Iphone Updates

Reviewer James Galbraith (macworld.com) gives the new quad-core 27-inch iMac computers with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 “Nehalem” processors 4.5/5 mice, calling them “worth the wait.” In performance tests, writes Galbraith, the 2.55GHz Core i5 iMac was “the fastest standard configuration Mac we’ve ever tested” and the Core i7 “showed even greater performance prowess.”

A custom coffee table book by co-author and publisher Rick Smolan takes you back to — and into — the story of Obama’s rise to the presidency. Says co-author and publisher Rick Smolan: “Every component of this project, from photo editing to design to video, was created entirely on a Mac.”

Using a Mac Pro as the keystone of his rural radiology practice in Bemidji, Minnesota, Dr. Hilton Bakker is able not only to reduce the costs of his own practice but those of the hospitals who use his services. Says Bakker: “If hospitals can use Mac technology to do radiology cheaper, that’s my goal. Health care costs too much. If I can do my little bit to make it cheaper, that’s cool.”

Filed under: OS, Software

Earlier today, Apple released version 2.2 of Boot Camp drivers for Windows. Installation requires Boot Camp 2.1 to have been previously installed as well as Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista.

Boot Camp is included with Leopard and Snow Leopard and lets you install Windows on an Intel-based Mac. Shops or individuals who want to go Mac despite an unavoidable Windows-only application should consider Boot Camp along with virtualization options like VMWare and Parallels. For full information on installing Boot Camp as well as upgrade instructions, manuals, troubleshooting tips and more, look here.

Please note that Boot Camp Drivers Update 2.2 is for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard only.

TUAWBoot Camp Drivers update 2.2 for Windows available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BootCamp – Apple – Mac OS X – Windows Vista – Snow Leopard

Filed under: OS, Snow Leopard

The day that Apple killed Atom support with the release of 10.6.2 was a sad one for many in the hackintosh community. Just as many expected, however, Atom support has returned; and no, Apple had nothing to do with it.

InsanelyMac forum member teateam has developed a replacement kernel for installation on Atom-powered, hackintosh netbooks. Keep in mind that this is bleeding-edge stuff here and not for the faint of heart. Nevertheless, this development bodes well for those of you running your own version of a MacBook mini.

[via Macworld]

TUAWIt’s alive: Intel Atom support returns to 10.6.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Intel Atom – Netbook – Operating system – OSx86

Filed under: Software, Snow Leopard

1Password 3.0 is available today for Leopard and Snow Leopard users, with a bunch of new features. Top of the list is 1PasswordAnywhere, which allows you to view 1Password data from any other computer –Windows, Mac, Linux, whatever — with a modern browser like Safari or Firefox. (It should also allow you to use 1Password passwords on Mac browsers where the tool is not fully supported, such as Opera or Google Chrome.)

I’ve been using the 3.0 betas since Snow Leopard was released, and they have been completely stable. It is also possible to sync your 1Password keychain data over Dropbox so that all of your password information is available on all of your Macs. (Dropbox users: you may want to read this article about slimming 1Password backups if you store your 1Password backups on Dropbox. It dropped my backups from 21MB to 1MB.)

For those who aren’t familiar with 1Password, let me tell you, it does more than just store passwords. It will generate them for you so you don’t end up using the same lame password on a whole bunch of sites because it is the only one you can remember. All you have to remember is the password for 1Password (hence the name!). It will also manage multiple logins on the same page. My favorite feature? It will store credit card information and autofill forms for you with your billing/shipping address. I use this all the time, and whenever a website asks me if I want it to save my credit card information, I can say “No” and not have to worry about their security being compromised and my credit card information being exposed.

Another new feature is the Vault for storing software licenses, as well as file attachments. iPhone sync has been redesigned, and 1Password items can now be edited in the browser. (See all new features here.) This is a very worthy “new version” release packed with a lot of bang for your buck.

Which brings us to the “How much does it cost?” information. Agile is having a sale on upgrade licenses as part of the release:

• If you purchased 1Password 2 on or after February 1, 2009 you get a free upgrade to 1Password 3. For bonus points: your current license should “just work” in the new version.
• If you bought a license for any previous version of 1Password before February 1 (even if you got it through a bundle deal like MacHeist) single user license upgrades are $19.95, and Family 5-Pack licenses are $29.95. Note that this price is only good through November 30, 2009.
• For new users can try a fully-functioning 1Password 3 demo for 30 days. New single licenses are $39.95, and Family 5-Packs are $69.95. A 30-day money back guarantee is offered.

1Password is an essential addition to my life on the web. I bought my upgrade as soon as it was available. 1PasswordAnywhere is going to solve the biggest hurdle to using secure passwords everywhere (since I sometimes have to use Windows). The folks at Agile are very responsive to support requests, both via email and on Twitter, so your money is going to support active Mac and iPhone developers.

