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- Seattle T-mobile stores challenging iPhone
T-Mobile is having some fun challenging its adoptive parent AT&T and its competitor Verizon Wireless to a speed test that pits the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G against the iPhone 4.
Starting Friday April 29, iPhone owners can challenge the Galaxy S 4G to see which handset is the fastest. If the iPhone beats the Galaxy S 4G in two of three tests, the iPhone owner will walk away with a cool $1000.
Before you start spending that cash prize, be aware that the Galaxy S 4G is a HSPA+ handset. It's capable of download speeds up to a blazing 21 Mbps, while the iPhone 4 is limited by its 7.2 Mbps HSDPA radio. Undoubtedly, T-Mobile chose Seattle based on the disparate speeds of the two networks in this wireless market.
If you don't mind falling for a marketing tactic, then by all means head out to one of the participating Seattle T-Mobile stores and risk public embarrassment. Otherwise, iPhone owners may want to steer clear of their taunting T-Mobile friends for the next few days.
[Via BGR]
Seattle T-mobile stores challenging iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - GarageBand for iPad running on an iPhone 4
YouTube user PSPfano has posted a video of GarageBand for iPad running on an iPhone 4. He accomplished this by using a hack (detailed on 9to5) which allows users to modify jailbroken iPhones and allows them to run most iPad apps on them. After applying the hack, PSPfano moved the GarageBand for iPad app with altered metadata to an iPhone 4 via OpenSSH.
The hack isn't perfect though. As PSPfano states on his YouTube page, "I got GarageBand running on my iPhone 4. Obviously, it isn't properly formatted, but for some reason the track editor worked really smooth and is fully functional." As always, with any hack or jailbreaking, proceed with caution, less you end up with a non-functioning iPhone. You can check out the video of GarageBand running on an iPhone 4 after the break.
Continue reading GarageBand for iPad running on an iPhone 4
GarageBand for iPad running on an iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - NMA explains Locationgate in animated form
Those wild and crazy guys from Taiwan's Next Media Animation have weighed in on the Locationgate blow-up, and as usual they haven't let the facts get in their way.
The video states that the location information is sent to Apple's servers for all sorts of nefarious purposes -- but of course, it was made before Apple's announcement today. As we posted earlier, the data is used to help your phone zero in on its own location as quickly as possible, and it may represent cell towers that could be 100 miles away. Take a peek and see what you think.
The video is a little bit NSFW, so think before you click.
Continue reading NMA explains Locationgate in animated form
NMA explains Locationgate in animated form originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Fring app brings group video calling to iPhone
Fring has updated its popular iOS IM app to allow group video calls on the iPhone. This is a first for group video calling on any iOS device as far as I know and its a much welcome feature. The group video calling allows you to video chat with up to three of your other friends over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi.To take advantage of the new group video calling features, you'll need an iPhone 4 or the latest iPod touch with front-facing camera. Technically, the app will work with devices with only rear-facing cameras, but that kind of defeats the purpose of video calling if you need to have the rear camera on you and can't look at the screen and see the people you are chatting with.
Best of all, Fringe works cross-platform, so you can video chat with people on Android devices. Android requirements are pretty much the same as iOS requirements, users just need Android 2.2 or later and a phone with front and rear cameras.
Fring is available now as a free download.
[via Engadget]
Fring app brings group video calling to iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - US Army to launch its own app store
Wired got an early look at an app marketplace designed by the Army for the Army. It will be populated with titles specific to Army operations and will support both desktop computers and mobile devices. The Army Marketplace will launch with 16 iPhone apps and 17 Android apps, most of which were designed as part of the Apps for Army contest. These apps will be available for a nominal fee to Army employees.
The marketplace will let soldiers submit ideas for new apps which can be discussed by fellow soldiers and developed in-house if possible. Apps that require outside help will be put out to bid and developed by a third-party contractor. Unfortunately, the store is limited to Department of Defense employees only and requires a secure login to gain access to the Marketplace website.
This need for tight security poses a problem as the Army does not have a solution in place for authenticating applications on a mobile device. Right now, the Army Marketplace is useful for designing cool apps, but they cannot be downloaded to Army handsets.
Last week, the Army took steps towards securing a mobile platform by confirming it is testing Android as the OS to power its first smartphone prototype. This military branch may be examining this iOS competitor closely, but it has not chosen Google's mobile OS as its final solution.
In fact, no Android handset has started the certification process overseen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. A phone has to be approved by this board before it can be considered secure enough to contain government data. The iPhone has entered this process, but it is still months away from approval.
US Army to launch its own app store originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW TV Live: In-depth iPad app demos for your viewing pleasure
Thanks for joining me here on TUAW TV Live today. Whether you're just watching the show or taking full advantage of the chat room tool, you're sure to have a lot of fun.Live demonstrations are always a challenge, and today I'm tempting fate by demoing several iPad apps. Provided the technical bits work properly (and I am making sure I have a fallback plan), I'll be your guide through several fun, useful, and even educational iPad apps that you may not have been aware of.
To watch the show from your Mac or PC, click the Read More link at the bottom of this post. There you'll find the livestream viewer and chat tool. Use the chat tool to ask questions or make comments.
If you're driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you're stuck in traffic, please don't -- keep your eyes on the road! However, if you're a passanger, you can watch the show on your iPhone and join the chat with the free Ustream Viewing Application. If you're on an iPad, you should be able to use the Skyfire Browser to watch the stream, although chat will be unavailable.
We'll start at about 5 PM ET, so if you're seeing a prerecorded show, refresh your browser until you see the live stream. Those who miss the live broadcast can view it later this evening on our TUAW Video YouTube channel and as part of the new TUAW TV Live podcast viewable in iTunes or on any of your Apple devices.
