for US$0.99 at the Apple App Store.

  • Clever Coding releases iColor Easter Eggs for the iPhone, iPod touch

    Posted by Dennis SellersClever Coding has released their latest iPhone/iPod touch app, iColor Easter Eggs. It's available for US$0.99 at the Apple App Store.

  • Leopard and the History and Future of Mac OS X on PowerPC

    Daniel Eran DilgerHow long will Apple continue to support existing models of Macs in the latest version of Mac OS X? Previous versions of Apple’s OS have drawn the line for officially supported Macs based on practical considerations, rather than just being arbitrary or artificial. Here's what the past suggests for Mac OS X Leopard and the version that comes after it.The Post-Copland Crisis.Apple carried along official support for the 1986 Mac Plus through Mac System 7.5.5 in 1996. That established an expectation for Mac users that any new Mac System Software would be able to run across a decade long generation of old hardware. Further, Apple had only begun officially selling System 7 as a retail product a few years earlier; many Mac users continued to think of the Mac operating system as something that was available for free, as it had been in the past. That unreasonable support expectation combined with the sense of entitlement held by Mac users had helped to complicate Apple’s mid-90s failure to deliver Copland as a successor to System 7 between 1993 and 1995, and would continue to dog the company in its plans to provide a significant system software update after Copland was mothballed. Faced with the task of maintaining full backward compatibility for both existing applications and a wide range of hardware--but without any assurance that a significant number of Mac users would actually pay for the upgrade--it’s no wonder why Apple was stuck at System 7 for over a decade (Mac OS 8 and Mac OS 9 were only retoolings of the System 7 operating system released in 1991), and why plans to completely overhaul System 7 with Copland and Gershwin failed.If Apple had the luxury of operating outside of a real market economy and could simply rely on guaranteed future sales at high retail prices, it could have plowed along for twice as long and eventually released something, as Microsoft did a decade later with Windows Vista. As Windows Enthusiasts like to point out, Vista will eventually get deployed no matter how bad it is. [The Secrets of Pink, Taligent and Copland][Has Leopard Fallen into a Copland-Vista Conundrum?][SCO, Linux, and Microsoft in the History of OS: 1990s]Spindler’s Complications.By 1990, Apple CEO John Sculley had recognized that Apple needed to set a reasonable minimum hardware threshold for its operating system releases and to figure out a way to get Mac users to fund the expensive operating system development the company was doing. At that time, both Microsoft and IBM were charging PC users around $100 for retail copies of Windows or OS/2, neither of which were even really usable.Figuring out how to actually accomplish those goals never got done at Apple. Instead, Sculley’s successor Michael Spindler attempted to imitate Sony by releasing ranges of Mac hardware under a variety of vaguely Latin sounding names--Quadra, Centris, and Performa--and a series of confusing, nondescript model numbers. Starting in early 1994, Apple also underwent a complex transition from its original 680x0 Macs to PowerPC hardware. Since much of the original Mac software was written in assembly language, the transition relied on emulation of the existing Mac System Software, which further complicated efforts to deliver significant new features without breaking existing software or prematurely cutting off support for existing machines. Non-PowerPC Macs continued to be sold into 1996.Spindler’s Apple also began plans to license the Mac software to other hardware makers in late 1994, including APS, Bandai, DayStar, Motorola, Pioneer, Power Computing, Radius, and UMAX. That effort skimmed off the cream of Apple’s profitability and handed it to the cloners, leaving Apple to service the low end of the market at Sears with its Performas while also funding the development of nearly profitless Mac System Software to support an increasingly wide range of hardware. [Why Apple Failed]Simplifying the Mac Hardware Lineup Around the G3.When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company's product line was all over the place, although efforts were already underway to simplify things. Apple had only just discontinued the last of its 680x0-based Macs a year earlier. Under Spindler replacement Gil Ameilo, Apple had also scraped together a "Unity" release of System 7, newly rebranded as Mac OS 7.6. That release officially extended support back to all "32-bit clean" Macs, which included the eight year old Mac IIci from 1989.The installed base of Mac hardware not only spanned across two hardware platforms--680x0 and Power PC--but nearly each individual Mac model from Apple had also used its own highly customized and often uniquely quirky hardware design. The cloners were also introducing subtle differences in their own machines, too.Despite using the very modern PowerPC processors and Open Firmware, Macs in 1997 still incorporated old Mac ROMs to maintain software compatibility with the existing Mac OS. After taking control of Apple in the middle of that year, Jobs announced the release of a highly simplified product line using the new G3 processor. The G3 was such a significant leap over earlier PowerPC processors that even the entry level G3s were faster than the top of the line models Apple had been selling. So while Apple had a confusing array of eight different major PowerMac models at the beginning of 1997, by the end of the year it only had two: a desktop G3 and a tower G3. It also shipped a G3 PowerBook.[How CPR Saved Apple]Mac OS X 10.0 - 10.2: G3 Only.The introduction of the G3 processor created a clean line between it and the wide array of odd PowerPC hardware designed prior to 1997. The G3 also signaled the end of the line for the various models built by Mac cloners, who all refused to license new versions of the Mac OS at terms Jobs deemed reasonable. The G3 was also the first PowerPC processor optimized to run Mac software. That made it an easy minimum target for Mac OS X, which remained in development through 2001. In the meantime, Jobs bought out Power Computing--the largest Mac cloner--for $100 million, and terminated other clone agreements by releasing Mac OS 7.7 as “Mac OS 8? in mid 1997. That revision also became the first edition of the Mac OS to really be successfully sold at retail; over 1.2 million copies were sold within the first two weeks. The next fall in 1998, Apple released Mac OS 8.5, which was the first version to be PowerPC-only, limiting support to Macs sold over the last five years. In 1999, Apple shipped Mac OS 9. The new Apple had proved it could plan, ship, and sell regular releases of an operation system. The next task would be shipping Mac OS X as a major new leap past the classic System 7.Between 2001 and 2002, the 10.0 to 10.2 versions of Mac OS X limited support to the G3 desktop Macs, including those first introduced in late 1997. It did not support the original PowerBook G3 unveiled alongside the G3 desktops however. The first supported PowerBook was the "WallStreet" revision introduced in May of 1998. That maintained the roughly five year support window for machines to be updated with new versions of Mac operating system software. [Apple Sells 1.2 Million Copies of Mac OS 8 - Apple][Leopard, Vista and the iPhone OS X Architecture]Mac OS X 10.3: New World Macs Only.After moving its hardware line to the G3, Apple next delivered a revised "New World" platform which modernized the Mac's hardware and removed its old hardware ROMs, replacing them with “ROM in RAM? software loaded from disk. The first New World model was the first iMac in 1998. The beige G3 Macs from 1997 were replaced with a single new "blue and white" G3 in early 1999, which used the same translucent plastic as the iMac. Apple shipped its first "New World" laptop in the Lombard PowerBook G3, distinguished by its translucent bronze keyboard. In July 1999, Apple released the iBook.The release of Mac OS X Panther 10.3 in 2003 extended support back to Macs with G3 processors and built-in support for USB. This wasn't due to an actual requirement for USB, but rather a shorthand way to describe a cutoff for the support of the significantly different architecture of "Old World" Macs designed prior to the iMac, as all New World Macs also provided support for USB. Panther retained a roughly five year support window for existing Mac models.Mac OS X 10.4: Modern New World Macs Only.In 2004, Mac OS X Tiger 10.4 retained support for most New World Macs using G3 processors, but required support for built-in FireWire. Again, this wasn't related to a need for FireWire ports, but rather a way to exclude support for the earliest of the now five year old New World Macs, which Apple decided would not run Tiger acceptably, including: the original 1998 iMac.the original 1999 iBook.the 1999 "Lombard" PowerBook G3.These five year old machines can still run Tiger using XPostFacto, a third party enabler designed to force Mac OS X to run on earlier systems. However, significant differences in their hardware--coupled with their limited performance--prevented Apple from officially supporting them.In the case of the Lombard PowerBook, its DVD drive was never supported for movie playback under Mac OS X because the system did not have the power to decode DVD video in software; under Mac OS 9, it relied on a hardware decoder. Rather than holding up Mac OS X to develop custom support for the obsolete hardware decoder in the now half-decade old Lombard PowerBooks, Apple told its users to continue using the playback software it came with. [XPostFacto: OS X for Legacy Macs - Other World Computing]Mac OS X 10.5: 867 MHz Processor Required.For Leopard, Apple is specifying an 867 MHz G4. That excludes support for the now functionally obsolete G3s, and draws a line down the middle of the 2001 "Quicksilver" PowerMac G4s, excluding support for the 2001 G4 Cube and the first three generations of the Titanium PowerBook G4 up to late 2002. This again maintains official support for five to six years of Mac models.This break roughly corresponds to the arrival of the G4+, a revised version of the G4 with support for L3 cache and improvements to AltiVec. It is also near the line for supporting Quartz Extreme and the higher end Core Image, both of which are technologies used to delegate graphics work to the video card. However, Core Image is not a requirement for using Leopard; such a requirement would exclude support for all G4 desktops and laptops prior to 2003. Leopard Looms Large.That indicates Apple is being fairly liberal in officially supporting older models in Leopard. The obvious reason for this is that Apple wants to sell Leopard to as many Mac users as possible, even more than it wants to use Leopard to sell new Macs. Between 2001 and 2002, Apple sold just over 6 million Macs. From 2003 to the present, Apple has sold about 23 million Macs. Apple wants to target the broadest possible market for Leopard, so excluding support for older machines is done with some hesitation. By extending support back into 2001, Apple is selling to an audience of nearly 30 million versus 23 million.At the same time however, the likelihood of selling retail copies of Leopard to users of older Macs begins to drop as six year old machines go out of service or are no longer viewed by their owners as needing brand new software. This spring, analysts estimated an installed base of around 22 million active Mac users, an increase of 6 million over their figures from 2005.