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- Twitter for Mac lets you tweet from anywhere in Mac OS X
Here's a nifty feature of the recently-released Twitter for Mac. It adds a contextual menu option to Mac OS X 10.6.6 for super-easy tweeting. Just highlight a bit of text, right-click (or Control-click if that is your wont) and select "Tweet" from the contextual options. Twitter for Mac will produce a compose window with your selected text intact.
We've found that it works in Safari, Chrome, iCal, OmniFocus, TextMate...pretty much any Cocoa app that supports contextual menus (but not Microsoft Office apps). It's certainly convenient, especially for those for whom copy-and-paste is just too much work. Check it out and enjoy contextual-tweeting.
[Via MacStories]Twitter for Mac lets you tweet from anywhere in Mac OS X originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Akai SynthStation49 full-size iPad dock/keyboard comboWhile it's not the kind of iPhone or iPad dock you would bring with you on your next cross-country plane ride, the Akai SynthStation49 dock offers up something a standard iPad dock doesn't -- a 49-key, velocity-sensitive keyboard controller complete with drum pads and manual pitch control. As reported by Engadget, the SynthStation iPad dock/keyboard combo is a far cry from the original SynthStation, which was much smaller and designed for the iPhone. What this new, bigger version lacks in portability it makes up for in features, with direct in-app MIDI recording, 1/4″ output jacks, full transport buttons and the ability to be used as a traditional USB MIDI controller if you happen to find yourself without your iPad. It's also iOS CoreMIDI compatible, meaning it can be used with a bunch of music apps that are already available in Apple's App Store.
The Akai SynthStation49 isn't available for purchase yet as it is still pending certification from Apple, so we don't even know what its price point will be. While we have seen a ton of different synthesizer software for iOS devices, this one throws in the keyboard and dock MIDI controller as well, making it a kind of "all-in-one" package for musicians everywhere, if not entirely mobile.
[via Engadget and Create Digital Music]Akai SynthStation49 full-size iPad dock/keyboard combo originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Daily App: Brutal FantasyBrutal Fantasy: The Orcs of Undermountain is an interesting mashup of action and role playing. The actual gameplay is a beat-em-up like the old Golden Axe and Double Dragon games. You play as a knight battling through all kinds of different minions and bad guys, using a virtual D-pad and action buttons to hack, slash and cast various spells along the way. But the game is also an RPG -- there's a story to play through, which is drawn comic book style, and you can level up stats, get new loot and upgrade as you see fit. The art style is pretty distinctive -- it's all done by Joel "Drakxxx" Rose, and while it might take a little getting used to, everything is very detailed and stylistic. One word of warning: when the title says "brutal," it ain't kidding around. You'll see lots of blood and limbs spraying around in this one.
The full game is US$1.99, and it comes with Game Center integration and universal compatibility, with enhanced graphics on the iPad. That's a pretty good deal already, but if you're not yet sold you can play through the Prologue version of the game for free. It's short, and it has ads, but it should give you a good idea of just how much fun the full game is.TUAW's Daily App: Brutal Fantasy originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - New BillMinder a paid upgrade, but worth the money
Return7 released version 3.0 of its popular BillMinder app on Tuesday, now a completely revamped program. As such, Return7 decided to switch its users over to a separate app -- BillMinder 3 -- which requires users to pay to "upgrade" to the latest version. While the out-of-pocket expense (US$1.99) isn't much, it's a move that hasn't been that popular in the past -- think Tweetie in the pre-Twitter days.
Amro Mousa, co-founder of Return7 told me today that BillMinder 3 isn't simply an upgrade. The company rewrote the entire app from scratch and no code or art is shared with the original app, which is still available via iTunes. The original BillMinder app received more than 25 updates during its lifetime, including the upgrade to version 2.0. He acknowledged that there has been some grumbling over repurchasing the app.