Continue reading TUAW TV Live: In-depth iPad app demos for your viewing pleasure
TUAW TV Live: In-depth iPad app demos for your viewing pleasure originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Pioneer registers with the FCC for AppRadio
It seems like just the other day we were chatting with Pioneer about its interfaces for iPhones in the car, and sure enough, it seems the company has plans for even more integration between its in-car units and Apple's smartphone. A filing with the FCC has revealed something Pioneer is calling the AppRadio, which appears to be an in-dash unit that will hook up with apps on the iPhone, essentially turning your smartphone into the backend of your car's radio system.
Details on what the device does are slim, but presumably this will do what Pioneer's other devices have done and hook into iPhone apps like Pandora and Aha Radio for content, while allowing you control that content more safely than bumbling around your car with the iPhone while driving.
We'll keep an eye out for this one -- once it wins approval, we'll probably see a formal announcement from Pioneer with lots more details.
Pioneer registers with the FCC for AppRadio originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Square Enix working on two followups to Chaos Rings, Imaginary Range comic
Square Enix has announced three different iOS products in the pipeline for later on this year in both Japan and eventually the US. First up, original iOS title Chaos Rings is apparently getting not one but two different followup titles. The first will be called Chaos Rings Omega, and it will apparently be a prequel (shouldn't it be called Alpha, then?), with the story set before the first game begins. Square Enix has also placed ads in a Japanese gaming magazine for a full-fledged "Chaos Rings II" sequel, though information on that is slim so far. But fans of the first game (which predated Infinity Blade as a full-featured, original AAA title for iOS) will have plenty to play through.
Square Enix has also announced an interactive comic book called Imaginary Range, which offers game-related elements and minigames in conjunction with a full comic book story. It sounds intriguing, in part because it doesn't sound like your average comic or game -- and it will probably be an interesting experience built just for iOS. Imaginary Range will be out on May 5 in Japan, and presumably we'll see an English translation here in the US soon after that.
Square Enix working on two followups to Chaos Rings, Imaginary Range comic originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple hardware VP sells 99% of AAPL holdings
Apple's senior vice president of Mac and iPhone hardware engineering, Bob Mansfield, has sold 99% of his Apple holdings, leaving him with only 501 shares left. The news comes from a recent SEC Form 4 filing which lists Mansfield selling 38,863 shares of AAPL at $351.89 each; total proceeds from the sale are in excess of $13.6 million.There are two things to take away from Mansfield's sale:
1. It in no way reflects his belief in the future of the company. Mansfield is just a smart investor. Sell high, buy back low. That's just his style and always has been. Plus he gets the usual 15% off employee stock purchase plan shares when he does buy through the ESPP.
2. Don't feel sorry for Mansfield because he only has 501 shares left. He's still got a fully vested option to buy 30,000 shares of AAPL at $36.54 -- that's a discount of almost 90% on today's prices -- and he also has 100,000 restricted stock units that will fully vest in 2014.
Drinks are on Bob at WWDC, everyone.
[via Apple 2.0]
Apple hardware VP sells 99% of AAPL holdings originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - MacLegion bundle focuses on utility, value
Mac software bundles come and bundles go -- some with an emphasis on pretty apps with limited shelf life, others with more of a gaming or business bent. It's not clear whether 'bundle fever' will still be with us well into the Mac App Store era, but depending on your needs and your timing you can still get fantastic deals from app bundles... assuming you don't already own more than half the apps.
The good news about the new US$49.99 MacLegion Spring bundle, announced today and available for two weeks, is that it's tightly focused on utilitarian apps that deliver clear and lasting value for power users (and those who aspire to become so). With no obvious clunkers in the batch (with one potential caveat, noted below), the bundle might make a good gift for the new Mac user in your life who keeps pestering you with "How do I do that?" questions.
The bundle consists of ten apps, with retail prices ranging from $20 to $99. Here's the lineup:
- Prosoft's Data Rescue, a powerful data recovery and repair tool -- TUAW coverage
- Telestream's ScreenFlow, a screencasting capture & editing tool -- TUAW coverage
- Contactizer Pro, a personal information and task manager
- Intego VirusBarrier X6, an antivirus utility -- TUAW coverage
- ForkLift 2, an FTP/SFTP and WebDAV client
- LaunchBar 5, a menubar utility for launching apps and finding files -- TUAW coverage
- Amadeus Pro, a sound editor
- Radio Gaga, an internet radio recording manager
- Printopia 2, an AirPrint enabler for Mac -- TUAW coverage
- MacPilot, a settings tweaker and preference manager
About that caveat: Reasonable people can disagree over whether Mac OS X users actually need antivirus protection under normal circumstances, so just because VirusBarrier X6 is included in the bundle that doesn't mean you need to install it. Given my experience with Intego's approach to marketing its products (which leans toward the sensational rather than sober assessments of security risk) I wouldn't be particularly inclined to use their app if I needed AV. Rather, I'd suggest the free ClamXAV or the free home edition of Sophos Anti-Virus.
MacLegion bundle focuses on utility, value originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - YouTube seals deals with major studios to compete with iTunes
Google-owned YouTube plans to expand the premium on-demand video rental services offered through its website.Earlier this week, Google and YouTube reportedly closed deals with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Universal, and Lionsgate to offer filmed content from these studios as streaming rentals -- including access to new releases the same day as competing movie-on-demand services. YouTube's new service is expected to compete with market leaders in the online video rental market: Apple and Amazon.
In an effort to generate revenue with professionally produced content, YouTube began offering premium video rentals on its website about a year ago, starting with a limited number of films from the Sundance Film Festival, Weinstein Co., and MGM. But the Google subsidiary has struggled to transform its 130 million monthly users into a sizable audience for its paid and ad-supported feature films. This week's licensing agreements that expand YouTube's library of rental titles may help more customers see value in paying the website for access to Hollywood films and make it a more competitive rival to Apple's iTunes and Amazon's Instant Video services.
Google isn't the only big brand making big moves in the streaming video business. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both DirecTV and Dish Network are exploring subscription streaming service businesses to challenge Netflix and iTunes. Meanwhile, cable television provider Comcast is trying to negotiate deals to offer premium video-on-demand options that would allow cable subscribers to enjoy new movies only 6-8 weeks after their theatrical release dates.