[Mac install base estimated at 22 million pre-Leopard - AppleInsider][Market Share vs Installed Base: iPod vs Zune, Mac vs PC]Is Leopard the Last Hurrah for Power PC Macs?The reports of PowerPC's obsolescence have been greatly exaggerated. Last year, the rumor was that Leopard would be released only for Intel Macs. This year, with Leopard looming on the horizon, the new rumor is that Mac OS X 10.6--possibly named Lynx or Cougar--will be Intel-only. However this is only uninformed speculation. When this rumor came up earlier about Leopard, I posted the article, “Unraveling The PowerPC Obsolescence Myth.? It pointed out that Apple would not release an Intel-only Leopard for an audience of the roughly 3 million new Intel Macs sold in 2006 when it could reach an installed base of around 20 million Macs with a Universal Leopard.It noted, “If Apple continues to sell new Macs at current rates, it will be 2008 before Intel Macs begin to outnumber PowerPCs, and that assumes that every year, 4 million old PowerPC Macs will be destroyed. There will be a significant proportion of PowerPC Macs still buying software well into 2010, and the market will accommodate them.?[Unraveling The PowerPC Obsolescence Myth]Why the Mac OS X Backward Compatibility Window May Increase.Apple’s Mac OS support troubles back in 1996 related to the support of multiple platforms, a wide variety of different models, and an inability to effectively market the Mac OS. Those issues are no longer factors today. Despite Apple’s maintenance of dual platforms since the transition to Intel began in 2006, technology has erased the barrier as a real problem.The majority of the installed base of around 22 million Macs is PowerPC; less than 10 million are Intel Macs. Apple has started to sell dramatically more new Macs at a faster rate over the last couple years--displacing the PowerPC majority more rapidly--but there will still be a lot of PowerPC Macs well into 2010. Worrying about 10.6 or even 10.7 being Intel-only shouldn't be among anyone's greatest concerns. By 2009, the likely ballpark release date of Leopard's successor, the trailing end of officially supported Macs would include over 8 million PowerPC Macs sold since 2004, even more machines--and more recent models--than Apple is targeting now by reaching back into 2001 to support QuickSilver G4s in Leopard. Further, supporting machines from 2003--including the first G5s--will be no difficult stretch, because the Mac architecture didn't change dramatically between 2003 and 2005 in the way that it rapidly did between 1997 and 2000. In addition, Mac OS X hardware dependancies have been designed to degrade gracefully. For example, the acceleration framework and Core Graphics libraries make use of specialized hardware if available, or simply run on the general purpose CPU if it isn’t.It's also interesting to note that prior to 2000, Macs weren't sold with Mac OS X because it didn't yet exist. That means earlier versions of Mac OS X supported years of Macs that were never really designed to run it, while Leopard still supports the vast majority of the machines anyone ever bought with the expectation to actually use Mac OS X. New generations of Mac OS X will have fewer reasons to exclude support for existing hardware, leaving the support line tied to practical performance.[Why Apple hasn't used Intel processors before]Intel-Only Not Necessary.Around 11 million Macs were sold between 2003 and 2005, and all of them were PowerPC. It would be foolish for Apple to simply exclude that audience in the next revision of Mac OS X without good reason. As it works out, there really isn't any good reason for Apple to ditch PowerPC. Apple's Universal Binaries architecture makes it relatively easy to maintain support across multiple platforms. It's not like the move from Motorola 680x0 classic Macs to PowerPC, where old 680x0 software was emulated at significant cost on PowerPC, and new PowerPC code couldn't run at all on 680x0 Macs. That situation left developers to wonder which they should invest their support in and for how long. Universal Binaries means there isn't any tough choice to make.Universal Binaries not only support PowerPC and Intel, but also make supporting 32 and 64 bit architectures easy. Leopard supports all four Mac platforms in the same software release:32 bit PowerPC G464 bit PowerPC G532 bit Intel64 bit Intel Microsoft faces big problems in migrating its users to 64 bits, because it has no seamless architecture to waltz its 32 bit Intel users onto 64 bit hardware. Instead, Windows users have to obtain a separate 64 bit edition of their operating system, new 64 bit drivers, and new 64 bit applications. Supporting both is problematic, and deploying software across both is also trouble. Even Microsoft hasn’t delivered its portfolio of applications for its 64 bit versions of Windows. Microsoft faces enough troubles selling Vista, let alone its deferred plan to deal with 64 bits and EFI at some point in the future. Apple already has both issues covered, allowing it to concentrate on more interesting tasks. [How Apple’s Firmware Leapfrogs BIOS PCs]Applications that are Intel-Only.For Apple and third party developers using Apple's Xcode tools, supporting both Intel and PowerPC architectures is really no more difficult than supporting just Intel Macs. In fact, Apple has also ported Mac OS X to the ARM architecture for use in the iPhone and the iPod Touch, demonstrating that it can flex its multi-platform muscle in several directions, not just as one-time, disposable transition plan. Universal Binaries isn’t a crutch, its a powerful deployment technology.There are only three types of developers that will have any reason to deliver Intel-only Mac apps:Companies like Adobe, which base their applications on their own custom, internal cross platform architecture. Since Adobe maintains its own system that is based on Intel-centric development, its new apps such as Soundbooth aren't ever going to appear for PowerPC. If it used Xcode’s Universal Binaries, this would not be a problem. Xcode doesn't target Windows though (at least not in a way Adobe can use!), so Adobe rolled its own system.
Software designed for Windows and ported to Intel Macs using a WINE-like engine. This is how EA is porting its new games to the Mac. They are actually Windows games running on a thin portability layer that emulates the Windows APIs. Since games don't integrate into the desktop UI, a full Mac port isn't very valuable for users or worth doing for the developer, particularly since the Mac gaming market is still pretty small. Porting over Windows games is far faster and keeps new releases in sync so that Mac gamers will have access to new titles sooner, and won't miss features such as network play. 
Environment emulators and other software tied directly to the x86 architecture, including Parallels. These can't be ported to PowerPC for the same reason that it makes no sense to port Virtual PC to Intel. Apart from running Windows--which is tightly bound to the 32-bit x86 architecture--there is really very little software that needs to run on a specific processor.For most other software, including the vast majority of what makes up Mac OS X, it really isn't difficult to deliver both PowerPC and Intel versions, so as long as there are PowerPC Macs around, there'll be PowerPC software. That makes it extremely unlikely that Apple would drop support for PowerPC in the next generation of Mac OS X after Leopard.Maintaining and Growing the Mac Installed Base.What about the argument that Apple would prefer to “force? users to buy a new Mac to get the latest system rather than simply upgrade their existing hardware? Consider that Apple’s Mac profit margins are around 20% or less, while its Mac OS X margins are closer to Microsoft’s 80% Windows margins. [Office Wars 2 - Microsoft’s Outrageous Office Profits]Mac users paying to upgrade to Mac OS X are likely to buy a new Mac eventually as a replacement, so Apple’s delaying that hardware sale for a profitable software upgrade makes more sense than forcing existing Mac users to go out and buy new hardware, which might involve comparing a new Mac against a PC running Windows.The more Macs that can run the most recent version of Mac OS X, the more attractive the target is for third party developers. Apple wants to maintain the majority of Mac users on the latest version of its software. In contrast, Windows Vista is competing against Windows XP, and the fact that Microsoft only earns 20% of its revenues from (the much more expensive) retail box sales indicates that most PC users upgrade when buying a new PC. More Mac users pay to upgrade their software.That fact contributes toward making the Mac platform far more valuable than Windows; despite having only 3% market share of the entire world’s production of PCs, Apple makes more money on hardware sales than Dell with its 15% share of the market, and--after including Microsoft’s tremendous losses from its non-monopoly businesses--made half as much money in software as Microsoft did with its 98% share. Windows Enthusiast prefer not to think about this.Even stripping Apple of its iPod revenues, which PC pundits love to do, the company still earned $4.4 billion on its Macintosh business last year, over a third as much Microsoft brought in from its entire Windows, Office, and server operations combined. Apple’s 2% of the PC market doesn’t seem so small anymore. [Can Apple Take Microsoft in the Battle for the Desktop?][Market Share vs Installed Base: iPod vs Zune, Mac vs PC]What do you think? I really like to hear from readers. Comment in the Forum or email me with your ideas. Like reading RoughlyDrafted? Share articles with your friends, link from your blog, and subscribe to my podcast! Submit to Reddit or Slashdot, or consider making a small donation supporting this site. Thanks!

