Iphone Updates

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Productivity

If you work in Photoshop, you’ve probably had designs which branched off from the original look, based on your own ideas or client feedback. This has, more than likely, resulted in multiple files with names like mockup1.psd, mockup1b.psd, mockup2.psd, etc. The solution would be what coders know as Version Control, something which allows you to “commit” any version of your project to a repository, letting you jump around from version to version, making changes without worrying about losing one of those branches you went off on as an experiment. Version control systems like Subversion and Git can do this for you, but there’s a learning curve and a certain amount of geekery required to make it work smoothly.

Timeline from PixelNovel aims to take the “geek” requirements out of using version control in Photoshop. Timeline goes beyond other options and uses a Subversion repository to store any revision of your progress while working on a Photoshop file. If you don’t know what Subversion is, that’s ok. Timeline simply shows you a row of previews of versions you’ve chosen to save, and you can jump back in time with a couple of clicks. Make a change, commit it, jump to a different version … all in a slick, minimal toolbar. You can add comments (a commit message for those already svn-savvy) to each revision, which is handy whether you’re working alone or collaborating.

Timeline offers two ways of handling the repositories necessary for it to function. The least geeky option is to use their hosted Subversion service, which provides easy-to-use collaboration options, a web interface and automatic backup. It’s available at a subscription fee, but signing up includes a copy of the plugin for free. Alternatively, you can host your own Subversion repository, which isn’t terribly difficult. This avoids both the hosting fee and (if you create a local repository on your own computer) the need to download your revisions from a host.

I spoke with the developers of Timeline about the potential for a Git version, and it’s something they’re looking into. For now, though, the Subversion plan is working quite well. If you frequently find yourself with a folder full of poorly-titled versions of a project, and flipping between them is getting to be a pain, it’s definitely something to consider. The plugin itself will cost you $60US and — if you choose the hosted route — an account runs $5US for 5GB of storage, or $20US for 25GB. TUAW readers can take advantage of a special offer, and get 20% off of either: use coupon tuaw1 for a standalone license, and tuaw2 for a 20% discount on a hosted option.

[Side note: For the Git-inclined, I've found that the previews in GitX combined with a few shell scripts can provide a decent (but less integrated and robust) versioning system for Photoshop and other graphics applications.]

TUAWTimeline: no-regret version control for Photoshop originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review

Since the arrival of the Push Notifications feature in iPhone OS 3.0, all manner of apps have added support for it. Games, task management applications, you name it — they’re all more than happy to make your phone beep at you in the middle of the night and prompt your spouse to kindly insist that you silence that infernal device. Or so I’ve heard.

It seems like a no-brainer to me that this type of functionality would exist among the throngs of social networking applications. If the game where you flick the thing while the music is playing can tell me when I’ve got a new challenger from the Far East, why can’t my favorite Twitter client let me know when I’ve got a new direct message? Sadly, most of the apps in the store (as far as I know) haven’t implemented this functionality yet. I realize that it has some sporadic adoption, but certainly not the universal support that I personally expected.

Enter Boxcar [iTunes Link]. This little free app has existed in the store for months now and has received some very nice reviews, and for good reason. I’ve been a faithful user of this app for many moons and I find it pretty indispensable. Here’s how it works:

When you install the app (which is free at the time of this writing), you can choose to enable a single service for notification — Twitter, Facebook or an email account. It will poll the selected service at a short interval and send you a standard push notification message if there are any updates. In the case of Twitter, you can configure it to open one of several supported Twitter client apps. If you want to enable additional services, you can do so through the in-app purchase mechanism, and most options cost $.99US.

I’m a big fan of Boxcar and use it for Twitter and Facebook. It’s one of those free applications that’s actually worth more than what you’re paying for it — a quality that’s becoming increasingly rare among free iPhone apps these days! Version 2.1 was just released a few days ago and includes several new features like support for Facebook Mail and better accessibility.

Pick up Boxcar now for free from the App Store.

TUAWGet your social notifications on the cheap with Boxcar originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.”

