- Apple's developer preview NDA is a load of Lion poop
Remember the anti-drug ad where the drug-using kid tries to use peer pressure to get the straight-laced kid to try some? "Everybody's doing it," he chides the square. In the case of Apple's silent PR police, it would appear that everyone is indeed breaking the non-disclosure agreement purportedly required to download and install a preview copy of Mac OS X 10.7, aka Lion. In fact, I can't recall a previous time when I've seen this much explicit hand-tipping of an upcoming product from Cupertino with absolutely no reprisals whatsoever. Can you?
Apple is legendary for its secrecy. Many things have been written about the great lengths management will go to ensure secrecy of its products and plans, whether it be hardware, software or simple business moves. It's not like other companies don't have secrets -- after all, corporations have to keep plans as private as possible until they are ready to release info. This used to be a carefully calculated game. In the case of high-tech, it is even more so due to issues involving manufacturing, intellectual property (and the legal protections thereof) and good old-fashioned publicity planning.
Once in a while someone will suggest that things like leaving an iPhone prototype in a bar is a calculated publicity move. I would suggest that, up until recently, Apple did not play those games. The culture at Apple is built upon secrecy, which leads to surprise, which inevitably leads to delight from customers and pundits alike. A major OS release for an already-mature product, however, is an entirely different animal. Considering the changes happening in Lion, I would posit that the formerly tight-lipped mothership is tacitly OK with the dribs and drabs and full-on explanations of Lion's new features. Why? Read on.
Continue reading Apple's developer preview NDA is a load of Lion poop
Apple's developer preview NDA is a load of Lion poop originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- DirecTV app for iPad debuts
We said it was coming, and DirecTV for iPad has now hit the app store. The free app is a nice addition to the DirectTV service. The app can be used as a remote, it can schedule DVR recordings, and has an easily browsable guide for locating your favorite programs and setting preferences for the types of shows you may be interested in. The iPhone has already had a DVR scheduling app from DirecTV.
The remote control part of the app requires a WiFi connection. DVR control can be over WiFi, 3G or the Edge network, if your iPad is so equipped.
Using the app is a pleasure, but I could not load any of the sports features. For some reason the "loading" graphic appeared and spun forever. We've already seen what a great remote the iPad makes for the Sonos audio products, and the DirecTV app follows in that tradition. If you're a US DirecTV subscriber with an iPad, getting this app is a no-brainer. The only thing it's missing is the ability to actually watch DirecTV on it. We're seeing that streaming features begin to appear from cable companies like Comcast. It would be great to see DirecTV offer this as well.
DirecTV app for iPad debuts originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Gameloft working on four Unreal Engine games
We have some wicked awesome news on the iOS gaming front today -- Gameloft, the developer of popular 3D mobile games such as N.O.V.A and Asphalt, has announced a partnership with Epic Games that will allow Gameloft to use Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 in four new titles, two of which are expected by the end of 2011.
Unreal Engine on Apple devices first became a talking point when Epic Games debuted their tech demo of the engine, titled Epic Citadel, at Apple's iPod event last September. The game displayed graphics that far surpassed anything previously seen on iOS, raising eyebrows around the world. Epic later went on to release the full version of the game, which is now known as IGN's iPhone Game of the Year for 2010 -- Infinity Blade.
I, for one, am very excited about this announcement. Between this partnership and their entry into the Mac App Store, Gameloft has been showing some serious ambition. Let's hope we see some great games on the Unreal Engine 3 later this year.
Gameloft working on four Unreal Engine games originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Alfred for Mac enhances Apple's Finder
Alfred is a utility for Mac OS X that's part app launcher, part navigation tool and part web service. In short, it's a productivity tool that sits quietly in the background until you need something -- fast. Imagine a fully fueled 1987 Buick GNX 223 idling in your driveway with the door open and you'll get the idea. While power users who cut their teeth on custom Quicksilver scripts will walk away wanting, the rest will find Alfred suited to their needs. Here's my look at Alfred for the Mac.