  • BBC Prints Irresponsible Rubbish on Apple

    Daniel Eran DilgerThe BBC has joined the London tabloid press in printing a series of articles skewering Apple over invented suppositions based entirely upon misinformed speculation and some outright lies. The worst part is that the BBC is being grossly hypocritical in its misinformation campaign against Apple, because the company is up to its eyeballs in the Microsoft-encrusted scandal surrounding its proprietary, Windows-only iPlayer imbroglio.[UK Tabloids Pick Up Zoon Awards for Technical Incompetence]Beyond Spin: Bill Thompson Wades Through BBC Hypocrisy to Spread False Information.It's bad enough that the BBC needs to bend facts to support fear, uncertainty and doubt about the iPhone. Now consider that the BBC--as a public corporation funded by British TV license taxes--is building its web video strategy on failed, proprietary technology propped up by an internationally convicted monopolist. At the same time, its publishing a uninformed rant based on speculation and conjecture that accuses Apple of doing things that approach the gravity of its own activities.This hypocrisy slows from the words of Bill Thompson, who followed the crowd in reporting that Microsoft's failed appeal in its EU monopoly case says less about Microsoft's established, anticompetitive practices spanning the last thirty years than it does about Apple's iPod popularity over the last five. Thompson weeps for Microsoft because "its every move is examined for evidence that it might be making life difficult for its rivals," while noting that "some of its competitors seem to get a very easy ride." One might expect the BBC to make excuses for the crimes of its iPlayer partner as it giggly walks lockstep with Microsoft in using the company’s proprietary and Windows-only DRM for video distribution of its publicly funded content.[BBC's iPlayer's Prospects Looking Bleak - Slashdot]Thompson's Specious Attack on Apple."The best example of this [easy ride] is Apple," Thompson announced, because the company got so much coverage for the iPhone despite it being "closed, locked down and restricted." Actually that's not a good example at all, because Apple doesn't have a market monopoly in mobiles. Apple has also never been convicted of monopolistic behaviors in the UK, the EU, or the US because it doesn't have a monopoly and doesn’t act to stop competition the way Microsoft has. Thompson admits that the iPhone doesn't leverage monopoly control among mobiles, but says "the situation is very different" in the area of music players and music downloads. What is this very different situation?"Apple has spent much time trying to ensure that anyone who buys an iPod is completely locked in to an Apple-centred world," Thompson wrote, "in which they use iTunes, buy from the iTunes Music Store, purchase only Apple-certified iPod accessories and, ideally, abandon their plans to migrate from Windows XP to Vista and instead purchase a shiny new iMac." Yes, Apple does want to sell Macs and serve its customers. However, it's simply a lie to say that iPod users are "locked into" anything, let alone being harmed by not being able to migrate to Vista, which Apple actually supports on the iPod and iTunes.Users are not locked into iTunes Music Store purchases; recall that the wags like to point out that a tiny minority of the music on iPods is purchased from iTunes and the vast majority comes from ripped CDs. Purchased tracks from iTunes can also be effortlessly burned to CD for use other other players, following the most liberal and open fair use rights in the industry. Thompson simply lied.
Saying that iPod users are locked into Apple-certified iPod accessories is also not true at all. Apple tries to earn licensing revenue from putting a "made for iPod" logo on devices in the same way Nintendo puts its "seal of approval" on its games, but anyone can deliver iPod accessories, and there's no way for Apple to stop headphones and boomboxes from working with the iPod. Thompson lied again.
His first idea was that iPod users are locked into iTunes. Yes, Apple sets up a system that's easy to use out of the box, but users aren't forced to use it. The iPod can be used with a variety of other applications, or even wiped clean and used with completely alternative firmware like RockBox. Again, Thompson just lied.[Time for Apple to face the music? - BBC NEWS]Thompson Lies Some More: Ringtones.In order to jump from lying about the iPod with generalities and get into specifics, Thompson announced, "the recent launch of the new range of iPods, including the video Nano and the iPod Touch, has shown just how far Apple is willing to go to make life difficult for its users in order to shore up its dominant position in the market for music players and downloads." He backed up his claim by browsing for some sensationalist headlines, doing zero fact checking, and then printing his findings with an enraptured spin that is simply shameful hypocrisy coming from anyone working for the BBC.First, Thompson complains, Apple now sells ringtones and doesn't support homebrew attempts to copy ringtones to the iPhone. Yes, this is unfortunate. Users shouldn't face limitations from using their own song clips, and they shouldn't have to pay extra to carve out a ringtone from songs they purchased or already own. However, this isn't entirely Apple's decision because it has to answer to the labels. It's not illegal, and it has nothing to do with anticompetitive monopoly dominance of the music industry. It's really the opposite: an opportunity for rivals to compete against the iPhone by offering a nicer way to play "My Humps" when their phones ring. So far, the US ringtone industry revolves around $2.50 - $3.00 clips that expire after several months. Thompson lied with a half story and a false premise that do nothing to support the idea that Apple has a monopoly.[Apple's iTunes Ringtones and the Complex World of Copyright Law]Thompsons Lies Some More: Video Output.His second proof that Apple is "shoring up its dominant position" is that "it seems that the new generation of iPods will not output video through cables or docks that aren't Apple authorized and have a specific 'authentication' chip." It seems? Why doesn't Thompson point out that he read some high pitched conspiracy theory about why older cables and docks don't work with the new models, and is presenting it as a proof of anticompetitive, monopolist behavior without even checking the claim out?The reality is that all the new iPods continue to support the same docks as they did, but their video output has changed due to using different hardware. The Nano and Classic continue to work with old docks and cables, while the Touch and the iPhone will require a new dock connector cable because they now output both composite and component video. They work differently; no conspiracy, no spy authentication chips. The iPhone and the latest generation of iPods will work via a dock connector cable without a dock unit, so there's no chip involved. Even if there were, it would not be illegal for Apple to sell proprietary cables such as those that come with the Xbox, the Zune, the Palm Pilot, and most every music player and mobile phone on the market. The only difference is that Apple has kept its dock connector the same over the last several years so that iPod customers can reuse their old cables. Even if Thompson doesn't understand the issues and didn't bother to look into it, presenting false information as facts to support an idea that they do not support is still a lie. [An in-depth iPod Touch review: Video output differences - AppleInsider]Thompsons Lies Some More: Linux Music Management."The nastiest little change is to the iTunes library itself," Thompson wrote. Apple made minor changes to the metadata database used on the iPod. When this change broke unauthorized music management software, some Linux advocates announced press releases saying Apple was persecuting them and trampling their rights to use the iPod. It turned out that the outcry was simply overwrought, and that a fix was easy to deliver. What Apple had really done was improve how the iPod stores its data so that it would be less susceptible to file corruption. Apple doesn't officially support the small minority of people who use the iPod with Linux or alternatives to iTunes on other platforms, so it bears no accountability for fixing their homebrew software when it makes changes to its products. It might be valid to complain that Apple should offer such support, but ignoring Linux has no relationship to establishing a monopoly or market dominance. If Apple was offering a locked in, anti-consumer product, it wouldn't have open source users buying its product in the first place. Unlike the Xbox and Zune, Apple doesn't stop users from installing Linux or RockBox on their iPods, a difference Thompson can’t seem to grasp. Thompson admitted that Apple "will not limit copying or restrict attempts to strip digital rights management code from tracks" and "will not stop people adding non-DRM files they have downloaded from the internet to their library," but then jumped at the opportunity to speculate that Apple is shutting out Linux users, as if Apple would prefer Linux users to either install Windows or buy a music player elsewhere. Which scenario helps Apple "maintain music dominance?" It's an inane argument.Irresponsible Open Source Mouths.Remember when the EFF irresponsibly announced its speculation that Apple was stuffing megabytes of personal information into iTunes tracks? It later recanted, but didn't apologize for the false accusation. The fact that open source advocates are quick to fire out accusations but commonly shrug off any accountability for what they say makes their comments very hard to take seriously. Thompson's uncritical, uninformed parroting of such accusations is not only stomach churning, but egregious given the BBC's wholehearted support for a video distribution system that unilaterally forces people to use Windows to access content that is not available elsewhere, as iTunes music is.Thompson keeps going, castigating Apple for stopping Real from selling its own flavor of DRM that promised support for the iPod, and impugning Apple for supposedly having "business practices do not stand up to scrutiny." Thompson added, "when it comes to music downloads it [Apple] is just as bad as Microsoft on servers."Oh really? Do you have to pay Apple client access licenses for the right to connect your iPod to iTunes or to access the Music Store? Does your music die after three plays or three days? Do you have no choice in the market for MP3 players apart from devices that run the iPod firmware or use Apple’s iTunes software? Equating Apple with Microsoft would be foolish for anyone to do, let alone some misinformed, generalizing, sensationalist wag writing for a public corporation that ties its video downloads to Microsoft's Windows-only DRM.Thompson's Faulty Conclusion to a Shoddy Article.The great model of interoperability, Thompson points out, is Microsoft's PowerPoint. That's because Apple was able to deliver Keynote with PowerPoint compatibility. "Apple can sell Keynote because it took PowerPoint apart and figured out how the files work," Thompson explained.Perhaps Thompson doesn't get it: Apple's ability to maintain compatibility with PowerPoint is just as tenuous as Linux users' ability to make iTunes-compatible song management software for the iPod. Microsoft doesn't support standards in PowerPoint. It uses a crufty, weird, undocumented, proprietary format that changes with every release. That's why the industry is aligning behind Open Document as an international standard, and why Microsoft stuffed ballots in Cuba, Azerbaijan, and Sweden to fast track the establishment of its own proprietary formats as a false "standard" without having to answer the concerns of worldwide standards organizations who overwhelmingly determined that Microsoft's OOXML format was problematic and technically inferior.Oblivious to all this, Thompson announced, "had Apple been unable to do so [reverse engineer the proprietary PowerPoint format], or found that every time it figured out what was happening Microsoft changed the format, it would have complained loudly." Apparently Thompson has been paying no attention to technology over the last two decades as the world community has complained about Microsoft's doing just that.[Office Wars 3 - How Microsoft Got Its Office Monopoly][Office Wars 4 - Microsoft’s Assault on Lotus, IBM][Myth 4: The iTunes Monopoly Myth]The reason Microsoft was on trial in the EU dates back to complaints filed in 1998. The independent US monopoly trial followed up on earlier complaints from the FTC and Department of Justice. Similar complaints haven't ever been filed about Apple's iPod business, but rather only about the arcane, territorial pricing of music established by the big labels, most of whom are owned and managed by European companies.The EU certainly should fix the problems of the music business in its countries, and demand fair use provisions from music and media providers. However, trying to spin the complex situation off as proof that Apple is anything like Microsoft is not only disingenuous, it's an outright lie. Using a bunch of half-baked, ignorant web rumors to support a position that Apple should just allow anything and everything is also dishonest. Doing all of this speciously false complaining while standing on the Microsoft-enamored soapbox of the BBC just makes Thompson look even more incompetent and clueless about the reality around him. What do you think? I really like to hear from readers. Comment in the Forum or email me with your ideas. Like reading RoughlyDrafted? Share articles with your friends, link from your blog, and subscribe to my podcast! Submit to Reddit or Slashdot, or consider making a small donation supporting this site. Thanks!

