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- WWDC 09 is a sellout -- time to call your ticket scalper
Filed under: WWDC, Apple, Developer
Last year, the limited number of registrations to the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) sold out on May 14th. This year, the seats at Moscone Center didn't even last until May.
A tweet from @polarbearfarm alerted TUAW to the sad/happy news that WWDC sold out today. It's sad news, because there are a lot of procrastinating developers who didn't even have a chance to register. But it's also happy news, because this once again shows the vibrant and active life in the Apple development community.
As with last year's non-attendees, you'll be able to purchase session videos shortly after the conclusion of WWDC on June 12th, 2009. Next year, when you see our post saying that WWDC 2010 has opened for registration, get out there and get registered ASAP!TUAWWWDC 09 is a sellout -- time to call your ticket scalper originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - MLB is about to make a million dollars off an iPhone app
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Lots of developers are saying that they can't sell their apps at $9.99 in the App Store, but Major League Baseball is apparently the exception -- the $9.99 At Bat app is not only gaining accolades from users, but it's selling like nachos at the ballpark, too: with 130,000 copies sold so far this year, MLB is about to break a million dollars in revenue, even after Apple takes its cut.
Pretty impressive for a pricey app. Of course, that's chump change when you consider exactly what MLB is dealing with -- the app integrates the Gameday Audio service, which sells for $14.99 on its own, and baseball's television and video content makes much, much more than a million dollars. The iPhone revenue, big as it is, is just a drop in the bucket for MLB, really.
But nevertheless, the MLB app stands out as proof that, even if you have to include exclusive live audio content from major sporting events around the country, it is possible to make an app that people will happily pay $9.99 for. Stands to reason that if developers can make their app at least as functional and useful as At Bat, they too can make a million dollars.TUAWMLB is about to make a million dollars off an iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dial 9 is another smart dialer for the iPhone
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review
The number of dialers for the iPhone give a pretty good indication that this is functionality that needs to be built in. Last week we took at look at one clever dialer; here's another. The Dial 9 visual dialer [App Store link] has a nice GUI and a couple of clever features, all for a reasonable $2.99US price.
This dialer keeps track of who you dial, and what numbers you use, and offers you those smart choices when you are ready to contact someone. Dial 9 will automatically import any images that are associated with your contacts, and I was glad to see when I updated a contact with a picture after I installed Dial 9, the app picked up on that without any intervention from me.
When you tap on a contact, you can call them at any number they use, send an SMS, send an email, view the contact or edit it if you like, and show a map of where the contact is. The map is just a link to the maps app on your phone, and once you select that you have to navigate back to Dial 9 from the home screen (a limitation of the current iPhone software).
You can arrange the icons however you like, or have the app arrange them. You can display a first name, first and last, or just images, and can change the background colors, or have different themes for different pages.
This is far from the only dialer for the iPhone. I counted 22 in the store, last time I checked. Faces Visual Dialer is another option at $0.99 (on sale) that has similar capabilities. You'll find free dialers and pay dialers. Other apps mimic old style rotary dialers such as this one, and this one, while others support speech recognition like the AdelaVoice Dialer and VoiceBox Dialer (this isn't meant to be a comprehensive list, just some samples).
I liked Dial 9. It looked nice, and had plenty of functionality. Help files are included and it worked as expected. The only downside of this app, and many that are similar, is that loading time is too long. It takes about 6 seconds to launch, likely because it is updating my contact list and loading images. 6 seconds isn't an eternity, but it can seem like one when you are ready to call someone. It doesn't really save you any screen tapping -- if I use the iPhone contacts, or Dial 9, I am 3 clicks away from dialing in either case. It does save scrolling time though, if your contact list is large and your frequently called contacts are few. That's my situation... I guess I need more good friends.
Here's a link to a video if you want to see how it all works.TUAWDial 9 is another smart dialer for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone 101: Clear local Safari storage to resolve Gmail issues
Filed under: Tips and tricks, Troubleshooting, iPhone 101
There's no denying it: locally caching messages in Gmail on the iPhone (via the storage capability in HTML 5, similar to Google Gears) is fun and good for you, especially if you don't connect to your Gmail via IMAP in the regular iPhone Mail application. Unfortunately, if the local copy of your mail gets funky, things can become difficult and much less fun.
John F. sent in this handy tip for resolving issues with cached Gmail; his suggestion is a quick dive into the iPhone's Settings app, then navigating to the Safari preferences to clear out the local database that stores the cached mail.
You may have to wait a bit the next time you connect to Gmail in Mobile Safari as the messages are re-downloaded, but any wacky cruft should be gone. While you're in there, take a look at some of the other settings options; you may discover choices you never knew you had.TUAWiPhone 101: Clear local Safari storage to resolve Gmail issues originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - More rumors: Verizon + Apple frenzy grows with BW story
In addition to the earlier reports regarding a potential alliance between Apple and Verizon, BusinessWeek has released a story where Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam reveals that he has been in discussion with Steve Jobs in the past six months.
The result, the magazine claims, could be two iPhone-like devices using Verizon's CDMA network. One would be a lite version of the iPhone, the other a 7" screen "media pad" -- which would let users listen to music, view photos and high-def videos and place calls over WiFi. The media pad, according to BusinessWeek, is supposed to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle, but with a bigger touchscreen. The so-called iPhone lite would be smaller and thinner than the existing handset. One of these devices could be introduced as early as this summer.
It's not clear if either or both of these hypothetical devices would get around the AT&T exclusivity for the iPhone by being 'different enough' from the existing model. Still, the media pad concept aligns nicely with reports from manufacturers that a new portable product is in the works.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!TUAWMore rumors: Verizon + Apple frenzy grows with BW story originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dept. of deja vu: MacBookMini found in Adium stats
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Rumors, Odds and ends
Reader Josh sent along this little note -- nothing too important, just something for you to file away for future reference. He just wanted us to point out that way, way down in the stats for Adium, the IM client for everyone who's not using iChat, there is one surreptitious listing for a "MacBookMini."
Now, I assure you, we're thinking the exact same things you're thinking: these stats are totally bunk, anyone can edit their computer ID to be listed as anything they want, and one stat on Adium's page does not mean that Apple is coming out with some sort of revolutionary miniature laptop.And we agree with you -- it's almost certainly nothing of consequence. Or, that is, we would completely agree with you, except for one thing: it's happened exactly this way before. A little computer called the MacBook Air first showed up in Adium's stats, and people argued those exact same things at the time, and it all turned out to be real.
