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Rest in peace, Adobe Media Player... you will not be missed
After today, Adobe Media Player won't be available for download from Adobe's site. Adobe Media Player was a solution looking for a problem, so I'm not surprised to see that today will be the player's last day.

Sometimes great ideas are looking to solve a problem that does not exist. Adobe's Media Player falls into this category. At one time someone at Adobe must have thought, "Hey, if video in a Web page is great, why not create a Flash application using our own AIR technology so you can collect and manage your videos without the Web browser cluttering up the screen?"

Thus was born Adobe Media Player -- an AIR app that runs on Windows and Mac. But Media Player ran into a fundamental problem: most people generally use a Web browser to find video content. If you like the video you find, you bookmark it, embed it or post it to Facebook. There is no need for any other software. You're certainly not going to fire up an app that's hard to use, makes it difficult to find content, and doesn't make it easy for you to share content.

Adobe Media Player: it was fun, it was real, but it was not real fun.
Rest in peace, Adobe Media Player... you will not be missed originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Infinity Blade update coming next week

At the end of my review of Infinity Blade from Epic Games, I said that I liked the game, but I wished there was more of it. It looks like I'm getting my wish much earlier than I'd anticipated, because new content for Infinity Blade is coming next week. Chair Entertainment, the subsidiary of Epic Games who developed Infinity Blade, told Joystiq that development of additional content began immediately after the main game was finished, and these "booster packs" of content will all be offered for free.

Next week's content will include five new weapons, five new shields, five new helmets, and a new set of armor, raising the maximum possible level to 45 (welcome news for ~~nerds~~ players like me who have already mastered all of Infinity Blade's existing items). A new enemy, the Marrow Fiend (pictured above) will also appear in next week's update. Another "booster pack" for the game is due in January; more substantial updates are also forthcoming, including new areas, additions to the storyline, and new enemies that, according to Chair, make the game's current fiends seem like weaklings by comparison.

It's very nice to see that Infinity Blade's creators aren't resting on their (US$1.6 million in five days) laurels and are committed to delivering additional content to make the game even better than it already is. The bar has definitely been raised for gaming on iOS, and as a heavily entrenched iOS gamer myself, I couldn't be happier.
Infinity Blade update coming next week originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Humble Indie Bundle 2 offers more Mac gaming deals
The Humble Indie Bundle is back for round 2, which means that you've got another deal with some terrific indie games to run on your Mac, completely DRM-free. This time, you get Jonathan Blow's excellent time-shifting platformer Braid, quality puzzle game Machinarium, iOS favorite Osmos, and Cortex Command and Revenge of the Titans, two titles still under development. Just like last time, you can pay any price you want. While the games by themselves would cost you $85, people have paid up to $1000 just to promote and support independent game development -- and just like last time, all of the games are playable on Mac, Windows and Linux as you choose. You can also give any or all of the money donated to charity, so really this is about as awesome as a game deal gets. Pay whatever you want to someone worthy of the money, and you get five games to do with as you please.

Last time around, the bundle raised upwards of a million dollars, and Linux users, we're told, were twice as generous as Windows users. That seems to be the case this time as well (with Mac users only a little better than Windows), so let's head on over and represent, since it's definitely true that Mac users are willing to pay a quality price for quality software. I can tell you outright that Braid and Osmos are worth a $20 donation on their own, so head on over, give some money, and support some more than generous independent game developers.
Humble Indie Bundle 2 offers more Mac gaming deals originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Five men rob Apple Store in Greenwich, CT
Apple Store burglars have struck again, this time in Greenwich, Connecticut. Police say that at least five suspects, seen in the surveillance photo to the right, broke through the front door and helped themselves to a whole bunch of Apple products valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. The store obviously had security cameras in place to record the break-in when it happened, but I wonder if any employees also got to watch the robbery in real-time like this guy who watched on his iPhone as thieves robbed his house.

So if you happen to live near Greenwich and receive an Apple product as a holiday present without a gift receipt, you may want to inquire as to where the generous gift-giver was on the morning of December 14. Most of these Apple Store robberies actually turn out well for the stores, since the police usually do a nice job finding the crooks. We'll have to see if the cops in Greenwich are able to catch the parties responsible here and recover any of the stolen merchandise.
Five men rob Apple Store in Greenwich, CT originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Epic Games to release updated Unreal Dev Kit for iOS on Thursday
Epic Games, creator of recently released game "Infinity Blade," is publicly releasing an updated version of its Unreal Development Kit on Thursday. The game-development package simplifies the creation of graphics and animations on Apple's iOS, and if TUAW's Chris Rawson's recent review of Infinity Blade is any indication of what can be done with it, we should be in store for some amazing graphics in upcoming games.

