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- The silly season: Two fun, fan-made videos of the iPad 2
With all the buzz of anticipation of the iPad2 expected release on March 2nd I thought it would be fun to put up a couple of videos circulating the Internets on just what to expect.
The first one by Exkild is a full and detailed explanation of all the new magical features of the new 27" device. My favorite part of this 6:45 tour is expaining the new features in iTunes which will automatically download good music, delete bad music and if it finds a song by Justin Bieber, it self-destructs.
The second one is a 1:45 action movie opus made by Evan Larimore, a guy who is really into movies. A huge iPad2 with the eye of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey descends from space and wreaks havoc in the hand-held style of Cloverfield.
Take a look. They're bound to give you a chuckle or two.
Continue reading The silly season: Two fun, fan-made videos of the iPad 2
The silly season: Two fun, fan-made videos of the iPad 2 originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Jack and Joe: A lovely interactive book for small children
Jack and Joe (US $2.99) is the first of what will surely become a series of interactive storybooks for small children from the Stupid Art Company. This is an independent universal app written and illustrated by Bard Hole Standal and programmed by his brother Odin Hall Standal. It's a 27 page buddy story about the friendship of Jack, a cute blonde haired boy, and his Siberian Husky puppy Joe. The illustrations are appropriately simple and colorful, telling a warm and comforting story that is sure to please the smallest of readers. There's nothing scary here outside of a threatening bee. With the excellent narration of Katie Leigh, the story is read with no words being highlighted.
This isn't one of those books where you need to touch everything to start animations. On most pages there is movement, but little to no interactivity. I don't consider this to be a problem since too many similar books make kids go on treasure hunts, touching everything and losing the track of the simple story. The straight reading is mixed up with activities that seem just right. At one point you need to shake the iPad or iOS device to shake Jack and Joe out of a tree. In another, there is a coloring page where five colors of chalk let you color a picture on the sidewalk. The centerpiece is a nicely animated and choreographed dance sequence that I really enjoyed. Check out the video after the break to get the feel of the book. I think that small kids will be delighted.
Continue reading Jack and Joe: A lovely interactive book for small children
Jack and Joe: A lovely interactive book for small children originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple invites security experts to review Lion developer preview
CNET reports that Apple has sent notice to a few big-time security experts, including some folks who've attacked OS X security in the past, to check out the developer preview of OS X Lion. "As you have reported Mac OS X security issues in the past," the letter reportedly tells the researchers, "I thought that you might be interested in taking a look at this. It contains several improvements in the area of security countermeasures."
Note that this isn't actual consulting on the part of these researchers, though they are getting a preview copy of the OS for free. Dino Dai Zovi is one of the experts that Apple invited to check out the system, and he lauds the move on Twitter, stating that it "looks to be a step in the direction of opening up a bit and inviting more dialogue with external researchers."
Good for Apple, in that case. Hopefully the outcome of all of this is a more secure operating system, and we can all appreciate that for sure.
[via AppleInsider]
Apple invites security experts to review Lion developer preview originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - MLB At Bat 11 apps for iPhone, iPad now available
With the wintry weather that seems to be hitting a lot of the U.S. today, most people probably aren't thinking about the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. There are two sure signs of spring today -- the MLB players started playing Spring Training exhibition games today, and the MLB At Bat 11 apps for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad are now available for sale in the App Store.
At this point you'll be able to watch about 150 Spring Training games through a free preview of MLB.TV, and listen to available radio broadcasts of Spring Training games. Like the 2010 version of the app, you can get a close-up batter's view of every at-bat, breaking news, schedules, rosters, and players stats. The description of the app notes that additional features and functionality will be released for Opening Day on March 31.
Major League Baseball apparently didn't listen to user complaints from last year, however. The iPad and iPhone apps are still separate apps, and each costs $14.99. On top of that insult, the league advertises in articles found in the app. Once the MLB season begins, you'll be able to watch one free televised game per day and listen to as many games on Internet radio as you'd like, but there's no way to purchase a package to watch all games for a specific team in the app or beam the games to an Apple TV via AirPlay.