You might say that makes it doubly likely for someone to tweak their computer's settings to show up as some legendary Apple test machine, and again, we'd agree with you. But it's a big world out there -- unless you work at 1 Infinite Loop, you have no idea what Apple is testing and working on right now. Like I said, we just thought we'd let you know. Just in case.TUAWDept. of deja vu: MacBookMini found in Adium stats originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Mac shipments lowest they've been in 1.5 years
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Hardware, Apple Financial, Apple
Apple reported amazing earnings in its conference call last week, but SwitchtoaMac.com says not so fast -- while it's true that there was a lot of sun shining in Apple's report, there is one small shadow that they obviously didn't mention: their shipments of new Macs have started to drop off for the first time in 5.5 years. And they're the lowest they've been in a year and a half.
A problem? Not a terrible one, but as you can see from the chart over there, there is a definite downturn in new Mac shipments. That might actually be good news for Apple, though -- with the economy doing a nice downturn lately, less inventory might shore up sales a bit, and keep their budgets in line with estimations. Of course it would also mean fewer Mac sales (and despite the recent popularity of the iPhone and the iPod, Macs still make up the majority of Apple's revenue), but if customers aren't there, that's better than having warehouses full of computers paid for but not actually sold.
It's definitely not a sign that the company is going down in flames (in fact, all evidence says exactly the opposite), but it may be a sign that Apple's amazing growth is slowing down a bit.
Thanks, Larry T!TUAWMac shipments lowest they've been in 1.5 years originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - The iPhone is a platform for coding newbies
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Developer
I love hearing this about the iPhone: the San Francisco Chronicle has a piece about how Apple's little revolutionary telephone has brought a whole new crop of programmers into the development mix. People who had never before looked at code or considered writing their own applications are getting ideas about how to make better software, picking up Cocoa and Xcode books, and going to town. And strangely, we might actually have fart apps to thank for this -- people aren't just seeing the iPhone as an innovative platform, but they're seeing the App Store as an "anything goes" environment, where even their silly little idea might work.
I don't know if we can pin all the credit for the burgeoning iPhone development scene on fart apps and the impression that even a monkey can make bestselling iPhone software (certainly Apple has set the bar and price for entry pretty low, both with the extremely cheap $100 fee for a developer account as well as the high quality Xcode software that comes on every Mac), but there is definitely something in this little device that's driving people to try and create their own software for it.
Oh, and the money probably helps, too. Still, whether people are taking up iPhone development because they want to make millions or are just looking for another hobby, it's us, app consumers, who will benefit.TUAWThe iPhone is a platform for coding newbies originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone Dev 101: The "Hello World!" app
Filed under: Features, How-tos, Developer, iPhone, iPod touch
In the last iPhone Dev 101 post, I told you a little about creating your first project using Xcode; however, in this post, I want to show you how to create your first application that will run in the iPhone simulator. In honor of staying with the classic way of teaching programming, we'll create a "Hello World!" application as our first one.
Creating the new project
If you have installed the iPhone SDK/Xcode, then you can launch Xcode by navigating to /Developer/Applications. Once there, you can double click on the Xcode application (you may also find it handy to just drag the icon to the dock if you will be using it a lot).
Once Xcode launches, click File > New Project. Under the iPhone OS section on the left side of the resulting window, select "Application." Select "View-based Application" from the templates that show up on the right side, and then click the "Choose" button. You will then be prompted to specify a project save name -- this will also be the name of your resulting application, so choose your project name wisely.
You're project has now been created, and the Xcode window that is displayed will contain all of your code, resources, etc. There isn't much there now, but the application is fully functional at this point. You can click the "Build & Go" button in the toolbar, and the application will be compiled and launched in the iPhone Simulator. Again, this is a fully functional application, but it doesn't do anything useful at this point -- the usefulness of the app is up to your coding, but Apple supplies you with the base code and dependencies.Continue reading iPhone Dev 101: The "Hello World!" app
TUAWiPhone Dev 101: The "Hello World!" app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Pack like a pro with your iPhone
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
I'm never very organized when I travel. I usually pay the price too, with panicked runs to the store when I reach my destination. Toothpaste, ties, batteries, you name it, I've had to buy it on the road. I've never been one for making huge lists, but Packer Pro [App Store link] may just change that.
This $3.99US app runs on the iPhone and the iPod Touch. It forces you to organize BEFORE you leave, and will certainly cut down on trip related disasters brought about by little or poor planning. The app starts you out with either a way to create your own lists, or better still, gives you some templates to add to or delete from. They are incredibly detailed, (i.e. sewing kit, set email auto-responder) and there are templates for out of country travel, or just quick trips. If you are not traveling alone, you can specify how many are going, their gender and whether they are adults or children. You can specify expected weather, to help you select clothing and accessories. The templates really reduce the typing, and the information is very, very detailed.
I'd like to see some additions to this app. The free Travelocity TravelTools [App Store link] app includes flight schedules, wait times and airport delays, gate information etc. It would be great to see that all integrated into this app. And Tripit, [App Store link] which my colleague Steven Sande reviewed earlier this month is a very innovative travel organizer, but it doesn't really do the packing part. An app with all these features combined would be the ultimate travel app, but it might be pretty large. Blue sky request. Get destination weather and flight schedules, and adjust my packed items depending on weather forecasts. I know that these changes would take this app out of the 'packing' realm, but it would be a really cool app I'd want.
If your packing is not so ambitious, take a look at Packing [App Store link], a cut down version of the app for $0.99US which has less depth but still lots options that will satisfy many travelers.
Packer Pro fills a unique niche and it's another one of those apps that continues to make the iPhone so different from the rest. If you travel, and always wind up on a mad dash to the pharmacy, or convenience store, this app is for you.
Here are some screen shots:
TUAWPack like a pro with your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - More rumors on the Verizon-iPhone front
Although the paper cites Verizon's CDMA network as the target for the iPhone deployment option, most other observers (including Verizon executives) have noted the upcoming LTE/4G network, built atop the GSM standard that the iPhone already knows and loves, as the likely deployment environment. Robert swooned over the possibility of an LTE-enabled iPhone back in February; of course, way back in 2007, Verizon's attitude towards Apple's phone was far less conciliatory.
Even though AT&T is eager to hold onto its exclusive deal for iPhone in the US as long as it can -- and there's plenty of financial motivation already -- there's enough meat to this report to make me believe that Verizon-Apple negotiations are more than a stick to push the incumbent carrier toward a better deal. Getting earlier access to LTE (AT&T's buildout is at least a year behind VZW's) and more domestic options for the phone would be a win for Apple, as would a more generous revenue sharing plan with AT&T.