"Most software companies don't give away new major versions for free. Why aren't folks angry when they buy a new version of OS X, iLife or Aperture? Since we prefer to continue existing, we're charging for 3.0. Obviously that means we need to provide value in the new version for people to want to buy it," Mousa said.
While we didn't review the original BillMinder, we have taken a look at BillMinder 3. The app does exactly what its title implies -- it reminds you when a bill is due and how much it is. A lot of banks have included software through their websites to handle this sort of thing, but not all of them have dedicated iOS apps or will push notifications to your iPhone. It's also useful if you have separate bills going to different bank accounts like I do. Click on to see how the app works.
Continue reading New BillMinder a paid upgrade, but worth the money
New BillMinder a paid upgrade, but worth the money originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Feral Interactive offers digital downloads on multiple online storesHere's a cool note I missed last week among the hustle and bustle of CES: Feral Interactive is one of the biggest publishers of Mac games out there, often porting and publishing games from larger PC developers over to the Mac platform. Last week, the company announced that four games it has published (Borderlands, Rome: Total War, LEGO Harry Potter and Bioshock) would be available for sale through three different digital download services (Direct2Drive, GamersGate and the MacGameStore).
That's good news, not only for Mac gamers who want more options to pick from for their games, but for the platform as a whole. Steam has made plenty of headlines, both during the launch and since, but a deal like this shows that there is demand for Mac games even beyond the most popular digital store online. Direct2Drive especially is a fairly large digital store known for PC game sales, and the fact that Feral games are now available on the service is a nice indicator of how popular the Mac platform is becoming among gamers and other users.
Feral Interactive offers digital downloads on multiple online stores originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple wins patent for solar-powered portable deviceWe recently covered how Apple was awarded 563 patents in 2010, but a patent approval announced today is for something we first mentioned back in January of 2010 -- a patent for power management circuitry for solar-powered portable devices. Patently Apple is reporting that the US Patent and Trademark Office published the newly approved patent, which pertains to charging and operating portable devices with solar power via a voltage converter. While most solar chargers designed for portable devices only act as a way to charge the internal battery, this patent is for a way for said power to operate the device as well. By using the converter/booster, energy gleaned from the solar panels could be monitored and configured to both charge and operate a portable device even when not in full direct sun. Could this be a precursor to an iPhone covered in solar cells?
There sure has been a lot of patent talk around here lately, especially when it comes to multi-touch patents, but that just shows that Apple is really stretching its legs and going after innovation instead of resting on its laurels. Can't wait to see what new developments 2011 brings us.Apple wins patent for solar-powered portable device originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Garmin updates StreetPilot app with improvements and fixes
If you follow my reviews, you know I had mixed emotions about the newly released iPhone Garmin StreetPilot. Chief among my complaints was an incredibly tinny and distorted voice.
I'm happy to report that, after an update, the voice sounds much better and is now useful. Garmin has also increased the size of the map storage buffer, so you can see more of your previously downloaded maps without having to download them again. Voice instructions can now be toggled on or off, and there's a volume control on the main map menu for easy access. There are also some unspecified bug fixes.
Garmin is to be congratulated for these quick fixes, and I have confirmed that the fixes do work and greatly improve the app. One thing that is not fixed is the requirement to download maps. While Navigon, TomTom and Magellan all have maps on board, Garmin has chosen to download maps as needed over the 3G network. This makes the app footprint small, but if you often drive in areas of weak reception, this is not the app for you.
Continue reading Garmin updates StreetPilot app with improvements and fixes
Garmin updates StreetPilot app with improvements and fixes originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Millienial Media report says Apple still top manufacturer and growing, travel apps busy last quarterMillenial Media has released its final report of 2010 about advertising requests on its network, and Apple remains the king of mobile advertising on the network. For the last 15 months, Apple has been the top manufacturer, and ad requests on the network for Apple devices are still growing -- 12% from third to fourth quarter in 2010, and 14% over the entire year. iPad requests of ads specifically have jumped 280% in the last quarter.