If you haven’t tried 1Password before, now is a good time to check it out.

TUAW1Password 3.0 out of beta originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Chrome – iPhone – Apple – Safari – Windows

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone

Earlier this week, South Korean officials gave Apple the go-ahead to sell the iPhone in South Korea. At this point, the ball is in Apple’s court; the iPhone can launch at any time.

It was way back in December of 2008 that The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) dropped requirements that handsets use the locally-built WIPI mobile platform, and April of 2009 before those changes went into effect. In September Apple received permission to sell the iPhone in South Korea and just this week were formally issued a business license.

Since then, Korean carriers KTF and SK Telecom have been in talks with Apple regarding distribution, but no details of an official deal have been announced. We’ll keep you posted with additional details as they become available.

[Via Macworld]

TUAWiPhone cleared for sale in South Korea originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – South Korea – Apple – TUAW – KTF

No more tangled mess of cords or searching for the right adaptor. Just put your enabled device on the Powermat to charge!…

Filed under: Portables, Odds and ends

Excel nerds rejoice! What you see above is the result of a laptop reliability study conducted by third-party warranty shop Squaretrade. The study looks at over 30,000 notebooks over the course of 3 years to determine the final reliability statistics. The results may not surprise you; for instance, netbooks fail 40% more often than premium laptops and Apple’s MacBook line has above-average reliability.

The report itself is fascinating to read and the graphs are simple to understand. Also, it is nice to see an independent study confirm what I’ve known for years: HP makes low quality laptops. A note of personal interest, had I purchased a Vaio all those years ago rather than a Presario, I might never have switched to Mac.

[via Engadget]

TUAWThis just in: MacBooks are more reliable than netbooks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Laptop – Netbook – Hewlett-Packard – Engadget

Filed under: Humor, Cult of Mac, TUAW Interview

We got a chance to sit down (virtually) with the unofficial version of everyone’s favorite iCEO, via his alter ego & consigliere Dan Lyons. Fake Steve’s perspective is always unique and sometimes astonishing; read on.

TUAW: Fake Steve, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me. Before we begin this, I’d like to start off by saying that, on behalf of everyone, it is wonderful to see you in good health and back at the helm of Apple. Phil Schiller did a fine job in your absence, but the man has no stage presence. And Tim Cook’s droning voice could put even sugar-fed hyperactive children to sleep — what a snoozer.

First question: Let’s talk about Microsoft. The company recently released its newest operating system, Windows 7, and with it an experimental chain of branded retail stores that largely copy Apple’s own concept, right down to the inclusion of in-store support centers, called Guru bars. Your thoughts?

FSJ: Microsoft still hasn’t realized that its copycat business model (also known as a “close follower” strategy) doesn’t work anymore. For 20 or 25 years this company just waited for others to innovate, then copied the innovation and sold it for less – and this worked great for them. But this stopped working right around 2000 or so. The rest of the world just moves too fast now. Look, they’re still trying to catch Google in search, and they’ve got what — one percent market share? Same thing for Zune, right?

Well, keep fighting the good fight on that one, you morons. As for the stores, well, they look nice enough, since they copied ours. But in terms of how well they’ll do? Come on. Their stores are a joke and they’ve arrived too late. The whole point of being a close follower is you have to follow closely. We opened our first store in 2001 and we’ve got something like four thousand of them in the United States alone. I know you’re going to tell me I’m a bit off on that number, and, well, maybe so. But I still say we’ve got four thousand stores and if I say it enough times, people will believe me. Anyway, the other thing Microsoft seems not to understand is that it’s not enough just to open a store — you need to have something cool to put in that store. That might be a problem for them.

TUAW: Their mobile strategy has fallen flat on its face. Windows Mobile, now renamed Windows Phone, is clearly way behind OSX iPhone. Windows Mobile 6.5 is a stopgap measure at best. Windows Mobile 7 is another year away from shipping on devices. And with the recent Danger debacle, the future looks bleak for Microsoft. Do they stand a snowball’s chance in hell of ever competing with you? Do you even care?

FSJ: Wait a minute. Microsoft makes mobile phone software? I didn’t know that. Are you serious?

TUAW: Speaking of companies that are universally despised. Your contract with AT&T, as the exclusive carrier for the iPhone, is due to expire soon. Tell me you don’t plan to continue shackling iPhone to this single carrier?

FSJ: If it is the last thing I do, I will get us off AT&T. By Grabthar’s hammer, by the sons of Worvan, this shall be done. Look for news on this early next year.