Filed under: iPhone

TUAWRoundup: Recent iPhone app reviews originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Macbook Pro

With all the news circulating around about updated Apple hardware, you might be asking yourself “What about the MacBook Pro?” Apple certaintly hasn’t forgotten about its high-end notebook computer, and details are starting to slip out that the MacBook Pro might be receiving a speed boost sooner than anyone might have predicted.

Applesfera is reporting that some information about unreleased MacBook Pro models has been found in support files of the latest developer build of Mac OS X 10.6.2. In addition, there’s been some talk on 9to5Mac that Apple Store geniuses are starting to work with the new Core i5 and i7 Quad-Core processors that may make their way into the notebooks.

While nothing is definite, it’s looking like the release of OS X 10.6.2 and the refresh of the MacBook Pro might come in tandem, and sooner than we think.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

TUAWIs the MacBook Pro about to receive a quad-core speed bump? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Rumors

There’s a loud buzzing this morning, and it’s not just the hangover from late-night celebrations of the Yankees’ pennant win; quite a few tech and Mac sites (we heard it first from Edible Apple, although it’s really everywhere now) are reporting on week-old remarks from the New York Times executive editor, Bill Keller, that were supposed to remain off-the record — and of course are now playing on video all across the web.

If you look at the transcript of his chat, or the 8:20 mark in the video, you’ll see him refer to delivery of journalism to mobile platforms, and then he mentions the “impending Apple slate.”

Is this a simple moment of wishful thinking for Keller, or is it linked to the presumptive starring role that daily newspapers would play on the hypothetical Apple wundergadget? I can’t wait to find out.

Read on to see the video.

Continue reading Did an NYT editor let the ‘Slate’ slip?

TUAWDid an NYT editor let the ‘Slate’ slip? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Accessories, iPhone, Holidays, iPod touch

TUAW reader Ethan pointed us in the direction of something new, cool, and available only for iPhone and iPod touch (take that, Palm Pre and Android phones!)

BestBuy has an exclusive on the new Viper SmartStart System, which can do a number of things for your wheels:

• Start your car with virtually unlimited range
• Warm your car in winter; cool your car in summer
• Unlock your car or truck
• Arm the alarm to protect your car
• Activate panic alarm to protect yourself
• Receive push-button status notifications

It uses a free iPhone app [iTunes link] to give you that remote love, like when you are visiting friends overseas and want to scare people by starting your car up while it’s sitting by itself in the airport parking lot. The developers also note that in the near future, a new release of the app will give you push notification if your car alarm goes off.

There are two versions available: a module (SmartStart VSM100 Module, US$299.99) for cars that are already equipped with compatible Viper starting systems, and a fully loaded package (SmartStart VSM4000 System, US$499.99) for the rest of us.

Some of the app reviewers have noted that you’re not only paying for the system and your iPhone bill, but there’s also a US$29 monthly annual GSM service bill that you’ll have to pay (the first year of service is complimentary with your purchase). However, if the money isn’t an object and you’re already clueless about what to get a loved one for Christmas, this might be an idea to consider.

TUAWVrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Surveys and Polls, Mac mini

Here at TUAW, as you probably know, we really love the Mac mini. Some of us have a mini hooked up to our TV, some are used as servers, and some are used as great desktop computers (including mine).

We wanted to ask you what exactly you use your Mac mini for, so we came up with this in-depth poll. There are several choices, so let us know how you use your Mac mini.

If your favorite use for a Mac mini isn’t listed in the poll, you can also leave a comment below and tell us how you use your mini.

View Poll

TUAWPoll: What do you use your Mac mini for? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Odds and ends, Terminal Tips, Snow Leopard

Ever since I installed Snow Leopard, I’ve been dealing with a particularly annoying bug. Terminal keeps forgetting my shell preferences.

I generally prefer to use tcsh rather than bash. This is mostly because I’m a technological dinosaur. I also have a lot invested into my ancient and extensive .cshrc that has taken years to grow and develop.