That doesn't mean Android is out of the running, however. Android beat out iOS in terms of impression shares, with a 46% network share as compared to iOS' 32% share. Android also took 55% of the revenue on the network, as opposed to 39% for Apple's devices. Verizon saw its share of impressions go up 2% in December, and it'll be interesting to see how that network's ad revenues grow with that new handset we've all heard so much about.
Finally, Millenial says that ad requests on travel and vacation apps doubled in the last quarter of 2010, showing that users who were traveling and away from home still stayed connected to their mobile devices, using apps while on the road and on vacation. That's not too surprising since December is one of the busiest travel times of the year. What's interesting is how much travelers are depending on their smartphones for information and updates while out and about. This is a trend that will only increase next year as smartphones grow more and more ubiquitous. You can read the whole MobileMix report over here.Millienial Media report says Apple still top manufacturer and growing, travel apps busy last quarter originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Lima Sky responds to trademark battle around the word 'Doodle'
This one's complicated but interesting. A few days back, it was revealed by the developer of an app called Doodle Monster that Doodle Jump creators Lima Sky (we've talked to founder Igor Pusenjak before) was trying to enforce trademark rights against any app on the store using the word "Doodle" in its name. That creator originally planned to step down and change the name, but the creator of another app called Doodle Hockey instead spoke out to say that Lima Sky had no business claiming the word "Doodle" itself, that there were pre-existing properties and trademarks on the word, and that "everyone with an app containing the word 'doodle' in the title needs to stand up to Lima Sky's threats."
Now, Pusenjak himself has spoken out on the issue, and he says that he's retracting the original notice from the App Store. But he does hold his position on the word "Doodle," saying that "there was absolutely no rush to call a game 'Doodle Something' until Doodle Jump became famous. Then many developers began jumping on the bandwagon whether their game had any doodled elements in it or not. They were simply trading on the fame of Doodle Jump, for which Lima Sky has a trademark." Pusenjak admits that there is a trademark in the system before Lima Sky's, but says that the company's complaint on the App Store was designed to protect Doodle Jump against anyone else's attack.
At any rate, legal action aside (and it doesn't appear as if there will be any), Pusenjak has agreed to step back from the restrictions, which even he agrees went too far, and says that he's simply trying to avoid customer confusion -- any developers creating games that might be confused with pre-existing IPs should simply have to change them, not remove games entirely. That seems to make sense, so hopefully that agreement will stand without further clashes.Lima Sky responds to trademark battle around the word 'Doodle' originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - PBS releases app for iPhone with full-length episodes and schedule infoPBS released an iPad app last October with access to videos and information about the donation-supported network's programming. Now, the network has done the same for the iPhone and iPod touch, with a free app simply called PBS. Just like the iPad app, you can watch clips and full-length episodes of some of the network's most popular programs, as well as see schedules for both national and local PBS programming. The iPhone app also lets you set reminders for certain programs, and you can also share videos with friends on Facebook and Twitter, or through email.
I'm personally a big fan of shows like Antiques Roadshow and Nova, and having them available to watch anytime on the iPhone is great. The app is completely free and available for download right now, but if you like it, do look into hooking up your local PBS station with a nice donation.
PBS releases app for iPhone with full-length episodes and schedule info originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Seen at CES: More iPhone cases and iPad keyboards than you'll ever needIf there was one thing in abundance at CES (other than hype), it was a plethora of iPhone cases and iPad keyboards. Perhaps it's a bit unfair to poke fun at the cases -- this is largely a show for retailers to purchase inventory, and having a ton of cases makes sense. You see them everywhere, from kiosks at the mall to the Apple Store, so the wide variety isn't a surprise.
When Apple debuted the iPad, they also offered their own keyboard and allowed Bluetooth keyboards to connect. Fast-forward nearly a year later, and at CES, there was no shortage of manufacturers from around the world offering up a range of keyboards. One had a trackpad, but no, it doesn't work on iPad. One used rubbery membrane keys with a soft but kinda not-so-great-for-typing feel.