While it is free to download and use, iPhone and iPad developers interested in selling paid apps they have created with it must pay Epic a $99 licensing fee and 25 percent of royalties after the initial $5,000 in sales.

Gaming has really taken off on iOS devices, as 43.8 percent of the gaming market is playing games on phones like the iPhone and game developers for iOS outnumber their DS and PSP counterparts two-to-one. With Infinity Blade raking in at least 1.6 million dollars in the first five days of its release, you can be assured that developers will be clamoring to create the next big thing with Epic's release of its Unreal Development Kit.
Epic Games to release updated Unreal Dev Kit for iOS on Thursday originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First iAd for iPad features Tron Legacy
The first iPad iAd has been released today and it's for Disney's upcoming film Tron Legacy. The iAd features video from the Tron movie, which leads to an interactive menu. The menu itself is designed to look like a light disc and allows the viewer to navigate to a photo gallery, movie trailer, theater finder, email notifier, story synopsis, and a preview of the movie soundtrack.

An Apple spokesperson told AdAge that the Tron Legacy iAd will be the only iAd to appear on the iPad this year. "The format, designed to maximize the ad potential of Apple's tablet computer, will be launched widely in early 2011 when other ads start flowing onto the platform," the spokesperson said. "Like its iPhone and iPod Touch predecessors, the first iPad iAd is chock-full of the rich graphics, touch navigation and video native to apps."

No word yet on which ad-supported apps are featuring the ad yet, but you can check out a demo of the ad in the video after the break. Tron Legacy opens on December 17th and is produced by Disney, which Steve Jobs just happens to serve as the largest shareholder.

[via MacStories]
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First iAd for iPad features Tron Legacy originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SimCity Deluxe for iPad, Risk for iPad out today from EA
First mentioned back in October, Electronic Arts has finally released SimCity Deluxe for iPad, and oh my, how far we have come from the original SimCity game which came out in 1989. Available for the first time on the iPad, SimCity Deluxe allows players to act as Mayor and City Planner to build and control their very own cityscape. Using multitouch controls optimized for the iPad, players can build, destroy, rebuild, and manage cities inspired by famous locations around the globe.

Having played SimCity Deluxe for iPhone, I can imagine that the iPad version would be a more immersive experience with the much bigger screen. Available in the App Store now for US $6.99, SimCity Deluxe for iPad certainly makes me wish I had an iPad to take with me on my long trip coming up later this week.

Also out today from EA and available in the App Store is RISK for iPad ($6.99), the popular game of strategic conquest and world domination. With the ability for up to 6 players to play simultaneously and head-to-head against others via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, RISK fans with an iPad may want to check it out. You've probably already got plenty to play this holiday season, but in case not, there's two more good titles to try.

SimCity Deluxe for iPad, Risk for iPad out today from EA originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone updated with better quality video and a new guide
SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone and iPod touch has been updated to version 2.0. The guide is improved, matching the iPad version, and video streaming quality is improved if you have a Slingbox SOLO or Pro-HD model.

Happily, older Slingboxes will still work with this update, but you won't get the highest level of picture quality. The update is free if you already bought the stratospherically priced (US $29.99) app previously. To get customers on the newer hardware, the Sling people are offering upgrades of $50.00 off on a Slingbox PRO-HD or SOLO or $150.00 off of a refurbished PRO-HD.

Sling tech support notes that users with the Solo or HD-PRO will have to update the software on their desktop machines as well. Users should also be reminded that if they have both an iPhone and iPad and are buying the apps for the first time they each sell for $29.99. Ouch.

Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone updated with better quality video and a new guide originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple updates iOS 4.2.1 for Apple TV
We've gotten a few reports that Apple has released a minor build update for the new Apple TV. Users aren't reporting any obvious new features or specific performance upgrades with the brand new 4.2.1 update, so it's likely that this latest Apple TV update is just for bug fixes. Not all users are seeing the update quite yet, but it should propagate to everybody before long.