Normally, I set the default shell inside the Terminal app preferences. But there’s a problem. Snow Leopard keeps losing my preferences for reasons I do not begin to understand. With this Snow Leopard bug, I had to find another approach for choosing my shell. Terminal preferences were no longer going to work for me.

There are actually two very good ways to handle this problem.

First, there’s chsh, as pointed out by Richard Buckle and Brian “Shmit” this morning. A command line utility, chsh edits the OS X user database, allowing you to change a user’s default shell. chsh is built into OS X, and you can pull up a man page to read details about its use. Supply the shell you want to use, authenticate, and you’re set. There is, however, an easier solution.

It’s System Preferences. As Bill Bumgarner and Jordan Breeding reminded me today, you can access advanced user settings by right-clicking (or Ctrl-clicking) a user name in the Accounts settings; then choose Advanced Options. (Please note that you must first unlock the settings before this trick becomes available.)

When selected, an Advanced Options screen appears. You can set the new login shell in this screen. A simple pop-up list offers easy access to all installed shells. Select the one you want to use and, once selected, click OK to dismiss the screen and return to the Accounts settings pane.

This solution works a lot better than the bash .profile approach I had been using for a few weeks. Running tcsh through the .profile initialization file had caused an extra layer of interaction each time I wanted to close a terminal window. The application warned me that I was about to kill a running process (i.e. my tcsh subprocess). Changing my default shell meant I could create and close windows on demand without that extra dialog, a welcome respite.

In conclusion, while I’m not sure why Terminal keeps losing its preferences, I’m pleased that I at least learned a way to bypass the shell issue. Hopefully, Apple will get this bug fixed soon.

TUAWSnow Leopard Fixes: Terminal shell workaround originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Switchers, Video, Apple

Domestic TV watchers who tuned into the NBC Thursday comedy lineup or the Yankees-Angels playoff game on Fox were treated to three new Get a Mac ads in heavy rotation tonight, all focused on the launch of the latest Windows version. You can watch all three ads (Broken Promises, Teeter Tottering & PC News) over on Apple’s site.

While these ads are pretty funny (Broken Promises, in particular, features some excellent work by the wardrobe department), it’s not clear if the message of upgrade challenges from XP to Win7 is going to resonate. Apple’s marketing team may describe Windows 7 as ‘antiquated tech,’ but the big M clearly is expecting plenty of PC users to buy brand new machines to run Win7 rather than upgrading their old gear. Will they consider a Mac as part of the mix? We can certainly hope so — but by all indications, Windows 7 is no Vista, and it’s quite a bit harder to sell against an operating system that doesn’t actively shoot itself in the foot. Heck, it’s possible that there may even be a few Mac diehards in the opening day lines to buy Win7.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

TUAWThree new “Get a Mac” ads premiere, aimed at Win 7 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Filed under: Hardware, iBook, Apple History

Out with the old, in with the new. This week’s hardware releases were met with new additions to Apple’s vintage and obsolete hardware lists. The following have been added, and I’m sad to say that I’m still using the Dual Ethernet Airport Base Station:

• iBook G4 (Early 2004)
• iBook G4 (14″ Early 2004)
• eMac (USB 2.0)
• Apple Cinema Display ADC
• Apple Studio Display 15″ ADC
• Apple Studio Display 17″ LCD
• Apple Studio Display 17″ ADC
• Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002)
• Macintosh Server G4 (QuickSilver 2002)
• PowerBook G4 (DVI)
• iBook (14.1 LCD 16 VRAM)
• iBook (16 VRAM)
• AirPort Base Station (Dual Ethernet)

I’ve also got a 20″ G4 iMac and my wife uses at 14″ iBook, both of which were previously added to the list. Supported or not, they’re still useful — check out this Macintosh Classic being used as a window display.

Back in 1994 my employer had several SE/30′s connected via LocalTalk, and we thought that was the baddest thing on the planet. Not to mention late-night games of Maelstrom and Glider Pro. Oh, memories.