TUAW: Moving on to Google. With the introduction of Android 2.0 and increasing product introductions like the recent Verizon Droid, Google is slowly gaining traction in the market. How badly do you want to drive hat pins into Eric Schmidt’s testicles?

FSJ: Well, very badly, except that Eric Schmidt does not have testicles. Lot of people don’t know that. But if he did have them, yes, I would want to harm them. A lot. The guy sat here in our board meetings and listened to all of our product plans and then just stole all of our ideas. I mean he sat here — right here — talking to me, asking me questions. I’m sorry. This just gets me really upset. Sniff. Can we move on?

Continue reading TUAW Interview: Fake Steve Jobs

TUAWTUAW Interview: Fake Steve Jobs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft – iPhone – Google – Apple – Windows Mobile

Reviewer Jason Snell (macworld.com) awards Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server 4.5/5 mice, calling it a “fantastic product for workgroups, small businesses, and even schools to use.” Emphasing value, Snell adds: “Mac mini server is just too good a deal to pass up.”

Jim Dalrymple (loopinsight.com) reports on one-year-old non-profit organization Nuru, formed by ex-Marine platoon leader Jake Harriman, who “served two tours of duty in Iraq where he realized that the key to ending terrorism was to end extreme poverty.” To that end, Nuru educates communities in impoverished nations using technology, particularly Mac Pro and MacBook Pro computers, iPhone, Final Cut Studio, iChat, and MobileMe.

Apple opens its newest retail store on New York’s Upper West Side on Saturday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. Set beneath a breathtaking all-glass arched roof, the street level of the Apple Store Upper West Side will offer more Macs, iPods and iPhones than any store in the world and feature the largest area ever created by Apple for personal training and technical support, including a 45-foot Genius Bar.

At DOER Marine, a California company that designs and builds subsea vehicles, engineers are working to create a manned vehicle that can explore the ocean floor. VP of Operations Ian Griffith credits iPhone for keeping their engineering team responsive and nimble enough to make it happen — no matter where they are in the world. “The iPhone accelerates how we perform as a team,” says Griffith.

Reviewer Mark A. Kellner (washingtontimes.com) calls the new Magic Mouse “transformative,” “supereasy and very fast,” and “really, really worth it.” Kellner concludes: “After decades of using computer input devices, I think this is the finest mouse ever.”

Filed under: Audio, Software Update, iPod nano

• Fixed audiobook playbook setting so Normal, Slower, Faster, works for audio podcasts
• Resolved issue where Genius Mixes did not work when using the Nike+ Sport Kit
• Accessibility setting for Mono Audio in now working
• Fixed bug so VoiceOver menu items are no longer skipped when using headphone + and – volume buttons to navigate

As always, you can download this update by clicking on the “Check for Update” button in iTunes when you connect your iPod nano to your computer.

TUAWApple quietly updates the 5th Generation iPod nano to 1.0.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – ITunes – IpodNano – TUAW – Unofficial Apple Weblog

Reviewing the new MacBook, Michael DeAgonia (computerworld.com) calls it ”a solid laptop that feels sculpted instead of assembled and has the processing power users need.” DeAgonia concludes that the MacBook “is a compelling computer at a compelling price,” with “beauty that is more than skin deep.”

Fans of platinum-selling R&B artist John Legend bring the same high expectations for each new album to every live concert. On his current tour, Legend, music director Eugene “Man-Man” Roberts and his band meet and beat those expectations by playing their best studio sounds along with fresh live riffs through MacBook Pro laptops running Logic Studio and MainStage.

After carefully considering the competition, Senior Editor Donald Bell (cnet.com) makes iPod touch the CNET Editors’ Choice among top MP3 players, writing that it “remains king of the hill.” Adds Bell: “Whether you’re buying one for yourself or giving it as a gift, the third-generation iPod touch does not disappoint.”

Apple today announced that developers have created over 100,000 apps for the App Store, the largest applications store in the world. iPhone and iPod touch customers in 77 countries can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. App Store users have downloaded well over two billion apps, continuing to make it the world’s most popular applications store.

Technology Editor Peter Ha (time.com) includes both the MacBook and iPod touch among Time Magazine’s Best Travel Gadgets of 2009. Ha lauds new MacBook features like the stylish, durable unibody enclosure, efficient LED-backlit screen, built-in 7-hour battery, and consumer friendly glass trackpad. And reviewing the 32GB iPod touch, he concludes that its larger memory capacity, speedier processor, longer battery life, and useful Voice Control feature make it “perfect for long-haul flights or everyday commutes.”