Inevitable comparison to Quicksilver
I'll get this out of the way now. Comparisons to Quicksilver aren't entirely appropriate but inevitable. Quicksilver is an application launcher and quick means of navigating the Finder. Eventually its developer ceased development, considering the utility feature-complete, not to mention a time-consuming effort that failed to bring in any money.
Today it's maintained by an enthusiastic and talented group of developers. Users enjoy a library of plugins and the option to write their own scripts. That's great, but I'm looking for a more turnkey solution. Alfred is it.
Continue reading Alfred for Mac enhances Apple's Finder
Alfred for Mac enhances Apple's Finder originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Play Playstation 3 games on any iOS device with hack
The group of hackers and developers known as pandaelf found themselves with a PlayStation 3, an iOS device and some time on their hands. With a bit of ingenuity, they figured out a way to play their PS3 games on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The setup is slightly complex and requires you to attach a capture device as well as an input converter with a USB mouse and keyboard to the PS3. You also need a PC to serve as the conduit between the game console and your portable Apple device.
The capture device sends video from the PS3 to a nearby PC and the keyboard/mouse converter sends and receives button presses. The iOS device then connects to the computer using a custom build of everyAir, a remote desktop application. Basically, the PS3 sends its info to the PC which processes the incoming stream and sends it to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch via everyAir. This communication is bi-directional so the information flows both ways.
Currently, this custom build of everyAir is not available to the public so the average iOS owner won't be able to do anything with this setup quite yet. While you wait for this build to become available, you can check out a video of the system in action below.
[Via Macstories]
Continue reading Play Playstation 3 games on any iOS device with hack
Play Playstation 3 games on any iOS device with hack originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- TUAW discount for Voices That Matter: iPhone Developers Conference
If there's anything that TUAW tries to do to separate itself from the other Apple blogs, it's making sure that we support the iOS and Mac developer communities through our involvement in conferences. While we're usually at Apple's WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC) to cover the stories, TUAW bloggers have been actively involved in the Voices That Matter, 360 MacDev, and 360 iDev conferences. Mike Schramm is at GDC this week.
Our very own alpha geek queen bee, Erica Sadun, is the Technical Chair for the Voices That Matter: iPhone Developers Conference taking place in Seattle April 9-10.
At the conference, you'll be able to learn from top devs such as Jessica Kahn of Disney Mobile, who will speak on Designing Family Friendly Apps. If you're looking for less suitable-for-work content, Mike Lee will be hosting another From Crap to App session for your education and enjoyment.
Others expected to be at the conference include Aaron Hillegass, Jeff LaMarche, Andy Ihnatko, and Graham Lee. The usual conference fee is $695, but if you use our special secret TUAW handshake and discount code (TUAW444), you'll get $150 off that fee to make the conference even more affordable.
Don't wait until it's too late -- sign up today.
TUAW discount for Voices That Matter: iPhone Developers Conference originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Ask TUAW: Wait, is this a leap year? Edition
Just to clear that up, no there is no February 29 this year, but 2012 is another story. Welcome to this week's edition of Ask TUAW -- everyone's favorite Mac and iOS Q&A and advice column. We got a few interesting queries from last week's post, but this is going to get mighty boring without your questions!
Here's what we need you to do: go to the comments of this post, think of those niggling questions that keep you awake at night thinking about your Mac, iPod, iPad, iPhone or AppleTV and fire away. You can also email your questions directly to ask [at] tuaw.com.
So, with that out of the way, on to the questions, including a followup from last week!
In the previous edition, TeJay wanted to hook up multiple monitors to his MacBook. We offered a third-party solution to his problem, but it looks like Apple may have just introduced a much better option for owners of the latest 15" and 17" MacBook Pro's. The new Thunderbolt port offers daisy-chaining of up to six devices, including two high-resolution displays, according to the Australian Apple website. The 13" MacBook Pro, with its weaksauce Intel integrated graphics card can't handle two external monitors, however. Curiously, the U.S. website doesn't mention this feature. Perhaps it only works down under?