Early reviews on the App Store are saying that the performance of the MLB At Bat 11 app does seem to have improved over last year's iteration, which was notable for slow loading of articles and videos.
MLB At Bat 11 apps for iPhone, iPad now available originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iMainGo X iPhone / iPod speaker system cranks the volume up to 11
When it comes to portable speaker systems that work with the iPhone and various flavors of iPod, the iMainGo 2 (US$39.95) from Portable Sound Laboratories has been an inexpensive and powerful favorite of many Apple fans. Now the company is turning up the volume -- literally -- with a new version known as the iMainGo X ($69.95).
What It Is:
Like the previous version, the iMainGo X is a deceptively simple box that looks like a large clutch case for an iPhone or iPod touch. One half of the case is made up of the tech -- a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack, the speakers, and the electronics -- while the other half holds your device behind a waterproof shield. The rechargeable battery pack is a solid improvement over the 4 AAA batteries that were required with the iMainGo 2. They don't last as long (12 hours as opposed to 30 hours for the AAA batteries), but will save you money in the long run over the disposable batteries.
The iMainGo X also has slightly larger bass speakers as well as the ability to daisy-chain up to three of the devices for loud surround sound. It does this through the addition of another headset port on the front of the box, which can be used to connect your iMainGo X up to two more devices.
Continue reading iMainGo X iPhone / iPod speaker system cranks the volume up to 11
iMainGo X iPhone / iPod speaker system cranks the volume up to 11 originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - South Korea's SK Telecom to offer Apple iPhone starting in March
SK Telecom has confirmed it intends to carry the iPhone 4, ending KT's exclusivity with the popular Apple smartphone. According to the statement, SK Telecom will announce launch and pricing details at a later date. Currently, the wireless carrier leads the pack in South Korea with slight over half of the cellular market. Its current smartphone profile is peppered with Android handsets from local manufacturers LG and Samsung.
With the introduction of the iPhone 4, SK will soon compete directly with its smaller rival KT which has sold various models of the iPhone since November 2009. KT has seen a boost from the iPhone and recently announced it has sold over 2 million units during this time of exclusivity.
Overall, this Asia-Pacific region is a hotbed for Apple products with sales of the iPhone and Mac more than doubling year over year, according to Apple's latest earnings report. This move to bring the iPhone to SK Telecom is part of a larger plan by Apple to expand its user base and boost it sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
South Korea's SK Telecom to offer Apple iPhone starting in March originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Win a year of basic service from YouMail, the voicemail replacement service
I reviewed YouMail last week, and now we've got 10 codes to give away allowing you access to the basic features of the voicemail replacement service. By replacement, I mean YouMail supercedes your current voicemail system (provided by your carrier), and extends the ability to check your voicemails on your iPad, iPod touch or the web. As I mentioned in my review, there are other features as well, like human-powered translation.
These codes will unlock one year of the US$8.99/month "basic" service, which includes 50 transcriptions each month, storage of 5,000 messages (are you really getting that many in a year?), extended greeting times and YouMail's Privacy Guard service. To enter, let us know your funniest voicemail gretting (created by you or someone else). Good luck!
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
- To enter leave a comment telling us the funniest voicemail greeting you've ever heard.
- The comment must be left before MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Ten winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: One year of Basic YouMail service (Value: US$108)
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Win a year of basic service from YouMail, the voicemail replacement service originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Lots of App Store sales going on this weekend
I can't think of anything really special about this weekend (though GDC is coming up next week), but quite a few app developers have put their apps on sale for some reason. Here are some of the deals in Apple's App Stores this weekend:
- 148Apps has a list of free apps, including an interesting card game called Shadow Era.
- Gameloft has put its whole library on sale, more or less, for just 99 cents each.
- iSlash is completely free over the weekend.
- The great Lemmings-like Spirits (and its iPad counterpart) are on sale for 99 cents as well.
- The minimalist writing app, WriteRoom, is on sale on the Mac App Store for just $4.99. It's usually $24.99, but this sale is a great deal, designed for those who already have a WriteRoom license to transfer their purchase over to the MAS.