  • It’s Coming: Preparing for iPhone OS 4.0

    If you’re excited about the forthcoming iPhone OS 4.0 update, you’re not alone. Here’s how you can have a smooth upgrade by getting ready for the latest and greatest ahead of time.iPhone updates are always a big deal, particularly major ones such as the forthcoming iPhone OS 4.0 announced in early April. Third-party developers have been working feverishly behind the scenes to make sure their hard work is compatible with Apple’s latest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also do a little preparation in anticipation of its release, expected sometime this month.As always, your pals at MacLife.com are here to help guide the way -- so read on and let’s get ready to rumble, iPhone OS 4.0 style!Clean Up Your iTunes AppsIf you’ve used your iDevice for a while now, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of apps -- for example, our personal copy of iTunes is home to nearly 700 of them, including universal apps which run on both the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. Now would be a good time to take inventory and maybe even do a little housekeeping.With each new iPhone OS, there are some unfortunate apps that become orphaned and may even cease to work at all with the latest version. One such example is Veiosoft’s DataCase, one of the earliest and best apps for transferring files to your iDevice, which has been seemingly abandoned by the developer after the most recent 1.1.1 update back in September, 2008. That means it’s never quite worked right on OS 3.x, and users who paid out their $6.99 are left to search for competing utilities that are updated more frequently. (DataCase is still for sale as of this writing, but based on a wave of negative reviews since the last update almost two years ago, it’s clearly not recommended for newer firmware.)Granted, DataCase is less than 1MB in size so it’s not a big hardship to just leave it on your hard drive, but removing it and other unused, unloved or simply outdated apps from your iTunes can only help keep the software running lean and mean. After all, who wants to wade through hundreds of unused apps in search of the one you really want anyway? Click on the Apps icon in your iTunes sidebar, select the app you wish to remove while holding down the Control key and select “Delete” from the submenu.Of course, deleting an app from iTunes doesn’t mean you’ll have to buy it all over again should the developer come calling later with an updated version. iTunes remembers all of your purchases -- regardless of whether they reside in iTunes at the moment or not -- so you will always be able to download them again for free, unless the developer specifically releases a separate new version for a fee, as was the case with the popular Tweetie 2 app (which has since become the official, and free, Twitter app).We’d advise that you back up your unwanted apps before emptying your trash -- you never know when you might change your mind and decide to reinstall something, especially if it’s an app that vanishes from the App Store due to some change in Apple’s policy, similar to what happened with the Google Voice apps in the past. (Although keep in mind, Apple can always remotely “kill” apps they don’t want you to use, but no harm in having them backed up just the same.)Get UpdatedOn the same train of thought as getting rid of unwanted apps, it also pays to make sure you’re updated to the latest and greatest version of your apps. In the next few weeks, you’ll likely see a flood of new updates as developers release versions that will be fully compatible with all of the goodness inherent in iPhone OS 4.0, so it pays to check for such updates on a regular basis and stay ahead of the curve.You can check for updates on your device by opening the App Store app; usually after a moment, you’ll see a badge on the Updates tab notifying you of anything new, but sometimes you have to expressly press Updates to refresh them. Note that this will only look for updates for apps you have installed on that particular device -- if you want to check for all app updates, you’ll need to use iTunes. Select the Apps icon in the sidebar and then click the little arrow next to “Check for Updates” in the lower right-hand corner.Some of us here at MacLife.com are quite diligent about app updates, checking several times a day to see what’s new -- it’s kind of like a mini-Christmas every day, especially when your most-used apps are empowered with cool new features or get annoying bugs squashed. Most app updates are posted in the afternoon and evening, so no sense going around clicking half-cocked in the morning.One of the better ways to stay abreast of the situation is through a website such as AppShopper.com. The brainchild of the folks behind MacRumors.com, AppShopper lets you create a free account to track your own apps or even create a wish list of ones you might want to buy in the future, as well as providing a wide variety of RSS feeds for both iPhone and iPad to track updates, new apps, price changes and more.Twitter is another great way to track app updates, since many developers big and small will give a heads-up when new apps or updates have been approved by Apple so you can start exhausting your finger by looking for them on iTunes.Jailbreakers: Proceed with CautionMajor OS updates are a big deal on any platform, but as anyone who has jailbroken their iDevice knows, even the little updates can create a tsunami of problems for those living on the cutting edge. Thankfully, the hackers are ahead of the curve yet again, and beta builds of iPhone OS 4.0 have already been successfully jailbroken -- but that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind and forge ahead blindly.If you rely on an unsanctioned, unlocked iPhone for cellular and data access, do yourself a favor and don’t upgrade to OS 4.0 until you get an “all clear” from the hacker community. Just because the beta builds have been jailbroken does not mean that your phone will remain unlocked (in fact, it’s almost a certainty that it won’t), and with new hardware imminent, we don’t know yet if any of the unlocking patches will even work. We repeat: If you’ve unlocked your iPhone, avoid iPhone OS 4.0 until you hear that it’s safe to upgrade!Whether or not you care about unlocking your iPhone, if you have it jailbroken now or plan to in the future, you should make sure your SHSH blobs are backed up in case you ever want to return to iPhone OS 3.x. Say what?!Apple has attempted to thwart the hackers by adding extra layers of security in newer devices, in particular the iPhone 3GS, iPad and third-generation iPod touch. If you have one of these devices, you should do yourself a favor and extract the “SHSH” records from your device (they’re different for every single unit), which can be used to restore to older firmware, should things not work out so great with iPhone OS 4.0.It’s easy to backup your “SHSH blobs” using a free utility called Umbrella and a detailed guide already posted at Cult of Mac -- the whole process takes only a few minutes, so we encourage everyone to do it, even if you don’t plan to jailbreak your device anytime soon.Save Your Old Firmware Along the same lines as backing up your SHSH blobs, you’d do well to take a visit to your Home > Library > iTunes > iPhone Software Updates folder and back up whatever .ipsw files you find there. With older versions of iTunes, any iPhone firmware updates were downloaded to this folder and stayed there forevermore, but more recent versions of iTunes will move them to the Trash as soon as you download a new one. There’s a good chance your folder may even be empty already! The reason you’ll want to save these .ipsw restore files is that shortly after iPhone OS 4.0 is released, Apple will likely wipe all traces of OS 3.1.3 (the latest version) off the map and prevent it from being downloaded again; if you saved your SHSH blobs and ever need to restore to an older version, you’ll need at least one of those old firmware files to do so. Thankfully, a Google search ought to dig up a number of non-Apple sources for downloading old firmware in the event that yours is already MIA. Keep in mind that you’ll need the appropriate restore file -- the original iPhone will start with “iPhone1,1”, the iPhone 3G will start with “iPhone1,2” and the iPhone 3GS will start with “iPhone2,1”, for instance.NEXT: Backing up your stuff and organizing your screens. >>Back That Stuff Up!Perhaps the most crucial pre-update task of all is having a proper backup of your iDevice. The problem for many is that those backups have begun to take longer and longer as we’ve filled up apps with files that aren’t part of the iTunes ecosystem -- the more impatient among us might decide to click on the “X” to stop the iTunes backup in order to get a new sync going, only to later find that they need to restore from said backup and find themselves unable to do so.If you don’t use a lot of in-app files, this may not be such a big deal for you. Casual users can likely start from scratch without too much grief, but if you’ve used your iDevice for any length of time like many of us, chances are you’d rather have intensive, painful oral surgery than have to start over from scratch. However, if you port a lot of files onto your device for work or even casual uses such as reading comic books or large PDF files, having a good backup should not be optional.To avoid long backup times, we recommend letting iTunes complete its backup each time you sync. Since the software is only backing up what’s changed since the previous sync, the incremental backup time should get shorter each time you do so. Also, once you have plugged into iTunes and completed a backup and sync, you won’t have to go through the backup process again unless you unplug the sync cable -- iTunes knows you’ve just backed up, so it simply does a quick sync until you plug the cable in again, in case you just want to just add new apps.That said, you can backup your device at any time by selecting your iDevice in the iTunes sidebar with the Control key pressed down and then select “Back Up” from the submenu.Organize Your ScreensOne of the new features of iPhone OS 4.0 that’s most anticipated is Folders, Apple’s new way of organizing apps on your iDevice. With the current firmware, you’re only capable of seeing 180 apps on any one device across 11 screens (though you can always load more and find them via Spotlight). Thanks to the drag and drop simplicity of the Folders feature, you’ll soon be able to have up to a whopping 2,160 apps on your device and find them grouped by category -- assuming you have that many to begin with and use every available space in a Folder.To prepare for Folders, now might be a great time to spend a few minutes organizing your apps so they’re in close proximity to each other based on how you plan to group them. That way, as soon as you update to iPhone OS 4.0, you can drag them together into Folders and you’ll be good to go. If you have a lot of apps spread over many screens, this task is made easier from within iTunes, where you can easily drag app icons from screen to screen or even rearrange whole screens at once.It’s Safe to Buy Some iBooks NowIf you already have an iPad with iBooks installed on it, you can feel safe in purchasing all the e-books you want from the iBookstore, knowing that they’ll work just fine on your iPhone or iPod touch once you’ve upgraded to iPhone OS 4.0.Buy as many iBooks as you’d like and then sync your iPad to iTunes, which will copy those new purchases across to your computer. After your upgrade to iPhone OS 4.0, you’ll be able to select the same e-books and copy them straight over to your iPhone or iPod touch, just like magic.Let’s Not Forget iTunes ItselfWhile we hope to know for sure when iPhone OS 4.0 will be available to download during Steve Jobs’ WWDC 2010 keynote on Monday, June 7, keep in mind that the new firmware will most likely also require a new update to iTunes itself, if history is any indication. We’re guessing at the very least, a new iTunes will let us arrange apps by Folders, for instance.The current version of iTunes at this writing is 9.1.1; if you haven’t updated lately, now would be a dandy time to do so. And really, there’s no reason not to -- while some previous iTunes updates have tripped up jailbroken devices, iTunes 9.1.1 isn’t one of them, and the hackers have already given a green light to use it.Take Stock of Your MediaFinally, a new OS install is always a good time to take stock of that non-app iTunes media taking up space on your iDevice. If you’re like most of us, you’ve got old podcasts played long ago that you neglected to delete, music you wish had stayed in the seventies and probably even some space-guzzling videos you’ve already watched and have since bored of.Why carry this stuff over to iPhone OS 4.0? Especially if you plan to buy a new iPhone, the less you have to restore and sync to a fresh device, the better. Purge that media now by deselecting it from within iTunes, and then click Apply to sync your changes and remove the great unwanted from your device. There, now don’t you feel better having done some summer cleaning?Oh, and don’t forget about all the photos and movies you’ve shot with your iPhone! While those cherished memories are always backed up during an iTunes sync (so you can safely move them to a new device), you should make a habit of clearing them off your device on a regular basis, both for safety as well as speeding up that iTunes backup. Once those photos and videos are safely stored in your iPhoto library, you can always sync them back to your iPhone (where photos will take up less space by being optimized for the device’s screen) -- they won’t be backed up by iTunes since they can be restored simply by syncing from your photo library.There’s one other very good reason to purge old media, too: If space on your iDevice is at a premium, you’ll want to free up some storage for OS 4.0 to make sure the upgrade goes smoothly.Is Your Device Compatible?iPhone OS 4.0 is expected sometime this month for the iPhone and (at additional cost) iPod touch. Sadly, Apple has already stated that the iPad won’t get any OS 4.0 love until the fall, so if that’s your only iDevice, enjoy your summer and don’t bother looking for a major update until then.It’s important to note that not every iPhone and iPod touch is welcome to the OS 4.0 party -- specifically, the first-generation iPhone and iPod touch devices released in 2007 have been put on notice and OS 3.1.3 appears to be the end of the line for them. Recent reports claim that there’s no real technical reason to exclude them, and early beta builds of OS 4.0 have even been shown running on the original iPhone -- just don’t expect Apple to officially support that configuration, and you’ll still be limited as to what new features you’ll have access to.Likewise, even if your device can install iPhone OS 4.0, you may not be able to use every new feature -- for instance, the iPhone 3G will not support multitasking. iPhone 3GS and third-generation (32GB or 64GB) iPod touch owners are good to go, as well as those of you holding your credit cards in your sweaty little hands waiting to buy the newest iPhone, expected to be announced at WWDC on Monday, June 7.*****Now that all of that hard work is over, only one thing remains: Waiting for iPhone OS 4.0 to actually be released. Hey Steve Jobs, maybe you can help us with that…?