Now, queries!
Continue reading Ask TUAW: Wait, is this a leap year? Edition
Ask TUAW: Wait, is this a leap year? Edition originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- TUAW interviews David Helgason of Unity (part one)
Unity is a game development tool that started on the Mac. Atypical at the time they launched (long before iOS made Mac-based development big again), Unity has grown by leaps and bounds and today not only runs on Macs or PCs, but can export games to nearly every major platform on the market, including Macs, iOS devices, Windows, Android, Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.
I've been covering the company almost since the beginning (my first post on DownloadSquad about Unity, then called "Over the Edge Entertainment," dates back to 2005). I have to say it's always nice to see the underdog rise to a position of market relevance, especially when that company is comprised of a bunch of Mac nerds who had the guts to launch on the Mac first when everyone else made PC products.
On the next page is part one of my interview with co-founder and current CEO of Unity, David Helgason, where we talk about how Unity came about and how iOS deployment helped the company grow. We'll post part two tomorrow. For more on iOS games and gaming, be sure to check out our ongoing GDC coverage.
Continue reading TUAW interviews David Helgason of Unity (part one)
TUAW interviews David Helgason of Unity (part one) originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Cinq Photo updated for iPhone and iPad: Send your pix home when mobile
I took a look at Cinq in December. It was a cool little iPhone app that allowed you to view your iPhoto libraries on your iPhone, and send photos back to your home computer when you're out over WiFi or 3G. I liked the idea of sending full resolution pictures home while I was on vacation, and the app worked pretty well.
Some recent updates have made Cinq even more attractive. It now is a universal app that runs on the iPad, as well as the iPhone and iPod touch. As before, you have to install the free Cinq server software on your home Mac or PC and set up a free account. The GUI of the app has been simplified, and looks more attractive. Once the server is up and running you choose to have your photos saved to your iPhoto library, or to a folder.
My past critique of the app included speed and a lack of background operation. Those issues have been addressed. You can now send a photo or multiple photos in the background, and the speed of transfer seems to have been improved. Of course the speed of your connection is important, but it's clear from my testing that the app is faster.
Continue reading Cinq Photo updated for iPhone and iPad: Send your pix home when mobile
Cinq Photo updated for iPhone and iPad: Send your pix home when mobile originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- New record gap between Apple Store openings
It's been over 105 days since Apple has opened a new Apple Store, beating the previous record for longest gap between openings. The old record was set in 2003 and that gap extended between January and May. This gap began in November and will continue until we get a new store. ifoAppleStore has a great infographic that will help contextualize the break for you.
It could be tempting to say this hints at some kind of slow down in sales, but that conclusion can't be confirmed without a whole lot more contextual data. Since most of the Apple Stores open just before Thanksgiving, with a few more coming in around Christmas time, this is the time of year when we'd expect to see a slowdown anyway. The gap could just indicate that Apple did a great job of getting all their stores open in time for Christmas 2010. Let's see how things shape up in the last half of 2011 before we start to wonder about new Apple Stores.
New record gap between Apple Store openings originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Federal rules could prompt NBC TV rentals in iTunes
Last year, things looked bleak for Apple TV users who wanted inexpensive rental access to NBC's content. Former NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker made the now-famous comments that "99 cents is not the price point for our content," and that "it would devalue our content."
Now that the network and cable TV / Internet giant Comcast have agreed to tie the knot, the U.S. Federal Government has attached many strings to their approval of the merger. Among the many conditions that the companies agreed to in order to consummate their bonds of corporate matrimony was that the merged giant must agree to sell its content on online video services. That opens the way for NBC content, such as The Office and 30 Rock, to be distributed on Apple TV and other similar devices.