YouTube seals deals with major studios to compete with iTunes originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple could survive on current cash alone until 2018
During the 2Q 2011 Apple Results Call last Wednesday, we listened with rapt attention as the number for "Cash and Cash Equivalents" figure was announced. The number, as you may recall, was US$65.8 Billion. One question that many of us always ask is "What could Apple do with that money?"
Asymco analyst Horace Dediu always provides fascinating insights, and in a post yesterday he not only did a breakdown of the sources of that cash, but did some comparisons just to show how huge the cash stash is. The pile of simoleons is made of "only" $15 Billion in cash, about $14 Billion in short-term marketable securities, and the rest -- about $37 Billion -- in long-term marketable securities.
Dediu's comparisons are staggering:
- If Apple's revenue stream was cut off today, the company could sustain operations (research and development, sales, general and administrative expenses) for seven years
- Apple's folding money is worth half of Google's enterprise value
- Those funds place Apple's CFO office into the top 100 of fund managers in the world, bigger than any hedge fund manager
- The cash growth in the last quarter was higher than the market capitalization of many companies.
What's really amazing is that the rate of growth of Apple's hoarded lettuce appears to be increasing. What do you think Apple should do with all of that cash? Leave us your ideas in the comments.
[via The Apple Investor]
Apple could survive on current cash alone until 2018 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - White iPhone delay partly due to UV protection
In an interview with Ina Fried at AllThingsD, Phil Schiller and Steve Jobs gave a little insight into what made the white iPhone 4 so tough to produce. Actually, it wasn't really the manufacturing itself, but the materials science needed to make sure the white iPhone was in every way as capable and durable as the black-painted iPhone 4.
Schiller told Fried, "...There's a lot more that goes into both the material science of it-how it holds up over time...but also in how it all works with the sensors." There's also a reference to how the white iPhone needs more "UV protection" than the black one, which I would guess comes from the light that is not absorbed by the black paint passing through the white paint instead.
There's a lot of tech that goes into the iPhone, and I'm really not surprised that something like a coating of white paint turned out to be tricky, but I think everyone (including Apple, it sounds like) was surprised at how long it took to sort this out. Still, the white iPhone goes on sale tomorrow. Will you get one? Will you apply sunscreen to it?
White iPhone delay partly due to UV protection originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Square gets the backing of credit card giant Visa
Mobile payment startup Square confirmed it received a strategic investment from Visa. Square produces a credit card reader that connects to the headphone jack of an iPhone, iPad or other mobile platform. The Square application on the device accepts the credit card information from the reader and processes the payment on the fly. It's an easy way for small businesses to accept credit card payments with minimal hardware requirements and a small 2.75% per transaction fee. [Past TUAW coverage of Square is here. -Ed.]
The company is growing -- in the first quarter of 2011 alone, Square processed US$66 million in payments and predicts it will triple that figure to an astounding $198 million in Q2. Square also expanded its retail footprint and is now available online from Apple and in Apple retail stores in the US.
This endorsement by a major credit card company boosts the startup's reputation and could help the company exceed its lofty goals. The amount of money invested by Visa was not disclosed but Square confirmed Visa will become an advisor to the company. Visa and Square are excellent partners, as over two-thirds of Square's payment are made using Visa-backed credit cards. Though it enjoys a cozy relationship with Visa, the mobile payment service will still accept payments from MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
Square gets the backing of credit card giant Visa originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple building 'crowd-sourced traffic' service for iPhone users
An interesting bit of information has come out from Apple's announcement today addressing the location-tracking controversy. Apparently Apple is working on a crowd-sourced traffic service for iPhone users. From the press release:What other location data is Apple collecting from the iPhone besides crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data?
Apple is now collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced traffic database with the goal of providing iPhone users an improved traffic service in the next couple of years.
For a few years now Apple has been rumored to be beefing up its maps offerings in iOS. In 2009 and 2010 Apple bought both Placebase and Poly9, two companies with map and navigation-oriented products. Then in December of last year Apple posting job placement openings looking for engineers with "experience developing navigation software" to "deliver the next generation of Apple products."
While today's news of a crowd-sourced traffic database tells us nothing too concrete about Apple's maps plans, it does appear that Apple is gearing up to add turn-by-turn direction and increased real-time accuracy to its future map offerings on iOS. The third-party market for navigation apps is certainly hopping, so it makes sense for Apple to match up with Google's turn-by-turn support that's baked in on Android. (Apple can't do turn-by-turn directions on the existing Maps app, because it uses Google's data and the licensing agreements covering that data don't permit it.)
Apple building 'crowd-sourced traffic' service for iPhone users originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - White iPhone proximity sensor, death grip tested on video
You don't have to watch the two videos after the break if you don't want to -- we'll just tell you that Italy's iSpazio blog tested the white iPhone's proximity sensor and "death grip" antenna seam issue, and that, surprise, they're both fine. The proximity sensor seems to work a little better than that on my black iPhone 4 (based on observations of this video), and while the "death grip" on the iPhone 4's antenna does make it lose a bar, reception is unaffected. So don't worry.
The bigger question is why the white iPhone 4 took so long to arrive. We've heard Apple was working to improve the proximity sensor and antenna. Also, there may have been issues with the camera, or perhaps Apple had trouble nailing the perfect shade of white. There are a few improvements here, but (without having actually seen one myself) there's nothing that would conceivably cause a ten-month delay. Maybe it really was that shade of white -- was that worth ten extra months?
[via 9to5Mac]
Continue reading White iPhone proximity sensor, death grip tested on video
White iPhone proximity sensor, death grip tested on video originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: iPad app deep divesWhat a great day!
Apple has responded to the "locationgate" controversy in a nice, logical PR blast; the mythical white iPhone 4 will be available starting tomorrow, and here in the Northern Hemisphere it's really starting to look like Spring.