- An app called FX Photo Studio has dropped its price to 99 cents, and Translation Fire, which will do a variety of translations for you, is free for the next few days.
- Finally, Grokion, which does a pretty good impression of a Metroid game on iOS, has also gone free for GDC.
- Here's one more late arrival: Battleheart is on sale for the amazing price of 99 cents. That's a must-buy at that price -- here's why.
Some great deals in there for sure. As always, stay tuned to our Twitter and Facebook pages, as we tweet and share great App Store sales and deals all the time.
Lots of App Store sales going on this weekend originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - First Hong Kong Apple Store to open this year
The South China Morning Post reports that Apple will open its first retail store in Hong Kong later this year. The International Finance Center (IFC) Mall in the central district of Hong Kong Island will host the new 15,000 square foot location. A second Hong Kong Apple store, a 20,000 square foot shop in Hysan Place in Causeway Bay, is planned for 2012.
According to the Morning Post, Apple negotiated a 10-year lease for the retail space in the IFC mall. The company will spend an estimated US$20 million to construct its first store in Hong Kong and up to $9.2 million a year on rent. An Apple spokesperson told the Morning Post the IFC store "will be similar" to Apple's high-profile retail locations in London, Paris, and Shanghai.
Located near two office towers and asoon-to-openFour Seasons Hotel, The IFC mall houses approximately 200 shops representing about 100 different international brands. Hong Kong is home to about 7 million people and hosts approximately 32 million tourists a year.Apple opened its first store in China in July, 2008. The four locations in China -- two in Beijing and two in Shanghai -- each receive over 40,000 visitors a day, says Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail operations for Apple. That is four times the traffic to Apple's stores in the rest of the world. The company plans to open a total of 20 new stores in China this year.
Apple has 323 retail stores worldwide.
First Hong Kong Apple Store to open this year originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Ouch! Consumer Reports slams the Verizon iPhone 4
Not the most breathtaking revelation, but Consumer Reports won't put the Verizon iPhone 4 on its list of recommended smartphones. The Verizon iPhone joins the AT&T model in earning the ad-free publication's lack of enthusiasm.
The problems cited are the same as those that led to the original criticism of the GSM iPhone 4. Put a finger on the gap between antennas and the signal drops. In at least once instance, where there was a low signal, a call couldn't be placed while the gap was covered.
Other items of note involved voice quality. On the Verizon version, CR finds the voice quality superior when you make a call from it, but the testers thought the audio quality on received calls was better on the AT&T model.
Consumer Reports says most iPhone cases alleviate the antenna gap problem, but they are not about to recommend either phone. Apple had offered free cases to iPhone 4 buyers after the controversy last year, but that program has been discontinued. Apple has stated it will provide cases if customers experience issues.
Ouch! Consumer Reports slams the Verizon iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - 3D music video was shot with two iPhone 4s
Forget about the Android-powered LG Optimus 3D with its fancy 3D camera, all you need to make a 3D video is a couple of people, two iPhone 4s, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm for filming. The folks at Atomic Cheesecake productions were up to the challenge and put together a 3D music video recorded entierly using the iPhone 4 and its five-megapixel camera.
The 3d indie video aficiandos put together a semi-fancy rig to align the two iPhone 4s so they could record video and combine the two streams to create a 3D effect. The cameras on the pair of iPhones were controlled by the Almost DSLR app which gives your precise control over the individual settings of the camera. A little bit of post-processing to perfect the 3D and director Ryan Suits has an interesting and innovative video.
The video was produced for musician Luke Hagendorf who is using it for his song Changes We Don't Understand. The 3D video requires those red and cyan glasses to enjoy the full 3D effect but, with or without galsses, you can check out his 3D test video and the music video after the break. Enjoy!
[Via Tecca]
Continue reading 3D music video was shot with two iPhone 4s
3D music video was shot with two iPhone 4s originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apps for the 2011 Academy Awards
With the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences 83rd Annual Academy Awards (or as we like to call them: The Oscars) airing this Sunday on ABC, iOS-using movie fans may want to enhance their viewing experience with a few Apps for their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.