What's not clear to me is the percentage of would-be iPhone buyers who have so far avoided the phone because of carrier exclusivity and the two-year contract requirement. If having Verizon as a choice would flip you from the 'no' to the 'heck yeah' column, pipe up.
Update: Just discussed the Verizon rumors with Randall on TechVi.TUAWMore rumors on the Verizon-iPhone front originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Corral your desktop windows with SizeUp
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Productivity
I want to make a quick mention regarding one of the most useful utilities I've found in recent days: SizeUp. It allows you to resize and reposition windows using keyboard shortcuts. It's no secret that I like my screen real estate, and making the most of it is a big deal to me. You can sit and resize windows all day, but I'd rather hit a couple of keys and have everything in place.
SizeUp offers half-screen (vertical or horizontal) and quarter-screen sizing (easily positionable in any corner), as well as a true Windows-style maximize function. You can also set a custom size for the "Center Window" option, which resizes the window to the specified dimensions and positions it in the center of its current screen. Not the screen you want? The last set of shortcuts lets you jump the window between existing monitors in your setup.
The hotkeys are configurable, but the defaults (surprisingly) didn't conflict with any of my extensive collection of shortcut combinations. SizeUp is shareware, but you can pay what you think it's worth (Fair licensing). A suggested price of $9.99US doesn't seem at all unreasonable to me. If it's useful to you, but not that useful, a minimum donation of $2.99US is requested. The maximize function alone is worth that. Developers Irradiated Software also offer a "lite" version called TwoUp which can do the split screen trick on its own, free. Grab a fully-functioning demo of SizeUp at the Irradiated Software website.
TUAWCorral your desktop windows with SizeUp originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - ExpanDrive 2.0 expands to Amazon S3
Filed under: Software, Developer
I had to do some extensive testing before I got too excited, but after a conversation with the developers I'm pleased to announce that ExpanDrive 2.0 is out. We've mentioned it before, but to recap: ExpanDrive allows you to mount remote servers as drives directly accessible in Finder. With a completely rewritten (again) SFTP layer, the existing FTP support and new Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Solution) support, it's even more useful than the last time we mentioned it. One of the developers, Jeff Mancuso, mentioned to me back at the last WWDC that the S3 support was in the works; it's great to see it come to fruition.
In my testing, I found that a previously-existing S3 option, JungleDisk, can cause conflicts with ExpanDrive's S3 support. JungleDisk users should note that there are some issues, but they seem to clear up if you create vanilla buckets in your account and use those with ExpanDrive. I personally found that I was willing to give up JungleDisk entirely at this point, preferring this direct-mount with all of the perks, including a contextual menu in Finder for quickly setting public read/write permissions.
I can attest to the fact that it's faster, and that the S3 support is working (wonderfully, without JungleDisk). ExpanDrive 2.0 is a $39.95 purchase (well worth it if you deal with remote UNIX systems or S3), and a $19.95 upgrade for existing users. There's a free trial available.
TUAWExpanDrive 2.0 expands to Amazon S3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW Tip: Wipe down an old Mac with Target Disk Mode
Filed under: Hardware, Software, How-tos, TUAW Tips
A reader recently contacted us with a question regarding her decision to recycle an older iMac computer. She wanted to know how she could clear/reformat the hard drive, but didn't have the disks that came with the system. So, we thought we would take a minute to tell you how you can cleanse your hard drives before getting rid of your computer. I'm going to show you how to wipe the hard drive using Target Disk Mode, since this will work even if you don't have the install disks.
Step 1: Get a FireWire Cable
Both of the Macs will need to have FireWire, which means everything between the iMac DV and the current lineup (except for the MacBook Air and unibody MacBook) is eligible. You will also need a FireWire 400 cable so you can connect one end to the old Mac, and the other end to another Mac. If you don't have one of these cables, you can easily pick up one online or at a retail store. If both of the Macs support FireWire 800, you can use one of those cables as an alternative to 400; it will be faster. If one has only a 400 port and the other has only an 800 port, a converter cable (available online for less than $10) is what you need. Once you have the FireWire cable, just simply connect the two computers together.
Step 2: Boot into Target Disk Mode on the old Mac
Shut down the old Mac that will be receiving the hard drive cleaning, and reboot it while holding down the "T" key on your keyboard. After a few moments, you should see a FireWire symbol appear on the screen -- when you see this, you are in FireWire Disk Mode (FDM). When in FDM, your old Mac's hard drive should show up on the new Mac as a connected external FireWire drive.
Step 3: Do some Disk Utility magicOpen Disk Utility.app on your new Mac (located in /Applications/Utilities), and click on your old Mac hard drive in the selection area on the left. Note that you should click on the drive, and not the partition (often called "Macintosh HD") to ensure a complete disk wipe. The disk drive will most likely have a FireWire icon to denote that it is connected as an external disk. Once you select the drive, click the Erase tab, and click Security options.
In this section of Disk Utility, you will be able to select a few different erase options that will also add security to the standard disk erase. First, lets specify a name for the drive -- in the name field type what you would like the drive to show up as when it is erased, otherwise it will default to "Untitled."
Continue reading to learn about security options and how to fully erase the hard drive on an old Mac.Continue reading TUAW Tip: Wipe down an old Mac with Target Disk Mode
TUAWTUAW Tip: Wipe down an old Mac with Target Disk Mode originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - OpenFeint announces iPromote, readies to take over iPhone gaming
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, Developer
During our interview with Danielle Cassley of Aurora Feint, I talked with her about OpenFeint, the code backbone for a social network that iPhone developers can use in their apps. Since then, a number of developers have added the interface to their apps, perhaps most notably Pocket God, which has used the tool only to create the barest of online leaderboards so far.
Now the crafty folks at Aurora Feint are revealing another trick up their sleeve: something they're calling iPromote. It sounds like more or less a crosspromotion deal for various apps and games in the OpenFeint system -- certain apps will give their users a chance to pick up other paid apps under the OpenFeint umbrella. While the press release is fairly vague about exactly how it works (they say there will be "a revenue sharing model for sales that occur through OpenFeint"), it'll probably show up in the user's interface as links or promotions for other apps.
There are quite a few of those apps -- Aurora Feint lists over 20 apps that have already integrated OpenFeint, and there are more on the way, including some high-profile apps from Chillingo. Even our friend Steve Demeter, who was working on his own community platform called Onyx, has abandoned work on that to join up with OpenFeint. There are at least a few other such platforms like this that were vying for widespread acceptance on the iPhone, but it looks like OpenFeint is primed to take the top spot. Which means we'll probably be seeing lots of it in applications near you very soon.TUAWOpenFeint announces iPromote, readies to take over iPhone gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - ScreenSteps 2.5 takes screen-based documentation a step forward
Filed under: Software, Productivity
ScreenSteps, the invaluable tool (mentioned here many a time) for writing software documentation quickly and easily, has updated to version 2.5. Among the new features is improved annotation capabilities, including a text tool and keyboard shortcuts for speedy duplication and repositioning of annotations.