It's also Wednesday, which means that later this afternoon you can join me for an hour of fun, tech talk, and technical blunderings on TUAW TV Live. On today's show, I'm going to take a deep dive into a handful of iPad apps. I'm not going to tell you what those apps are, but let's just say that they're fascinating and take advantage of the iPad hardware and user interface in very good ways.
As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in your iTunes or your other favorite podcatching app.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: iPad app deep dives originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Ask TUAW: AppleScripting coolness
It's TuesdayWednesday, which means it's time for Ask TUAW Video Edition. We've gotten great comments and questions coming in, and we have been trying to get to them all. Some of them are just too hard to show in a video format such as Ask TUAW, so today I have decided to do a little AppleScript "tutorial."Here are 4 scripts that I use:
- iTunes - this script will automatically play/pause my music
- I'm back - will automatically make Adium go available, and start my music
- Mail Announce - will announce who incoming mail is from (works with mail.app only)
- Tell me a joke - tells a random joke
You can download the scripts here. Updated the download link at 5:30pm EST
As always leave us comments below or email us here.
Continue reading Ask TUAW: AppleScripting coolness
Ask TUAW: AppleScripting coolness originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dear Aunt TUAW: How can I edit my EXIF data?
Dear Aunt TUAW,
Help a guy out. How do I edit EXIF data on my Macintosh? I need to know, like, yesterday -- so thanks in advance for a quick answer.
Love and hugs,
Dave
Continue reading Dear Aunt TUAW: How can I edit my EXIF data?
Dear Aunt TUAW: How can I edit my EXIF data? originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Four Android myths lazy analysts love
The more I read about the tech sector, the more it becomes clear that "analyst" is synonymous with "stand-up philosopher," which Mel Brooks fans will know is the same thing as an artist who works in a decidedly unsavory medium. This is never more clear than when an outlet like Nielsen releases numbers on the US smartphone market, because immediately afterward legions of "analysts" will leap to the dumbest conclusion possible: Android is ascendant, and Apple is doomed! Dead in the water! DOOOOOMED! In support of that entirely boneheaded thesis, I've noticed a pattern: these "analysts" keep using the same four myopic arguments. All four of these myths dance around a central point, that the smartphone market will only have one "winner," and it sure won't be Apple.
The worst part of these analysts' outlandish claims isn't that the arguments are so easily dismantled, it's that so many otherwise intelligent people completely fall for them. Ever since the HTC Dream came out I've seen people jumping up and down and saying, "That's it for Apple, they're done! Android is going to eat your lunch, sorry fanboys!"
The fact that it's two and a half years later and that still hasn't happened is no deterrent to the Android faithful, or the lazy analysts who egg them on in the first place. It's honestly getting kind of painful to watch this happen every month, especially since the analysts keep saying the exact same things every time.
Read on for the four Android myths that contribute to these analysts' narrow views.
Continue reading Four Android myths lazy analysts love
Four Android myths lazy analysts love originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPad 2 will land in 12 new countries starting with Japan on April 28
Apple confirmed the iPad 2 will land in Japan starting tomorrow, April 28. Sales begin at Apple retail stores at 9 am local time. Select authorized resellers will also carry the tablet device and prospective iPad 2 owners should call ahead to confirm availability. If you prefer to shop online and avoid the hubbub of a crowd, you can also order the iPad 2 online from Apple's website starting at 1 am.
Despite facing the "mother of all backlogs", Apple is determined to continue the rollout of this popular tablet device. The second generation iPad will be also debut in Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE starting April 29. China will score the WiFi version of the iPad 2 starting May 6.
iPad 2 will land in 12 new countries starting with Japan on April 28 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TenFourFox brings Firefox 4 to PPC Macs
Firefox 4 received quite a bit of fanfare when it finally rolled out of beta. Unfortunately for some Mac users, Mozilla decided to drop support for PowerPC processors and therefore Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger from FF4, meaning that G3, G4 and G5 users were left out in the cold. If you're one of these users lovingly still using PPC Macs, the folks behind the Mac Classic browser, Classilla, have come to your rescue and brought Firefox 4, with nearly all the trimmings, to the now discarded Mac architecture.
TenFourFox takes code from Firefox 4 and tunes it for OS X 10.4 (compatible with 10.5) and the PPC-architecture. In fact, TenFourFox is offered in hand-tuned builds for each PPC processor: the G3, the G4/7400 and /7450 and, of course, the G5. With the upgrade from Firefox 3.6, you get all the JavaScript speed improvements that Mozilla rolled into Firefox 4, making it by far the fastest browser available for the PPC-Mac. You'll also get WebM video support, access to most of the Firefox 4 add-ons and, of course, HTML5 and CSS3 support.
If you're using a perfectly decent and still loved PPC Mac, now is the time to furnish it with a modern browser and extend its life on the Web for years to come.
[via MacStories]
TenFourFox brings Firefox 4 to PPC Macs originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple responds to location tracking controversy
This morning, Apple officially responded to the location tracking controversy that has plagued the Cupertino company. [Apple executives, including Steve Jobs, spoke on the record with AllThingsD about the issue.]
In a press release, Apple asserted that it is not tracking user locations (despite suggestions to the contrary). The 'configuration.db' file stored on the handset includes a database of local cell towers and WiFi hotspots; this cache is used to assist in location services and speed up the device's 'fix' in identifying where it is; a GPS-only fix without any hints from other information could date several minutes.
The locations in the file don't represent the phone's actual location, according to Apple; the points recorded may be up to 100 miles away from the phone's true location. The fact that the location data is kept for so long? That's a bug, according to Apple.
To ameliorate any further problems, Apple will issue a software update to:
- reduce the size of the crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database cached on the iPhone
- cease backing up this cache
- delete this cache entirely when Location Services is turned off
This update will land on handsets in the upcoming weeks. A future update will also encrypt this information and make it less readily available to spying eyes.