MacRumors notes that the Apple TV iOS 4.2.1 update is labeled Build 8C154. The previous Apple TV iOS 4.2 was Build 8C150. If you Apple TV owners see any differences, let us know in the comments.
Apple updates iOS 4.2.1 for Apple TV originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Found Footage: iPad portrait of Woz
David Newman is an accomplished painter who's been using Apple computers since 1984. The above video shows him painting a portrait of none other than Steve Wozniak, which the Apple founder has started using as his Facebook orofile picture. Newman sat with Woz for three hours creating the portrait entirely on an iPad, and Wozniak reportedly thinks this is the best portrait of him ever created.

The movie shares Newman's process as he created the portrait. You can see that the very first brush strokes were actually the artist spelling out "Woz" over and over. After that, Newman sketched in huge patches of color and shape. As the process continued, he layered additional touches of color, refined the shapes, and added details. We especially like the box of Dots candy to Wozniak's left -- nice touch. Newman's got a great idea for detail, and a project like this really shows off the creative possibilities of Apple's magical and revolutionary device.

[Via Razorianfly]
Found Footage: iPad portrait of Woz originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nano watchband includes bottle opener
Picture, if you will, the following. It's a hot summer day. You're hanging out doing some yard work with your iPod nano strapped to your wrist when you reach for a cold bottled beverage. That's when the moment of horror strikes: you have no bottle opener. You have nothing which with to pop open that wonderful refreshment. All you have is your iPod nano wristwatch.

Okay, that's probably not a common scene for most of us, but apparently the creators of the Richard Tracy nano watch strap have been there. This wristband for the iPod nano features a leather strap and laser-cut anodized steel adapter to hold the nano firmly in place. But since the steel adapter could be in any shape, really, they tooled it into the shame of a bottle opener. I guess if you're going to wear an iPod nano watch strap, a little extra versatility is a good thing.

[Via ThinkGeek]
Nano watchband includes bottle opener originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple could sell record-breaking 4.3 million Macs this holiday
Sometime in January Apple will hold their FY2011 Q1 earnings call and you will be sure to hear these words: "The quarter that just ended was the best quarter in Apple's history." It's something many of us have gotten used to hearing as Apple has said it (or a derivative of it, adding "non-holiday" between "best" and "quarter") every quarter for at least the last seven years.

That familiar catchphrase shows no sign of stopping as NPD says Apple is on track to sell between 4.1 million and 4.3 million Macs in the December quarter. As AllThingsD points out, Apple's U.S. Mac sales are up 20 percent year-over-year for the first two months of the current quarter. International sales are even growing faster than domestic sales with 22 to 28 percent year-over-year growth for the first two months of the current quarter.

Still haven't picked up Apple stock? There's still time as many think there's a 30ish-percent 12-month upswing coming.
Apple could sell record-breaking 4.3 million Macs this holiday originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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CNN releases official iPad app
CNN released its first app for the iPad today and the tablet version is an excellent companion to its iPhone counterpart, just as we predicted. The iPad version duplicates the media-rich experience of the website by including full-length articles, commenting, slideshow support, and on-demand audio and video. Ads will be present in the app and Lexus will be a featured advertiser, so prepare yourself to be distracted by slick images of luxury cars.

The app takes advantage of the iPad's screen real estate by offering three different viewing options - broadsheet, list view, and slide show. The broadsheet view is for those that prefer to scan the top 350 headlines presented in a simple grid view. List view is self-explanatory and the slide show view emphasizes the visual side of the news by letting you swipe through the top stories as you would a photo gallery.

You will never miss the breaking news as the app supports push notifications and will alert you when a new story is published. Similar to the iPhone app, the iPad version is socially aware and lets you share articles via email, Twitter, and Facebook. The iPad lacks a camera so the iPad app does not include the iReporting features available on the iPhone and current generation iPod touch. Would-be reporters should use their iPad for reading and their iPhone for filming when out and about.

The CNN app for the iPad is available for free in the App Store. With this launch, CNN has also dropped the price on its iPhone version, which is now available for free as well.

[Via macstories]
CNN releases official iPad app originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hacksugar: Mac-based AirPlay service allows device-to-Mac playback

AirPlay is a very, very cool technology. Unfortunately, if you don't own an Apple TV 2 or other capable receiving device, it's not going to do you much good. (If you have the cash on-hand, for $99 Apple TV mark 2 is a pretty sweet purchase. Just saying.) So I decided to figure out a way that people who didn't own Apple TV or who were on the road with their iPhone and a laptop could actually use AirPlay streaming 'backwards' -- from their iDevice to their Mac.