  • Upgrade Guide - Build a Better Mac

    Wondering if your Mac is as awesome as it could be? Want to make sure it is? We’ve got the answers to all your questions on upgrading RAM, hard drives, video cards, and more.Your Mac is a hefty investment, so it’s in your best interest to keep it running well for as long as you can. Upgrading its components instead of going for a new machine is a smart idea. (Bonus: Better components will also increase the resale value.)Still, like we said, your Mac is a hefty investment. So before you crack it open to drop in a larger and faster hard drive, add more system memory, or even slap on a fresh new battery, you’ll have questions. You’ll want to be confident in choosing components, finding the right tools, and knowing what to do before you find yourself digging into your Mac’s circuitry.Unfortunately, we can’t walk you through your upgrade step by step--each model of Mac is different, and they’re revised on a regular basis. But we can answer your questions about upgrading and give you the know-how you need to pick out the parts, locate the instructions, and get it done. Your upgraded Mac will work much better, plus you’ll be a happy camper knowing you did it all yourself.RAMThe low-hanging fruit of any Mac upgrade, more RAM equals more get-up-and-go.Should I order my Mac with extra RAM installed by Apple, or just order the standard amount and upgrade later?It’s wise to compare prices before you check out at the Apple Store. Sometimes Apple’s RAM is cheaper than third-party prices, but often it’s much more expensive. And since Apple’s build-to-order options don’t always allow you to max out RAM when you buy, upgrading later may be the only way to load your Mac with as much memory as it supports.That said, if you’re squeamish about opening your computer, the convenience of getting extra RAM preinstalled may be worth the compromises. RAM not installed by Apple isn’t covered under your Mac’s warranty or AppleCare, and neither is damage caused by faulty RAM modules or their installation. But just between us, installing your own RAM is an easy and typically trouble-free procedure when done correctly.What are the different types of RAM?This laptop-sized SO-DIMM has 204 pins. The pins are what connect the module to the RAM slot.The RAM modules--or, more accurately, SDRAM modules--used by modern Macs come in a variety of speeds and two physical designs: desktop-sized DIMMs and compact, laptop-friendly SO-DIMMs. Many flavors of RAM have come and gone over the years, but the latest is DDR3, which moves data even faster than earlier DDR memory, while using less power. Although it may seem like there’s a galaxy of RAM to choose from, the memory you need depends on which Mac you want to upgrade, and your Mac’s needs are specific. So don’t worry about having to decide between cheaper DDR2 RAM and speedier, more expensive DDR3 RAM--you won’t have a choice.How do I find out which type I need and how much my Mac supports?Click the Apple Menu and select About This Mac to see how much RAM you have.Apple lists the type of RAM each currently selling Mac uses on the Tech Specs page for that Mac on Apple.com. For example, the current iMacs come with 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two 2GB SO-DIMMS. The iMac’s four SO-DIMM slots can support a total of 16GB, meaning four 4GB SO-DIMM modules.But that’s just the Macs for sale right now. To find out what kind of RAM is in your own Mac, click the Apple Menu and select About This Mac. The Memory section will tell you how much RAM you have installed and what kind it is--according to the screenshot, our MacBook Pro has 4GB (amount) of 667MHz (speed) DDR2 SDRAM (type). For more details on the individual RAM modules installed in your Mac’s memory slots, click More Info to launch System Profiler, then click Memory in the sidebar (under Hardware).However, this won’t tell you the maximum amount of RAM your Mac supports. If your Mac isn’t a current model, research sites like Everymac.com or simply go shopping. Many RAM vendors’ websites list a Mac’s capacity alongside its compatible memory.Do I always want to max out my RAM? Crucial (crucial.com) is happy to tell us our MacBook Pro supports up to 4GB of RAM.Want to? Sure. More RAM lets your Mac handle memory-intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and running multiple applications simultaneously. Adding as much RAM as possible helps ensure your Mac will be ready for a variety of tasks--and RAM-hungry software updates--for years to come.Need to? Not so much. While RAM is an easy, inexpensive way to boost your computer’s performance, an extra gigabyte or two over Apple’s stock configuration may be enough for everyday use.How and where can I comparison-shop for RAM?Other World Computing carries RAM from several manufacturers for one-stop comparison shopping.First, arm yourself with as much information about your computer and its supported RAM as possible. Many vendors use detailed technical specifications--even screen size--to differentiate one Mac model from another. Crucial (crucial.com) even has a System Scanner tool that can auto-detect your Mac model.Ramseeker.com lets you compare RAM prices based on specific Mac models. Sites like Pricewatch.com, PriceGrabber.com, and larger Mac-friendly retailers like Other World Computing (macsales.com) let you compare prices based on RAM type and manufacturer.Do the modules really have to be bought in matched pairs?This DDR3 DIMM can go in a current Mac Pro.Some Macs, like many Xserves and Mac Pros, require RAM to be installed in two modules of the same size and specifications--check your manual to be sure. Others, including all Intel Macs, don’t require matched pairs, but will see some speed benefits with matched memory. But even in these machines, more unmatched memory (say, one 2GB module and a 1GB module for a total of 3GB) generally provides greater benefit than a smaller amount of matched RAM (say, two 1GB modules for a total of 2GB).Where can I find instructions for my Mac?Find Other World Computing's how-to-install videos at eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/.Your Mac’s instruction manual or support documents on Apple’s website (support.apple.com) will show you how to install memory in your computer. Failing that, some Mac hardware vendors like iFixit.com, Crucial, and Other World Computing offer instructions on their websites--often as easy-to-follow videos--for a wide variety of Macs.How do I know if the installation "worked," and what should I do if it didn't?Choose About This Mac from the Apple Menu. You should see your new RAM total in the Memory section. If the number isn’t what you expect, shut down your computer, unplug all the cables, then access your Mac’s RAM slots again and make sure the new RAM modules are firmly seated.RAM GlossarySo many acronyms, am I right?DIMM: Dual inline memory module. Also known as a RAM module or chip, installed into a slot in your desktop Mac.DDR2: Second-generation double-data-rate SDRAM; bandwidth up to 8.5GB/sec.DDR3: Third-generation double-data-rate SDRAM; bandwidth up to 12.8GB/sec.ECC: Error-correcting code. ECC RAM modules, which are used in Mac Pros, have extra chips that detect and fix errors in reading or writing to the memory.SDRAM: Synchronous dynamic random-access memory. Or just "RAM" for short.SO-DIMM: Small outline dual inline memory module. (See why we need acronyms?) Smaller than a DIMM, SO-DIMM modules are used in Mac laptops and iMacs. Shop DifferentHere are our favorite Mac-centric dealers on the internet, compared on the basis of what you’ll pay for a 4GB RAM upgrade kit and an SSD for Susie’s trusty workhorse, a 2.4GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro (late 2007 Santa Rosa model). Prices change all the time; these are accurate as of press time. Store Name URL RAM Price SSD Price Notes OWC macsales.com $97.50; OWC 4GB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz Upgrade Kit (two 2GB modules) $399.99; Crucial 128GB M225 2.5-inch SSD Site is somewhat cluttered, but we still manage to find what we need easily. Live chat with customer service. Crucial crucial.com $97.99; Crucial 4GB Kit PC5300 DDR2 667MHz $399.99; Crucial 128GB M225 2.5-inch SSD Memory Advisor tool and System Scanner help you find compatible parts for your Mac. Live chat with customer service. MacMall macmall.com $149.99; Kingston Upgrade to 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 667MHz $542.99; Axiom 128GB 2.5-inch SATA SSD Confusing navigation. No way to see all compatible parts for your Mac. iFixit.com ifixit.com $119.90; Two 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 667MHz (two 2GB modules) $299.95; Intel 80GB 2.5-inch SATA SSD (128GB capacity not available) Our favorite site for upgrade and repair instructions. Powerbook Medic powerbookmedic.com $97.90; Two 2GB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz modules ($48.95 each) $349.95; 128GB SSD MacBook and MacBook Pro Lots of parts and detailed instructions. Send in Mac if the repair is too tricky.Next Page: Hard Drives >> Hard DrivesYour Mac's hard drive is like a closet that stores your whole digital life. Might as well make it a walk-in.Why upgrade my iMac or laptop's internal drive instead of just adding on external drives?Convenience and cost. A laptop with a large hard drive lets you carry more files with you without requiring extra gear. External drives are great for backup, but you don’t want to have to juggle them--and the power