The 'locationgate' tempest blew up last week when a pair of researchers published a report that revealed Apple was storing months worth of location data on the iPhone and 3G iPad. This information was originally discovered last year and flew under the radar until the iPhone Tracker app let users see the stored location data.
This data moves from the phone to the user's computer when the iOS device syncs via iTunes. The iPhone Tracker app grabs the data from the user's computer and displays it in a map that was an eye-opener for most people.
This revelation spurned an angry letter from Minnesota senator Al Franken and at least one lawsuit.
April 27, 2011 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Apple Q&A on Location Data
CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple would like to respond to the questions we have recently received about the gathering and use of location information by our devices.
1. Why is Apple tracking the location of my iPhone?
Apple is not tracking the location of your iPhone. Apple has never done so and has no plans to ever do so.
2. Then why is everyone so concerned about this?
Providing mobile users with fast and accurate location information while preserving their security and privacy has raised some very complex technical issues which are hard to communicate in a soundbite. Users are confused, partly because the creators of this new technology (including Apple) have not provided enough education about these issues to date.
3. Why is my iPhone logging my location?
The iPhone is not logging your location. Rather, it's maintaining a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers around your current location, some of which may be located more than one hundred miles away from your iPhone, to help your iPhone rapidly and accurately calculate its location when requested. Calculating a phone's location using just GPS satellite data can take up to several minutes. iPhone can reduce this time to just a few seconds by using Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data to quickly find GPS satellites, and even triangulate its location using just Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data when GPS is not available (such as indoors or in basements). These calculations are performed live on the iPhone using a crowd-sourced database of Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data that is generated by tens of millions of iPhones sending the geo-tagged locations of nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple.
4. Is this crowd-sourced database stored on the iPhone?
The entire crowd-sourced database is too big to store on an iPhone, so we download an appropriate subset (cache) onto each iPhone. This cache is protected but not encrypted, and is backed up in iTunes whenever you back up your iPhone. The backup is encrypted or not, depending on the user settings in iTunes. The location data that researchers are seeing on the iPhone is not the past or present location of the iPhone, but rather the locations of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers surrounding the iPhone's location, which can be more than one hundred miles away from the iPhone. We plan to cease backing up this cache in a software update coming soon (see Software Update section below).
5. Can Apple locate me based on my geo-tagged Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data?
No. This data is sent to Apple in an anonymous and encrypted form. Apple cannot identify the source of this data.
6. People have identified up to a year's worth of location data being stored on the iPhone. Why does my iPhone need so much data in order to assist it in finding my location today?
This data is not the iPhone's location data-it is a subset (cache) of the crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database which is downloaded from Apple into the iPhone to assist the iPhone in rapidly and accurately calculating location. The reason the iPhone stores so much data is a bug we uncovered and plan to fix shortly (see Software Update section below). We don't think the iPhone needs to store more than seven days of this data.
7. When I turn off Location Services, why does my iPhone sometimes continue updating its Wi-Fi and cell tower data from Apple's crowd-sourced database?
It shouldn't. This is a bug, which we plan to fix shortly (see Software Update section below).
8. What other location data is Apple collecting from the iPhone besides crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data?
Apple is now collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced traffic database with the goal of providing iPhone users an improved traffic service in the next couple of years.
9. Does Apple currently provide any data collected from iPhones to third parties?
We provide anonymous crash logs from users that have opted in to third-party developers to help them debug their apps. Our iAds advertising system can use location as a factor in targeting ads. Location is not shared with any third party or ad unless the user explicitly approves giving the current location to the current ad (for example, to request the ad locate the Target store nearest them).
10. Does Apple believe that personal information security and privacy are important?
Yes, we strongly do. For example, iPhone was the first to ask users to give their permission for each and every app that wanted to use location. Apple will continue to be one of the leaders in strengthening personal information security and privacy.
Software Update
Sometime in the next few weeks Apple will release a free iOS software update that:
reduces the size of the crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database cached on the iPhone,
ceases backing up this cache, and
deletes this cache entirely when Location Services is turned off.
In the next major iOS software release the cache will also be encrypted on the iPhone.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.
(C) 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPhone and iTunes are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.Apple responds to location tracking controversy originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - White iPhone to arrive tomorrow (4/28) says Apple
Apple has announced that the white iPhone 4 will be available tomorrow, April 28th. You'll be able to find it at Apple's online store, Apple retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and some Apple Authorized Resellers (call to confirm). The white iPhone will go on sale in 28 countries tomorrow, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the U.S. and the UK.
"The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it's beautiful," said Apple's Phil Schiller. "We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we've worked to get every detail right."
As of this writing, the white iPhone has commandeered Apple's homepage.
At last, the wait is over! Rumors suggested we'd see it this week, and here it is. If you pick up one of the snowy beauties tomorrow, please share your photos and stories. We'd love to hear all about it.
White iPhone to arrive tomorrow (4/28) says Apple originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Daily App: Third Blade
Com2Us is a Korean publisher that's produced some quality iPhone titles, and its latest release, Third Blade, keeps that trend going. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of original iPhone gameplay here (it's a traditional beat-em-up, though there are some nice RPG elements as you go), but while the actual game style is pretty well traveled, the action is well-done anyway. With an on-screen analog control and three different blade types that you can use to hack and slash through the well-rendered enemies, there's plenty of fun to be had, especially if you're up for a relatively hardcore action experience.
Each of the three blades that you can use (a faster dual wield, a stronger one-hand sword and a huge, but slow, two-hand "buster sword") also levels up, and as the game goes along, there are also abilities to uncover and use against the enemies you meet. The enemies themselves are kind of repetitive (though I find most action games repetitive in this way -- it's more about the moves you can pull off rather than the variety of bad guys you come across, I think), but the graphics look great, and the hack-and-slash action is satisfying.
There are a few modes to play with, Game Center is integrated, and Com2Us says that more content will be available in the app soon. Third Blade is a more hardcore experience than your standard casual iOS action game, but for those looking for a little bit tougher action experience, it's worth the US$2.99 to download and play.