In order to gain Federal approval of the merger, Comcast and NBC basically agreed to terms that make it possible for people to bypass cable TV packages and purchase content "a la carte" from iTunes and other online stores. As another part of the agreement, Comcast cannot throttle Internet service to block streaming video service and must sell standalone Internet service with relatively fast speeds (6 Megabit per second downloads) without tying it to a cable TV package.
While we still don't know how this will all shake out for Apple TV-owning NBC fans, we'll keep our eyes and ears open for any additional news pertaining to the merger and the deals Comcast agreed to.
Federal rules could prompt NBC TV rentals in iTunes originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- New trojan MusMinim-A written for Mac OS X
On Saturday, information security firm Sophos reported a new "backdoor Trojan" designed to allow remote operations and password "phishing" on systems running Mac OS X.
The author of the Trojan refers to his or her work as "BlackHole RAT" and claims the malware is still in beta. Indeed, Sophos, who re-named the threat "OSX/MusMinim-A," says the current code is a very basic variation of darkComet, a well-known Remote Access Trojan (RAT) for Microsoft Windows. The source code for darkComet is freely available online.
The biggest threat from MusMinim appears to be its ability to display fake prompts to enter the system's administrative password. This allows the malware to collect sensitive user and password data for later use.
The Trojan also allows hackers to run shell commands, send URLs to the client to open a website, and force the Mac to shut down, restart, or go to sleep arbitrarily. Other "symptoms" include mysterious text files on the user's desktop and full screen alerts that force the user to reboot.
Additionally, the malware threatens to grow stronger. "Im a very new Virus, under Development, so there will be much more functions when im finished," the author of the Trojan claims via its user interface.
Sophos believes the new malware indicates more hackers are taking notice of the increasingly popular Mac platform. "[MusMinim] could be indicative of more underground programmers taking note of Apple's increasing market share," says Sophos on its blog.
Another line from the malware's user interface supports the idea that hackers' interest in Mac OS X is growing. "I know, most people think Macs can't be infected, but look, you ARE Infected!"
In an apparent response to the increase in malware threats on the Mac, Apple is reportedly working with prominent information security analysts like Charlie Miller and Dino Dai Zovi to strengthen the overall security of Mac OS X Lion, the company's forthcoming major update to its desktop operating system. It's the first time Apple has openly invited researchers to scrutinize its software while still under development. Mac OS X Lion is scheduled to be released this summer.
In the meantime, Sophos tells Mac users to be cautious when installing software from less trustworthy sources. "Trojans like this are frequently distributed through pirated software downloads, torrent sites, or anywhere you may download an application expecting to need to install it," they say. Also, "patching is an important part of protection on all platforms" to prevent hackers from exploiting security vulnerabilities in web browsers, plugins, and other applications.
[via AppleInsider]
New trojan MusMinim-A written for Mac OS X originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- T-Mobile notes the "4" in iPhone 4 does not mean 4G
Nearly nine months after Apple's official announcement, T-Mobile finally points out to its customers that the "4" in iPhone 4 does not refer to 4G. T-Mobile's latest advertisement for its HSPA+ network takes a shot at both the Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 with the two carriers illustrated as turtles, while T-Mobile is a hare. The eye-catching graph points out that T-Mobile has blazing fast 4G handsets while Apple's popular smartphone is still 3G.
This slick marketing piece points out that the "4' in iPhone 4 is not 4G. Most everyone knows that the "4" actually refers to 4th generation, not 4G and trying to imply there is confusion between the terms is stretching it. As is often the case, this promotional material focuses on sensationalistic headlines, not necessarily the truth.
[Via Engadget]
T-Mobile notes the "4" in iPhone 4 does not mean 4G originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Apple to unveil JointVenture, a small business repair service
We reported last week that Apple had scheduled a meeting for all its retail employees. The meeting was held this weekend and the Cupertino company reportedly used this meeting to detail a new enterprise-oriented service called JointVenture. The program supposedly targets small businesses and lets them purchase a premium repair and training service for $500 per year. It sounds vaguely familiar to Apple's ProCare service.