Behold the development build of AirPlayer -- click Read More to see the video. What AirPlayer does is create and advertise a custom Bonjour AirPlay service that pretends to be an Apple TV. Bonjour is Apple's zero configuration networking solution for allowing devices and applications to communicate with each other over local area networks. When Apple created AirPlay, it basically set up a new way for Apple TV to interact with iOS using Bonjour communications.
Continue reading Hacksugar: Mac-based AirPlay service allows device-to-Mac playback
Hacksugar: Mac-based AirPlay service allows device-to-Mac playback originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Millenial Media: Apple still top manufacturer, devs heading to Android in 2011
Millenial Media has released its monthly report about mobile advertising, and while things haven't changed too much from the last time they released this kind of data, the usual trends are still in place. Apple is the biggest mobile device manufacturer around, representing 25% of mobile impressions across its iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad platforms. The iPod touch saw some growth in impressions, jumping up over the Motorola Droid and the Blackberry Curve to take the number two spot on Millenial's network. And the Samsung Acclaim Android phone release gave that manufacturer a nice boost in impressions, pushing Samsung up to the number two spot behind Apple on the list of top mobile manufacturers.

In terms of apps, the Android platform holds the top spot in the network for most ads (54% to Apple's 39%), and has seen 10% month-over-month growth for the past four months. According to a developer survey, Android is also the platform that most developers expect to release apps for in 2011 (29% of developers plan to release apps on Android, while 20% say they plan to release apps on the iPad, and another 20% on the Windows Phone 7 platform). And games remain the leading app category across the network, with 28% of app impressions provided by gaming apps.

Interesting data. Of course, this is only a portrait of what's happening on this specific network, so these numbers may differ from the entire platforms as a whole. But it's clear that Apple is still the most major manufacturer in the mobile space, and Android is definitely seeing lots of action in terms of app releases. That trend will probably continue right on in to 2011, as more and more developers expand into Android app sales as well as iOS.
Millenial Media: Apple still top manufacturer, devs heading to Android in 2011 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Flipboard rumored to launch web app
One of the more awe-inspiring iPad apps of 2010 was Flipboard. The free app is a beautiful way to read RSS feeds, see and respond to updates from friends on Twitter and Facebook and more, displayed in a format that looks more like a well-designed magazine than a reader app. It's so good that Apple named it the iPad App of the Year.

Now The Next Web is reporting that Flipboard may be coming to a much larger audience as a web app. The company has reportedly posted a job opening for a "Designer - Web Developer" for the purpose of designing a way to read content online. This move makes sense for Flipboard, particularly if they plan on offering the app in Google Chrome's Web Store.

A web app that is readable from a variety of devices would give Flipboard an advantage in development, since all upgrades and changes could be made to one code base instead of requiring rewrites for many platforms. There's no word on when the web app may launch, although it's a sure bet that it will be sometime in 2011.

[via MacStories]
Flipboard rumored to launch web app originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Daily Deals for December 14, 2010
Just a couple more weeks until we roll the clock over to a shiny new year! In the meanwhile, enjoy these fresh deals from our friends at dealnews.com. Or don't -- scroll on by if you and Santa have completed your yearly shopping habit.

Note that Duke Nukem 3D is free... and that's about what it is worth. Crummy controls for the app mar what could have been a pleasant trip down memory lane. Here's our take on it when it launched.
- iTunes Music Store: iPhone App Store Freebies: A Christmas Santa, Duke Nukem 3D, more
- Apple Store: Refurbished Apple iPod touch MP3 Players from $149 + free shipping
- MidnightBox: Refurbished Altec Lansing 2.1-Channel Speaker System $30 + $4 s&h
- HandHeldItems: IGg Bumper Holster for iPhone 4 w/ $2 credit for $3 + free shipping
- Crutchfield: Canon VIXIA HF-R10 8GB Flash HD Digital Camcorder for $280 + free shipping
- Shnoop.com: Olympus PEN E-P1 12MP Digital Micro 4/3 Camera, lens for $400 + free shipping
- SuperBiiz: Super Talent 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $24 + free shipping
- HandHeldItems: HHI iPad Flip Faux Leather Case for Apple iPad w/ $2 HHI credit for $15 + $3 s&h
- TigerDirect: Samsung 46" 240Hz 1080p 3D LED LCD HDTV Bundle for $1,600 + $36 s&h
- Meritline: Portable 2.5" USB SATA Hard Drive Enclosure for $3 + free shipping
- IHaveToHaveThat.com: Sumdex Impact Guard Laptop Sleeve for $8 + $5 s&h
Daily Deals for December 14, 2010 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Business Insider names iPad "Biggest Tech Winner" of 2010
It's December, and that means "Best Of" lists. Business Insider has published their "Biggest Tech Winners of 2010," and the "magical" iPad is sitting atop the heap, while the iPhone 4 is listed at number ten.