What do Jimmy Page, Jack White, The Edge, and Kings of Leon have in common? You can download them in the new Music Movies area on iTunes. This week you can pre-order Davis Guggenheim’s electric guitar documentary, “It Might Get Loud,” and Kenny Ortega’s box office hit, “Michael Jackson’s – This Is It.” Also available this week: a home video exclusive from Kings of Leon, “Live at the O2 London, England.” These three films, plus hundreds more musicals, music documentaries, and live concert films, are available now on iTunes.

Reviewer Ken Mingis (computerworld.com) writes that “Apple’s new 27-inch iMac can be described in one word: stunning.” Citing its super-high-resolution LED-backlit display, speed, and industrial design, Mingis concludes: “With an absolutely stunning screen, a lot of under-the-hood performance improvements, the wireless keyboard and the new mouse, and flexibility that makes it fit in at work or at home, this new iMac could lead to a resurgence in desktop sales for Apple.”

The new Apple TV 3.0 software features a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system.

With thousands of doctors, nurses, and administrators, the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System depends on the latest mobile technologies to streamline its services and deliver better patient care. iPhone and state-of-the-art medical apps like AirStrip OB let Memorial Hermann physicians keep their fingers on patients’ pulses even when they can’t be at their bedsides.

Reviewer Jonathan Rougeot (computershopper.com) rates the new 27-inch iMac 8.7/10 and makes it an Editors’ Choice, noting that “no one’s yet been able to match both the style and performance of Apple’s flagship desktop line.” Calling out the “stylish” new Multi-Touch Magic Mouse, “slim, wireless keyboard,” and “jaw-dropping” edgeless LED-backlit display, Rougeot concludes: “Apple has cemented the iMac’s reputation as the all-in-one to beat.”

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store

App Store developers can be a rebellious kind — we’ve already covered the story of a company shooting their price up to $40 just to show their customers how much they could be charging, and now, in response to an overly defensive trademark owner, developers on the store are putting the word “Edge” in their titles. Even high profile releases like the sequel to Eliss and the popular Canabalt are becoming Edgeliss and Canabedge. Critter Crunch becomes Critter Edge on their main page, and so on.

The story starts with a guy named Tim Langdell, who started a company a while back named Edge Games. Since he founded that company, he has mercilessly gone after any other game company who dares to use the word “edge” in their title, claiming that he has the trademark to any and all “edge”-related gaming. He’s gone after EA’s Mirror’s Edge and a few other titles, but the App Store has been a prime target, where he simply contacts Apple, claims the app is in violation of his trademarks, and gets apps pulled without a problem. The latest target is a title called Killer Edge Racing by a company named PuzzleKings, and reportedly Langdell has gone so far as to trademark that name, despite the fact that the game using it has been around for years.

Hence the indie game developers’ “edge-volution.” They aren’t actually renaming their games in the store, just showing off solidarity with other developers against what they see as Langdell’s wrongdoing, and getting the word out about his actions against “edge” on the App Store.

TUAWApp Store devs get “edge”-y as a reaction to trademark threats originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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appstore – iPhone – Apple – Edge Games – Game

Comparing the new Logic Express to other digital audio workstation apps, reviewer Christopher Breen (macworld.com) writes: “There just isn’t a better DAW deal than Logic Express 9.” Citing its inclusion of “marquee features” like Flex Time editing, Amp Designer, Pedalboard, and Varispeed from Logic Studio, Breen suggests that “once GarageBand users discover some of these features they’ll wonder how they made music without them.”

Apple today unveiled an all new iMac line featuring brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure. The new iMac line, starting at $1,199, is the fastest ever with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06 GHz, and Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors for up to twice the performance. Every new iMac ships with a wireless keyboard and the all new wireless Magic Mouse, the world’s first mouse with Multi-Touch technology.

Today Apple introduced the new wireless Magic Mouse, the first mouse to use Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch technology. Pioneered on iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpads, Multi-Touch allows customers to navigate using intuitive finger gestures. Instead of mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls, the entire top of the Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface. Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac and will be available as a Mac accessory at just $69.

Apple today updated its popular MacBook with a new, durable polycarbonate unibody design featuring a brilliant LED-backlit display, a glass Multi-Touch trackpad and Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life. Inheriting technology and design features from the MacBook Pro line, the new MacBook is an ideal consumer notebook for students and new Mac users, and is available for $999.

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter ended September 26, 2009. The Company posted revenue of $9.87 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.67 billion, or $1.82 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $7.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. “We are thrilled to have sold more Macs and iPhones than in any previous quarter,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.

Reviewer John Welch (macworld.com) calls Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Server an “excellent” upgrade, awarding it 4.5/5 stars. Praising the unlimited client license (“Get more, pay less.”), new features like Address Book Server and Mobile Access Server, and improved scaling from refinements in the OS, Welch concludes: “For an all or mostly-Mac network, this isn’t an if upgrade, but a when, especially if you have iPhone users clamoring for push services.”

