Fresh Apple: The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) (6 сообщений)

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The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
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Pocket Sherpa for iPhone has promise
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
PocketSherpa [itunes link] is an interesting idea for a travel app, but it should be used with caution.

When you download the free app, you'll be asked to sign up with an email address and a password. When that is done you can click on any place in the world, and have a good chance of getting a contact there you can ask questions of and get some really good local advice. I tried some out of the way places (at least for me) and found lots of people offering good information. In Bristol, U.K. for example, there were 24 people offering advice and 20 people offering to show me around.

There were contacts in Newfoundland, and in the Sudan. The developers claim 25,000 travel guides, and 30,000 experts at more than 7,000 destinations.

There is also a list of newspapers, so you can read the local news before you go, but the list is not extensive and has a North American bias.

The app supports a public Q&A list for many of the locations, so you can get a feel for where you are going without initiating the messaging function.

I'm also worried about the security of the searchers and the local guides. While you can keep your communications to just email, many of the experts are offering goods and services like driving you around. There is no way for those people to be vetted, and by the same token an unscrupulous user could do harm to one of the experts.

PocketSherpa is a really good idea, but I think there are some red flags about the creators being a broker for physical people-to-people encounters.

It's free, so take a look at it and see if it fulfills your needs, but also see if you agree that you would need to be really cautious with direct physical contact.
TUAW Pocket Sherpa for iPhone has promise originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: iPhone - AppStore - Apple - IpodTouch - TUAW
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Business Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network
Filed under: Wireless, Apple, iPhone, App Store
Business Insider is reporting that AT&T has given Apple the go-ahead to enable Voice over IP (VoIP) apps such as Skype on its 3G network. In the past, VoIP apps required a Wi-Fi connection.

The announcement was made in advance of the annual conference sponsored by CTIA - The Wireless Association. AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega is scheduled to give a keynote at the conference tomororw and could use the event to further elaborate on their intentions.

The announcement is most likely a response to recent events at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is proposing new rules that would prohibit carriers from blocking apps on their networks.

A public announcement by AT&T stating that they will allow apps such as Skype on their network would remove any doubt that it's the company that is doing the blocking, and put the spotlight firmly on Apple to explain why they're not approving VoIP apps. As noted yesterday, VoIP provider Vonage has made its app available in the App Store, although ratings after the first day probably make them wish they hadn't...

It should be noted that the announcement will likely have no bearing on the fate of Google Voice, which was rejected by Apple on the grounds that it duplicates functionality already found in the iPhone. The Google Voice app allows users to control their Google Voice account, send SMS messages and check voicemails, but does not provide any VoIP functionality.
TUAW Business Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: iPhone - AppStore - Skype - Federal Communications Commission - AT&T
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Online Brazilian Apple Store now live
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

After months of rumors, Apple's official online store for Brazil has officially opened at apple.com/br. It joins the 34 other countries with localized online stores. The Brazilian store is a mirror of many others and joins Apple's effort to establish a presence south of the United States. Presently, there are localized online stores in Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador among others.

Right now, there are no brick-and-mortar Apple Stores in Brazil, but they do run eight "Stores within a store" complexes in association with Fnac (similar to the arrangement with Best Buy here in the USA). Brazilian customers have anticipated the real thing for a long time.

Here's hoping you get physical stores soon. Until then, enjoy your online shopping, Brazil!

[Via AppleInsider]
TUAW Online Brazilian Apple Store now live originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: Apple - TUAW - United States - Colombia - Ecuador
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Bell, Telus end Canadian iPhone exclusivity
Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone
The iPhone was slow to launch in Canada and after a rocky start, Rogers has been the exclusive carrier. That changed this week when Bell and Telus both announced independent deals with Apple. Starting in November, each will carry the 3G an 3GS. Just in time for holiday shopping!

Keen customers know that both Bell and Telus are CDMA-only right now. However, they've both pledged to deploy compatible HSPA networks that will serve as an inroad to 4G.

Neither company has released details like pricing, plans, etc., but Telus has set up a web page for interested customers.
TUAW Bell, Telus end Canadian iPhone exclusivity originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: IPhone - Canada - Apple
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Apple quits the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over opposition to EPA
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Portables
Just 3 years ago, Apple was targeted by Greenpeace as being less environmentally friendly than they could be. Greenpeace even created a mock Apple website in an effort to goad them into action.

Several months later, Apple earned a silver in environmental evaluation (that rating has since turned to gold) from an EPEAT survey (EPEAT is a government operation created to approve computers before they can be purchased by other governmental institutions). Today, they tout "the world's greenest line of notebooks."

This week came the news that Apple has quit the US Chamber of Commerce over what they called the organization's "frustrating" position on global climate change. Specifically, the chamber has opposed a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Air Act to set limits on greenhouse gases; a proposal that would most likely take effect only if Congress failed to pass climate legislation.

Apple isn't the only prominent member to leave the chamber for this reason, just the one we happen to write about.

[Via Think Progress]
TUAW Apple quits the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over opposition to EPA originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: Clean Air Act - US Chamber of Commerce - Climate change - United States Environmental Protection Agency - United States Chamber of Commerce
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VMware Fusion 3 supercharged for Snow Leopard
Filed under: Software, Snow Leopard
The latest release of VMware's top-notch virtualization software "Fusion" has been announced and some of the new features are definitely worth taking a look. For the uninitiated, virtualization is the act of simulating a guest operating system while running a host operating system. Put simply, it allows you to run Windows without having to reboot.

VMware Fusion 3 features highly improved Snow Leopard support. Most notably, Fusion now sports native 64-bit compatibility and support for the 64-bit kernel. What this means for the average user is improved performance for both the host and guest operating systems.

Further, with support for OpenGL 2.1 and DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3, gamers will now be able to play more demanding 3D games without the use of Boot Camp. Fusion 3 will also work beautifully with Microsoft's latest operating system by enabling the full Windows 7 experience, side-by-side with your Mac via Unity, complete with Windows Aero and Flip 3D.

VMware Fusion 3 is available for pre-order now and will be on store shelves October 27. Suggested retail price is $79.99US and on the day of launch upgrade pricing of $39.99US will be available for existing customers with previous versions of VMware Fusion.

I use Fusion 2 when I'm at my home office and while the performance has been good, I am really looking forward to Fusion 3's 64-bit support. Any other Fusion users out there, how will you make use of VMware's latest foray into the desktop virtualization game?

TUAW VMware Fusion 3 supercharged for Snow Leopard originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sponsored Topics: VMware Fusion - VMware - Microsoft - Snow Leopard - Boot Camp
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