So, we've put together a little list of some that might help you out, with descriptions from the App developers themselves and some context from us.
First off, if you're interested in the fashion and glamour of the Oscars as well as who wins what award (and we know you are), you'll need Live from the Red Carpet. This app "...lets you experience total VIP access to Hollywood's hottest events, right at your fingertips."
"You'll have instant access to hundreds of E! articles, breaking down everything from the winners and upsets to the shows' best (and worst) moments. Plus, connect with Twitter to share your VIP access with the world."
This App is pretty useful, especially if you're that person who always wants to know what everyone is wearing. Also, its a great way to keep up on that all-important celeb gossip and party info so even if you can't really be there, you can at least feel like it for a bit.
Next up is an App that no certified cinefile can be without: IMDB (AKA The Internet Movie Database). With this App you have instant access to the entire online database of movie knowledge. Do you want to know which movie from 2001 starred Colin Firth and Hugh Grant? It's in there. How about what movie won Best Picture in 1977? It's in there.
Or, how about what was director David Fincher's first movie? In there. All the information you could ever want about every actor, actress, movie, director or writer (well, who cares about the writers really?) is in the IMDB database. It's an essential tool in any Oscar watcher's aresenal.
Moving on, we've got an App from the folks bringing us the Oscar telecast, ABC Digital. This App, called Oscar Backstage Pass, gives fans "access to live streams from exclusive cameras placed throughout the Red Carpet, the Kodak Theatre and the Governors Ball so you can go beyond the tv broadcast and watch more live Oscar action as it's taking place."
That sounds like fun, right? Who knows, maybe one of those cameras will catch someone doing something they shouldn't. Or better yet, a fight.
Finally, you can download the "official" Oscars App which, among other things, lets you "make Oscar predictions, access complete Nominee lists, get insider information on each film, watch viewable trailers and more." You can also "compare with your group of friends and share your picks through Facebook, Twitter, text and email."
We've got our predictions ready, how about you?
The Oscars air on Sunday at 8E/5P on ABC.
Apps for the 2011 Academy Awards originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dear Aunt TUAW: How do I install a Lion partition on my MacBook Air?
Dear Aunt TUAW,
I'm in the Mac Developer program and I'd really like to be able to install Lion on my MacBook Air as a second OS. What are the best strategies to do this? Is it worth going out and buying a second SSD drive and swapping that out with my primary Snow Leopard system?
Thanks for letting me know!
Love and Kisses,
Your nephew G
Continue reading Dear Aunt TUAW: How do I install a Lion partition on my MacBook Air?
Dear Aunt TUAW: How do I install a Lion partition on my MacBook Air? originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Engadget: iPad 2 thinner, faster, has cameras, no SD slot or high-res display
Our buddies at Aol Tech sister site Engadget have heard some details from very reliable sources (Engadget's Joshua Topolsky notes "these sources have been dead right on specific Apple plans and specifications for unannounced products in the past") regarding the second-generation iPad that will be announced on Wednesday, March 2.
We've all been expecting that the new iPad will be somewhat thinner and feature at least a front-facing camera for FaceTime, but according to the Engadget sources, the planned SD slot and higher-resolution display will have to wait for a future device.
The good news is that the sources are stating that the iPad 2 will have more RAM at 512 MB, which means fewer app crashes when multiple apps running are at the same time. It's also expected that the new device will be moving to a new generation of the Apple-designed CPU, rumored to be named the A5.
Engadget is also speculating that an announcement and demo of iOS 5.0 and the associated SDK will be made, although the new iPad will most likely ship initially with iOS 4.3 loaded. Any speculation about updated cloud services is just that -- speculation.
Whatever Apple has up its spacious sleeves for us next Wednesday, you'll find the best coverage here at TUAW. Be sure to join us as we liveblog the iPad event.
Engadget: iPad 2 thinner, faster, has cameras, no SD slot or high-res display originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Lion will drop support for earliest Intel Macs
In the past two releases of Mac OS X, we've seen the baseline support for legacy machines hiked a notch higher each time; for Leopard, eliminating slower G4s from the working list, and for Snow Leopard dropping PowerPC support entirely in favor of the newer Intel models.