What's interesting is the number of other winners that wouldn't exist without the iOS. Flipboard is listed at number 15, Kleiner Perkins' iFund is number 8 and that bird game is number 3. It's incredible to consider how significantly the iPad and iPhone have influenced the industry during their relatively short existence (especially the iPad, which has yet to celebrate its first birthday). Here's to 2011.
Business Insider names iPad "Biggest Tech Winner" of 2010 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple releases "iTunes 12 Days of Christmas" app in UK
Apple has released an "iTunes 12 Days of Christmas" iOS app and companion site in the UK, all meant to treat their customers to seasonal goodies. Between December 26 and January 6, Apple will give away free apps, songs, books, movies and episodes of TV shows, one per day, via the app and the website. The app can be configured to send a push notification when each giveaway is ready, for those who just can't wait.

The app isn't available in the U.S. App Store, so you'll need a UK account to download it here.

[Via MacStories]
Apple releases "iTunes 12 Days of Christmas" app in UK originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Voice app update supports iPad, iPod touch
The Google Voice app for iPhone was updated today with support for the iPad and iPod touch. According to the official Google Voice blog, the update will let your iPod touch or iPad send and receive messages and enjoy other features of the service, except making calls.

However, you can use your iPad or iPod touch running Google Voice to initiate a call on your iPhone with something called Click2Call. The way it works is simple. Just select the number you'd like to call and then tap the phone you'd like to use. That phone will ring and when you pick up, Google Voice will complete the call. I don't know why you wouldn't just use the iPhone in the first place, but there it is.

There are some other cool features as well. For instance, enabling push notifications disables text forwarding, so you don't receive duplicate messages. Plus, a new "Do Not Disturb" setting sends callers straight to voicemail. Finally, there's a new Contacts button in the dialer tab for easy access and texting is quicker with the removal of the OK button.

It sounds like a nice update and you can grab it here.
Google Voice app update supports iPad, iPod touch originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mac 101: Securing your passwords after the Gawker breach
Thanks to questionable security practices at Gawker Media (publishing parent of many high-profile websites including Gizmodo and Lifehacker), a number of people are busy scrambling to change their passwords on a lot of different sites today. Gawker stored encrypted passwords on its servers instead of password hashes (and stored those passwords using the deprecated DES standard), so as a result of some weekend hacking, a lot of email addresses and passwords were stolen.

Gawker Media is asking anyone who uses its comment system to change their password immediately, and if they used the same email address and password on other websites, they should change those passwords as well. If you have used any of the Gawker sites in the past, you can use Slate's Gawker Hack widget to determine if your email address and password was part of the group that was compromised. Some other sites like LinkedIn are proactively disabling the accounts of users who were included in the data dump, requiring them to reset their passwords before they can get back in.

Common sense dictates that for the best security, every website account should have a separate password; you should never use a dictionary word, birthday or family name as your password; strong passwords always need a mix of capitals and lowercase letters, numbers and (if acceptable to the service you're logging into) punctuation/non-alphanumerics. (The number of people who used 'password' or '123456' as their comment login in the Gawker system is truly shocking.)

However, our puny human brains don't work well with strong passwords; we just can't remember a lot of passwords that are random gibberish, and even using mnemonics and other tricks for password generation can fill up the ol' brain pretty quickly. There are some ways to generate strong passwords that are associated with just one website -- and keep them recorded securely on your Mac or in the cloud -- so click that Read More link to see how.

