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- Rumor: Budget iPhone model expected, says FT.com
Filed under: Rumors, WWDC, iPhone
If the promise of a new, faster and video-editing enabled iPhone isn't enough to make you block out time for Monday's WWDC keynote on your calendar, check out the Financial Times report that revitalizes rumors of a new lower-priced iPhone model (iPhone mini? iPhone nano?) said to be ready for announcement on Monday. The new device would also come subsidized with a carrier contract, but would cost buyers just $149US or $99US up front.While rumors of a cheaper iPhone have been circulating since the original iPhone introduction, the option to split the product line may make more sense now that consumer spending is in recession-tightened mode. Still, PCworld points out that FT's choice of analysts to quote is a little bit problematic; Morgan Stanley's Kathryn Huberty got cited by Seeking Alpha as the worst predictor of Apple's numbers in September 2008.
If you had a choice between a full-featured iPhone capable of video calls and clip capture/editing, or saving $100+ on a 4GB model with capabilities similar to today's iPhone 3G, which would you choose?
[via Engadget]
TUAWRumor: Budget iPhone model expected, says FT.com originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - File under "This won't last": new white MacBook benchmarks faster than unibody model
Filed under: MacBook
In a thorough review of the new speed-bumped white MacBook, Macworld notes an intriguing fact: the 2.13GHz model of the $999 entry-level laptop actually outperforms the base unibody model. The magazine's benchmarks show a 4 percent advantage for the new white MacBook over the $1299 2GHz aluminum laptop; the white model even outlasts the next-generation machine on battery life by more than 30 minutes.
Unless you absolutely have to have the new industrial design on your laptop and you're willing to pay an extra $300 for the privilege, it does seem that the new white model is the better buy... for now. A performance gap like this is a strong hint that the unibody models are due for a processor bump sometime soon, if only to restore the proper order of things: faster should equal more expensive. Right?
TUAWFile under "This won't last": new white MacBook benchmarks faster than unibody model originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Friday Favorite: Photomatix Pro
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Friday Favorite, Road Tested
There are few times I have used software that really caused my jaw to drop. Photomatix Pro did just that. It's a Mac OS X utility that allows you to create what are called High Dynamic Range (HDR) images from separate digital exposures taken at different shutter speeds (exposure levels). These pictures are far more colorful and impressive in their tonal range and saturation.
Many digital cameras have something called AEB, or Automatic Exposure Bracketing. You click the shutter once, and the camera takes 3 pictures instead of just one. In my case I usually shoot a normally exposed image, then one 2 stops under, and another one 2 stops over. If your camera doesn't have AEB you can do this manually.
Photomatix Pro combines the three exposures you've taken into one, and tone maps the image into a JPEG or TIFF that displays a really wide dynamic range. The result is often a stunning picture, with little loss in the shadowy areas, and no blown-out highlights. It's hard to do if you are shooting people because they will move between the 3 exposures, but works great with landscapes. A tripod is recommended, but I've done just fine handheld and Photomatix Pro will automatically line up (register) the 3 images.
Words can't describe the difference, so I've included a few examples to look at. There are other Mac apps that do similar things, but I've had the best luck with Photomatix Pro. They also make a Photoshop plug-in and one for Aperture, but I think the full program is the best. Newer versions of Photoshop also support the creation of these HDR images, but the results are not as spectacular in my view. There is also a free, basic version of the program that lets you combine 2 images, but it is simply not as effective.
You can search for a lot of information on HDR photography on the web. I have found this site to be very good, and it reviews the different software that is available. It's very easy to overdo the look of HDR images, and Photomatix Pro gives you lots of control. You can make your images really good, or outlandish. The control is in the hands of the photographer. To many, HDR will be old hat, but a lot of photographers haven't tried it, and will be pleasantly shocked at the results.
Since you can download Photomatix Pro for free, if you are serious about digital imaging, I'd give it a tryout. If you buy the full version it is US$99.00.
Here are some examples of how HDR imaging works. Of course these images are reduced in quality and resolution, so they only hint at the differences.TUAWFriday Favorite: Photomatix Pro originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Keep track of your dogcow with Clarus
Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, Leopard
We've talked about pet management software before on TUAW. It's software that allows you to keep track of important information about your companion animals, including when the next vet appointment is, what medications they're taking, names and addresses for vets, groomers, and more.
Clarus 1.0 is the latest application of this genre, and it looks like a keeper. The £15.00 GBP program, which appears to have been named after the mythical dogcow of Apple lore, can be downloaded for a free trial. Purchasing the application eliminates built-in limits on the number of contacts, insurance policies, medications, and vet visits.
Unlike other pet management packages, KennettNet built Clarus from the ground up as a Leopard app, and it takes advantage of integration with Address Book, iCal, Quick Look, and AppleScript. Clarus is localized for English, French, German, and Spanish Mac users.
What I find most useful about this program is how it stores all of my pet's care information in one place. Should my cat Ruby require emergency medical care, I have all of her records at my fingertips. If she runs away from home, I can print a "missing" poster with one click.