Now, with the developer preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion in the wild, the next frontier for obsolescence is set -- the new OS drops official support for Core Duo and Core Solo-based Intel Macs as well.
We have heard from some testers that they've successfully installed and booted Lion on the older unsupported machines, but your mileage may vary.Update: Our correspondents were confused about the requirements, and in fact were using supported machines.Why the shift? Apple's not saying yet, but the machines based on these 32-bit Intel CPUs may not have the horsepower or addressable memory space to support Lion, or Apple may be pushing towards a full 64-bit OS and kernel (which might cause some issues for hardware drivers and peripherals). In any event, if you've got a first-generation Intel Mac that's more than four and a half years old, you may be staying with 10.6 Snow Leopard (or Leopard or Tiger, for that matter, if you haven't updated).
Machines with the newer 64-bit Core 2 Duo and later chips are almost all good to go with the new cat in town, with one exception in this preview release; "late 2006" iMacs with Core 2 Duos are not yet supported.
Keep in mind that the exact system requirements and supported models may change between now and the official release of 10.7 sometime this summer.
[hat tip to ZDnet]
Lion will drop support for earliest Intel Macs originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - So what works with FaceTime?
Apple comes to the rescue with a KnowledgeBase posting that will give you all the details on what systems are capable of using FaceTime. As you may know, FaceTime HD is a new feature of the just released MacBook Pro line, and Apple has taken FaceTime for the rest of us out of beta and made it a US $0.99 app.
While the HD feature of FaceTime is built into the just-released laptops because of an updated higher resolution camera, it doesn't mean those with older equipment are out of the game. Apple says you need Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or above to send a standard definition call. Many, but not all older Macs can view a call in HD, but Apple says it requires a minimum download bandwidth of 1 Mbps.
Check out the specifics after the break.
[via The Mac Observer]
Continue reading So what works with FaceTime?
So what works with FaceTime? originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple's cheez-tastic 1984 disco promo video
For the viewing pleasure of those folks who were tuned into TUAW TV Live on Wednesday, February 16, we had a little disco inferno going. Tipped by a reader about a godawful Apple marketing film titled "We Are Apple: Leading The Way," it was so bad it just had to be good. Now we have a few more facts, including that this video was shown at the introduction of the Mac.
There are some memorable moments -- like a guy carrying a 60-lb. Apple Lisa under his arm like it was a MacBook Air. Most of all, it's the screechy Irene Cara-like disco soundtrack, heavily copying from "What a Feeling" from the movie Flashdance, that makes your stomach churn.
CrunchGear noted that the poster on YouTube noted that Apple dealers in attendance were so excited by the video that they ran to the pay phones (pre-mobile days, of course) to call their stockbrokers with AAPL buy orders. Here's hoping that their market savvy was better than their taste in music videos.
The video can be viewed in all of its tacky glory by clicking the Read More link.
Continue reading Apple's cheez-tastic 1984 disco promo video
Apple's cheez-tastic 1984 disco promo video originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iFixit tears down the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, 2011 model
iFixit got its hands on a brand new 15-inch MacBook and tore the machine down to its Tri-wing screws and heat sinks. The latest generation machine shares a lot of similarities with its aluminum unibody predecessors including the same case design and a similar layout of internal components. Most of the changes internally were made to the logic board components.
Besides the obvious processor and GPU differences, iFixit notes the wireless card now sports four antennas instead of a three which may improve performance. Other minor changes include the addition of a few extra heat sinks, including one for the GPU, a SuperDrive with a new model number and some modifications to the clips which hold things in place. Click through to check out more goodies from the iFixit teardown.
Continue reading iFixit tears down the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, 2011 model
iFixit tears down the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, 2011 model originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - New MacBook Pro benchmarks show marked improvement
Primate Labs snagged the latest Geekbench 2 results for the new MacBook Pros and compared the benchmarks to previous generation models. Good news for those planning to grab a latest generation model. The results show a big jump in performance for the MacBook Pros with the new quad-core Sandy Bridge processors.