Unfortunately, TUAW doesn't have the manpower to review all of these, but hit up the gallery for a walking tour of some of the cases and keyboards we saw at CES.
Seen at CES: More iPhone cases and iPad keyboards than you'll ever need originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Find My Friends MobileMe feature found in iOS 4.3 beta releaseYesterday, Apple rolled out iOS 4.3 beta to developers, and the first look at the latest iOS version yielded up some gems, including multi-touch gestures, hotspot functionality, a return of the orientation lock and new camera effects. Earlier today, MacRumors uncovered settings for a feature called "Find My Friends" in this recent beta. This string was associated with MobileMe and may be a social feature similar to Google Latitude or Facebook Places, two services that let you locate and communicate with nearby contacts.
This is not the first time Apple has toyed with the idea of using location to help find others around you. A patent filing for a concept application called iGroups surfaced last year. The patent describes a location-based service that would let members of a group locate one another using GPS coordinates. Group members could also use encrypted tokens to share information. The patent specifically mentioned trade shows and rock concerts, so this idea, if it ever materializes, may have limited usage.
It will be interesting to see what Apple may have in store for iOS in this growing area of location-based services. While many third-party applications use location information in novel ways, the core operating system and built-in iOS applications only scratch the surface of what is possible with direct access to always-on location information.
[Via Engadget]Find My Friends MobileMe feature found in iOS 4.3 beta release originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Hands-on with Magic Cube Bluetooth portable laser keyboard
The tech in laser-based keyboards has been around for a while, and when we first saw them we thought, "the future is here!" because what could be cooler than having a laser keyboard on any flat surface? I'll suggest something cooler: a keyboard that works. I spotted the Magic Cube from Celluon at CES and gave it a spin.
The Magic Cube connects to your Mac or iOS-powered device using Bluetooth and features a battery inside to power the laser and optical recognition systems. According to Celluon, you'll get 150 minutes of use from a charge. The device is somewhat large, occupying as much volume as two 1st-generation iPods, only slightly narrower. This gives it stability, but it also means you'll have to have the keyboard projector offset from your iPad or iPhone (why you would use it with your Mac is beyond me). The laser-projected keyboard is about the size of a MacBook's keyboard, complete with rounded keys. Unfortunately, it is a PC-centric keyboard complete with Menu and Insert keys, but that's not a big deal. The big deal is accuracy.
I type pretty fast considering I started typing on a computer when I was six (on an Apple II, thank you very much). If you type fast, you're going to have to slow down to use the Magic Cube. While their literature states it can detect up to 400 characters per minute, you'd have to be some sort of robotic ninja octopus to achieve such precision using this thing.I found multiple attempts to track my speedy typing thwarted by two things: a lack of tactile feedback and the need to look at the keys while typing. In other words, your fingers will drift and the keyboard will cease to track all your key "presses" accurately. In some cases, the "press" didn't register at all. Others at the booth had similar issues. Check the gallery to see what came out when I tried to type "hi there my name is victor." Perhaps there's a learning curve?
While the Magic Cube is a nifty novelty, I wouldn't expect it to replace the dozens of physical keyboards we saw at CES. You can connect it via USB (PC-only it seems) or Bluetooth, and it comes in a variety of colors, but as a keyboard it just doesn't cut it. In the end, it felt about as useful as those old membrane keyboards (like the ones on the TIMEX Sinclair) with a resulting slowdown in typing and loss of accuracy. Here's hoping some day our magical tech dreams come true -- but until then, save your US$199.99 and spend it on a real keyboard.
Hands-on with Magic Cube Bluetooth portable laser keyboard originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Caught on camera: Two thieves grab iPads and run
Everybody loves iPads, ... even thieves.