You can set a status on lessons to remind yourself what's ready to publish, and what needs a little more work. Lesson steps can be more easily manipulated and reordered in the lesson inspector. Also, compiling lessons into full manuals is significantly easier, including the ability to quickly filter which lessons are included at the time of export.
I use ScreenSteps extensively in training clients on the websites I work on. It's not expected of me in most circumstances, but a PDF instruction booklet or an HTML export embedded in the content manager does wonders for reducing support calls. If you write any kind of screen-based documentation and haven't taken a look at ScreenSteps, it would be worth its price in the time it could save you. The best part of the system is that you can easily re-use and update manuals without much hassle, allowing a skeleton manual to be quickly turned into a custom manual for a client, or making it easy to add a step you didn't think of until you were in the middle of a training session.
You can try out ScreenSteps for free, and pick up one of two versions if you dig it: Pro for $59.95US, or Standard (lacking export of full manuals and support for MindTouch Deki and Confluence export) for $39.95US. There's a full feature comparison on the Blue Mango site.
TUAWScreenSteps 2.5 takes screen-based documentation a step forward originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Steve Jobs spending less on flying
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Odds and ends, Apple Financial, Steve Jobs
This might be obvious to most of us, but the WSJ feels it's fit to print: while Steve Jobs' reimbursed budget for his private jet has been fairly considerable over the past year or so -- $580,000 for a six-month period a year ago and $30,000 during a quarter period, the past few reports have seen the budget much, much lower. For the first three months of this year they didn't pay him at all, and for the previous six months before that they've only reimbursed him for $4,000.
What does this mean? Nothing, really -- while the WSJ points to it as evidence Jobs hasn't been traveling overseas to help bring the iPhone to China and carry out other big Apple deals, we've already known that Jobs wasn't involved much in the day-to-day business anyway; besides, it's hard to recuperate at home and fly around the world simultaneously. There are lots of other reasons for the budget to be down -- that $580,000 period would have been right around the manufacturing point of the iPhone 3G, and since most of the focus lately is on software, it's not like Jobs needs to be jetsetting off exotic plants to make sure production is on schedule.
And of course gas prices are back down quite a bit, and companies are under a little more scrutiny and pressure in this economy, so teleconferencing may be just as good as a plane ticket these days. Apple is still saying Jobs is expected back in June, and though these plane figures are interesting, the fact that Apple is still confident of his return says more about the company's future.TUAWSteve Jobs spending less on flying originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Road Tested: Why the hackb00k is a fail
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Hacks, Odds and ends, Road Tested
A tweet this afternoon pointed me to a post by Dave "MacSparky" Sparks titled The Netbook Experiment, in which he talked about his disappointment with a Dell mini 9 netbook. Since I was about to send out a tweet to the world at large announcing the sale of my Dell mini 9, I found it fascinating that Sparks had a similar experience to mine.
I wrote about creating a hackintosh (AKA hackb00k) out of a Dell mini 9 in a long post back in October of 2008, and at that time I was fairly impressed with the low cost and capabilities of the device. However, after actually using the mini 9 for six months, I find it almost useless as a "real computer" and have decided that it needs to go. The moral of the story? You definitely get what you pay for, and a $499 computer is not going to be a productivity tool. Even if you delude yourself into thinking that since you're only going to use it for email it will be a worthwhile investment, you're wrong. If you want to know how I came to these conclusions, read on.Continue reading Road Tested: Why the hackb00k is a fail
TUAWRoad Tested: Why the hackb00k is a fail originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - SlingPlayer for iPhone getting closer to release?
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
SlingMedia thinks so. In a brief note on the Sling website, the company notes: "We are in close contact with our partners at Apple and are optimistic that it will be approved soon. We hope the wait won't be much longer."
Hopefully the company knows something the pundits and rumor mongers don't. It's been a month of excitement followed by depression as lightly-sourced rumors spread that Apple would turn down the highly anticipated app at the request of AT&T, who worried about all the bandwidth the app would use. There was even a change in the AT&T Terms of Service, that the company later disowned and apologized for.
Of course other phones sold by AT&T and other carriers do offer the SlingPlayer Mobile app, but no other single phone has the footprint that the iPhone has.
There have also been rumors that the app might support WiFi only, which would be a tremendous downer for people who expected to be able to Sling away from just about anywhere. Hopefully, this whole soap opera is drawing to a close, but Sling fans shouldn't throw away their torches and pitchforks just yet.
Thanks to Matt for the tip.TUAWSlingPlayer for iPhone getting closer to release? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Talkcast reminder: 10 pm ET, news of the week & meet new bloggers
Filed under: TUAW Business, Podcasts
Last week, Mike and Dave enjoyed an interview with AJ from Marketcircle and covered all the news that was fit to yammer about. You can download the show from Talkshoe or subscribe in iTunes.
Later tonight at 10 pm ET it's time for us to be back live with this week's show. We'll be talking about Mac botnets, one beeeliyon apps from the iTunes App Store, Apple's quarterly results, and plenty more. We're also hoping to introduce you to our two newest colleagues, Kelly G. and Brett K.
To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only interface, or you can stick with the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in so we can hear your dulcet tones. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VOIP lines (take advantange of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. SIP or Gizmo users can connect directly to Talkshoe by following the instructions here. Talk with you then!
Recording support for the talkcast is provided by Call Recorder from ecamm networks.
TUAWTalkcast reminder: 10 pm ET, news of the week & meet new bloggers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Twitter and Skype and FileMaker, oh my! FMWebSchool integrates them
Filed under: Software, Freeware
FileMaker Pro fans can now tweet and make Skype calls directly from databases, thanks to a pair of free files from FMWebSchool. There are a couple of movies that demonstrate how these files work, which you can view by clicking the links below.
The FMSkype file allows you to import your Skype address book into a FileMaker Pro database (Windows only; Mac FileMaker users must manually import their Skype info), and then click to call a contact using their Skype name or phone number.
FMTweet lets you send messages to Twitter from a FileMaker Pro database. This is not a plug-in; it's a database with associated scripting that can be customized by the user. FMTweet could be useful if you want a database to provide notification of a specific situation through Twitter -- for instance, send a tweet when someone enters information into a web-enabled Filemaker database.