TUAW's Daily App: Third Blade originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone 101: Location data and GPS
Update: Look here for official word on the iPhone location data controversy from Apple.Recently, the Apple community has become interested in location data as gathered by iPhones. Specifically, The Guardian has reported that researcher and former Apple employee Pete Wardensome and data visualization scientist Alasdair Allan believe that your iPhone's travel history is backed up to a file on your Mac, eliciting questions and concerns about iOS location services.
With that in mind, TUAW offers this brief primer so that you can better understand what's going on under the hood of your iOS device when it comes to location matters.
What are location services and how do they work?
Location services allow certain apps to determine your iPhone's approximate location and make use of that information. This is done through a combination of cellular network triangulation, Wi-Fi triangulation and the Global Positioning System, or GPS.
Here's how it works. Your iPhone will first attempt to communicate with GPS satellites to determine its approximate location. This is a series of medium Earth orbit satellites deployed by the US Department of Defense several years ago. For a more in-depth explanation, look here.
When a solid GPS connection is unavailable (the iPhone is indoors, amid many tall trees outside, etc.), the iPhone tries Wi-Fi triangulation. As our own Auntie TUAW recently explained, this works because Wi-Fi hotspots rarely move. Apple has amassed a database of known hotspots and, when your iPhone is connected to one of those, can use them to determine an iPhone's approximate place on the Earth. Of course, this method is less accurate than GPS.
Finally, determining location via cellular towers works in a similar fashion. Nearly every cell tower is built in a known, constant location (except for COWs). These fixed positions allow your iPhone to determine an approximate location by triangulating its distance from the nearest towers. Cell towers are less accurate because there are fewer of them than there are Wi-Fi hot spots. Therefore, you're dealing with larger distances.
The first time an app tries to access location data, it asks for permission. A dialog box asks to use your current location. If you're OK with that, tap Allow. Otherwise, tapping Don't Allow prevents the app from accessing your location data until you turn it back on as described below.
Continue reading iPhone 101: Location data and GPS
iPhone 101: Location data and GPS originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Zite for iPad gets a new version and a new CEO
In previous reviews, I've said Zite is my favorite way to get the latest news on the variety of subjects I follow, and unlike more traditional RSS feed readers, Zite lets me discover stories from websites I would never have seen.
Zite pushed out an update yesterday with an in-app browser, performance improvements and clipboard support for long URLs.
I think what I like most about Zite is the presentation of the articles. They look very clean, ad free, and are just simply easy on the eyes. Of course, some publishers complained about ads being stripped out, and Zite received some threats in the form of a cease and desist letter from some of the biggest publishers on the Web. The response was to accommodate any publisher with a direct web link, and that's happened with every request Zite has received.
Continue reading Zite for iPad gets a new version and a new CEO
Zite for iPad gets a new version and a new CEO originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Amazon responds to Apple's 'App Store' lawsuit
In March Apple filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the internet giant had violated Apple's trademark by using the term "App Store" in its Android-based Amazon Appstore. "Amazon has unlawfully used the App Store mark to solicit software developers throughout the United States," Apple said in a statement, and noted that the company had tried contacting Amazon several times about the infringement, but Amazon repeatedly failed to "provide a substantive response."
Now GeekWire reports that Amazon has filed an official response to the matter. Following in Microsoft's footsteps, Amazon is asserting that the term "app store" is generic and is therefore not a valid trademark. Amazon even cites Steve Jobs in its defense, quoting him from an earlier financial conference call where he used "app stores" in a generic sense. For those of you who like these kinds of lawsuits, you can read Amazon's filing here [PDF].
If the courts agree with these statements right away, the case could be dismissed quickly. But Apple likely has defenses already lined up for this opening salvo, so this is likely only the beginning of the arguments over the term.
Amazon responds to Apple's 'App Store' lawsuit originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Deep thoughts: Why Android's market share doesn't matter
According to Nielsen numbers released today, Android phones now represent over half of the US smartphone market. That's certainly worth noting. Then again, at least as far as Apple goes, Android's market share doesn't matter as much as pundits today seem to be emphasizing.
To understand Android is to acknowledge convenience. I know many, many people with Android phones -- and they are, practically to a one, completely content with their purchase, with their service and so forth. These are not people looking for a magical and revolutionary device. They wanted web access, email and a camera on their phone -- at an affordable price -- and they got it.
To talk about market share is to ask the wrong question because market share, in some sense, isn't the end-all and be-all of the mobile space. The better question is this: is iOS growing? And the answer, as you already know, is "yes."
Developer engagement also matters, and there's no simple formula there: factor in the raw number of devices, sure (not forgetting iPod touch and iPad), but also consider the willingness of owners to open their wallets and the relative strengths of the app ecosystems.
Apple is already winning hearts, wallets and developers with its lickably delicious product line. My dad is in love with his iPad, and my friends' kids wouldn't ever give up their iPods. So long as iOS continues to grow, does it really matter quite so much what the rest of the market is doing -- especially if it isn't innovative and pushing boundaries?
There will always be budget alternatives that perfectly satisfy their users, just as there will be cheap rip-offs of quality goods. Neither group diminishes the market for quality, and both act as gateway drugs to bring users to the real deal.
Should Apple worry about decreased market share in the phone arena? Not while the company has gone from zero to nearly a third of the smartphone market in only four years, and not while the iPhone continues to grow (a $12 billion/quarter business is a problem a lot of Android phone makers would gladly trade for). This last quarter alone, sales of iPhones in the US were up 155 percent year-over-year -- in China, sales were up 5 times over last year's figures. As for those happy Android users out there? More power to them. Not everyone needs to go Apple to get the phone they need.
Deep thoughts: Why Android's market share doesn't matter originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Blast from the past: Steve Jobs talks location privacy issues
With Locationgate hitting a frenzy, All Things D has gone back and cut a new video of Steve Jobs and Google mobile boss Andy Rubin talking about privacy and location tracking on mobile phones. The footage comes from the D8 Conference last June and at D: Dive Into Mobile in December.