Snow Leopard Server makes it easier than ever for people to collaborate, communicate, and share information. In one afternoon, you’ll learn about exciting new features and enhancements and see how Snow Leopard Server is transforming organizations like yours using Macs, PCs, and iPhone devices. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today.

Filed under: Software

The productivity suites for Mac from Microsoft, past and present, received a patch this week to resolve security issues and improve performance. While the 2004 version only got the security patches, the 2008 update, to version 12.2.3, boasts the following fixes to all apps in the suite:

• Security is improved. This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2008 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code. For more information, see the security bulletin that is listed earlier in this document.
• Stability is improved. This update fixes an issue that causes Office 2008 applications to close unexpectedly when you open or use Office 2008 applications.
• Windows Office documents to which metafiles are attached now contain the correct text spacing when they are opened in Office 2008 for Mac. This update fixes text spacing issues that occur when you use Office 2008 for Mac to open a Windows Office document to which an OLE object or a metafile is attached.

There are also specific tweaks to the individual suite apps, and a passel of bug fixes for the (relatively) new Microsoft Document Connection for Mac utility. The 350MB updater requires Office 12.1.0 or later and Mac OS X 10.4.9.

While my experience is probably idiosyncratic, I did have a rather nasty sequence of events after updating my home machine to the new Office version: my Entourage database went belly-up and had to be rebuilt. Once the rebuild was done and Entourage was relaunched, more badness ensued; due to a yet-to-be-isolated issue, all of the mail, contacts and calendar entries in my connected Exchange 2003 account went poof and had to be restored from a backup. Not my best day ever.

I’m inclined to believe that this snafu was specific to my bloated database file and my Exchange config, and not something likely to hit most users… nevertheless, you might consider backing up your Office 2008 Identities folder (which contains your Entourage mail & PIM data) prior to the update.

TUAWMicrosoft Office 2008 & 2004 updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Office – Mac OS X – Microsoft – Apple – Office 2008

Filed under: Apple Financial, iPhone

Apple doesn’t make the most mobile phones but, as of the third quarter of 2009, the Cupertino company does make the most money from them. Research firm Strategy Analytics says Apple is now the world’s most profitable mobile phone maker, kicking Nokia from the top spot between July and September.

Apple’s phones only command about 2.5% of the world’s cellphone market, though the iPhone’s cool factor and the company’s premium pricing let it rake in about $1.6 billion in operating profit from the iPhone in the third quarter of 2009, besting cellphone stalwart Nokia and its $1.1 billion in operating profit for the same period.

Alex Spektor, an analyst with Strategy Analytics, says, “With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years.”

What did Nokia do wrong? Reverse what Apple did right. Nokia seems to have slipped thanks in part to lower margins from the weak economy and a less-than-stellar presence in the United States, though Spektor thinks there is time to turn the Finnish ship around. He suggests the company focus more on the U.S. and less on traditional ‘non-smart’ phones, which don’t make as much money per unit as the likes of the iPhone or the Blackberry.

While Nokia may not make the most money, at this point it still makes the most handsets. Nokia’s worldwide market share for mobile phones sits at 37.9%. At least for now.

[via The Mac Observer, Electronista]

TUAWiPhone leads Apple past Nokia to #1 in mobile phone profits originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Strategy Analytics – Apple – Nokia – United States

Filed under: Software, Internet, Software Update, Apple

In just two days after Apple released the Mac OS X 10.6.2 update, there’s now an update for Safari. This new version, 4.0.4, improves and fixes performance, stability, and security of Safari including:

• Improved JavaScript performance.
• Improved Full History Search performance for users with a large number of history items.
• Stability improvements for 3rd-party plug-ins, the search field and Yahoo! Mail.

This update requires Mac OS X 10.6.1 or 10.6.2, Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.5.7, Mac OS X 10.4.11
or Windows 7, Vista, XP and is available through Software Update, or on the Apple Downloads page.

Do you notice any improvements in this update? Leave a comment and let us know!

TUAWApple updates Safari to 4.0.4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X – Apple – update – Apple Software Update – Unofficial Apple Weblog

Filed under: Macworld, Odds and ends, TUAW Interview

As a Mac-head who has attended the Macworld Expo and Conference on and off since the late 1980s, I met the announcement last December that Apple would no longer attend the event with a big, jaw-breaking yawn. Personally, I never attended Macworld for the Apple display, which was overcrowded and staffed by Apple employees who usually knew less about the new products than I did. The keynotes were usually a highlight, but hard to get into, and without Steve Jobs as the “star,” it just wouldn’t be the same. My reason for going to Macworld has always been the same; to see great new software or hardware made to work with Apple products, meet with manufacturers and developers, and to enjoy the camaraderie of the large group of buddies I’ve made at Macworld Expo in the past.