To get the two files and other FileMaker goodies that may come out in the future, you do need to subscribe to the free FMWebSchool newsletter.TUAWTwitter and Skype and FileMaker, oh my! FMWebSchool integrates them originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Birthdays under control on your iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
I always have a problem with birthdays. I generally don't make a big deal about my own, and sometimes that leads me to forget my friends' big days. iCal helps me, and I have a few birthdays in there that have pop-ups a few days in advance. It works well, especially if I remember to make it a repeating alert from year to year.
Now, here's another solution that plays well with the iPhone or iPod touch. It's called Birthday Reminder [App Store link] and sells for $1.99US. It scours your contact list to pull birthday information, and shows you all the ones you have in a nice chronological list. You can also tap on anyone in the list and call or text them. It tells you when the birthday is coming up, and how old the person will be.
A couple of notes: First, I didn't know contacts even supported birthdays. You can add them on the iPhone or in the Mac app by selecting Add Field>Birthday. There are some other goodies in there too, like 'maiden name,' but that's a subject for another post.
After Birthday Reminder scans your contacts, you can set up the app to email you to jog your memory about upcoming birthdays. You can decide how many days in advance you want the warning, and you can also get sound effects with the notice, or not. You can't specify the time of day you get the warning; that's coming in version 1.1. As it is, they come at midnight, G.M.T.
At first, this app seemed a bit redundant, but as I used it I found it quite helpful and gave me a nice overview of birthdays I needed to worry about.
Here's some small nits... I don't think the GUI looks all that great. It is pretty plain, actually. I tried syncing the list to the developer's server for the email function. One day it worked fine. The next it kept crashing the app. You can't set multiple reminders. If you tell it to warn you 2 days in advance, that's all she wrote.
Birthday Reminder is a clever app. It's not life changing, but is certainly convenient to use. With a couple of the little bugs removed, and a few features added, I think it makes a nice, useful addition to your collection.TUAWBirthdays under control on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Better safe than sorry? Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Mac
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software
Earlier this week, PC security app vendor Trend Micro announced a new product aimed at Mac users. Smart Surfing for Mac (US$69.95 per user per year) provides antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit, and web threat protection, and also has a two-way firewall built in.
This, of course, brings up the old debate for Mac users. On the one hand, our 10% of the personal computing market is virtually free of the virus and malware attacks that plague the Windows world. On the other hand, should you be concerned enough to consider purchasing protection that might be overkill?
Some of the features of Smart Surfing for Mac could be very useful for users who might otherwise be in danger of certain nefarious schemes. For example, it blocks visits to dangerous websites and has anti-phishing capabilities. While I know enough to check the real URL of links in emails by simply hovering my cursor above them, there are a frightening number of people who don't do this and who are at real risk of phishing scams. Parents might like Smart Surfing for Mac for their kids, as it restricts access by content categories, controls IM access, and also lets you block certain websites.
Are products like Smart Surfing for Mac expensive overkill, or are they cheap insurance against the remote chance of actually getting hit with a Mac virus, malware, or a scam? Let's hear your opinion in the comments section!TUAWBetter safe than sorry? Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Introductory Post: New Blogger Kelly Guimont
Filed under: TUAW Business
Howdy! (That's a traditional greeting from Out West.) I'm a new blogger here on TUAW. I made an appearance here from Macworld 2008 when I demonstrated software on the show floor. I've been a Macintosh user in some form or another since very early on (I drew with a turtle and don't understand versions of Oregon Trail that are anything but green), and I'm currently Leopard Certified.
I live in Portland, Oregon, which is a great place to be a Mac Geek since we have three Apple retail stores and loads of Mac places besides. My current setup is a Unibody MacBook and an iPhone 3G, but I still get some mileage out of my 80gb iPod and I still have a PowerBook G4 and a blueberry iMac DV around in case I need them -- you never know!
My house has a lot of gadgetry (right now the network has about a dozen IP addresses assigned) and general geekery: Star Wars, Disney, and Lord Of The Rings tidbits are all over the place.
As writing goes, I've written all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons/groups/publications such as Mac|Life and local computer magazines, blogged here and there, and written short stories and other pieces just for fun.
In my copious amounts of free time, I help organize events within the Portland Tech community including Open Source Bridge and Beer and Blog, and I am the head of the Portland WordPress User Group, spreading the blogging love wherever I can.
I am very excited to be part of TUAW and as I'm sure anyone who knows me will tell you, I can't wait for you to hear what I have to say! :)TUAWIntroductory Post: New Blogger Kelly Guimont originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Base Tent offers mobile access to Basecamp
Filed under: Software, Internet, Internet Tools, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review
I've been using 37signals' Basecamp to manage projects large and small for almost a year now. It's tremendously useful, and everyone I've shown it to falls in love. While the folks at 37signals have produced some great applications, they've left the extras to 3rd party developers.
I've been using Outpost for a bit, and this week I had a chance to try out Base Tent [App Store link]. While not as pretty as some of the others, it works very well.
The Pros
When first launched, Base Tent asks for your login criteria and begins its initial sync, which was much quicker than I anticipated (note that I did all testing over EDGE). Four tabs label your Dashboard, Projects, To Dos and Milestones, and they use the same color coding you'll find on Basecamp.
Below is a series of icons that let you re-sync, access the app's help pages or add and remove accounts (I only have one account, but I imagine those with more than one will appreciate being able to jump back and forth). Best of all is the option to find tasks, etc. assigned to a certain contact. Of course, the purpose of dropping ten bucks on an app like Base Tent is ubiquitous access to Basecamp.
Click any item in the Dashboard to jump directly to it. Reading and responding to messages is intuitive, though longer threads take a bit of time to load. The app includes an option to view a message title, post date and author or the full text, which is nice. Responding to a comment is just as easy as you'd expect and syncs as you publish.
The Projects page lists all aspects of a given project. What's really nice here is the option to move between projects and contacts with a click, just like Basecamp's "Switch to a different project" feature. I had a very easy time adding to dos, responding to messages and setting up appointments from the road.
The Cons
Base Tent syncs upon launch to look for changes. Unfortunately, this process commandeers the display until it's finished. Additionally, and I know this is a bit superficial, but the Dashboard screen looks a bit cluttered. I'd like for the "Completed By" text and date to be a bit smaller. Finally, I know they're going for the Basecamp "look" with the tabs, but they seem cramped in the iPhone's display.
TUAW Buying Advice
The good news is that none of my complaints are about the app's performance. Interacting with Basecamp via Base Tent, which is the point after all, is pleasant and reliable. Many of Basecamp's customers, myself included, depend on the data in Basecamp for our living.