Clarus gets two paws-up! Moof!TUAWKeep track of your dogcow with Clarus originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dear Auntie TUAW: What's that little dot in the iPhone's status bar?
Filed under: iPod Family, Tips and tricks, iPhone
Dear Auntie TUAW, I was driving home from an appointment today with my brother, and at a stop light, I noticed that instead of the Edge "E", I had this little blue dot. I just assumed that it was where i had connected to WiFi and had no bars, but it was much too big and centered.
My brother, who also has an iPhone, pulled his out to find that we both had the little dot. They are both first Gen iPhones, his 4GB, mine 8GB. I did not know what this meant, but being the Apple nerd I am, I figure I would have heard something of this dot before now.
Do you know what it is? Could it have something to do with 3.0 coming out soon as expected? Thanks, And I look forward to hearing what you think.
With love from your nephew,
Andrew Dixon
Andrew, sweetheart,Speaking of the iPhone, are you including enough roughage in your diet? Now that I'm entering onto what we oldsters can only term our "tender years," I've grown to realize that bulk, bulk, bulk is the key to world happiness. Fiber is health; health, fiber. That is what we know at TUAW, and all ye need to know for better digestive function.
As for your question, that little blue circle means you youngsters were connected to a GPRS network, aka General Packet Radio Service. When the iPhone first debuted, it displayed the EDGE "E" when connected to GPRS. This made pedants cry. Newer firmware versions show this blue circle instead. As noted below, GPRS is quite a bit slower than either EDGE or 3G.
To check this icon out for yourself, you can browse through your iPhone files using sftp (on a jailbroken iPhone) or iBrowser (for iPhones with the developer deployment). The EDGE and GPRS icons live in /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app and are named FSO_EDGE_ON.png and FSO_GPRS_ON.png. You'll need to convert the compressed iPhone-style png images to Mac compatible ones using a utility like fixpng.
Send my love to your brother and don't forget to wear a scarf to keep your neck warm!
Love and hugs,
Auntie T.
TUAWDear Auntie TUAW: What's that little dot in the iPhone's status bar? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Google Chrome developer preview (unofficially) released
Filed under: Internet Tools, Beta Beat
Digg's Kevin Rose, perennial purveyor of information that just "fell off the back of the truck" shared a link early this morning to Google's new, supercharged, Webkit-based browser -- for Mac. The new browser, Chrome, is clearly marked as a developer preview, and not meant for general browsing. In fact, as a good Mac citizen, it will refuse to set itself as your default browser.
It scores a 100 on the Acid3 test straight out of the box, but doesn't pass: it fails something called the linktest, which involves interacting A tags and IFRAMEs. A little research suggests that it could be a bug with Webkit. If that's true, then it's a bug that Safari 4 beta has fixed.
Chrome appears to have Flash (and other plugin) support disabled as well. JavaScript support, however, is fully functional. While Chrome performed much better than Firefox on this cursory test, it still didn't beat Safari 4 by a long shot. While only a beta, its performance is respectable and sure to improve.
Again, Google Chrome isn't for everyone, but if you're a web developer who needs to keep up with the bleeding edge of browser development, then this preview should be stable and reliable enough for you to test what you need to.
Read through for the full JavaScript test details.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Continue reading Google Chrome developer preview (unofficially) released
TUAWGoogle Chrome developer preview (unofficially) released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW at WWDC 2009: We want to hear from you
Filed under: WWDC, TUAW Business, Developer
It's that time of year again. In the US, schools are emptying, weather is heating up and all sorts of developers are readying to wend their way to San Francisco for Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference, or WWDC.
Sure, the noncoding masses are expecting a hardware announcement (new iPhone, anyone?), but developers are really salivating over improvements to OS X in the upcoming Snow Leopard (10.6) release, and iPhone OS 3.0. After all, with great hardware comes awesome software. Apple might even have some surprises in store for us.
TUAW will be at WWDC during the week, and if you're a developer for iPhone or the Mac, we want to talk to you! Be sure to polish your elevator pitch, as we'd like to shoot as many demos as possible. Plus, we're attending the Parallels party (RSVP here), the iPhone Launch Party and maybe a few others, so there will be plenty of chances for your shot at fame. If you'd like to get in touch with us before the event, you can email us at wwdc at tuaw (dot com). See you in San Francisco! You can also join us online and on the phone during Sunday night's talkcast, where we'll be talking about the final round of preconference rumors and expected announcements.
For those you not attending, stay tuned to TUAW as we liveblog the keynote, dig into the announcements, and show the newest of the new apps being demoed at the event.TUAWTUAW at WWDC 2009: We want to hear from you originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - 9 things I learned from almost losing my MacBook Air
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Features, How-tos, Odds and ends, Security, MacBook Air, MobileMe
I swear, getting old is not a lot of fun.
Last night, I taught a class in data security for home and small business users at our local community college. There were a lot of good questions from the community education program students, so the class ended quite late and I was still answering questions as I walked out the door.