So, when I saw that registration for Macworld 2010 had opened, I immediately jumped on the website and signed up. To me, it’s a no-brainer to attend the original and only US conference that is all about Apple. Macworld Expo has been around for 25 years, and all indications are that it will continue for as long as the Macintosh and other Apple platforms exist. Yesterday, I talked with Paul Kent, General Manager, Macworld 2010 and Vice President of IDG World Expo, about Macworld 2010 and how preparations are coming along for the show.

Continue reading Paul Kent gives TUAW the latest news about Macworld 2010

TUAWPaul Kent gives TUAW the latest news about Macworld 2010 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Job – Apple – Macintosh – Unofficial Apple Weblog – TUAW

Filed under: Software

TechCrunch, among other news outlets, reports that Adobe is cutting 680 employees as part of a restructuring plan. This is roughly 9 percent of the company’s workforce. The news comes on the heels of Electronic Arts’ decision to layoff 1,500 workers and a reduction of 600 from Adobe back in December. Adobe had purchased Omniture in September and reduced its workforce by 9 percent at that time.

The cost of restructuring for Adobe will total between $65 and $71 million, the TechCrunch article says.

The layoffs come just after Adobe announced that Flash Professional CS5 will be able to turn Flash projects into iPhone apps. The company has also recently released a version of its Photoshop.com Mobile app for the iPhone [iTunes link].

TUAWAdobe layoffs strike home, 680 to lose jobs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – Electronic Arts – Adobe – TechCrunch

Filed under: Gaming, Software

Large-scale layoffs have been hitting everywhere in the past year, and Electronic Arts is now no different: according to Gamasutra, the game publisher announced today that it will lay off 1,500 workers by April 2010, after posting a year-to-year decrease in revenue and a net loss of $391 million.

About 1,300 of the freshly unemployed individuals will result from the full closure of some of EA’s facilities. This will cost EA money at the outset, but they estimate that by dropping the facilities they stand to save about $100 million annually. According to EA CEO John Riccitello, the cuts are happening in “targeted areas,” so the company can focus up on its bigger, more lucrative games.

EA has kept up well with the iPhone platform and has released some of its most popular titles to the App Store, such as The Sims 3, Rock Band, and Spore. Consumers still pay a premium price for them, however. For example, Rock Band costs $9.99 and comes with only 20 songs, and charges 50 cents for each additional song. Still, Rock Band ended up selling well, so maybe we’ll be seeing more of EA in the App Store in the coming fiscal quarters.

EA also announced today its acquisition of Playfish, whose primary business is Facebook games, for $300 million. Hopefully out of the layoff ashes rises some brutally addictive social-based game for the iPhone.

TUAWEA to lay off 1500 workers, close some facilities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – AppStore – Apple – Electronic Arts – TUAW

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Financial, Apple, Apple History

Our friends at Cult of Mac commented on the possibility, floated on CNBC, that Apple will eventually overthrow Microsoft as the most valuable company in the technological world. If you think about it, Apple’s stock was worth an unstable $25 dollars a share at this time 10 years ago — today, it’s worth $202 a share and shows no signs of decline. CNBC reports that Microsoft isn’t really growing, but Apple continues to gain value and market share every day. From that, you could logically deduce that Apple will surpass Microsoft… but there are still a few points to make.

Apple has a long way to go before they’re really ahead of Microsoft by most metrics. I suppose it’s possible that the company’s worth could surpass Microsoft within the 2 years that CNBC predicts, but as far as actual market share… I hope not. Here’s why:

If Apple grows that quickly, we’re going to see the effects of gravity bring them back down a bit. That kind of growth would be great for the brand but not necessarily the customer. We’re already seeing record highs at the Genius Bars and not enough experienced staff to handle the demand. Calling AppleCare is usually a chore, not a pleasure.

Then again, any tech support call isn’t fun, but long wait times make it even more frustrating. Using the example of Microsoft, getting too big too fast degrades your ability to offer quality service. It doesn’t mean that their products are horrible, it means that you have to bring in more people to fill the gap — people who aren’t necessarily the most qualified to help. Will this sort of thing happen with Apple? I hope not. If their growth continues at its current rate, they better have a very good plan to avoid the Microsoft effect.