The developers have told us that a major update of Base Tent is complete and currently awaiting approval at the App Store. At $10.00 US it isn't the cheapest solution in the App Store (nor its it the most expensive), but it's worth it.
TUAWBase Tent offers mobile access to Basecamp originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Get 50% off iPhone in Action until April 30
Filed under: Books and Blogs, Developer, Deals, iPhone, SDK, iPod touch
Some time ago I reviewed iPhone in Action from Manning. While there are other "starter" books out there, if you know how to code and you want to get up-to-speed on everything from web apps to the SDK, this book is a great primer. Of course, the pending 3.0 update to the iPhone's OS will add many new features, and the book's authors are hard at work with an update that I'm told will be available as a downloadable e-chapter. The authors will first serialize it on their blog, so you can keep up there as well.
Until the update is ready the good folks at Manning have provided a code that'll get you 50% off iPhone in Action until April 30, 2009. To get the discount, just go to the site and when you order use this code: tuaw50. Remember, this is only for the current edition of iPhone in Action.TUAWGet 50% off iPhone in Action until April 30 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone and iPod touch continue to dominate smartphone web traffic
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, iPod touch
Admob has released another monthly survey of smartphone metrics, and Apple continues to look very healthy both in the U.S. and around the world. In website requests, Apple iPhones and iPod touch devices are up 4.2% from the previous month, while Nokia, still the top dog in handsets world wide, is down 3.6%.
One other interesting piece of data is that half of the requests for internet data on the iPhone are coming from 3rd party apps, telling us the impact those apps are having. Apps like sports scores, news and weather apps, streaming music players etc. are really getting heavy use, not only from the iPhone but similar numbers apply to other smartphones as well.
The research paper also sees the Android phone coming on, with 2% of mobile requests in the U.S., and is the number four smartphone behind the iPhone, Blackberry Curve and Blackberry Pearl. With the iPhone combined with the iPod touch, Apple has the top devices in the world generating mobile traffic.
Admob measures the impact of various mobile phones by looking at requests for mobile ads from a network of 6,000 websites and 1,000 applications. While the numbers may not exactly reflect the universe of mobile phone use, it does show trends that are important to keep an eye on.
When you consider that the iPhone is only about 2 years old, the numbers are even more impressive.
If you'd like to read the complete report, click here.TUAWiPhone and iPod touch continue to dominate smartphone web traffic originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Learn Daylite from a MacAngel
Filed under: Software, Found Footage
If you were intrigued by last week's review of Marketcircle Daylite 3.9, Daylite Server, and Daylite Touch enough to purchase the application suite or download the trial, you might be at the point now where you're feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to install, configure and use the applications. Don't worry, there's a MacAngel available to help you!
Marni Melrose is a La Jolla, California-based Mac consultant who has made Daylite her life's work. She not only knows the application and its technical requirements in detail, but she's also an expert on using Daylite to get things done.
Under the name The MacAngel, Marni has developed a number of training videos about Daylite over the years. She's recently completed an amazing 93 minute tutorial that goes through the process of setting up Daylite 3.9, Daylite Server, and Daylite Touch, and then continues on to teach you the MacAngel Method.
The MacAngel Method is Marni's creation, taking David Allen's GTD principles, stirring in the ideas of Stephen Covey and other authors, and then using her experiences implementing Daylite for businesses for over 7 years to show how Daylite can help you drive your business forward.
I'm a Daylite Certified Partner, but after watching The MacAngel Method GTD for Daylite 3.9 & Touch, I felt that I really knew a lot more about how to organize my work and personal life with Daylite than I did from struggling through teaching myself by trial and error. In her video, Marni does a phenomenal job of showing you exactly what to do and, more importantly, why you're doing it.
You can view a 29 minute "trailer" to see how the training works, and then purchase the full video for $45 if you find it as useful as I did.TUAWLearn Daylite from a MacAngel originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Found Footage: 3 Numbers traveler's multicalculator
Filed under: Software, Found Footage, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
TUAW readers know that I'm a sucker for good iPhone user interface design; that's why I love the apps from Tapbots so much. I also have a soft spot for steampunk, so when we received a tip about the 3 Numbers "traveler's multicalculator" (click opens iTunes) today, I immediately clicked through to watch the demo video.
3 Numbers is the brainchild of Berlin developer Halle Winkler. It's not just a converter application, it's an adventure! Visiting the 3 Numbers website, you find that this mysterious polished brass device filled with glowing vacuum tubes and spinning gears was "found" by the developer in an old dusty box in the attic.
3 Numbers is more than just a pretty face, though. It has some unique features, such as being able to keep up to 3 numbers in a holding area for future use, writing notes to accompany calculations, and being able to access those notes from any Bonjour-enabled computer on your wireless network.
Please enjoy the developer's video demonstrating this US$4.99 app, accompanied by the lovely strains of Elgar's Enigma Variation #10.
TUAWFound Footage: 3 Numbers traveler's multicalculator originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - View .cbr comics on your iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, iTunes, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Of course there's an app for this, but I'd never even considered it. While I do occasionally read .cbr (Comic Book Archive files) on my desktop, the iPhone didn't really occur to me as a portable comic book reading device. But sure enough, there are apps for that. iComic is probably the cheapest, but I hear it's a little tough to get set up. ComicZeal is extremely popular, and just a little bit cheaper from the somewhat similar myComics. Pull Lists uses a desktop client to sync up comics for you, which is a little more than I need, but it seems like some people like it. There are actually lots of choices, it turns out -- I would have thought that the iPhone's screen was pretty small for reading comic book pages, but I'll have to give those apps a try.
Or, if you're too cheap to pay a buck or two for a full app, you can even do it yourself. .cbr files are really just .jpg archives, so as this tip from a while back on the iPhone Comic Book Reader says, you can actually extract out the jpegs, and then just sync them up to your iPhone via iPhoto if you want. Three dollars really isn't that much, and any of those apps listed above will give you a little more functionality (easy flipping between pages, bookmarking, and many other features per app), but if you really want to DIY, there you go.
Now it would be nice to be able to officially buy .cbr archives over the web from some of the major companies -- the closest they've come that I know of is a subscription service, but of course you've got to use their own client for that (and there's no iPhone app that I can find, though Uclick has a few apps in there for certain books). As long as reading pirated .cbr files is outlawed, only outlaws will end up reading them.TUAWView .cbr comics on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - This should have been built into the iPhone: RedMonkey custom dialer
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
The iPhone and iPod touch are pretty complete, but they are not perfect. The upcoming software update to version 3.0 will add a lot of features people have been crying for, but here's one that I don't think is in the summer update.