This morning, I went to grab my MacBook Air out of my laptop bag and literally grabbed air instead. In my haste to get out of the classroom and head home, I had packed everything but the laptop. Fortunately, the classroom was locked and few classes are scheduled for early morning, so I called the campus police and had them rescue the MBA for me. Problem solved!
After actually losing an iPhone 3G a few months ago, I wrote a post about what to do to prevent data loss and identity theft when lose your iPhone, and included a few tips on how to hopefully keep yourself from losing the phone in the first place. In this post, I'll talk about the things that I do (or can do) to keep my MacBook Air and my data safe, even when my mind conspires against me to try to lose the computer.Continue reading 9 things I learned from almost losing my MacBook Air
TUAW9 things I learned from almost losing my MacBook Air originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - WSJ: Steve Jobs return is on track for end of June
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Cult of Mac, Steve Jobs, Apple, One More Thing
In its sometime role as a broadsheet hybrid of Us magazine and the New England Journal of Medicine, we have an update tonight from The Wall Street Journal on the condition of everyone's favorite iCEO. Steve Jobs, according to the story (subscription required on the web, free to read on your iPhone), is recovered from his health crisis and on track to return by the end of June. While some speculate that he might choose to surprise the audience at WWDC with a One More Thing moment, two sources for the WSJ story say that the plan is to wait a bit longer.
Steve's return is likely to be coordinated with a product launch or other public event later in June, say the sources. That event probably won't be the announcement of the next-gen iPhone, which the paper pinpoints for the keynote address on Monday with availability close to the two-year anniversary date for the original iPhone purchasers (pretty sensible; anyone who bought a first-gen for the premium price is a likely candidate to shell out for a replacement). The WSJ cites someone who has seen the new phone in person, reporting a faster processor and the expected video editing capabilities.
Equally importantly, the story points out that the long Steveless months with Tim Cook at the helm have shown investors and customers that the Apple train is still on track. AAPL is up 68% since Steve announced his leave of absence in January, vs. a 24% uptick for the NASDAQ index. Granted, Apple stock took a bit of a hit around the announcement of the leave, dipping to a low of 78.20 on 1/20, but it's up at 143.74 as of today's close.
[via Macrumors]TUAWWSJ: Steve Jobs return is on track for end of June originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - What I'd like to see in iPhone 3.0 (but probably won't)
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Bad Apple, iPhone, iPod touch
Yeah, I know we haven't seen it yet, but based on what we do know, here's some things I'll bet Apple missed that I'd like to see ASAP.
- Unified mailbox as an option: This works great in OS X. I sure am getting tired of checking 3 email accounts with hundreds of extra finger swipes every day. Even an icon to get me to any inbox I want to see would be an improvement. Some people don't want this. A simple software switch would be fine.
- Louder speakerphone: I have no idea why this as been such a problem since day 1. The volume of this phone is just not loud enough in a noisy environment. Maybe this is a hardware thing, maybe it's software. Whatever. Just fix this!
- Getting to Bluetooth and location manager: These settings are just buried too deep. How about a switch in the top level of settings? Once again, save me all that tapping.
- Consistency of app settings: Sometimes they appear in settings, sometimes within the app. I shouldn't have to scrounge around trying to guess which app works which way.
- Moving icons around on the desktop: Have you ever tried to organize icons by type, or popularity? Gee whiz, what a nightmare. Maybe this could be done by dragging apps in iTunes, or some easy method on the phone itself would be even better. As it is now, it's like one of those old plastic puzzles where you had to get things in order. Every drag of an icon on the iPhone often has unexpected or at least unwanted results. This is not one of those 'it just works' things on the iPhone.
TUAWWhat I'd like to see in iPhone 3.0 (but probably won't) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Wall Street analysts anticipate WWDC 09
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, WWDC, Apple, iPhone, App Store
With WWDC 09 coming up next week, Wall Street analysts are polishing their crystal balls and commenting on what they think we'll hear about. In a post on Barron's Tech Trader Daily blog, Eric Savitz polled the top tech analysts for their ideas.
Yair Reiner of Oppenheimer believes that the new iPhones will be delayed until WWDC so that the conference focus will be on Snow Leopard and iPhone OS 3.0. Shaw Wu of Kaufman Brothers is in agreement, and Wu also believes that AT&T will offer more flexible service plans, and that the iPhone line will split into a high-end version with improved battery life and a junior version with less functionality.
Savitz's post goes on to tap Phil Cusick of Macquarie Research for his ideas, which also include the split of the line into high-end and entry-level iPhones. He's noted as saying that the high-end phone will include both a front camera for video chat and a rear mounted autofocus camera, but that an OLED screen won't be a feature of this device.
Kathryn Huberty of Morgan Stanley is cited as believing that the new iPhones will be unveiled at WWDC, with a $100 price cut, lower AT&T service plan fees, and entrance into the China market, thereby increasing demand. Huberty is noted as thinking that Apple won't add another US carrier before 2011. Vincent Rech of Societe Generale also believes that China is ripe for an iPhone distribution deal.