In my opinion, Apple does well as the underdog: they constantly have to adapt to the changing markets and make themselves more appealing than the competitor. If you look at Apple’s top-dog aspects (iPod and iPhone), we begin to see things that aren’t so awesome: the lack of a subscription service, the restrictive iPhone platform, not to mention the App Store approval process. In some ways, they get to the top of the mountain and then stop trying. Apple doesn’t figure out where to go after they reach the summit, they simply find a different mountain and start climbing. They spent a couple years with the iPod, then a couple years with the iPhone… now we’re gonna be seeing a couple years of the iTablet (or iSlate or iPad, you get the point).

If I’m not mistaken, it’s really been a while since they’ve done anything innovative with the computer. Sure, the iTablet could bring innovation, but that’s another mountain — as were the iPod and iPhone. I’d love to see the company get back to the personal computer and do something that would change how we look at Apple. When I mention Apple at the moment, I hear the response, “Oh, they make the iPhone, right?” 4 years ago, that was the iPod. Soon enough, it will be a new piece of sexy hardware that Jonathan Ive designed.

Maybe two mountains will collide with the iTablet. Maybe it will really be the computer innovation that we’ve been missing. Maybe it will put Apple ahead of Microsoft in value, but let’s hope that the Apple brand continues its reputation for great products, service and innovation.

TUAWApple poised to take over the (tech) world originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – AppStore – Unofficial Apple Weblog – Microsoft

Filed under: Software Update, Snow Leopard

Update: As noted by our commenters and cross-confirmed with OS News, the 10.6.2 update appears to drop support for the hackintosh-centric Atom processor. This was spotted in earlier builds, but it was not clear whether the support for the netbook CPU would be in or out in the final configuration.

We’ve been expecting Mac OS X 10.6.2 for a while now, especially since Apple initially said that the new Magic Mouse would require it, but it has just arrived.

Alongside the OS update for Snow Leopard users, Security Update 2009-006 is out for users of Leopard. Use Software Update to make sure that you get the right update for your computer.

Bug fixes are reported for AFP Client, Adaptive Firewall, Apache (2), Apache Portable Runtime, ATS, Certificate Assistant, CoreGraphics, CoreMedia (2), CUPS, Dictionary, DirectoryService, Disk Images, Dovecot, Event Monitor, fetchmail, file, FTP Server, Help Viewer, ImageIO, International Components for Unicode, IOKit, IPSec, Kernel, Launch Services, libsecurity, libxml, Login Window, OpenLDAP (2), OpenSSH, PHP, QuickDraw Manager, QuickLook, QuickTime (4), FreeRADIUS, Screen Sharing, Spotlight, and Subversion.

No word on any new features or enhancements yet. Stay tuned.

Here’s the update list from Apple via Software Update:

TUAWMac OS X 10.6.2 is on the prowl, plus security update for 10.5 users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X – Apple – Mac OS X v10.6 – Operating system – TUAW

Apple opens its newest retail store on New York’s Upper West Side on Saturday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. Set beneath a breathtaking all-glass arched roof, the street level of the Apple Store Upper West Side will offer more Macs, iPods and iPhones than any store in the world and feature the largest area ever created by Apple for personal training and technical support, including a 45-foot Genius Bar.

At DOER Marine, a California company that designs and builds subsea vehicles, engineers are working to create a manned vehicle that can explore the ocean floor. VP of Operations Ian Griffith credits iPhone for keeping their engineering team responsive and nimble enough to make it happen — no matter where they are in the world. “The iPhone accelerates how we perform as a team,” says Griffith.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Peripherals, Bad Apple

For some Magic Mouse users, the streamlined human interface device is not only a dog, but a dog that pees on the carpet, smells bad, and barks continuously. Apple support boards are beginning to fill up with complaints about tracking issues and Bluetooth disconnects. There are also complaints about the lack of a third mouse button, and some all-too-early hardware failures.

I liked the Magic Mouse when I saw it at my local Apple Store, so I took one home for my Mac Pro. It seemed to work for awhile, but now it is very erratic at tracking and speed, even when MouseZoom is installed. Its Bluetooth connection has dropped several times, and it either comes back after a long wait or simply fails to connect again.

When I moved back to my wired Apple mouse, I found that I had actually preferred the form factor of the Magic Mouse, and I missed the button-less scroll wheel.

The Magic Mouse seems to be working fine for many users, but there are some hints that the little rodents are having trouble with some older hardware. My 2006 Intel-based Mac Pro may be one of the computers at issue.

Apple will hopefully issue a software update, if that is the problem. In my case, the only magic I’m going to see from the Magic Mouse is when it disappears from my desktop.

How is it going for you?

TUAWIs the Magic Mouse a dog? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – MagicMouse – Bluetooth – Mac Pro – Apple Mouse

Filed under: Apple

Yep, the Apple Store is down (all over, it seems) and our inboxes runneth over. Don’t get too excited, however. This has happened before and will happen again. And again. And again. And again.