At about 2:46 PM CT yesterday afternoon, security cameras and employees at Chicago-based MacSpecialist watched as two warmly-dressed thieves first "tried out" iPads at a stand-up kiosk, then ran out the door with them.
According to MacSpecialist COO (and occasional TUAW TV Live guest) Tim Robertson, nobody was hurt during the robbery attempt or while chasing the crooks. Tim nearly collides with the door at about 6 seconds into the video (he's wearing the tan coat), but he avoided injury.
No suspects have been apprehended in the theft. TUAW recommends that MacSpecialist look into iPad lock cases from Maclocks.com to avoid future iPad loss.
Check out the video after the break.
Continue reading Caught on camera: Two thieves grab iPads and run
Caught on camera: Two thieves grab iPads and run originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Case-Mate, Scosche announce Verizon iPhone cases will be available for debut
Would you buy a Verizon iPhone in February if not for the crippling fear of running it without a case? Apple moved the mute and volume buttons on the new iPhone just enough to render most existing cases useless, sending scratch-o-phobes into spasms of anxiety.
Fear not, for Case-Mate and Scosche have you "covered." Each company has announced its intentions to have cases ready for the Verizon iPhone on launch day. Case-Mate will have a full line-up ready, and you can sign up to receive up-to-the-second, patience-be-damned notification of when they become available.
Scosche will offer a black and white version of their kickBack series (shown above), which they promise to have ready "on or before" February 10. We suspect other manufacturers are developing their own solutions right now.
One interesting question is what Apple will do to its own Bumper line. Surely it would be ridiculous to offer two lines, one for AT&T and one for Verizon. Perhaps the hole on the side will just be widened in order to accommodate either. We'll know soon enough.Case-Mate, Scosche announce Verizon iPhone cases will be available for debut originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Centrafuse offers iPhone control via touchscreen
We know what you're thinking. "I've always wanted to crash my car, but only if I can blame it on a hilarious YouTube video." Well gas up the Civic and put some fresh Ace Wrap in the glove box, because your chance is nearly upon you.
YouTube user Mister Romin has demonstrated how he used an iPhone, a Lilliput FA1042 touchpanel, a Belkin AV dock adapter cable and Centrafuse to control an iPhone via an external display. Centrafuse is a framework for creating touch-enabled, in-vehicle solutions. Aside from entertainment applications, developers can use Centrafuse to create GPS navigation solutions, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and more.
It sure looks cool, and suggests what can be done with an iPhone as a "carputer." Just keep an eye out for stray deer while playing Plants vs. Zombies.
Check out the video after the break.
[Via Engadget]Continue reading Centrafuse offers iPhone control via touchscreen
Centrafuse offers iPhone control via touchscreen originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Rumor: iPad 2 coming in early April
Now that we have the Verizon iPhone out of the way, the iPad 2 rumors are starting to pile up quickly.
In what seems to be more of an educated guess than an actual report from a "reliable source," German-language Apple site MacNotes.de says that the next-generation iPad is scheduled to be released in the US on either April 2 or April 9, 2011. This doesn't surprise the blogging team at TUAW; we've often felt that the iPad 2, or whatever it will be called, would be released on an annual schedule in much the manner of the iPhone and other devices. Since the inaugural iPad dropped on April 3, 2010, it would stand to reason that the second model would appear about one calendar year later.
The MacNotes.de "source" also claims that the new iPad will have a Retina Display (although most Apple pundits agree that there's no way it can match the 326 pixels per inch resolution of the iPhone 4 and latest iPod touch), front and back cameras and a USB port.
Much of the other information in the post is similar to what we've seen happen to the original iPad over the past year. MacNotes.de says their source believes the new iPad will sell only in the US for three months, and will be sold only through Apple Stores for up to half a year. International sales begin in July of 2011, but other US retailers, such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart, may have to wait until October or so to sell the new model. Once again, this seems more logical speculation than words from an actual source.
