Fresh Apple: GigaOMApple (7 сообщений)

rss2email.ru

GigaOMApple

http://gigaom.com
рекомендовать друзьям >>

Original iPads Beginning to Sell Out?
Despite assurances that the international launch of the iPad 2 is still on schedule, demand continues to outstrip supply in the U.S. Lines are still common at Apple Retail Stores, which are now holding iPad 2 stock until the next day to make it easier for prospective buyers to line up. Meanwhile, the Apple Store online has pushed shipping times back to between four and five weeks. For those who just want any iPad, original models have been selling with a shipping time of 24 hours, but that may soon be changing.

As of right now, the 16 GB Wi-Fi iPad is not available from the clearance section of the Apple Store online, though the front page of the Apple Store still lists prices starting at $399. All other original iPad models are still available at reduced pricing. The 16 GB Wi-Fi model is also currently not for sale refurbished, either, but all other models are.

AT&T , which is also selling original 3G iPads at a discount, is also seeing its stock depleted, with only the 64 GB 3G model currently available for sale. That one is going for $529, far less than the $729 at the Apple Store, or even the $629 Apple is asking for the 32 GB model. Don’t expect AT&T’s stock to hold out for much longer.

Apple has almost certainly ceased manufacturing of new original iPads and shifted efforts entirely to getting iPad 2s in the hands of customers, so if you want a new iPad — any iPad — in the next few weeks, now may be your last chance to get a first generation model and a discount.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
Mac OS X 10.6.7 Released
Apple released its latest update for OS X, 10.6.7. The relatively minor software update for Snow Leopard brings bug fixes and general maintenance updates for a number of system components, and addresses issues with the Mac App Store, which shipped with OS X 10.6.6 in January.

In addition to zapping Mac App Store bugs, the update also improves the reliability of Back to My Mac, the service which allows MobileMe users to access their computers remotely (including file and screen sharing) from anywhere they have an active internet connection, so long as their Macs are powered on and also connected to the internet.

The update also implements a number of security updates. The full list of security improvements included in the update is available at Apple’s support website. Grab the 10.6.7 update by running Software Update on your Mac now, or download it directly from Apple’s support downloads website. If you run into any issues updating, let us know in the comments.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
Using GarageBand on the iPad To Channel Your Inner Hendrix
A few months ago I wrote about three iPad guitar amps, but now there’s an official option from Apple. Darrell covered the new iPad GarageBand Smart Instruments, so I’m going to talk about plugging a real one in. How does this software amp compare to existing options? Read on to find out.

Plugging In

Apple recommends the Apogee JAM ($99) for plugging your guitar into the iPad, but I use the iRig ($39, and also conveniently for sale at most Best Buys). In addition to being cheaper, I like that the iRig leaves my dock connector free so I can charge my iPad while playing. I then either use headphones or a set of nice PC speakers as my “amp.” I also use the Griffin A-frame stand on my desk to prop it up at a nice viewing angle. I then jack in my ’62 Reissue Strat in and let loose.

Once you’re plugged in, launch GarageBand on the iPad and choose Guitar Amp from the Instruments window.

Cranking It Up

By default, you’ll be using the Clean Combo amp on app launch. To change amps, just click on the button labeled Clean Combo to bring up the available preset amps. There are four tabs: Clean, Crunchy, Distorted, and Processed. Since I’m a rock/metal player I spent a lot of time in the Distorted tab and my favorite option under that tab was Woodstock Fuzz.

You can also customize the sound by either adjusting the controls on the amp head, or add effects by clicking on the Stompbox icon in the upper right hand corner. This brings up a small pedalboard, and if you click on the empty pedal spot you can add more pedals. I found a nice variety of pedals: a couple different distortion effects, a chorus, flanger, compression, echo, and a phase tripper.

Overall, I found the amps to sound pretty good on their own. The metal ones did have some feedback, but adjusting the Noise Gate fixed that problem. Click on the Guitar Cable icon to adjust noise gate and whether you can hear the amp while you play. One area I think GarageBand really shines is the variety and quality of the built-in sounds; unlike other amp apps, I didn’t really have to futz around with it too much to get a good sound. The clean sounds were crystal clear, and the distortion amps had a decent amount of sustain.

One area I think GarageBand fails at is is managing your presets; apps like AmpliTube let you have one-tap access to all your presets. Switching tabs to juggle between a clean, dirty, and metal tone can be cumbersome. However, I found a neat trick to organize your favorite and custom-created sounds. Once you have a sound you like (even if it’s just a built-in one), hit Save in the amp selection window. This will put the sound in a tab labeled Custom, making it very easy to choose between your favorites.