For this sum, customers will reportedly receive priority Genius bar service which pushes them to the top of the service queue and provides them with a loaner unit if a repair is to take longer than 24 hours. JointVenture customers may also be able to access a Genius-manned telephone support service and a limited number of group training sessions per year. The new service is rumored to launch on March 2 in the US and March 3 in the U.K. Additional details may be unveiled at Apple's March 2 event slated to be held in the Yerba Buena Center located in San Francisco, California.
Apple to unveil JointVenture, a small business repair service originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey
Kamon (US$1.99 for the iPhone version) and Kamon HD for the iPad (available separately for $2.99) should really be one universal app. There isn't enough meat here to justify the five dollar price tag for both versions -- not when the top-of-the-line board games like the Settlers of Catan cost $4.99. Two dollars for a universal version sounds about right in today's App Store economy/price structure, but I also want more and more board games to come to iOS, and developers need to make their money somehow. So, with that in mind, I can recommend Kamon to anyone looking to expand their app library of well-designed two-player strategy games.
Kamon was created by renowned designer Bruno Cathala who was recently responsible for the particularly good game Cyclades. The elegant leather and wood version has been hard to find in the U.S., but now everyone has access to this simple (yet hard to master) game. Keep reading for more.
Continue reading App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey
App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Is this the Apple iPad 2? (Updated)
BGR has snagged an image that is supposedly an accurate rendering of the upcoming iPad 2. It resembles images leaked last week of a reproduction iPad 2 that was purportedly designed using specifications obtained from Asian case manufacturers. Is this latest leaked image the real deal? Nobody knows at this point as any talented Photoshop whiz can whip up a nice-looking rendering and send it into a blog. Patience is a virtue, and we will have to wait until Wednesday's press event to find out what Apple has up its sleeve.
Update: BGR updated its post with the following "Though it is highly likely that the image above will end up being a good representation of the iPad 2, it's looking like this image was created by an Apple fan and is not an official render."
Is this the Apple iPad 2? (Updated) originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- TUAW's Daily App: Sticky
I'll say this: Sticky is an original one. It's sort of a platforming game, though there are no real platforms involved. You play as a little orange blob named Sticky, tasked with saving the world from invading black blobs that slowly move from one side of your iPhone's screen to the other. Sticky can defeat these enemy blobs by bouncing on their heads, so it's your job as a player to catapult him back and forth around the little levels in order to hit the bad guys exactly right.
The game is fun, cute and intuitive, and while it's pretty easy to beat the individual stages (at least until power-ups and more obstacles get added into the mix), each stage also rates you out of three stars, so you need to race against time to try and grab a perfect rating as well. Hardcore gamers will want to clear out all of the levels, while younger (or just more casual gamers) can bounce Sticky around and still enjoy playing.
Full Game Center (and Crystal -- Chillingo is publishing) integration extends the experience, and the fact that it's only US$0.99 means it's probably worth a try if you're interested. It probably won't pull me away from Tiny Wings completely, but it's another fun casual experience.
TUAW's Daily App: Sticky originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Talkcast tonight, 7 PM PT/10 PM ET: iPad Books Edition!
Another Sunday, another episode of the TUAW Talkcast! This week we're featuring two of our own: Dave Caolo, who will be talking about his soon to be released iPad book, and Steve Sande will be joining me to talk about the iPad book he wrote along with our own Erica Sadun and Michael Grothaus. Since I happen to know the right people, we have a copy of each book to give away live on the Talkcast as well!
In case that isn't enough, remember that Kelly hosting means a nice big pile of TUAWTF (or Aftershow) for those who show up live. So join us, won't you?
To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 PM EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (yay for free cell phone weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8.
If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here. Talk to you tonight!
Talkcast tonight, 7 PM PT/10 PM ET: iPad Books Edition! originally appeared on TUAW on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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