Everybody's favorite research analyst, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, has high hopes for AppleTV in the near future, according to a post on the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital site today.
Blogger John Paczkowsi cites Munster as believing that Apple is working on both a new AppleTV for a September release and an App Store to go with it. WWDC 09 might be used as a launch site for an AppleTV SDK, along with an announcement of an App Store for AppleTV for a 2010 launch.
Munster, who has a pretty good track record at Apple predictions, feels that future AppleTV apps could include digital video services for expanding content offerings (he cites Hulu as an example) and that an SDK would enable use of the iPhone or iPod touch as a game controller.
The consensus? Pretty much everyone believes that new iPhones are imminent, although the timing of the release is up in the air. Several of the analysts believe that the new devices will be announced at a separate Apple event towards the end of June where Steve Jobs can make his long-awaited return to the company.
Whatever the outcome of WWDC, be sure to stay tuned to TUAW for our continuing coverage of this important event.TUAWWall Street analysts anticipate WWDC 09 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iLife '09 gets the Software Update treatment
Filed under: iLife, Software Update
Apple just released some updates for iLife '09 via Software Update. In a very un-Apple fashion, the release notes are actually sort of descriptive!
Here's the breakdown:
- iLife Support -- this is for iLife '09, iWork '09 and Aperture 2 users and it addresses some memory leaks, custom folder issues with Media Browser and maintaining the correct image date when importing from iPhoto to Aperture.
- iDVD gets an update to fix an issue where iDVD is unable to add a title/comment to an image. Recommended for all iDVD 7 users.
- iMovie now supports 720p AVCHD Lite cameras and camcorders and some other issues.
- iPhoto -- some fixes to publishing to MobileMe, Flickr and Facebook, slideshow playback and location GPS in emailed and exported JPEGs See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3532
- Digital Camera RAW update -- RAW support for iPhoto '08, iPhoto '09 and Aperture 2 for various Canon, Nikon and Olympus cameras.
TUAWiLife '09 gets the Software Update treatment originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Rumor: New iPhone to be called "iPhone Video?"
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, iPhone
Further fueling the iPhone fire (try saying that one five times fast), TUAW has received an anonymous tip stating that AT&T's support website will be updated with "iPhone Video" as one of the model choices when choosing Apple as the phone manufacturer.
While I only see the original iPhone and 3G choices on the support site now, it stands to reason that this photo may have been taken from a screen showing unpublished support content. Click the image for the full-res photo.
This adds to some already interesting news, reported earlier by AppleInsider, that new model placeholders have begun appearing in inventory for Carphone Warehouse, a retailer that resells the iPhone. These models were labeled with a "V3", which could simply mean Version 3, or the V may also stand for "Video" or "Video 3G". Other retailers have also recently reported additional entries or placeholders showing up in their inventories, and many carriers have also received end of life notices for the current 3G models.
So even if a new model isn't announced at WWDC, it's a pretty safe bet that Apple has something in the pipeline.TUAWRumor: New iPhone to be called "iPhone Video?" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW at E3: The Sims 3 for iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
The Sims 3 pretty faithfully recreates the Sims experience on Apple's handhelds, albeit in a more streamlined version. While the handheld port avoids a lot of the new complexity of the latest PC release, the core Sims experience is still here -- you can create a Sim, give it a personality and a house, and then help your little avatar live its life, from going to work to following goals and dreams to completion.
To a relatively new Sims player (I've never been a huge fan of the games), the variety of things to do here is pretty impressive. There's the usual tasks around your house -- eating, cleaning, sleeping, and so on -- but as you play, your Sim comes up with new goals to lust after, and it's your job to make sure those things happen, all while trying to preserve your Sim's health and sanity. For instance, just a minute into playing, my Sim suddenly got it in his head that he wanted to "use someone else's shower" (which seems like an exceedingly creepy goal to have, actually), but instantly I started thinking about all the things I had to do to complete it: go to town, meet someone, get invited to their house, and then somehow find an opportunity to jump in the shower.Continue reading TUAW at E3: The Sims 3 for iPhone
TUAWTUAW at E3: The Sims 3 for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Rumor: New iPhone pictures leaked?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, iPhone
With the increasing evidence that a new iPhone may be just around the corner, we've seen our share of screenshots, speculations, and mock-ups. Now, the Italian iPhone blog iSpazio has posted pictures of what could possibly be the next iPhone (English Translations: here and here).
These images were provided by an anonymous source, who states that the featured photo is a picture of a screen showing an as-of-yet unpublished update to the iPhone page on Apple's website. Reportedly, the website also features the text "Ebony, curious, advanced. The new iPhone is for everyone. Available today." along with references to the phone's "sleek all black build, including the slip-resistant backing and bezel."
As can be seen from the images, the new model appears to feature some interesting changes near the earpiece. In addition to the slot already present on the existing models, both of these images clearly show a wider slot at the top of the face, just below the bezel. Also of note is the small, green LED present near the earpiece on the screenshot. Our tipster suggests this could be part of a front-facing camera. It also looks like the mute/sleep switch has been moved to the top-left of the phone. However, the supposed website image still shows the switch on the top right.