At All Things Digital, Jobs told Mossberg that Apple takes location data very seriously and that he believe privacy means that "people know what they're signing up for." Check out the collection of clips on the next page (word of warning, AllThingsD only provides the clip in Flash -- sorry, iOS readers). The insights are quite interesting given the current climate over location tracking.
Continue reading Blast from the past: Steve Jobs talks location privacy issues
Blast from the past: Steve Jobs talks location privacy issues originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Academy members get screeners through iTunes
Here's an interesting note that's not exactly new, but might be news to a lot of movie fans anyway: Apple has apparently been passing out movie screeners for Oscar voters via iTunes. That fact came to light in an FBI raid earlier this week when chasing down a man who allegedly uploaded illegal copies of movies like The King's Speech and Black Swan to pirate file-sharing services. Among the documents in the case were a few comments on BitTorrent site The Pirate Bay, where the suspect allegedly identified himself as an Academy member and said that "SAG now sends out iTunes download codes for screens." A movie studio contract firm did the footwork, connecting a digital signature on the pirated screener back to the FBI's suspect, as well as lining up the IP on The Pirate Bay's uploads.
Piracy case aside, the interesting part here is that Apple is apparently coordinating distribution of Academy screeners with special iTunes codes. This likely isn't true for all screeners -- I have friends here in LA who still get their screeners the old fashioned DVD way -- but it makes sense that SAG would want to simply email codes to share movies early, as well as use any digital signature information to track down anyone illicitly sharing these copies. Especially for these two movies, which are already available on the service, it's probably easier to just give out codes than actually print DVDs.
You wonder what Apple's role in this deal is, or if it has one at all (SAG might just buy the movies and pass out codes themselves). It could be like the movie trailers on the QuickTime site -- just one of those roles Apple happened to take over -- or maybe it's in conjunction with some other agreement Apple has already made.
Academy members get screeners through iTunes originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple lays out $11 billion in purchase commitments
Many out there think Apple should go on an acquisition spree with its $65.8 billion in cash. Others think that Apple should issue a dividend to its shareholders. I tend to agree with the first line of thought (especially when it comes to buying patent portfolios), but at this moment in time, it's good that Apple has been sitting on all that cash on hand.As All Things D points out, Apple has upped its purchase commitments an astounding 39 percent to $11 billion. The increase in purchase commitments will allow Apple to secure supply chain investments, such as critical components for the iPad 2 and future iPhones. Demand for hot components, like flash memory and touchscreens, has soared in recent years thanks to the glut of smartphones hitting the market. If any company wants to stay ahead, it needs to make sure that it can actually build any killer products that it comes up with.
This is where Apple's massive amount of cash comes in handy. When shortages do occur, such as what happened after the Japan tsunami, Apple doesn't have to mess around with securing loans to lock down components. As Tim Cook said at Apple's financial conference call last week, "The iPad has the mother of all backlogs, but we're working very hard to get [it] out to customers as quickly as we can." Having all that available cash on hand will enable Apple to keep up with demand where other, "poorer" tech companies may not be able to.
Apple lays out $11 billion in purchase commitments originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Survey: Developer interest in iOS highest and growing
Nielsen may be reporting that Android is growing in desire among consumers, but for developers, iOS is still the platform of choice. A survey by Appcelerator with help from IDC says that developers still favor iOS for making their mobile apps. A full 91 percent of devs surveyed said that they were "very interested" in making apps for iPhone, and 86 percent of those surveyed would like to make apps for iPad. In fact, the iPad has just recently risen up over the Android platform, which sits after a short fall at just 85 percent of developers saying they're "very interested" to code apps for it.
Obviously, these numbers can't be used to proclaim that any one of these platforms are more or less healthy than the others -- mobile in general is big right now because it's such a growing market (and can be very lucrative for talented developers). But Android is still working out some kinks in terms of supporting development, while Apple has more of a tried-and-true solution. Developers in the survey said that Android fragmentation among devices as well as multiple app stores are keeping them away from projects on that platform.
Microsoft and RIM, on the other hand, are still waiting on customer adoption -- the new BlackBerry PlayBook is at 20 percent interest among developers, and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform is only a little higher than that. At this point in time, Apple has everything developers want: a developer toolkit that's powerful and relatively easy to use, lots of customers ready to spend money on apps, and a big install base with a solid future. It's no wonder devs like iOS so much.
Survey: Developer interest in iOS highest and growing originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Homer Simpson comes to the Tom Tom app
The voice of cartoon character Homer Simpson, as performed by actor Dan Castellaneta, is now available as an in-app purchase in Tom Tom's US-based GPS apps for the iPhone. For US$5.99, you too can have Homer say "[Annoyed Grunt]" when you make a wrong turn, or "Woo hoo!" when you reach your destination. Pricey? Maybe so, but considering the apps already cost about $50 (not to mention a subscription charge for other services), you're all-in anyway, right?
This isn't that big a deal -- celebrities (and impersonators) have been doing GPS voices for a while now. But Tom Tom says that this is the first time a celebrity's voice has been released for a GPS system via an in-app purchase. And considering that even Tom Tom admits that smartphones are a huge part of the navigation market, this could make for a big change in the way people download and use add-ons like this. Previously, you had to update the GPS unit's firmware, maybe take it out of your car and sync it up with a computer to get a voice like this working.
But now, you only have to click a button on an iPhone app, and use your Apple account to pick up the voice for a few bucks. That's much easier, and depending on how Homer does here, navigation companies may have a whole new market for these add-ons.
Homer Simpson comes to the Tom Tom app originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Tapjoy alters marketing strategy to comply with App Store changes
Down but not out, Tapjoy confirmed to AllThingsD that it is modifying its incentivized purchases to work within Apple's new ranking system and to ensure its apps will make their way into the App Store.