[Via HardMac]

TUAWThe growing list of unsupported Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags:apple iphone sandwich manapple, iphone, sandwich man

Filed under: Apple Financial, Steve Jobs

Is it better to have a lot of something good or a little of something great? If Apple CEO Steve Jobs is any indication, it’s better to have both.

In September, Alpha Steve had an estimated personal net worth of $5.1 billion, enough to end up the 43rd richest person in the U.S. according to Forbes’ list of the 400 richest people in the states. This week he’s up to at least $5.4 billion. If you think that’s because of the tear on which Apple’s stock has gone over the past few weeks, you’re only a little over half right.

According to filings by Apple (AAPL), Jobs owns 5.426 million shares of Apple stock. As of Tuesday night, Apple’s stock had picked up 26.39 points since Forbes’ counted the 400 “haves.” Jobs shares had gained $146 million in value. Not bad.

Disney (DIS) filings say Jobs owns 138 million shares of the happiest company on Earth. Those shares have not had nearly the run enjoyed by Apple shares over the last few weeks, gaining only 99 cents as of Tuesday night. Still, Jobs has so many of them that they’ve increased in value by $136 million. Not bad either.

Apple’s meteoric rise plus Disney’s incremental rise equals $282 million more for Apple’s CEO and Disney’s largest private shareholder.

It’s better to have both.

[via Fortune]

TUAWMickey Mouse + Magic Mouse = Mighty Steve originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Audio, Podcasting

There’s no shortage of podcasting equipment out there for amateurs or professionals. These audio devices can range from a few bucks to a few thousand bucks, which sometimes makes it difficult to figure out exactly what equipment is best for you. Well, lucky for you Dan Benjamin at Hivelogic has written a very thorough article on the best equipment in every price range. It covers all bases, from the person who has never recorded before to the person making the leap into the “pro” category and ready to drop a grand to improve audio quality.

As an amateur podcaster myself I was a little surprised that my beloved Ubercaster and Blue Snowball were left out in the cold, but the article is still very helpful to people looking for the best hardware and software at different price points. If you’ve been considering buying or upgrading your gear, this is the article to read.

TUAWPodcasting advice for the amateur or expert originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hardware, iPhone

The long-awaited TomTom car kit for the iPhone has finally arrived at the Apple store. The hardware/software combination hardware unit sells for US $119.95. [Sorry about the mixup. As noted in the comments, the app is an additional $50-$100 depending on your locale.]

The cradle is designed to enhance the TomTom GPS app [iTunes link], which has been available since July.

The kit provides secure docking and enhanced GPS performance with its own built-in GPS receiver. The car kit will charge your iPhone and give you for hands-free calling. The unit also has an audio out connector so you can play your music through your car audio system, however, the cable that enables this is not included.

The TomTom solution has been criticized by some for being too expensive because the car kit plus the cost of the Tom Tom navigation application is more than $200. One could easily buy a standalone GPS for less than that, although you have more hardware to carry.

The TomTom has also fallen a bit behind the best-selling Navigon application which includes a text-to-speech feature and has received generally better reviews from consumers.

According to the Apple Store, the car kit is not yet available, and there is no time estimate of a ship date. (Note: some of our readers are getting December 4 ship dates from the Apple Store.)

[Thanks to all our readers for tipping us to this story]

TUAWTomTom car kit appears in Apple’s store, but it’s not yet shipping originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portables, iMac

Surprisingly, the Mac mini, Magic Mouse, iMac, MacBook, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule updates are not the only things Apple updated today. Several other products were updated today, which include:

• Apple Wireless Keyboard: This keyboard, the subject of several update rumors, did get revised today. It now only requires 2 AA batteries, down from 3 in the previous model.
• Apple 60W MagSafe Power Adapter: This adapter now has a aluminum connector, much like the one found on the 45 watt adapter for the MacBook Air; it should be more durable for use.
• VESA Mount Adapter Kit: This model for the 24 inch Apple LCD Cinema Display and the previous 24 inch iMac now supports the new 27 inch iMac.