[via MacRumors]
Rumor: iPad 2 coming in early April originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Gartner predicts Apple growth, but spurns iPad
Gartner has added its take on Apple's Q4 earnings to a growing list of other predictions.
Gartner predicts that Mac sales grew by nearly 24 percent, helping Apple to take a 9.7 percent share in Q4. However, it claims that any reason for a lagging growth for PC makers was simply to be blamed on the iPad, which it did not count as part of PC sales and lumped it in among "media tablets."
"Overall, holiday PC sales were weak in many key regions due to the intensifying competition in consumer spending. Media tablets, such as the iPad, as well as other consumer electronic (CE) devices, such as game consoles, all competed against PCs," said Mikako Kitagawa, a principal analyst at Gartner.
Gartner did include netbooks in PC sales for other companies. It did not explain why they excluded the iPad from PC sales, but did count netbooks. Doing so would significantly boost Apple's revenue for Q4. But, Gartner did say that Apple and Toshiba were the only top-5 vendors to increase shipments, with Apple's 23.7 percent being far higher than Toshiba's 14.4 percent growth.
Apple most likely will announce its Q4 earnings next week.
[via AppleInsider]
Gartner predicts Apple growth, but spurns iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple shareholder meeting scheduled for February 23
The luckiest (or smartest) people on Earth should be receiving their invitations soon -- shareholders in Apple, Inc. who have shares registered in their names can attend the annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.
The event is scheduled to begin at 10 AM PT at the company's offices in Cupertino, CA. As with most events of this type, Apple's executive team will not only reiterate any glowing financial news that should come out of the financial call (possibly next week), but there will be business to take care of.
Among the items on the agenda are a vote for the company's board of directors (nominees include current board members Steve Jobs, Al Gore, Millard Drexler, William Campbell, Arthur Levinson, Andrea Jung and Ronald Sugar), a vote on whether accounting giant Ernst & Young should be the company's independent accounting firm, and shareholder proposals considering majority voting on director elections and succession planning. The company is recommending that shareholders vote against both of the shareholder proposals.
If you have AAPL shares registered in your name, you may attend. If the shares are held by a brokerage firm or other organization, you're out of luck.
(Photo: Wikimedia CC | Nurmib)
Apple shareholder meeting scheduled for February 23 originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple, others withdraw filing for Novell patent purchase
CPTN Holdings LLC, a consortium of companies which include Microsoft, Apple, EMC and Oracle, has withdrawn its filing to purchase 882 patents originally held by Novell. In December, the group submitted a plan to the German government's anti-trust authority notifying them of their plan to purchase these patents for $450 million.
These patents were offered as part of Attachmate's deal to buy Novell. The purchase of these patents by CPTN was opposed by open source organizations, including the Open Source Initiative and the Free Software Foundation Europe. Both open source groups filed complaints against this transaction with German regulators.
In its complaint, the Open Source Initiative noted, "The founders and leaders of CPTN have a long history of opposing and misrepresenting the value of open source software, which is at the heart of Web infrastructure and of many of the most widely used software products and services. The sole or leading competition for several products from the CPTN principals are open source."
Despite the withdrawal of this application, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that CPTN still plans to purchase these Novell patents. Instead of a change of heart, this decision may have been a procedural step that would let CPTN modify its filing. According to this theory, CPTN could make changes that would ease the concerns of open source groups and allow the purchase to proceed more smoothly.Apple, others withdraw filing for Novell patent purchase originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Will the iPad and iPhone home buttons go away? Probably not
As soon as I heard of the new iPad multi-touch gestures in the iOS 4.3 beta, which allow you to reach the home screen with a four- or five-finger gesture, I thought, "Well, that's it for the home button." Boy Genius Report also says it's heard from a source within Apple that the company is testing next-gen iPads and iPhones that don't have a home button, which seems to lend credence to the speculation. But does it make sense for Apple to abandon the home button now?