Last week, Apple made changes in its app store ranking system that downplayed the ranking of apps, and reviewers even rejected some apps that include cross-application marketing programs. The largest company affected by these changes was Tapjoy, a social and mobile game distribution network that offers these "incentivized purchases."
In this system, an app developer pays money to be promoted by another application within Tapjoy's network. When a user wants to purchase an in-app item, like a new level, the user can download one of these sponsored apps in lieu of paying for the upgrade using virtual currency. This system increases the potential audience for these smaller developers and helps them increase their download numbers. Tapjoy's system was so successful it artificially propelled some apps to the top of the App Store because they were downloaded so often.
Tapjoy modified its cross-marketing system and these changes appear to be working. CEO Mihir Shah confirmed "[Apple has] rejected certain apps for a certain mechanism. When we have tweaked that mechanism we have seen apps approved." These changes supposedly include a self-imposed cap that limits the usage of these pay-per-install promotions.
Shah also re-iterated that Tapjoy is just going through some growing pains, and Apple has not "shut them down." While Tapjoy struggles, this circumstance may pave the way for other app networks, like Appia and GetJar, to make inroads into this lucrative mobile marketing approach.
Tapjoy alters marketing strategy to comply with App Store changes originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple reportedly selects Sharp for next-gen LCDs
The iPhone 5 hasn't even made it into the hands of the Apple faithful, and already we're hearing hints of what the display of the iPhone 6 could be like.Apple has chosen Sharp to supply low-temperature poly-silicon (p-Si) LCDs for the displays, and the Japanese manufacturer will reportedly begin production of the screens in the spring of 2012. The displays are to be built in the Sharp Kameyama Plant No. 1, which is currently used to build LCD TVs.
The technology that will be used on the iPhone 6 provides thinner and lighter displays that consume less power -- a key component of good smartphone design. The poly-silicon LCD allows the display drivers to be mounted directly onto a glass substrate, creating a "system on glass" on which signal processing circuits, optical sensors, and additional components are located. Since those components can be removed from other circuitry, the next-next-generation iPhone can be much thinner and have improved battery life through better efficiency.
The p-Si displays also create more vivid images and feature fewer connecting pins, which leads to better durability. The fact that Apple is selecting this technology for a phone that won't see the light of day for another year seems to indicate that it's not sold on organic LED (OLED) displays, which are used in competing devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy S.
[via Apple Insider. Images from Toshiba Mobile Display]
Apple reportedly selects Sharp for next-gen LCDs originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Rumor: Apple's cloud service comes with subscription fee
CNET has heard from "music industry insiders" that Apple's long-rumored cloud service is indeed coming, but with a subscription fee. When it first launches, the service, which supposedly will act as a "music locker," allowing you to store and access a music collection in the cloud, may be available free of charge. But the plan is to eventually charge for it, and most estimations (also known as guesses) are falling in the $20 per year range.
We'll have to see how this all plays out -- Google is also reportedly working on a service like this, but of course, the details are still up in the air. And it remains to be seen what deal Apple is working out with the record companies as well. Will only your iTunes-purchased music be able to stay in the cloud, or will we be able to upload any music that we have installed in iTunes? Or will, as Billboard suggests, Apple try running a Netflix-style music service, where a standard fee gets you access to a certain library of music?
Either way, it'll be good to see whatever Apple's been working on finally revealed, hopefully later on this year.
Rumor: Apple's cloud service comes with subscription fee originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhoto 9.1.2 released
Along with the Snow Leopard Font Upgrade, iPhoto 9.1.2 has just shown up in Software Update. Outside of the usual bug squashing, it brings a few new features and tweaks including new card themes and some enhancements to making photo books. Here's what you'll find in this sizable update:
o. Addresses an issue that prevented the Zoom slider from being accessible in Magnify (1-Up) view
o. Fixes an issue where Toolbars were not auto-hiding in Full Screen view
o. Search field now correctly performs an "includes" search when searching by text string
o. Fixes minor formatting issues with book, card and calendar themes
o. Message Size of emails now correctly updates when changes are made using the Photo Size menu
o. Addresses an issue that prevented some iPhoto 5 libraries from upgrading correctly
o. Multiple book pages can now be drag-selected when in All Pages view
o. Design tools in print project panels are now accessible via separate Layout and Options buttons
o. Photo backgrounds applied to a book are now preserved when book type is changed
o. Tab key can now be used to navigate through all text fields in a book projectThe update is recommended for all all users of iPhoto '11, whether you bought it with iLife '11, or got it with a new Mac. It can be downloaded either here or through Software Update.
iPhoto 9.1.2 released originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple releases Snow Leopard font update for OpenType/PDF issues
Apple just released the Snow Leopard Font Update. This fix addresses bugs encountered with OpenType fonts when displaying and printing documents. According to Apple, the bug fix will
- Address an issue in which some OpenType fonts don't display correctly in certain applications
- Resolve issues printing from Preview
- Address an issue with PDF files not opening in third-party PDF viewing applications
- Resolve invalid font errors when printing to PostScript printers
The update is being distributed through the standard OS X Software Update mechanism, so check Apple > Software Update... on your Mac.
We reported on the font troubles and on a temporary/unsupported fix.
Apple releases Snow Leopard font update for OpenType/PDF issues originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dear Aunt TUAW: What is this "Region 4" you speak of?
Dear Aunt TUAW,
I saw that you posted (in your secret other identity) that you've ordered a Region 4 DVD of The Almighty Johnsons from Mighty Ape in New Zealand and will be watching it on your Mac.
Last time I checked, I read that Macintoshes locked themselves to whatever DVD region you first inserted. How are you planning to watch Region 4? Do you use a region-free DVD player? Or is another way to override Apple's region restrictions?
Oh, and how is the show in general? Do you recommend it? I'm always looking for something good to watch.
Love and hugs,
François X. L.
Continue reading Dear Aunt TUAW: What is this "Region 4" you speak of?
Dear Aunt TUAW: What is this "Region 4" you speak of? originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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