Encore

So, is GarageBand a worthwhile tool for the practicing guitar or bass player? Definitely. I wouldn’t want to gig with it, but it’s perfect for practicing without annoying the neighbors. What I love is just how much you get for $4.99. While apps like Amplitube and iShred have free or low cost versions to get you going, to really customize your sound you’re going to need to make in-app purchases for amps and effects. With GarageBand, every amp or pedal I would want is already included.

I think GarageBand is a good tool for serious musicians who want to hone their craft. Little things like using drum loops to play along with and an easy-to-use multitrack recording interface add a ton of value to the app. While I wouldn’t want to record an entire album on it, I think it’d be great for doing some light recording when inspiration strikes in a rehearsal studio, or wherever you happen to find yourself with your gear.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
VeriFone's Square App Can't Skim? Think Again.

The controversy over VeriFone’s attempt to call out Square is about to be reignited. To recap: Earlier this month VeriFone identified a potential vulnerability with rival Square’s mobile payment system and card reader and released to the public a demo app for the iPhone that showed how the Square system could be used to steal a user’s personal information. VeriFone claimed at the time that the app couldn’t actually skim credit cards — saying it was meant only as a demonstration — and eventually removed the download link. New evidence, however, shows that the app does skim and store credit card data, and makes it easily accessible to users.

Justin W. Clarke, a San Francisco-based independent security consultant, was suspicious of VeriFone’s claim that the app couldn’t be used to actually skim credit cards, and decided to test that assumption by installing and using the demo app released by the company on his own iPad, using his own Square reader.

He discovered that while the app doesn’t display info itself regarding the details of the credit cards swiped while in use, the app does log all the information, including the credit card number, expiration date, and the magnetic stripe’s Track 2 data in its entirety. That information is stored in the iOS device’s console, where it can be retrieved by connecting the device to a Mac via USB and accessing it with Apple’s Xcode developer tool (which is now available to all in the Mac App Store for $4.99), or using the free iPhone Configuration Utility, also an official Apple program which provides access to an iOS device’s console. And even though VeriFone removed download links for the app from its site, it’s not difficult to find copies mirrored at other hosting sites around the web.

So what does this mean for VeriFone? According to Clarke, it’s possible that the app violates the payment card industry standard, which requires the following of payment apps:

1.1.1 After authorization, do not store the full contents of any track from the magnetic stripe (located on the back of a card, equivalent data contained on a chip, or elsewhere). This data is alternatively called full track, track, track 1, track 2, and magnetic-stripe data.

Of course, the app in question is just a demo, so it’s likely exempt from this requirement, but it does raise anew the possibility that Evan Brown of Internet Cases brought up in our earlier piece – that one could “consider whether a victim of theft committed by this tool could sue VeriFone for what one might call ‘contributory’ theft.”

A VeriFone spokesperson reiterated that “the app contains no source code,” but wasn’t able to comment at the time of posting regarding Clarke’s ability to access info gathered by the app. I’ll update the post with further comment as it arrives.

Meanwhile, Square has denied all along the seriousness of VeriFone’s claims regarding its security measures, arguing that any face-to-face transaction involving credit cards involves just as much risk of theft as VeriFone’s demo app, and it’s true, as Square mentions, that the credit card number and expiration date are easily obtained through other means. But what’s worth noting here is that VeriFone’s claims that its version of the app couldn’t be used for malicious purposes unmodified may be wrong. If so, the reputation that stands to lose the most from its attempt to discredit a rival may be VeriFone’s own.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
iPhone 5 Will Resemble iPhone 4, Case Designs Suggest
Apple’s next iPhone will resemble the last, if early case designs are any indication of what the company has planned. Alibaba.com (a Chinese B2B website) has listings for a number of iPhone 5 cases, which are listed as also compatible with the iPhone 4. The site received a takedown request from Apple when it posted iPad 2 cases with accurate predictions of the device’s design months in advance of the iPad’s official reveal.

Looking at images of the removed iPad 2 case designs, it’s obvious that manufacturers were indeed in possession of accurate information regarding that device’s design. The speaker and camera both appear right about where they do in the final design, albeit with minor modifications (which may have been tweaked by Apple prior to release). At the time, one of the companies behind the iPad 2 cases claimed to have firsthand info about the upcoming hardware design from Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn in the U.S.), one of Apple’s key manufacturing partners.

If the new case designs are accurate, the iPhone 5 will bear the same physical dimensions as its predecessor. The iPhone 3G and 3GS shared the same external case design, so it’s something that Apple has been historically known to do. Recent rumors have also suggested the design will be similar, albeit with a larger screen made possible by extending it even closer to the iPhone’s edge. That’s still a possibility, since the new case designs leave the front of the iPhone uncovered.