While I personally am skeptical about the LED in the screenshot, these pictures do look promising. What's your verdict? Could this in fact be a first look at the next iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
Update: As eagle-eyed reader John points out below, the headphone jack appears to have been moved to the bottom right of the device (if you're looking at the front of the phone). Good catch!
Update 2: After looking closer at these images, I noticed that there is a small button near the bottom of the right side of the phone. It looks to be in the right position for a shutter control when you are using the camera horizontally.
Source #1, Source #2TUAWRumor: New iPhone pictures leaked? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple's North Carolina facility now moving towards reality
Filed under: Apple Corporate
As noted last week, the lovely state of North Carolina has offered a healthy tax incentive to Apple for the construction and operation of a data center there. Now that the bill has become law -- creating $46 million in credits for Apple over the next 10 years -- Apple and the NC governor's office have announced that the project will go forward. Both Cnet and Computerworld are reporting that the location for the data center is yet to be determined, but a wage provision in the incentive package points to either Cleveland or Catawba counties, both in the vicinity of Charlotte.
The new facility could create up to 3,000 temporary employment opportunities while under construction, and 250-300 long term jobs in the finished operational site. Apple has not suggested what kind of data & applications would be hosted at the facility, but considering the rapid growth of iTunes and App Store content it's a reasonable bet that some of the capacity would be used for those services.TUAWApple's North Carolina facility now moving towards reality originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Ask TUAW: Return to open, messed up Mighty Mouse, PDF alternatives, Boot Camp expansion, and more
Filed under: Features, Troubleshooting, Ask TUAW
It's time once again for Ask TUAW! For this round we take questions about cleaning a malfunctioning Mighty Mouse, opening files and applications with the return key, expanding a Boot Camp partition, finding alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, caring for your notebook battery, and more
As always, your suggestions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions!TUAWAsk TUAW: Return to open, messed up Mighty Mouse, PDF alternatives, Boot Camp expansion, and more originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW at E3: Mass Effect Galaxy on the iPhone
Filed under: Gaming, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
EA brought a few iPhone games to the show in Los Angeles this week -- first up, we got a look at the Mass Effect entry for the iPhone, recently titled Mass Effect Galaxy. The game takes place in the same universe as the popular console game (and its sequel), but it focuses around a separate, non-customizable hero named Jacob Taylor. And while the game was designed by Bioware, it plays very differently from the regular console versions. It's much more action-based, and while it does tell a pretty enticing story, it's much less of an RPG.
While Mass Effect played as a third-person shooter, Mass Effect Galaxy actually goes with a top-down view, and takes basic aiming controls out of your hands completely. Instead, you send the main character running around the map with the accelerometer, and he aims and fires at enemies for you. Along the side edge of the touchscreen are your bionic abilities, and you can throw them in as you fight, but mostly, the game is just about navigating Jacob behind cover by tilting the accelerometer.Continue reading TUAW at E3: Mass Effect Galaxy on the iPhone
TUAWTUAW at E3: Mass Effect Galaxy on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone 3.0 Firmware Antici...
Filed under: iPod Family, WWDC, iPhone
With WWDC just a short while away, iPhone users everywhere are looking forward to the upcoming 3.0 firmware release promised back in March. So when will 3.0 debut? Apple hasn't said[1 ].
In March, Apple promised that 3.0 would appear this Summer, causing pundits to speculate that the firmware and a refreshed iPhone line might hit the streets in early July, around the one year anniversary of the 3G model. July 11 marks the date that the 3G iPhone and App Store finally launched.
Rumors have been flying in recent days that 3.0 might bow as early as next Monday. The recent release of iTunes 8.2 supports that idea, indicating that Apple may be closer to a 3.0 update than originally thought. TUAW readers point out that apps which have publicly announced remote notification support have begun appearing in iTunes, albeit in 2.x releases.
There's no reason I can think of that Apple should have to wait for new hardware before releasing the 3.0 firmware to the general public. In fact, I'd greatly welcome an earlier release for enthusiastic reasons I cannot expand upon due to the ongoing NDA. Others have pointed out that a staggered software/hardware release might avoid the iTunes server capacity issues that plagued the 2.0 firmware release.
So when do you think Apple will start shipping 3.0? Let us know in the comments and cast your vote in this handy poll.
[1 ]...pationTUAWiPhone 3.0 Firmware Antici... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW at E3: Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem for iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
I'm spending the week at E3, and while iPhone games are somewhat few and far between (odds are that we'll see most of the App Store's goods next week at WWDC), there are a few gems to find out on the floor. In the Vogster booth, I got to play Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem. It was originally seen on the DS as a classic real-time strategy title, in the style of Warcraft and Starcraft, and it's kept that standard gameplay on the iPhone -- you can create units and control them along with heroes, tech up with different buildings, and control bases and maps. The top screen of the DS has become two panels on the side of the iPhone's screen, but navigation is still pretty easy -- click to select units, click to direct them. Hardcore strategy fans won't find any surprises, but it is a solid, classic-style RTS that runs well.