For the iPad, I'll give a qualified "Maybe, but probably not." For the iPhone, it's an unqualified "No." On the iPad, getting rid of the home button kind of makes sense, but you're not only making the device more complex to use by doing away with that single-use, very obvious button, you're also losing a lot of functionality. Although the iPad's new multi-touch gestures cover going to the home screen and switching between apps, look at the other functionality you're missing out on if you lose the home button:
- No way to take screenshots (power/sleep + home)
- No way to activate Voice Control (press and hold home)
- No access to VoiceOver features (triple-click home)
- No way to hard-reset (hold power/sleep + home until Apple logo appears)
Certainly Apple could find ways to program those functions into the iPad and iPhone by using additional multi-touch gestures, but it seems like doing so would add needless complexity to the device's control scheme (although Apple has made similar missteps before). Plus, those new four- and five-finger multi-touch gestures that make perfect sense on a large-screened, larger form factor device like the iPad make no sense on the iPhone's smaller screen. With no home button, how will you use the iPhone one-handed?
I agree with John Gruber of Daring Fireball's assessment: the home button isn't going anywhere. I could see Apple replacing the current clicker-style button with a touch-sensitive version like on the third-generation iPod, but doing away with the home button entirely comes with too many drawbacks and no discernible benefits. Besides that, the precedent has already been set on the Mac; although almost all MacBooks have had a multi-touch trackpad since early 2008, the specialized keyboard buttons for functions like Exposé and Dashboard haven't gone anywhere, nor has Apple done away with the Command-Tab gesture for switching between open applications.
Will the iPad and iPhone home buttons go away? Probably not originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Seas0nPass jailbreak app for Apple TV now available
The folks at fireCore have released Seas0nPass, a jailbreak application for the second generation Apple TV. Seas0nPass is a tethered jailbreak solution that requires you to connect your Apple TV to your computer briefly during boot. Similar to the Pwnage tool app, the jailbreak application lets you load custom IPSW files onto your Apple TV.
While Seas0nPass is new, fireCore is a name that should be familiar to Apple TV owners. This group also released aTV Flash, a software package that adds streaming services like Last.fm, an HTML 5 web browser and more to the Apple TV. The latest version aTV Flash (black) is in beta and is available as a pre-order for US$19.95. It requires a jailbroken second generation Apple TV.
Unlike aTV Flash, which is available for a nominal fee, Seas0nPass is open source and available for free. The tool was designed for the second generation Apple TV only, so please don't try this with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The current version of Seas0nPass is compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 or later. A Windows version is under development and will be available soon.
Interested Apple TV owners can grab the download and pertinent instructions at Seas0nPass.com. The source code is available here on Github. Remember, jailbreaking is inherently risky and the comments on fireCore's website suggest this tool may be riskier than normal. Jailbreaking is done at the sole discretion of the reader, and we assume no responsibility for bricked Apple TVs.Seas0nPass jailbreak app for Apple TV now available originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Daily App: Corel Paint it! NowCorel was a big deal back in the days before Photoshop -- I remember CorelDRAW as being one of the most premiere art apps out there. It still is, of course, but Corel has fallen to the wayside now that Photoshop and Illustrator have become so popular. However, Corel has made an interesting step onto the App Store with the awkwardly-titled Corel Paint it! Now (free). Not a drawing app, Corel Paint It! Now lets you apply artistic filters to your photos, like oil or pen and ink.
It works well and does its job in an interesting way, as you can watch it "draw" the resulting image, suggesting some sort of drawing engine is at work. You can create some pretty funky pictures, and then you can send them off via email, Facebook or Flickr.
At even 99 cents, I'd question what this app is for, but at the current price of free, it's probably worth a download just to see it in action. In fact, Corel tells TUAW that the app has seen over 175k downloads already, so you'd be in good company. I wouldn't depend on it for anything important (the resolution is sadly low), but it's a nice little trick to spice up some pictures that could use a cool effect on them.TUAW's Daily App: Corel Paint it! Now originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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