cords they may require--while you’re on the go. In desktop Macs, more built-in storage reduces the need for workspace-cluttering external drives and helps you avoid lengthy searches for files across multiple devices.A desktop-sized 3.5-inch SATA drive comes in larger capacities.Plus, internal drives tend to be much less expensive than their external counterparts, so your dollar will go further when you boost a Mac’s built-in storage. This can pay off down the road when you’re finally ready to replace your Mac with new model--a large internal drive will make your computer more desirable to buyers on the secondhand market.How do I find out which size and speed drive my machine supports?Your Mac’s manual can tell you what internal hard drive specifications your computer supports. If you’ve lost your manual, just find your Mac’s serial number in System Profiler--click the word Hardware at the top of the left-hand pane, then locate your Mac’s serial number and copy/paste it into the Search Manuals box at support.apple.com/manuals/. Or consult the website of your favorite Mac-centric retailer (see “Shop Different,” left) to see available drives for different Mac models.But we’ll get you started with some basics. All modern Macs use a hard drive connection called Serial ATA, or SATA. This simplifies your shopping a little, but Mac hard drives aren’t quite one size fits all. The SATA drive you need depends on what kind of Mac you have.MacBooks and MacBook Pros use 2.5-inch hard disk drives (or HDDs) that run between 5200 and 7200 RPM. These speeds determine how quickly data can be read from and written to the drive. The more revolutions per minute, the faster your drive. Currently, most 2.5-inch HDDs offer a maximum capacity of 750GB.Crucial's 2.5-inch 256GB SATA SSD will set you back $700 at crucial.com.Solid-state drives (or SSDs) are increasingly popular in laptops--they’ve been build-to-order options in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro for a few years. These drives use flash memory that has no moving parts, so data can be read from them even faster than from HDDs. This increased speed is an SSD’s main benefit. They’re currently more expensive and offer much smaller capacity than conventional drives. Anything larger than 256GB will currently cost you four figures, moneybags.Desktop Macs use 3.5-inch HDDs that run at 7200 RPM. These drives offer much greater maximum storage capacities than their laptop counterparts--up to 2TB.Which Mac laptops have user-replaceable hard drives?MacBook owners, you’re in luck. All MacBook models sport hard drives you can replace without voiding your warranty. Unfortunately, not all MacBook Pro owners are as fortunate. MacBook Pros with a unibody design (those sold after October 2008) have user-replaceable hard drives, but older models don’t. No model of MacBook Air offers a hard drive users can swap out for another.However, you don’t need Apple’s say-so to upgrade the drive in an unsupported machine. Unofficial drive-replacement instructions for any Mac laptop are available on the internet at Powerbookmedic.com, iFixit.com, and elsewhere. All that’s required is a Google search, steady hands, and a flagrant disregard for AppleCare coverage. But be warned--these renegade procedures aren’t for the faint of heart. Some involve significantly dismantling your computer, and any damage incurred definitely won’t be covered by Cupertino. Then again, if your warranty is up anyway, grab a screwdriver and get cracking.How and where can I comparison-shop for hard drives?First, gather as much information about your Mac and the type of drive it supports. Stores often differentiate internal hard drives only by a confusing alphabet soup of numbers, acronyms, and manufacturer names. A little research up front can make your shopping that much easier.When you’ve done your homework, it’s time to hit the internet. Sites like Pricewatch.com and PriceGrabber.com let you compare drives by size, manufacturer, capacity, and other features. But don’t forget to visit Mac-savvy retailers such as Other World Computing, Small Dog Electronics, or MacMall. These stores make it easy to find a specific Mac model and choose a compatible drive. If you know what you want, Newegg’s and Amazon’s prices are often tough to beat.How can I tell if my hard drive is dying?SMARTReporter pops up an error when the S.M.A.R.T. status of your hard drive is anything other than "Verified."If you hear a clicking sound, that’s bad. Really bad. But monitoring your drive’s S.M.A.R.T. status can clue you in before it gets to that point of no return. In Disk Utility, select your hard drive from the sidebar and look for “S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified,” which means the Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology built into your drive isn’t detecting any problems. To keep the S.M.A.R.T status front and center, SMARTReporter (free, www.corecode.at/smartreporter) can put it in your menubar. A green hard-drive icon in the menubar means everything’s okay.What are some best practices for installing a new HDD or SSD myself?First things first--back up all the data on any drive you’re replacing (see “How to Transfer Data to Your New Hard Drive,” below), then print out and read thoroughly the instructions for installing your new drive. Carefully organize any tools the installation requires. Setting aside a container to hold the tiny screws and other parts you may need to remove can save you time--and stress--when putting your Mac back together when the job is done. We like to stick the screws to our printed-out instructions with double-sided tape, so we know exactly which step in the process those screws go with.The insides of a 3.5-inch SATA drive, which hopefully you'll never see. Ooh, shiny.Next, turn off your computer and let it cool down for 10 minutes to make sure any heat lingering inside has a chance to dissipate. Unplug all cables (especially the power cord) from your Mac before you get started on the installation.Electricity runs your computer, but it has no place in a hard drive transplant. Work on a static-free surface--no wool sweaters or shag carpets for you--and touch a metal object to discharge any static electricity you’ve picked up before you handle your Mac’s internal components or the new drive. Many stores that sell internal hard drives also offer anti-static wrist straps that help ensure you don’t accidentally zap anything as you work. Get one if you want to stay as safe as possible with your Mac.Is one brand better than another?Western Digital's 2.5-inch drives fit in Mac laptops.Almost every computer user swears by a particular manufacturer, and one fan’s favorite will be another person’s “Worst. Drive. Ever.” So who’s right? The facts are that any computer equipment can fail unexpectedly, and any manufacturer can put out a batch of problematic hard drives from time to time. After all, a hard drive’s delicate moving parts are subject to wear and tear over repeated use just like anything else. Your best bet is to buy a known brand with a good warranty like Samsung, Western Digital, or Seagate. Buy from a reputable store, and make multiple backups often.How to Transfer Data to Your New Hard DriveWhen it’s time to upgrade your hard drive, you have to get your current data--including Mac OS X and your applications, naturally--moved over to the new device. Mac|Life recommends you clone your whole drive onto the new one.1. CleanAppZapper finds and deletes an app's related files.First banish the clutter from your current hard drive. Take a spin through your Documents, Pictures, Music, Movies, and Applications folders and delete items you’re sure you don’t want. AppCleaner (free, freemacsoft.net/AppCleaner/), AppZapper ($12.95, appzapper.com), or Hazel ($21.95, noodlesoft.com, see here) can help you delete the application and its preference files along with the app itself.2. ConnectWhen you pick out your new hard drive, buy an enclosure for it too. They aren’t expensive--Other World Computing sells them for less than $20. Get an enclosure made for SATA drives that connects to your Mac via USB (same size as the drive you’re buying--2.5 inches for laptops and 3.5 inches for desktops). Install your brand-new hard drive in it, and connect it to your Mac with a USB cable. It should mount on your Desktop as a removable drive.3. FormatReformat your drive with Disk Utility.Launch Disk Utility, select the drive you just attached, click the Erase tab, and format the new drive (not your old one!) as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This will also erase anything on the new drive; sometimes they ship with included utilities and software you don’t care about. We want it empty.4. CloneCarbon Copy Cloner will copy everything on your current hard drive to your new one.Download Carbon Copy Cloner (donations accepted, bombich.com) or SuperDuper! ($27.95, shirt-pocket.com), and use it to make an exact, bootable clone of your current hard drive on the new hard drive you formatted in Step 3.5. InstalliFixit's illustrated instructions are specific to each Mac model.Eject the removable hard drive from your Mac in the normal fashion, then remove the drive from the enclosure. Find and follow the instructions to install the bare drive in your Mac--your Mac’s manual or the guides at iFixit.com, Powerbookmedic.com, or Other World Computing will walk you through it.6. BootWhen your new hard drive is installed, boot up your Mac and make sure everything looks