While it’s always best to proceed with caution when it comes to these early rumors, case designs tend to be a fairly reliable source when it comes to the physical design of upcoming products, and this is in keeping with the idea that the iPhone 5 will likely be an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary update.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
iPad 2 International Launch Still on Track, Says Apple
With stock shortages in the U.S. and potential supply chain woes following the earthquake in Japan, it was beginning to look like Apple’s first round of international releases for the iPad 2 was in danger of slipping. The March 25 date is still in effect, however, according to a number of Apple sources.

TechRadar received confirmation today that the U.K. launch date remains the 25th, via an Apple spokesperson who told the site that “[e]verything that is on the website still holds true; the website says 25 March and that’s when it’ll be.” March 25 is still listed as the official launch date on the U.K. website, as well as other international Apple sites that were announced as part of the second launch group, except for Japan, where Apple has delayed the launch following the earthquake and tsunami that recently devastated the country.

Other international launches also appear to be on track. An Apple Store employee told me that staff had been briefed and prepared for a March 25 launch here in Canada, too, with the only possible reason for delay cited as “unpredictable weather affecting shipment times,” indicating stock isn’t yet in stores, but is expected to be before Friday.

The Apple Store employee didn’t comment on whether or not the launch would be an afternoon one, as was the case in the U.S., where the iPad 2 went on sale at 5 p.m. local time, but they did expect lines to form. Apple has yet to announce plans for online sales at international Apple Stores, but it’s safe to assume that at this stage, there won’t be a pre-order ahead of Friday.

Who’s going to be hitting up their local Apple Store for the iPad 2′s international launch?
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать
What the AT&T/T-Mobile Deal Means for Apple
AT&T intends to acquire T-Mobile over the course of the next year, the companies revealed Sunday. It’s far from a done deal, since it still has to pass muster with U.S. regulatory authorities, but if it does ultimately result in AT&T taking the top spot in the U.S. wireless industry away from Verizon, what can Apple and users of its devices expect to gain or lose from the deal?

First, T-Mobile may get the iPhone after all, according to a statement made during the AT&T/T-Mobile conference call Monday morning discussing details of the proposed deal. Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO,Mobility and Consumer Markets at AT&T, said T-Mobile’s customers will get access to an industry-leading portfolio of devices which will include those from Apple, Microsoft and RIM in response to an analyst question about what AT&T was willing to offer to make the deal palatable to U.S. regulators.

The statement isn’t an out-and-out guarantee, however, and could relate to the iPad. There are still potentially technical barriers, and a new contract would have to be reached with Apple in order to expand the device’s availability to another network (AT&T seems intent to keep the brands separate, at least based on early reports).

T-Mobile’s network, while GSM, doesn’t use common spectrum used by AT&T’s (or any other global GSM network). Subtle differences mean that even though unlocked iPhones will work on the network, as of right now, there’s no way to get 3G access with iPhones using it. Instead, users are limited to EDGE for data connections. To correct this, after the acquisition, AT&T plans to use T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum for its Long Term Evolution Network and transition T-Mobile subscribers over to AT&T’s current 3G networks. After the deal closes and the network is rejiggered, T-Mobile subscribers would be able to use AT&T’s network (which should be strengthened thanks to T-Mobile’s towers) for the iPhone.

If everything goes as smoothly as possible with the acquisition, Apple would join the small crowd of those who benefit from the deal. It’ll get access to an additional 34 million subscribers, and if AT&T’s plans work out, will have 46.5 million more potential LTE customers for when it eventually rolls out 4G devices. That planned LTE rollout will see AT&T repurposing T-Mobile’s 1700 MHz wireless radio spectrum, which is bad news for existing T-Mobile 3G device owners, since that’s the frequency the company uses for 3G communications. It’s good news for users of jailbroken, unlocked iPhones, though, since they should be in the clear using T-Mobile’s 1900 MHz EDGE network, and should actually get access to AT&T’s 3G network on the same spectrum, too, which will replace T-Mobile’s.

Those looking to buy Apple’s products might benefit in the short term by new network reach and better cellular network infrastructure supporting iPhones and iPads, but the more troubling concern is that the deal would make the U.S. cellular landscape far less competitive. Canada provides a good example of how that can have a seriously detrimental effect on individual device users, since it essentially only has two or three major carriers depending on where you are. iPhone customers in Canada can choose between a variety of carriers, but all three require 3-year contracts on new purchases in order to get the same subsidy as U.S. customers enjoy on 2-year deals, and pricing is essentially the same no matter where you look. Expanded availability, in this case, doesn’t mean increased competition.

The last thing to keep in mind is that this is all a long way off. AT&T and T-Mobile still have extensive regulatory hurdles to jump in getting the deal approved, and once it does, there will probably have to be some renegotiation of the existing deal between Apple and AT&T. In short, it won’t affect your 2011 product purchasing plans, and it might not influence your 2012 decision, either.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):
Переслать