These latest generation machines are scoring between 8,000 to 10,000, a marked increase over the 5,000 to 6,000 recorded by the 2010 MacBook Pro models. In this test, the bigger the resulting number, the better the performance. These scores from the quad-core MacBook Pro models are 80% better than the 2010 models and competitive with the latest Mac Pro desktops. As expected, the latest 13-inch models now sport the dual-core Core i5 and Core i7 processors which boosts their performance to the same level as last year's 15-inch models.
When looking at these results, remember that Geekbench 2 only measures CPU and memory performance; it does not take into account GPU or SSD contribution to performance. Sometimes a tricked out 2010 model may score higher than an entry-level 2011 model. Overall though, these early results suggest 2011 MacBook Pro owners will be happy with the performance from their shiny, new machines. They may also tempt more than a handful of 2010 owners to jump ship and grab the latest generation machines.
[Via Macrumors]
New MacBook Pro benchmarks show marked improvement originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Joystickers provide a little tactile feedback on a touchscreen
Do you want little tactile-feedback joysticks on your iOS-device screen? And do you want to be a founding financier of the company that produces them? You're in luck. Head over to the Kickstarter funding project of Chicago-based Joystickers, who want to muss up your shiny screen with tiny, sticky joysticks in order to improve the feedback you get in shooter and platform games.
The joysticks -- the inventors call them the Classic -- are held onto your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Android device with micro suction cups that won't damage your screen. Joystickers founder and engineer Anthony Cerra says the special sucker for the Classic is imported from Japan. According to Cerra, "Every detail of this product was custom manufactured to our specification -- even the spring." The spring itself is manufactured in Chicago and is designed for long-lasting durability.
Joystickers is looking for US$25,000 in funding by March 24, which will pay for injection molding production for the Classic and a stylus and paintbrush that they've designed. A $30 donation will get you a pair of Classics when production starts in May.
[via MacStories]
Joystickers provide a little tactile feedback on a touchscreen originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Daily App: Tiny Wings
Some games and apps picked for our Daily App become hits after they get selected, but others sort of pop out of the App Store as fully-formed hits already, and we just follow along. Tiny Wings is one of the latter. It's already a huge hit, having beat out Angry Birds for the top paid spot on the App Store. If you haven't played it yet, it's definitely worth a try. In Tiny Wings, you're a little bird with (surprise) tiny wings. By touching the screen, you can speed the cute little guy up and down hills that he can ramp off of, trying to travel as far as possible while collecting speed boosts.
Like some of the best games on the App Store, it's hard to explain, but it's very easy to play. Just a moment with Tiny Wings is all it takes to figure it out. The gorgeous art and music make the experience casually excellent; it's very simple to jump into, but kind of tough to master.
I can't recommend Tiny Wings enough. If you haven't picked it up on the App Store for US$0.99 yet, odds are you will soon anyway. This is developer Andreas Illiger's first app, but it looks like he struck gold on his first try.
TUAW's Daily App: Tiny Wings originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Localscope is a slick and complete tool for finding and getting to your destination
There are plenty of apps that find restaurants, hospitals and other things near you using the iPhone's GPS. Localscope, a US$1.99 app, is the most complete and easy to use solution I've seen.
Localscope easily lets you find destinations using Google or Bing, Foursquare, Twitter and Wikimapia. You don't have to re-enter your search terms, just slide from one search engine to another. One side benefit was that in my area of Southern Arizona, Google had far more information than Bing. The app makes it easy to compare search results.
You can also search using your contacts or recent searches. Results can be viewed as a list, on a map, or using augmented reality, which is basically a live camera view with the direction of destinations superimposed on the screen. Phone numbers of destinations are provided, as well as websites for more info. A really nice feature is integration with both TomTom and Navigon apps. When you find a location, a tap on a button sends the data to those apps. Another tap, and you are navigating with turn-by-turn directions. I also like the ability to save a location to your address book or share a location via email, SMS, Twitter or Facebook.
Continue reading Localscope is a slick and complete tool for finding and getting to your destination
Localscope is a slick and complete tool for finding and getting to your destination originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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