Also, the wired mouse-formerly-known-as-Mighty Mouse — which is still available — was renamed to “Apple Mouse.” This is consistent with the trademark for Mighty Mouse (the computer mouse) being finally picked up by Man & Machine, instead of CBS and Apple.

Are you going to enjoy the improvements in these products? Let us know in the comments below!

TUAWThe other new products that Apple released today originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.”

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.”

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Tags:apple droid iphone verizonapple, droid, iphone, verizon

Filed under: Apple

Macworld and Business Week are reporting on the new hardware that’s forthcoming as soon as the store comes up:

• New unibody low-end MacBook models with the polycarbonate shell — still $999
• Entirely revamped iMac line, including a 27″ quad-core powerhouse and optional HDMIDisplayPort inputs to allow using the screens as HDTVs (inputs on the 27″ models only)
• Revs to the Mac mini line, including a $999 unit with Mac OS X Server preinstalled
• The ‘Magic Mouse,’ a multiouch wireless mouse that’s supposed to run for months on 2 batteries (see above)

More in a moment. Details on all the new products now on display at apple.com

TUAWStore still down, but new gear embargo is lifted originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Odds and ends, Deals

After my post about NaNoWriMo preparation the other day, a couple of TUAW readers pointed out that Literature and Latte, the folks behind Scrivener 1.52, have a special deal going on for NaNoWriMo 2009 participants.

Are you considering giving Scrivener a try while you’re writing your entry for NaNoWriMo 2009? You’re in luck! Normally, the application comes with a 30-day free trial. While that’s long enough to last through the 30 days of writing ecstasy that it NaNoWriMo, you should get to know the tools of your trade before you start writing. Downloading the trial version of Scrivener between now and the start of NaNoWriMo on November 1st gives you a trial version that lasts until December 7th, long enough for you to not only finish your tome, but also make your first editing pass before sending it to your publisher.

Now here comes the really fun part — if you are successful in writing your 50,000 words by November 30th, you can buy Scrivener starting on December 2nd at a 50% discount off the normal license price of US$39.95. Those who run out of luck or time and aren’t NaNoWriMo finishers can still get 20% off by using the promo code NANOWRIMO.

If you’d like to be able to take notes in between writing sessions, you’ll be happy to know that WriteRoom notes can be synced to SimpleText.ws, and then imported directly into Scrivener.

Thanks to Cthulu Saves and sophielynette for the tip!

TUAWNaNoWriMo participants: Scrivener has some deals for you originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Wireless, Odds and ends, Internet

If you’re able to watch TV on your iPhone or iPod touch right now, you’re probably having something streamed to your handheld device. That may change — your phone may soon be equipped with a digital TV tuner to pick up the signals sent out by your local stations.

The Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) announced on Friday that they’ve agreed on a standard that will let local TV stations broadcast directly to mobile devices on their existing frequencies. The devices that can be equipped to pick up the ATSC Mobile DTV signals include mobile phones, laptops, handheld TVs, and even in-vehicle digital TVs.

ATSC Mobile DTV will be completely different from the existing services provided by AT&T and Verizon, which are pay-for-view services streaming national content. With ATSC Mobile DTV, you’d be able to watch local newscasts as well as network TV that is broadcast in your area.

The signal is carried alongside regular digital TV broadcasts using Vestigial Sideband modulation and the IP transport system. ATSC Mobile DTV can send H.264 video and High Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding Version 2 (HE AAC v2) audio and support interactive and subscription-based TV.

I want my Mobile DTV! Here’s hoping that the next generation of iPhones, iPod touches, and future iTablets can receive ATSC Mobile DTV.

[via Macworld]

TUAWThe future of TV on your iPhone is ATSC Mobile DTV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – Mobile phone – Television – Smartphone

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.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhone

It’s like Econ 101 with the iPhone lately, says our old friend Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. Demand is high, supplies are low, and so shortages are apparently expected. Especially in international markets, there just aren’t enough iPhones to go around — Munster cites a fellow analyst’s report that 3 Italia, the Italian company charged with selling Apple’s smartphone in that country, is selling 20K iPhones, but could be selling many more if they had the stock to do so.