right. Now you can install your old hard drive in the empty enclosure, and use it like an external drive. All done!Next Page: Video Cards and Optical Drives >> Video Cards and Optical DrivesMac Pro owners only: Your spacious case leads to easy upgrades and longer life.Why can only Mac Pro owners (and Power Mac G5 owners) upgrade their video cards and optical drives?Look at all that room inside a Mac Pro. Makes you want to roll up your sleeves and swap out some components...These high-powered machines are the multipurpose workhorses of the Mac world, and they’re designed to be easily upgradeable to perform a variety of jobs. Expandability also helps protect the steep financial investment these Macs represent--and require--against early obsolescence.Why should I upgrade my video card?Power and flexibility. Gamers and media pros know that replacing an older card with the latest pixel pusher from Nvidia or ATI extends a Mac Pro’s useful life. Not only can new cards handle images, video, and 3D fragfests at higher resolutions, they speed up some everyday tasks in OS X as well. But don’t kick your old card to the curb when you upgrade. Two video cards let you use up to four monitors with your Mac Pro, offering significantly more screen real estate for all your applications.Video cards can be bought from Apple or almost any vendors specializing in Mac hardware. Apple publishes a partial list of cards compatible with the Power Mac G5 and Mac Pro lines that can help you plan your shopping trip.Is it cheaper to get Apple's stock options and upgrade myself or just have Apple build-to-order?Video cards available for preinstallation by Apple can sometimes be found cheaper at other stores, but not always. As with RAM, it’s smart to compare Apple’s prices with those of third-party vendors before you buy. But upgrading yourself can offer more choices. Not every Mac-compatible card--such as the Nvidia Quadro FX 4800--is available as a build-to-order option from Apple.Don't pay $100 for a second SuperDrive in your Mac Pro. You can fill the empty optical-drive bay yourself later.Optical drives are a different story. Currently, the only way to customize a Mac Pro’s spare optical drive bay at checkout is by adding a second SuperDrive that’s identical to the first. Go ahead and leave that bay empty. You can install a comparable DVD drive yourself for less than half of Apple’s asking price.Should I put a Blu-ray drive in my Mac Pro?Adding Blu-ray to your Mac Pro makes sense only if you need to work with Blu-ray data discs or author your own movies in the format (you’ll also need a copy of Toast or Final Cut Studio to do either). Until Cupertino hops on the Blu bandwagon, OS X can’t natively read Blu-ray, much less play District 9 in glorious 1080p on your 30-inch Cinema Display.This lack of system-wide support--and hardware costs higher than those of standard DVD drives--make Blu-ray on the Mac a technological no-man’s-land for the average user. But if you’re still tempted, it’s easy to add a Blu-ray drive to your Mac Pro.Where should I shop for Blu-ray and what models will fit?Almost any store that sells computer components offers internal Blu-ray drives that will fit your Mac Pro. But for the simplest shopping experience, stick with stores that cater to Mac customers. Some, like Other World Computing, offer bundles that include necessary software and other extras along with the drive.You’ll want a 5.25-inch Blu-ray drive to fit your Mac Pro’s spare optical drive bay. These drives connect using a standard SATA interface, so they’ll install in Mac Pros sold since March 2009 with no fuss. For an older Mac Pro, you’ll need to buy inexpensive adapter cables to connect it to the PATA (also known as ATA/IDE) optical drive interface in these Macs. Installation instructions can be found in your Mac Pro’s manual, the support section of Apple’s website, or even from the store that sold you the drive.The Right Tools for the JobWhile you’re shopping for parts to upgrade your Mac, don’t forget to pick up any tools you might need. These are essential for your toolbox. Find them at your local hardware store, or at Other World Computing (macsales.com) or iFixit (iFixit.com).Phillips screwdriver set. Or at least the 00, 0, 1, and 2 sizes of Phillips screwdrivers. Newer technology's 11-piece toolset is only $17.95 and has everything you need.Torx screwdriver set. You'll most likely need the T6 or T8, but pick up a whole set if you can so you're never stuck without the right size. iFixit sells a 26-Piece Bit Driver Kit for $14.95 that includes every Torx and Phillips screwdriver they carry.Spudger sticks. These nylon pry tools help you seat RAM modules, remove other computer parts, and open up iPods.A putty knife. You'll need one if you're planning to open a Mac mini.Next Page: Batteries >> BatteriesYour laptop's battery is nearly as essential as its screen--and it's easier to replace.How much of my battery's original capacity is left?How much juice your battery still holds on a full charge depends on your charging habits and which laptop you have. Apple claims the nonremovable batteries in MacBook Pros retain 80% of their original capacity for up to 1,000 charge cycles, and you can expect roughly the same performance from batteries in the latest MacBooks. A MacBook Air’s battery offers similar results for up to 750 cycles, and the most recent Apple laptops with removable batteries will keep delivering at 80% capacity for 300 cycles.System Profiler can fill you in on your battery's health.What’s a charge cycle? It’s a full discharge of your battery followed by a full recharge. To find out how many your battery has gone through, launch System Profiler from your Mac’s Utilities folder, then click Power in the sidebar. Your battery’s cycle count is in the Health Information section of the resulting window. If the number exceeds Apple’s benchmarks, and you find yourself scanning rooms for power outlets, it may be time for a new battery.Is the battery in my laptop considered user-replaceable?With the unibody's slim design comes a trade-off: a nonremovable battery.All MacBooks released before October 2009 and MacBook Pros released before October 2008 have user-replaceable batteries. You just buy a new one and slap it on; heck, you can even tote a spare for marathon computing sessions. The batteries in all MacBook Airs, unibody MacBooks, and unibody MacBook Pros aren’t considered user-replaceable.Where can I buy a replacement?Newer Technology's batteries are a little cheaper than Apple's.Replacing the batteries built into Apple’s latest laptops requires taking your Mac to an authorized service center. Replacement batteries for other Mac laptops are available from Apple or from many stores that specialize in Mac hardware. Some third-party manufacturers, such as NewerTechnology (newertech.com), sell their own Mac-compatible batteries for less money and at higher maximum capacities than Apple’s offerings.Are external laptop batteries worth the money?The HyperMac batteries sure don’t come cheap. Depending on which MacBook you own, you’re looking at $200 to roughly double your battery life or $400 to more than triple it. (HyperMac also offers $300 and $500 batteries; hit hypershop.com for the gory details.) It’s important to note that those performance stats really vary depending on what you’re doing--watching a DVD movie, for instance, drains batteries approximately twice as fast as just writing in Word or browsing the web. That can be invaluable, and we really appreciate how HyperMacs include a USB port for charging your iPod or whatever. So, yes, they’re a great option if you need to extend your battery life and can afford the steep pricing, but if that’s not you, we’d recommend putting those greenbacks toward something else... like that iPad you know you want.Do battery conditioners do anything worthwhile?Newer Technological sells battery conditioners ($149.95, newertech.com) for every Apple laptop.Battery conditioners automate the monthly full discharge and recharge cycle recommended by Apple if you don’t use your laptop often. This helps keep the battery’s electrons active and can improve the accuracy of its “fuel gauge” in OS X, giving you a more accurate picture of its remaining charge.How can I extend my battery's capacity?Keep your software up to date. System updates have the latest power-management features, and Apple occasionally releases updates that address battery issues. Protect your Mac from extreme temperatures, especially heat. “Exercise” your battery by charging it intermittently throughout the day, and avoid leaving it plugged in for long periods. If your laptop will be stored for more than six months, give it a 50 percent charge before shutting it down.How to Replace Your iPhone's BatteryDifficulty Level: EasyWhat You Need: >> New iPhone battery ($19.95, ifixit.com)>> Phillips 00 screwdriver (iFixiit includes one with your battery)>> Two spudgers (we used one pointy black spudger and one flatter greenish spudger)>> A soft cloth to cover your work surface>> Small suction cup ($2.95, ifixit.com)Once your iPhone is a couple of years old, you might notice the battery lasting less time on each charge. Apple can replace it for $79 plus $6.95 shipping (apple.com/support/iphone/service/battery/), but you can buy a new battery for around $20 online and do it yourself.We have helpful, step-by-step videos for all iPhones at maclife.com/iphone_battery_videos. They point out every single screw, connector, and part you need to know.