Continue reading Mac 101: Securing your passwords after the Gawker breach
Mac 101: Securing your passwords after the Gawker breach originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Japanese publishers censure Apple over App Store violations
A group of Japanese publishers are censuring Apple after copyrighted material was reportedly scanned and distributed through the iOS App Store. The group points to numerous App Store applications that are illegally re-publishing the works of well-known Japanese authors, including Haruki Murakami and Keigo Higashino.The Japanese group, which includes book, eBook, digital comic, and magazine publishers, is requesting a meeting with Apple's Japan unit to discuss this problem with piracy.

Heightening the tension is Apple's response to these copyright violations. The Cupertino company says it does not have the resources to scan every app submission for copyright violations. Its current policy is to remove the app when a copyright violation is reported. This apparently is not sufficient for the Japanese publishers who claim this is "a wholly unconvincing explanation."

This dispute is reminiscent of the ongoing legal between YouTube and Viacom over copyrighted material that appears on the popular video website. From the start, Viacom has pushed YouTube to improve its pre-approval screening process to detect and filter out copyrighted material before it is published.

As the iPad and the iPhone continue to gain in popularity, look for this App Store copyright problem to continue. Right now the Japanese publishers are willing to talk, but other publishers may not be so amicable in the future. Let's hope Apple can work out any kinks before they are forced to duke it out in court.
Japanese publishers censure Apple over App Store violations originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple, Toshiba to build $1.1B Retina Display factory
Toshiba is rumored to be building a factory to manufacture high-resolution LCD displays for Apple, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily. The Japanese company may spend 100 billion yen ($1.9 billion USD as of this writing) to build the factory which is expected to be ready for production in the second half of 2011. With this new plant, Toshiba will be able to double its current LCD production level, which now hovers around 8.55 million units per month. Apple is reportedly investing an unknown sum into the construction of this plant and will use it to produce retina displays for future iPhone models. This a switch for Apple as current iPhone models use a retina display manufactured by LG.

Apple's investment in a manufacturing facility to build retina displays is a wise move. Rival HTC struggled earlier this year with display panel shortages that affected sales of its flagship Android handset models. Both the Verizon Wireless HTC Incredible and the Sprint EVO 4G were out of stock for over a month due to LCD shortages. The manufacturer reportedly slowed production on the Nexus One and the HTC Desire as AMOLED shortages forced them to shift to a Super LCD display. By investing in a dedicated manufacturing facility, Apple would be able to secure an ample supply of display panels for its popular mobile devices. If shortages hit the overall LCD market, the effect on Apple will be minimal.

Hopefully, this rumor pans out as it would put Apple in a good position to meet the ever increasing demand for the iPhone. While Apple has not commented, Toshiba has denied the report, claiming it is has not made a commitment to produce LCD panels for Apple.

Apple, Toshiba to build $1.1B Retina Display factory originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Xserve no longer offers SSD option

As the Xserve approaches its end-of-life, Apple has eliminated the SSD build-to-order option. Instead, you'll have to choose either a 160GB, 1TB or 2TB serial ATA ADM drive at 7200-rpm to fill each of its three bays.

AppleInsider and 9to5 both note that SSD promotional copy was in place this morning, but it has since been removed from Apple's Xserve page. Apple announced the Xserve's eventual demise in November. Remaining stock will be sold until January 31st, and machines still in operation will continue to be supported until they give up the ghost.

If you still want one of these machines, hop to it as the clock is ticking. In the meantime, Apple has published the transition document [PDF] for those moving to the Mac mini server or Mac Pro with Snow Leopard Server.
Xserve no longer offers SSD option originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Five Dropbox tips for Mac Unix nerds
Dropbox is already a very powerful utility for Mac OS X, but if you're knowledgable in Unix, you can make it even better. Here are five ways that you can use Unix to get more out of Dropbox.

1. I wanted to update my copy of the HTML processing tool Tidy today. I was happy to find instructions for building Tidy under Snow Leopard, but it also reminded me of another way that I've been using Dropbox for some time now.

If you compile and install Unix utilities on your own instead of using MacPorts, Fink or Rudix, you will most often be asked where you want to install these utilities to. Normally the answer is /usr/local/, and you would use ./configure -prefix=/usr/local. I became frustrated with installing programs to /usr/local/ because I use two or three different Macs, and I would inevitably find that I was trying to use a program on a computer where it wasn't installed. I'd have to find it, download it, configure it, compile it and install it before I could actually do whatever it was that I wanted to do.