There will be 17 singleplayer missions shipping with the game, and the team is working on getting multiplayer to work as well -- it currently works over WiFi, and they're aiming to even allow online play before it releases to the App Store in August. Vogster producer Alan Martin even told us that they found developing for the iPhone even easier than the DS -- different factions in the game are shown by applying different colors to the units, and while on the DS they had to make sprites for each color, the iPhone allowed them to simply change the primary colors with a variable. RTS fans especially should be sure to give the game a lookTUAWTUAW at E3: Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW First Look: Parachute Panic for iPhone
Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, iPod touch
I love iPhone games. Zen Bound, Frenzic and Peggle are among my favorites. Each feels right on the phone, from the utilization of the touch screen to the graphics and sound. Best of all, there's no definitive end, so I can continue to play for as long as I like.
Earlier this week, they were all knocked down a peg as Parachute Panic [App Store link] became my favorite. It's part Defender, part SketchFighter 4000 Alpha and a lot of fun. The goal is simple: Allow paratroopers safe passage from an airplane to the deck of a ship. As they fall, you must deploy their chutes (some open on their own but most don't; I'd have a word with the manufacturer) while avoiding rotating helicopter blades, abducting space aliens, electrical storms and hungry sharks. Additionally, you've got to alter the wind direction to ensure they hit the target and not the open sea.
The graphics are absolutely charming. The paratroopers are stick figures and the ships, aliens, sharks, etc. resemble simple sketches done with marker. Everything is on a background that looks like a crumpled sheet of grid paper, like those we used in elementary school. An acoustic guitar plays gentle broken chords during gameplay.
Speaking of the gameplay, that's also a treat. To deploy a stubborn chute, simply tap the plummeting trooper. Defeat helicopters and aliens by tapping them 5 times, and alter the wind direction by swiping left, right or down to speed things up (pro tip: Swipe up to pause the game). At first it's easy: land two troopers on a stationary ship without interference from enemies. Then the ships start to move and get smaller, their numbers increase, the paratroopers pour from the planes like water over Niagara Falls and enemies abound. Careful attention, wind manipulation and parachute timing will get you through.
I've only got one request here, and that's a way to compare scores with friends. Some of my buddies are kicking my butt, and the competition would be more fun with a site set up for (among other things) trash talk, similar to Frenzic.com.
Is it worth 99 pennies? Positively. Check out the gallery of screen shots below.TUAWTUAW First Look: Parachute Panic for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple delivers Airport Utility Update
Filed under: Airport, Software Update
It has been a busy few days for Apple in the software update domain. iWork '09, iTunes, and Quicktime have all been updated, along with GarageBand.
Today, Apple is pushing out an Airport Utility software update. With the usual great and patented Apple detail, the update:
"..includes general fixes and compatibility updates for the following applications: AirPort Utility and AirPort Base Station Agent. The update also installs AirPort Disk Utility on Macs running Tiger." There is also an update of the Airport Utility for Windows.
The new software is 18.9 MB, and does not require a restart. Hooray.
Thanks to Mikey for the tip.TUAWApple delivers Airport Utility Update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone developers on the go can retrieve App Store reports with AppSales Mobile
Filed under: iPod Family, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK, Jailbreak/pwnage
Are you an App Store developer? Are you looking to keep track of how your applications are doing from the convenience of your iPhone? The open source AppSales Mobile application has made a place for itself in the developer community, offering up-to date statistics with daily and weekly reports from the iTunes app store. You'll need a developer license to run it, however, as it's not available in the App Store. You must download the source, compile it in Xcode, and install it onto your iPhone.
AppSales Mobile offers an easy-to-use settings page. Just enter your iTunes Connect user ID and password and choose the currency you want to work with (this defaults to the euro, so US devs will probably want to change it to dollars). Return to the main menu and click the refresh button. If you've got a solid network connection, your reports will download in a matter of minutes.
Continue reading iPhone developers on the go can retrieve App Store reports with AppSales Mobile
TUAWiPhone developers on the go can retrieve App Store reports with AppSales Mobile originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW First Look: 1Password touch 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
Agile Web Solutions, developer of the 1Password secure password manager for Mac, has announced the release of 1Password touch 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The app, which is available through Friday, June 5th as a free download, is much improved over the previous versions and includes new functionality as well.
I downloaded and installed 1Password touch 2.0 [App Store] yesterday and was pleased to see that some previous issues have been resolved. The app now launches much faster, and the user interface has been improved for adding logins, passwords, and notes.
One of the biggest improvements is in how 1Password touch handles wallet items. These are things like driver's licenses, bank account numbers, internet account information, or other information that you may need to have at your fingertips, but would like to have secured behind AES-128 encryption on your iPhone. Previously, you couldn't add or edit wallet items on your iPhone; now you can.
WiFi Sync is now available as well (replacing the previous sync functionality, which was branded differently). You need to be running 1Password for Mac version 2.9.16 or later, as well as 1Password touch 2.0 or later. The sync is very fast, and it makes moving password and wallet information between your Mac and iPhone a piece of cake.