If you see anything new when it comes back online, be a dear and leave it in the comments.

UPDATE: Store is back up with holiday cheer. And there was much rejoicing.

thanks to everyone who sent this in!

TUAWYes, the Apple Store is down up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – TUAW – AppleStore – IPhone – Unofficial Apple Weblog

Filed under: Security, iPhone, Jailbreak/pwnage

For the last few days, some jailbroken iPhone users have found their home screen background a little different than they remembered. A hacker, going by the name “ikee,” created a worm that changes the home screen background on jailbroken iPhones whose owners failed to change the default password after installing SSH. Simply jailbreaking your iPhone will not make you vulnerable to this sort of hack. The iPhone OS, in general, is also immune to this hack. Still confused? Let’s back up a bit.

On jailbroken iPhones, SSH is installable with a package from Cydia that allows you to connect to your phone and make changes to the filesystem. It does this by logging into the root user with the password “alpine.” After installing SSH, it is always recommended that you change “alpine” to the password of your choosing. This hack can only affect people who chose not to change that password — no one else.

This hack originated in Australia, the home country of ikee, and has possibly spread to other iPhones in other countries, but we’ve been unable to verify that. A gentleman by the name of JD held an interview with the hacker over IRC and posted it to his blog. In ikee’s own words, here’s how the worm has spread:

…The code itself is set to firstly scan the 3G IP range the phone is on, then Optus/Vodafone/Telstra’s IP Ranges (I think the reason Optus got hit so hard is because the other 2 are NAT’d) then a random 20 IP ranges. I’m guessing a few phones hit a range that another vulnerable phone was on.

Basically, once your phone is infected, the worm starts looking for other iPhones on the cellular network that use the root:alpine combination. Once it finds another vulnerable iPhone, it installs itself and begins the process again… and again… and again.

Luckily for the jailbreakers in the audience who may have been affected, there’s really no harm done — at least not with this version of the worm. According to the hacker, this was more of an experiment than anything else. The worm changes your background and then disables inbound SSH, which is a good thing. If SSH was left turned on, a similar worm could follow along but conceivably do much more damage. For instructions on how to delete this worm, read JD’s interview with ikee. I would recommend reading the interview just for the information it presents; I found it pretty interesting. If you’ve got a jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch and you’ve never changed the default device password, now’s the time. Here’s how, if you are using terminal:

Type: ssh root@(iPhone IP address)
When prompted for the password type: alpine
Now you’re connected the phone…
type: passwd
It should then prompt your for a new password — type one that you’ll remember. There’s no easy way to reset it if you forget it.

That’s it. Please remember to be responsibly secure with your devices. Hackers like ikee are troublesome, but this could have been much worse. While I don’t personally condone his actions, he’s prevented a lot of people from being vulnerable to more malicious attacks later down the road.

Thanks, James!

TUAWWorm rickrolls unsecured jailbroken iPhones via SSH originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – IpodTouch – Cydia – Australia

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Apple TV

We’ve heard a few reports of sync issues with the new Apple TV 3.0 software over the past few days, and apparently the chatter on the Apple support boards was on the mark: Apple has shipped 3.0.1, which is supposed to fix problems where 3.0 units would unexpectedly dump all their loaded content. You can get all the details from Apple’s tech note. [According to our commenters, in most cases the content was not gone, simply invisible; a reboot of the ATV might bring back the media.]

Since it’s a giant pain to resync gigabytes of media over the network link, it’s nice to see this fixed promptly…. but considering that the Apple TV 3.0 update was billed as a major improvement to Apple’s ‘hobby,’ this bug is not going to make any fans out of Apple TV foes.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

TUAWHeads Up: Update your Apple TV to 3.0.1 ASAP, says Apple originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog – TUAW – AppleTv – Macintosh

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Review

Several readers have urged me to try the Gokivo Navigator for the iPhone [iTunes link], so today is the day. The app is U.S. $4.99, but that only provides you with GPS navigation for 30 days. After that, the app costs $4.99 monthly or you can purchase a year of service for $39.99. That’s quite a bit less that the AT&T nav solution [iTunes link], and makes the Gokivo app quite competitive. The app includes a Traffic Tracking Center, text to speech so street names are announced as you drive, and it has iPod controls so you don’t have to leave the app to change your music.

Like the AT&T app, if you are out of range of the data network, you won’t get maps. And like most of the competition, Gokivo gives you an estimated time of arrival, distance to your destination, and your current speed.

The map doesn’t work in landscape view, which I consider a strong negative. It’s easy to navigate to your addresses in your Contacts app, and the feature is nicely integrated.

Continue reading Gokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price

TUAWGokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – ITunes – Apple – TUAW – Navigation