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Five Dropbox tips for Mac Unix nerds originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MobileMe will go down for maintenance tonight
Here's a quick heads-up. MobileMe will go down for maintenance tonight. Specifically, MobileMe account maintenance will take place on 12/14/2010 between 22:00 and 23:00 PT, while MobileMe sync maintenance will occur on 12/14/2010 between 22:00 PT and 12/15/2010 00:00 PT.

Apple notes, "Due to scheduled maintenance, some MobileMe members may be unable to sync between their computers, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch or view their contacts and calendars at me.com. Normal service is expected to be restored at the end of the maintenance window. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Just get your work done before then and we'll see you on the flip side.

[Via 9to5 Mac]

MobileMe will go down for maintenance tonight originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Switcher Profile: Joshua Kors has no idea how to use a Mac, returns it

Investigative reporter Joshua Kors recently switched to the Mac ... then switched right back. It turns out that he and his iMac weren't a good fit for one another. That's potentially understandable; switching to the Mac is easier for some people than for others. If a switcher doesn't have anyone there to walk him through the process, he might get so frustrated by the little differences between Windows and Mac OS X that he may wonder why he bothered switching at all.

On the other hand, some of the more minor difficulties and situations that crop up in the first days of Mac use really shouldn't have been beyond the grasp of someone with Kors' impressive credentials. Those of us who are experienced in using Macs may read through Kors' piece and either laugh or shake our heads in wonder, but someone who knows nothing about using a Mac may read it and take it at face value.

To anyone who's read through Joshua Kors' account of his nightmare experience with the Mac, here's a disclaimer you may be familiar with from commercials: results may vary. In fact, if you have even basic computer literacy skills, you'll likely find switching to the Mac a far more pleasant experience than Kors did. Click "Read More" to see how Kors' poor switcher experience could have been improved at several points, and why switching to the Mac is nowhere near as difficult as he's made it out to be.
Continue reading Switcher Profile: Joshua Kors has no idea how to use a Mac, returns it
Switcher Profile: Joshua Kors has no idea how to use a Mac, returns it originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TUAW's Daily App: Winta
I first covered Winta (styled WINtA on the App Store) back at GDC Online in October, and found it an enjoyable music game from the creator of Parappa the Rapper, Masaya Matsuura. It's a simple title -- different shapes appear on screen, and the player is meant to tap them in order, which ends up going along with the rhythm of the song's vocals. There's one free track included with the app (which itself is free to download), and then a number of different songs are available via in-app purchase, each with their own themes and displays.

Plus, the whole project is part of the OneBigGame initiative, so 10 percent of the profits on each track purchased will go to two charities, Save the Children and the Starlight Children's Foundation, to support the lives of children around the world. OneBigGame has teamed up with both Matsuura and developers Triangle Studios to create the game, and Ngmoco has joined in to share the game (and some achievements) on its own Plus+ social network.

It's definitely an interesting title -- I wouldn't say it has quite the appeal of a game like Parappa the Rapper, but it's an interesting multi-touch take on the music genre, and helping out OneBigGame and its cause is definitely an excellent idea. If nothing else, give Winta (short for "War is Not the Answer") a free download and see what you think.
TUAW's Daily App: Winta originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple's looking for a Verizon iPad client support person
In yet more news of increasing links between Apple and Verizon, a job posting for a Verizon iPad system engineer has recently surfaced. Although the "engineer" title might make it sound like Apple's looking for someone to direct, say, putting a CDMA or LTE chipset into the iPad, the job description tells a different story. Apple wants someone who "will be responsible for developing carrier relationships within the carrier technical teams" and "play a critical role in helping key corporate accounts develop confidence in the Apple solution." Apple's 'System Engineers' are the technical professionals who assist the sales and marketing teams working with key clients, not the folks in the underground laboratories who actually design the products.

Still, it's also a sign that Apple and Verizon's iPad relationship may soon go beyond merely selling the existing iPad in Verizon's stores. We've already had word recently that Verizon wants to sell the iPhone and may start selling an LTE iPhone 4 immediately after Christmas, so it's not surprising that Verizon and Apple's relationship may be getting much cozier in the near future.

[via Electronista & 9to5 Mac]
Apple's looking for a Verizon iPad client support person originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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