If you don't currently have a secure password manager for your iPhone, or if you're not happy with the one currently installed on your device, be sure to download 1Password touch for free during the next few days. Check out the gallery below for some screenshots of the new version.
TUAWTUAW First Look: 1Password touch 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - From a parallel universe: The Apple Cafe
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blast From the Past, Apple History
If things had turned out just a bit differently in the late 1990's, we might not be visiting Apple Stores. Instead, we'd be talking about the food we ate and the movies we watched at the Apple Cafe.
TUAW reader and Guifx Director of Operations Morgan Strauss told us about his post on the Guifx blog recalling a retail concept that Apple announced on November 12, 1996. No, they weren't planning on selling Macs, iPhones, iPods, and the occasional Apple TV -- instead, Apple announced that they were going to open a chain of Apple Cafes throughout the world.
The Apple Cafe was to be a high-tech cybercafe where you could order healthy food while videoconferencing with people at nearby tables, surfing the Web, and pulling up movies or TV shows on a small kiosk screen at your table.
Strauss owns two architectural paintings (below) that were produced by artists for Landmark Entertainment Group, which was partnering with Apple and a company called Mega Bytes International in the proposed venture. The paintings show the proposed 15,000 square foot Los Angeles location, which was to be the flagship of the chain.
The concept was quietly scrapped before it ever got off the ground, which is probably fortunate considering the dwindling popularity of other theme restaurants. Be sure to visit the Guifx Blog to see the paintings in detail.
TUAWFrom a parallel universe: The Apple Cafe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - 2009 WWDC posters appear at Moscone West
Filed under: Apple Corporate, WWDC, Apple, iPhone, iPod touch
TUAW buddy Adam Jackson has posted pictures he took of a WWDC poster that's currently hanging in the Moscone Center. Bearing the phrase "One year later. Light-years ahead" and several flying app icons, it puts the iPhone front-and-center, as one would expect. Some folks are using Flickr's Notes feature to ID apps they recognize. Feel free to fill in the gaps.
We expect Apple to demo and distribute a new, nearly-final build of Snow Leopard to developers, and at least announce a ship date for iPhone OS 3.0. It will be nice if we get a firm release date for Snow Leopard and a preview of new iPhone hardware, but we aren't holding our breath. Stay tuned to TUAW during the show for coverage and reaction to everything from WWDC.
Of course, I wouldn't be a nit-picky jerk if I didn't mention that a year is a measure of time while a light year is a measure of distance. I wonder if the new iPhone will make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Thanks Adam!TUAW2009 WWDC posters appear at Moscone West originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - WaPo: DOJ preparing antitrust probe for Apple, among others
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Bad Apple
Apple, Google, Yahoo! and Genentech are subjects of a fresh antitrust investigation surrounding hiring and recruiting practices among companies in the tech industry, according to Washington Post staff writer Cecilia Kang. "By agreeing not to hire away top talent, the companies could be stifling competition and trying to maintain their market power unfairly," antitrust experts said in the article. Hiring and recruiting can sometimes be a touchy affair, as Apple found out late last year when trying to hire Mark Papermaster. The investigation may suggest some kind of written agreement among large tech firms to not hire away each other's top talent.
According to the New York Times, Justice has only requested documents for the ongoing investigation. Neither the Justice Department nor any of the companies mentioned in the story had any comment.
This comes in addition to another Justice investigation into ties between the boards of directors of Apple and Google, and whether or not having Google CEO Eric Schmidt on both (and Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson on all three) constitutes antitrust violations. Some consider Apple and Google to be competitors in certain areas such as phone handsets.
The Obama administration is stepping up efforts to investigate anti-competitive activity among high-tech companies, and is already investigating Google's deal with book authors to republish their work via Google Books.
[Via AppleInsider]
TUAWWaPo: DOJ preparing antitrust probe for Apple, among others originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple stores roll out revised One to One support & training program
If you have purchased a Mac from Apple's online or retail stores in recent years, then you probably were offered a membership in an exclusive club known as "ProCare." ProCare's most valuable assets were advanced placement in the in-store repair queue and initial setup for new Macs, as well as free hour-long training sessions. The service, which debuted in 2004, was changed in 2007 when "One to One" was introduced, effectively splitting ProCare's training benefits into a separate service.
While ProCare is not changing, One to One is being beefed up to offer some new features as well as some new limitations. ProCare's complete Mac setup & data transfer is now included with One to One. Previously, One to One only included a "simple" setup.
Other changes for One to One include exclusive workshops only available to One to One members as well as the new "Personal Projects" session for larger blocks of time. Now members can reserve a session for up to a three hour block of time to create, with an Apple trainer's assistance, "anything ... you can dream up." Similar to workshops, Personal Projects are a group activity in that several members will be present; while a workshop includes members working on the same topic, a project session includes members working on individual and unrelated tasks.