Red Monkey [App Store link] does something I've always wanted... a one touch button to dial a number. The free app can be placed on the main home screen of the phone and easily configured to dial a favorite number. In addition, it can be set up to start an email, map your current location, or visit a favorite website. You can only configure one task, so pick the one you want and you're good to go. While the app is free, the developers will sell you an additional 4 buttons for $0.99US each, allowing you a total of 5 buttons for 5 different tasks (if you want to check out RM's competitors, just search the store for 'dialer' and you'll find plenty).
One drawback is you have to remember which button does what, because there is no way to use anything but the generic icon that comes on each button, although after you tap it the button tells you what it is doing.
The app works fine on an iPod touch as a customizable launcher, but naturally you will need a WiFi connection for any of its network-related functionality.
I think this sort of feature should have been built into the iPhone by default; and who knows, maybe it will show up someday. I think this little app is worth a try for free, and if you really fall in love with it you can always add more buttons. There is a pretty comprehensive FAQ on how to use Red Monkey at the developer website.TUAWThis should have been built into the iPhone: RedMonkey custom dialer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - The App Store hits one billion downloads!
Shortly before 2 p.m. PDT (1:52 p.m.), the iTunes App Store hit 1,000,000,000 apps sold since it originally just nine months ago. It's by no means perfect, but it's still a significant milestone for the store, the iPhone (and iPod touch) and Apple. It didn't come without its glitches. The iTunes Store was showing up as unavailable for several people off and on throughout the afternoon. Even Apple itself jumped the gun a little bit by having its after 1 billion page already available early Thursday, in addition to the counter in iTunes showing the 1 billion mark before the official counter on Apple's website.TUAWThe App Store hits one billion downloads! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - The bright side of owning a Mac
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Peripherals, Wireless, Cult of Mac, iTunes, Apple
This morning when my alarm clock went off (playing some Harold Budd) I was reminded how things have changed over the years for Mac users.
My alarm clock is a Logitech Squeezebox Boom, a well reviewed product that will wirelessly stream your iTunes playlists, give you access to thousands of internet radio stations, wakes you up, puts you to sleep, and does it with good quality audio. It's basically a Squeezebox with speakers in a clock radio form factor. It has an extensive feature set, and like other Squeezebox products, can be controlled or re-programmed from Safari or Firefox from anywhere in my house.
Not too many years ago, a cool new product would come out, and the chances of it working with a Mac was pretty slim. In the mid nineties, when Michael Spindler, Gil Amelio and friends just about destroyed Apple, we Mac owners were pretty much on our own.
Now, companies are falling all over themselves to make nice with Macs, iPods and iPhones. Walk into any electronics store, or even a department store, and marvel at the gaggle of products that boast about how compatible they are with Apple. Long time owners of Macs will remember those dark days when nothing mated to an Apple product other than a SCSI drive.
While new owners of Apple products take this interoperability for granted, it wasn't always that way. Since we're talking about Logitech, take a deep look into its catalog. Mice, Harmony remotes, webcams, keyboards and of course the Squeezebox are almost universally friendly to Apple products. Many other companies are also on board. Even some of the Microsoft keyboards and mice advertise Mac compatibility. What's this world coming to?
How about you? Do you remember the days of near-zero compatibility? Are you thrilled about how things have opened up? Think there is still a long way to go?TUAWThe bright side of owning a Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Satellite watching with GoSatWatch for iPhone
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
Viewing earth-orbiting satellites, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station with the naked eye is a blast. I've been hooked on watching satellites since my folks pointed out Echo-1 to me when I was just 3 years old. Now I find myself looking skyward every time I'm under a dark sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of a tiny light speeding across my field of view.
If you're going to try to watch a satellite pass, it helps to know when the shiniest spacecraft are going to be zooming overhead. Amateur radio enthusiasts who want to make AMSAT or ARISS contacts need the same information. There's a cool new iPhone app called GoSatWatch (US$9.99, click opens iTunes) that makes looking for earth-orbiting spacecraft a piece of cake.
Once the app is loaded on your iPhone, all you need to do is tap the colorful icon to start the app, then do some initial setup. You should set up your location and allow the iPhone 3G's GPS receiver to determine your local latitude and longitude (iPhone and iPod touch users can enter that information in by hand if desired). More than one observing location can be pre-set in the app.Continue reading Satellite watching with GoSatWatch for iPhone
TUAWSatellite watching with GoSatWatch for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Rumor: AT&T distributes anti-Pre cheat sheet
Like soldiers before a battle, AT&T and others are preparing to meet Palm's Pre. According to Pre Central, AT&T has begun distributing a memo to employees that points out key differences between the iPhone and the forthcoming Pre. The memo lists talking points and key comparisons for employees to keep handy when talking to customers.
While some of the comparisons are noteworthy, like the iPhone's metal and glass body vs. the plastic Pre, others just aren't. For instance, the Pre's 3.1-inch display vs. the iPhone's 3.5 inch screen. I don't know who's going to be dissuaded by 4-tenths of an inch. Plus, the Pre is a whole two grams heavier that the iPhone. Yowsa!
Of course, these stats are based on the current iPhone model. Rumors suggest that a new one will be introduced this summer. In any case, prepare for a fight.
[Via Macworld]TUAWRumor: AT&T distributes anti-Pre cheat sheet originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Pirated iWork contains botnet trojan, breaks hearts
Filed under: Software
The tubes are ablaze today with news from CNN of the
first everlatest malicious program to be found on the Mac. The trojan was first discovered in January but it did not receive wildfire-like popularity until recently when two experts at Symantec published a bulletin on the subject of the malware.
The trojan, named "iBotnet" (get it?), has only affected a few thousand Macs in the wild and it is currently not known to do any real harm. Should you be concerned? Well, the answer to that depends on whether you're a software pirate or not. The distribution method for this particular piece of malware is through the downloading of certain bootlegged copies of Apple's iWork.
Brian Krebs over at the Washington Post details some information about the actual first botnet specifically for the Mac. He points out that the current media storm is for a trojan that was actually discovered in January. He goes on to mention that the first botnet for the Mac was actually released in 2006 and targeted both Macs and PCs alike.
In other news, sales of Symantec's Norton AntiVirus shot up following the release of the security bulletin and subsequent frenzy of coverage. Actually, this is not true (at least to this humble blogger's knowledge); but it does pose an interesting question. Who profits most from the release of malware on any platform? One thing we know for sure, though, is that the end-user is definitely losing out in this game.