  • The 25 Best iPad Launch Games

    Whether you waited in line at your local Apple Store or Best Buy or constantly refreshed UPS.com while staring at your front door, take solace new iPad owners: the hard part is over. Now comes the fun of loading your glorious new tablet with tons of sweet and innovative apps. Regardless of whether you're a hardcore gamer or more the casual sort, the iPad App Store already has tons of great gaming options tailored specifically for the device. We tore into the App Store immediately upon receiving our iPads, and put together a list of 25 launch games worth the time and money of you lucky early adopters.Plants vs. Zombies HD ($9.99)PopCap's casual smash hit is more than a quick port of the iPhone version -- it's arguably the definitive version of the tower defense-style game, which has also appeared on Mac and PC. Pairing the crisp, hand-drawn visuals of the computer versions with the large, multitouch interface of the iPad makes for a brilliant experience, and knocking back waves of cartoon-stylized zombies with all sorts of ridiculous plant attacks has never been better than in this addicting iteration.Mirror's Edge ($12.99)Mirror's Edge began life as a first-person free running adventure game on consoles in late 2008, but this fresh iteration swaps in a side-scrolling perspective, letting you run, jump, slide, and tackle enemies with touches and flicks of the iPad screen. Like its console counterpart, Mirror's Edge is a striking, stylish-looking game, and while the iPad iteration drops the thrilling first-person viewpoint, it's still a lot of fun to scale buildings, run along billboards, and take daring leaps of faith on the iPad.Words with Friends HD ($4.99)We love the convenience of the iPhone version of this unofficial Scrabble knockoff, but we'll definitely be reaching for the iPad version whenever it's an option. Words with Friends HD uses the iPad's sharp 9.7-inch display to its advantage, displaying the entire game board and using a stylish popover menu (which seriously resembles the iPhone app) to let you manage multiple matches with ease. We're surprised even a game as simple as this looks so nice on the iPad.Flight Control HD ($4.99)The breakout iPhone hit comes to the iPad on day one, but instead of simply super-sizing everything, developer Firemint opted to give players even more space in which to direct planes towards their rightful destinations. The simplistic visual aesthetic pops on the iPad display, and enhanced multiplayer modes -- including a split-screen option and a local wireless mode compatible with both iPad and iPhone (or iPod Touch) -- make this a stellar port of the addictive original.Orbital HD ($2.99)Even after pouring hours into the awesome iPhone iteration of Orbital, we're psyched to do it all over again in this super-sized iPad version. Orbital HD finds you firing colored balls onto the screen, and the game lasts as long as you can keep firing balls without any crossing the bottom barrier line. Where the ball lands determines its size on the board, making this a strategic, sometimes heart-pounding little game with a lot of visual flair and bang for the buck. Well, three bucks.Fieldrunners for iPad ($7.99)You'll pay a slight premium ($5 more) for the iPad version of this celebrated iPhone tower defense favorite, but in our eyes, it's well worth it for the enhanced artwork (which was already excellent) and ability to see the entire game screen without squinting. Fieldrunners looks stunning in motion on the iPad, and includes all of the maps released for the iPhone iteration. Plus, developer Subatomic Studios says both free and paid add-on content is in the works.Geometry Wars: Touch ($9.99)We've seen numerous Geometry Wars knock-offs on iPhone, but now the real deal has appeared on iPad, and the twin-stick Xbox Live Arcade favorite works pretty well on Apple's tablet. In place of the real sticks are virtual ones that appear wherever you place your thumbs, with one for maneuvering your ship and the other for firing at enemies. Other than the control swap, this is pure Geometry Wars glory: frantic gameplay, mesmerizing visuals, and several worthwhile play modes.Metal Gear Solid Touch ($7.99)This shooting gallery-style spin-off of the immensely popular Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on PlayStation 3 gets a nice visual boost on iPad, with a high definition protagonist model and mid-mission stills popping right off the screen. It's not the most essential entry in the beloved action franchise, but it's a solid diversion, and Metal Gear aficionados won't want to miss it in its best form.Real Racing HD ($9.99)Real Racing is arguably the best racer on iPhone, and the upgraded iPad iteration certainly makes a case as tops on the tablet. On iPad, Real Racing HD offers an excellent and immersive driving simulation, complete with sharp visuals and the ability to customize your vehicle with any photo. With 12 tracks, 48 cars, and a robust career mode with 76 events, Real Racing has plenty to keep you busy, plus it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth multiplayer compatibility with the iPhone version!Harbor Master HD (Free)Harbor Master takes some flack for being a fairly transparent Flight Control knock-off, and we certainly won't try to dispel that. And though we'd rather play the original inspiration for it, Harbor Master HD does hold one huge advantage on iPad: it's one of the rare launch games that comes without a price tag. Indeed, you can now direct boats in HD without sparring a penny, and Harbor Master's a darn solid game on its own right, so why not give this one a download?Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition ($9.99)Super Monkey Ball is fairly synonymous with iPhone gaming, so it's little surprise to see an enhanced version of the sequel launch alongside the iPad. Still, while it comes pretty much as expected, the Sakura Edition is both nicely equipped and a good fit for the device, arriving with more than 100 total stages and new mini-games for the iPad. Tilting the iPad to roll the titular ball across increasingly elaborate stages feels right, and the game sports a clean, crisp look on the tablet.We Rule (Free)Here's another free game worth your attention on iPad. We Rule arrives on iPad shortly after its initial iPhone launch, and the kingdom-building game is fairly robust and very much social in nature. You must be logged in to play We Rule, but the upside is you'll be able to visit friends' kingdoms to interact and purchase items. Like ngmoco's other recent titles, We Rule is free to download, but you can spend some cash to improve the game by speeding up otherwise sluggish processes (like growing crops).N.O.V.A. - Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance HD ($9.99)Gameloft's sci-fi shooter certainly takes many cues from Microsoft's Halo franchise, but it's hard to think of a better first-person shooter on the iPhone. The iPad version offers a smooth visual experience, but some of the coolest upgrades come with the control scheme, which lets you curve grenade throws with a two-finger swipe, as well as target multiple enemies. With a complete campaign and online multiplayer, N.O.V.A. HD is sure to be a hot pick for early iPad action fans.Tap Tap Radiation (Free)Rather than bring its established Tap Tap Revenge series directly to the iPad, Tapulous instead opted to rework the rhythm title and unleash it as Tap Tap Radiation for the tablet. From what we've played so far, it's even better in this refreshed iteration, as the larger touch pads make it easier to jam along to the tracks. Radiation is free, but only ships with a few tracks. Luckily, several extra songs can be purchased, like a six-pack of Lady Gaga hits for just $2.99.X-Plane for iPad ($9.99)Movements of the iPad are surprisingly suitable substitutes for a proper joystick in this traditional flight simulator, which is unlike anything else on the device at the moment. X-Plane may not be as fully featured as its computer counterparts, but for a $10 handheld app, it nails enough of the sensation of piloting a jet plane to be well worth a look for both on-the-move sim junkies and casual flying fans.Zen Bound 2 ($7.99)Secret Exit's iPhone puzzle hit returns on iPad with a visually upgraded iteration that features 100+ total stages. In Zen Bound 2, you're tasked with wrapping a set amount of rope around a series of wooden sculptures, with a certain percentage of the sculpture needing to be covered to pass the stage. Between the minimalist soundtrack and at-your-own-pace approach, it's easy to zone out and get lost in this pleasant puzzler.Sam & Max: Chapter 1: The Penal Zone ($9.99)One of the surprise releases on the App Store this weekend was the debut episode of the third season of Telltale Games' well-received humor/adventure series, Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse. Launched two weeks before it arrives on other platforms, The Penal Zone is a hilarious graphic adventure boosted by strong, cartoon-like 3D visuals. Even if you're a newcomer to Sam & Max, The Penal Zone is a great place to start, and if you love it, four more episodes are planned for the coming months!Touchgrind HD ($7.99)If you ever bought a Tech Deck or any other sort of finger-controlled skateboard, you'll probably love Touchgrind HD. The concept is the same: you use two fingers to manipulate a board around a skate park, shifting your fingers around the board to navigate and pull off tricks. It takes a bit of time to learn how to control the board, but once you do, Touchgrind HD can be an epic time killer. Plus, the iPad version adds a split-screen two-player mode, so bring your skate crew!Need for Speed: Shift ($14.99)If you're seeking a slick iPad racing game with more of an arcade bent, check out Need for Speed: Shift. Like Real Racing HD, Shift features licensed vehicles and realistic visuals, but also lets you trigger nitro boosts, whip around turns using over-the-top drift maneuvers, and bump competitors aside for points. Shift comes at a definite premium, boasting a $15 price point, but includes 18 tracks, 28 cars (eight of which are exclusive to the iPad version), and some very polished aesthetics.Civilization Revolution for iPad ($12.99)We had few complaints about the stellar iPhone version of turn-based strategy favorite Civilization Revolution, but the upgraded iPad iteration really shows it up, using the extra screen real estate to display quite a bit more detail than before. The turn-based strategy genre might seem daunting to newcomers, but with multiple difficulty settings and handy advisors, Civilization Revolution's a bit more accessible than your average genre fare. Plus, the iPad version adds a scenario creator to let you customize your experience.Scrabble for iPad ($9.99)Even word geek writers like us would typically think it excessive to essentially list two versions of Scrabble (see the aforementioned Words with Friends HD), but we can't help but spotlight some of the cool features in this official iPad release. Single-player action (against the computer) is a plus, as is the local four-player Party Play mode, but our favorite feature is the accompanying Tile Rack app for iPhone/iPod Touch, which lets you virtually flick tiles onto the iPad game board. Brilliant idea!Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPad ($12.99)If the iPad version of Command & Conquer Red Alert is any indication, the real-time strategy genre has a lot of potential on Apple's tablet. Last year's iPhone version gets a big visual boost here, with detailed 3D models replacing the slightly cartoonish-looking units from the previous version. It gives the game a needed injection of style and flair, and the stellar touch controls make it a very playable and worthwhile iteration. Plus, this version adds six skirmish maps and an expansion pack!Angry Birds HD ($4.99)Angry Birds isn't the sort of game that requires a large, high definition display, but this stellar physics-based game is well worth playing if you missed it on iPhone (no need to double-dip if you have that version, though). It's a simple premise -- launch birds from a catapult in an effort to down structures housing evil green pigs -- but it's one that holds up well on the large screen. The HD upgrade gives the hand-drawn birds and environments a crisp, clean appearance, to boot.Labyrinth 2 HD ($7.99)After a couple successful iterations on iPhone, Illusion Labs' Labyrinth series gets the HD bump on iPad, and the larger form factor of the device offers the biggest boost, as it feels more like holding an actual, wooden labyrinth puzzle. Guiding a ball through the maze by tilting the iPad feels incredibly natural, and the enhanced visuals make it look even more like the real thing. Custom level support means you have thousands of extra levels to choose from, and unlike most launch games, there's a free Lite edition available.Diner Dash: Grilling Green ($4.99)It's tough to find a device (especially a mobile one) nowadays that doesn't have some version of casual smash hit Diner Dash, but we're glad to see that PlayFirst opted to start off with an exclusive new iPad iteration, Grilling Green. The game hasn't really changed: you play as waitress Flo, tasked with taking orders, serving meals, and seating patrons before their patience runs thin. However, now you can help cook the meals (in a nod to the Cooking Mama games), and the game can be played in either screen orientation.

  • Apple Releases iPad 3.2 SDK Gold Master and Firmware

    The iPad Software Development Kit (SDK) has now been stripped of its beta status as Apple released the gold master version of the development software today. iPad SDK 3.2 GM is the new release that all iPad applications must be built on in order for inclusion in the App Store from this point forward. In an email sent to developers, Apple states, "All members of the iPhone Developer Program can submit their iPad apps to iTunes Connect for review and approval. If you did not submit your app during the initial review period, but upload it by March 31, it will be reviewed but may not make the grand opening of the iPad App Store."  MacRumors notes that Apple has also just posted the iPad 3.2 Firmware (download link) on their servers. Of course, if you do download it, there's nothing much you can do since only a select few in the world have iPads (hrm... someone with the lucky last name of "Jobs").Also of interest is the iPad documentation file (download link) that provides this very interesting statement: "Apple will provide you any iPad OS software updates that it may release from time to time, up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free. For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release. Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models."  MacRumors notes that this could mean a free upgrade to the 4.x software, but paid upgrades beyond that. Somewhere in the middle of the iPhone and iPod touch upgrade paths. In addition to all of the news above, Apple has also posted a page on their developer site where developers can learn all about submitting their iPad applications to the App Store. As the iPad launch date approaches, stay tuned to Mac|Life as we will be providing you with up-to-date news and information.

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