One to One is also now only available with the purchase of a new Mac at an Apple store; this is in contrast to the previous One to One and current ProCare services which could be purchased at any time. One to One memberships are also now only renewable two times for a maximum membership duration of three years. Existing memberships (beginning prior to June 2, 2009) in One to One will be renewable only one time.
You can purchase a new One to One membership along with a new Mac at any Apple Retail store now. According to Apple this service's availability will expand to Apple's online channel in the near future. The question, One to One members, is this: are you happy about the new features of One to One, or do you wish it had not changed? If you aren't already a One to One member, will you be joining the club the next time you purchase a Mac?TUAWApple stores roll out revised One to One support & training program originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - New York's flagship Apple Store doing great business
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Apple Financial
New York City's flagship Apple Store, located on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, is doing tremendous business. According to The New York Post, that store raked in $440 million in one year. Of course, the location doesn't hurt. It's right by Central Park and the huge, glass cube is a real tourist draw.
The Post also notes that the SoHo store pulled in $100 million, but didn't provide any stats on the West 14th Street store. In the meantime, construction has begun on what's rumored to be a fourth NYC store, expected to open at the corner of 67th and Broadway on Manhattan's Upper West Side later this year. If that store and a rumored Brooklyn store are opened, NYC would boast six stores total (including the Staten Island store).
Apple intends to open 25 new stores for fiscal year 2009, half of them outside the United States.
[via AppleInsider]TUAWNew York's flagship Apple Store doing great business originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - First Look and Giveaway: Equilibrio for iPhone / iPod touch
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look, App Review
There's one big problem with being a TUAW blogger -- we are constantly tempted away from doing real work when developers tell us about new and fun software to try out.
That's exactly the problem I ran into when Fishing Cactus asked us to review Equilibrio (click opens iTunes), their new ball puzzle game for iPhone and iPod touch. The app, which is also available for Nintendo Wii, is an addictive game in which you roll balls made of various materials (rock, paper, steel, rubber, and more) around a maze using the iPhone's accelerometers to control where the balls go. You can gain extra points by hitting "coins" and zipping to the end of the maze quickly. There is a conquest mode, where players need to complete a series of levels, as well as a challenge mode. The app is currently available in the App Store for half-price at US$1.99, and there's also a free version -- Equilibrio Lite -- available if you want to try before you buy.
Fishing Cactus has supplied us with 5 promo codes to give away to lucky iPhone / iPod touch owners in the US and Canada. To enter the giveaway, leave us a comment with your idea for a totally different material to make an Equilibrio ball out of.
Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. (Sorry, we know our international readers want to participate, but promo codes don't transfer outside the US.)
- To enter leave a comment with an idea for what material you think a Equilibrio ball should be made of.
- The comment must be left before Thursday, June 12, 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: One license each for Equilibrio (US$1.99 value)
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
TUAWFirst Look and Giveaway: Equilibrio for iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Lonely Planet San Francisco City Guide for iPhone free for a limited time
Filed under: WWDC, Deals, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review
Normally the Lonely Planet guides for iPhone are $15.99, so any way you look at it, getting the San Francisco guide (iTunes link) for free is a great purchase. At worst you'll see if you like the Lonely Planet way of doing things in a travel guide and at best you might discover something new in San Francisco. Yep, the guide is free in anticipation of WWDC, allowing attendees to do a little sightseeing if Apple's sessions aren't enough for you.
I've only spent a bit of time with the app (I'm not in San Francisco, so testing the "nearby" functions won't happen until next week), but if you're familiar with the Lonely Planet guide books, you'll be pretty familiar with the content here. The app has a really long list for the table of contents, something I felt could be handled better. If you want to find travel information, for example, you'll have to scroll somewhere about 40% down -- this is not optimal if you need info in a hurry. In fact, scrolling through longs lists is so annoying Apple gave the iPod app a search tool and Coverflow browsing. Luckily the LP guide provides a text search which I found quite useful.
Browsing content is terrifically easy, with a slim design that allows you to move forward and back between articles, increase text size or go back up to whatever screen you were previously at, like a search page. Speaking of those searches and the content, a cursory search for Moscone brought up no precise info on the convention center. It is mentioned in a reference to Yerba Buena, but otherwise lacks details.
The map suffers from static information and a lack of one-way street info (kind of important in cities filled with them, but only if you drive). I much prefer the maps and interaction of the AAA Discounts app, complete with animation and cleaner graphics. There are complaints about missing hotels and whatnot, but I've never fully trusted any guidebook to find every hotel and restaurant. Plus, there's always Urbanspoon and a plethora of apps for discovering new places to eat around you.
Obviously if you are ever planning to travel to San Francisco it'd be hard to turn down a free app so full of info. I don't think it'll replace anything like your Maps app, or Urbanspoon, or Yelp-based apps, but that's not the point. As a guide full of history and photos, hotel and restaurant data, workable maps and tons of "getting around" data, the Lonely Planet San Francisco City Guide is incredibly handy.
TUAWLonely Planet San Francisco City Guide for iPhone free for a limited time originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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