The moral of this story: stop all the downloading! Thanks G.I. Joe! In all seriousness, though, the majority of malware on the Mac (and on the PC) is distributed through nefarious chains of content acquisition. Be careful out there when clicking links and downloading files or programs from sites that you may not trust.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!TUAWPirated iWork contains botnet trojan, breaks hearts originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Even more LETHAL!
Filed under: Humor, Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
Remember LETHAL? It's an app that can keep you awake at night by telling you about all of the dangerous things that can kill, maim, or at least injure you. The good thing is that LETHAL does it in a humorous way.
We did a review of LETHAL a few months ago, and now the development team at Elany Arts has taken the app to a new level. Not only did they significantly upgrade LETHAL, but they also dropped the price of the app from US$1.99 down to US$0.99.
What's changed?
- LETHAL now gives a risk ranking for every US and Canadian town or city with a population over 100,000, plus all Canadian National Parks. If you're within a large metropolitan area, you can watch your LETHAL index change as you drive around.
- More disasters! More dangerous animals!
- The crime information is more specific, with new updated crime data from the FBI database.
- You can view rankings for all locations from most dangerous to least (or vice versa) for all indexes and specific risks. Want to find the #1 area to get killed by a grizzly bear? LETHAL can help.
- Speaking of animals, they're now displayed with their relative risk based on prevalence in the area and confirmed attacks (I griped about this in my earlier review, since they showed mountain lions as a big risk in my suburban neighborhood).
- Disasters are also displayed with their relative risk based on prevalence and confirmed incidents.
TUAWEven more LETHAL! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Baby Shaker further exposes App Store flaws
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bad Apple, App Store
Update: According to news.com.au, Apple has issued an official apology for letting this app onto the store.
Sometimes, you really have to question the App Store approval process.
Sure, this isn't the first time that Apple has made an unwise decision regarding the approval (or lack thereof) of applications to the App Store. But, this one takes the cake. For the span of a few hours on Wednesday, Apple allowed the release of "Baby Shaker," an app from Slkalosoft (ironically, the company no longer has the app listed on its site). The application displayed an image of a crying infant. You had to shake the iPhone or iPod touch repeatedly in order to get the child to stop crying -- literally shaking the baby to death. When the crying ceased and two red Xs appeared over the baby's eyes, you succeeded.
There's plenty of criticism over App Store standards. You can find a plethora of fart-simulating apps and other programs designed just to be a sheer nuisance, yet legitimate apps such as Tweetie get caught up in the pipeline because of potentially offensive language. "Baby Shaker" quickly hit a lot of news sites, and it didn't bode too well for an Apple doing its best to spotlight its second quarter earnings.
App Store approval is already something that is cumbersome and vague at best -- often leaving developers in limbo as to the status of their product. "Baby Shaker" certainly isn't the first dubious piece of software released into the App Store, but it is by far the worst. Even though Apple did yank "Baby Shaker" within a couple of hours, it does leave a nasty taste in people's mouths. It means that somewhere, somehow, there was a failure to communicate to employees that releasing an application promoting infanticide is a moronically stupid move. I do wonder how long "Baby Shaker" would have remained in the App Store if the media suddenly hadn't jumped on the story. What do you think this latest situation says about the App Store process? Let us know in the comments.
[Via CNet]
UPDATE: Apple has apologized for the app's release. [thanks to Paul for the tip]TUAWBaby Shaker further exposes App Store flaws originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Bailout America Cash Giveaway
Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch
Whether or not you agree with the hotly debated bailout, you may find it hard to say no to cash in your pocket. With this in mind we're letting DoeDoe, makers of the iPhone platformer Bailout America, give you $1,000.
To win, all you have to do is name the1110 companies partially shown in the game screenshots. Go through the gallery, then come back to this post and leave your list in the comments. Of course, you could wait for someone else to do it and copy their answers, but where's the fun in that? And how do you know they are right unless you check?
Be sure to check out the full rules on this page, but the usual stuff applies: must be over 18, only enter once, US-only (sorry about that). Remember: leave your list in the comments on this post and we'll randomly select a winner with the correct list. Good luck!
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
- To enter leave a comment with the names of the 10 companies shown in the gallery attached to this post.
- The comment must be left before Thursday, April 25, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
- You may enter only once.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: a check for $1,000.
- Click here for Official Rules.
Continue reading Bailout America Cash Giveaway
TUAWBailout America Cash Giveaway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Upgrade your iPhone camera with LittleSnapper
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Review
LittleSnapper from Realmac Software has been available for OS X for quite some time (and was one of the apps available in this year's Macheist bundle), and a few days ago they released a trimmed-down version that runs on your iPhone. While it lacks the basic photo editing and annotation available on its desktop counterpart, LittleSnapper for iPhone is no slouch.
One of the things about LittleSnapper that first caught my eye was the interface, which is extremely slick and shows great attention to detail on the part of the developers. The real jewels of this app, however, are a bit less obvious. In fact, after just a few hours of use, it has supplanted the built-in Camera application on my home screen.
Using the default configuration, when you snap a picture, it's immediately added to your Camera Roll (hence the replacing of Camera). After you've taken your photo, you can then upload it to QuickSnapper (Realmac's companion photo sharing site, which is free to use). Once that's done, you can then email a link to it or post it to Twitter (via Tweetie, Twitterrific or Twitterfon) right from within the app. I don't know about you, but whenever I take a picture with my iPhone, there's a very good chance that I'd like to email it immediately afterward. For me, being able to do this within a single app is huge.
The other killer feature of LittleSnapper is the ability to screenshot any web page from within the application. The only downside to this feature is that you don't have access to your Mobile Safari bookmarks and you must type in the URL manually (or browse to it via another URL, like a Google search). Obviously this issue will be history once iPhone OS 3.0 is out in June (which includes system-wide copy-and-paste), so it's understandable that they didn't bother getting to crazy with the cheez-whiz in terms of browser integration and whatnot. LittleSnapper's chrome is also removed from the webpage snap, which is a nice touch.
Of course, no application is perfect, and LittleSnapper has a few (small) warts. For one, I'd love to see a subset of the annotation tools available on the desktop version, as well as a more iPhone friendly view of the QuickSnapper site when browsing your uploaded photos. Tighter integration with the OSX application (like syncing photos and their metadata) would also be pretty sweet. These aren't anywhere close to deal-breakers for me, but I can see them being becoming popular feature requests.
I'm very impressed with LittleSnapper and, given the amount of half-baked throwaway apps that seem to be cropping up lately, it's nice to see one with a good bit of polish. LittleSnapper [App Store] is available now for $2.99US.
TUAWUpgrade your iPhone camera with LittleSnapper originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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