Of course, they probably don’t need to — iPhone sales are already holding the company up above expectations, and Apple may even be figuring that a little demand never hurt anybody. Why sell a ton of phones when you’re already selling more than you expected to? I doubt it’s as mysterious as that (they probably expected to sell a certain number and it turns out there are more iPhone fans than they counted on overseas), but even if shortages happen, no one’s going to be second guessing Apple’s strategy. As far as straight results go for the iPhone, they haven’t done anything wrong yet.

[via 9to5Mac]

TUAW3GS shortages expected overseas due to demand originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – TUAW – Smartphone – Unofficial Apple Weblog

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.

Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family, iPhone

When I opened my iPhone 3GS, I was surprised to find that the power adapter was nothing but a little 2-prong AC plug (I live in the US) that allowed you to plug in the standard USB to 30-pin connector to charge the phone.

I wanted to get a spare; checking online told me that the Apple Store wanted US$29 for the little plug, which just seemed like too much for too little, so I went shopping.

On eBay I found a bunch of auctions based in Hong Kong selling what looked like the exact same thing for anywhere from under around $2-4, and they often included the USB cable to boot.

I ordered four from a vendor and after a few weeks received them. They looked perfect, right down to the little green dot — but none of them worked. They might start charging, but after a few minutes the iPhone would beep a few times and I would be informed that “this accessory is not compatible.” And so it went for all four pieces. After sending some pictures back and forth and reading a few emails containing a combination of surprise and amazement from the vendor, my money was refunded.

Undaunted, or maybe just dumb, I went back to eBay and found another vendor that claimed to be selling, “100% Brand New Original OEM Charger and Original OEM USB Cable for iPhone/iPod” for around US$4. I just checked eBay and found this same vendor raising the price to US$10 in one auction and lowering it to $US.01 in another.

Continue reading Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor

TUAWOffshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Apple – TUAW – Hong Kong – IPod

Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

Ever wanted to play an iPhone memory game about dressing up an avatar? Ever wish that the cute brother of your best friend would admire your fashion sense and want to go out on date with you? Well, now there’s Fashion Fix for iPhone. And…let me be blunt. Fashion Fix is the most inane waste of time and money you could possibly imagine. And for some reason I cannot begin to fathom, my tween daughters love it. Available in both a free lite [iTunes link] and paid [iTunes link] version, this incredibly stupid app has captured the hearts of my girls.

The game goes like this: You select a level (5 in the free version, 50 in the paid version) and tap through a little “scene”. In the one shown at the top of this post, a particularly vapid girl makes smalltalk with Ben, the brother of her friend. Here, Ben is impressed by her complete lack of conversation and intellect, offering to go out on a date with her.

After this conversation, you study 4 preset outfits, committing one to memory in the 15 seconds allotted. You then shop at the “Boutique” to choose a hair style, outfit, shoes, accessories, makeup and so forth. No, I am not kidding. When you’re done matching the style you studied, you tap Done.

Once you do so, the program grades your accuracy, awarding up to 300 points based on how well you matched the suggested outfits. Get over 200 points and Ben returns, inviting you on a date because you have awesome fashion sense. Miss too many points, and Ben returns to say “Sorry. I forgot about an important lecture. Gotta run.” Apparently, Ben is deeply, deeply into fashion. Unless you dress exactly according to the mandates of the application, you lose. And the cute (albeit effeminate) boy ditches you because he doesn’t approve of your looks.

Could this get more shallow?

For anyone who has a feminist bone in their body, or knows a feminist, or once saw Maude on TV, this application is politically incorrect kryptonite. It will suck every neuron from the user’s brain, replacing them with soft pink cotton. That pink cotton will, however, be able to memorize fashion plates and duplicate them on demand.

For everyone who has tweenager daughters, make sure you have a nice talk about how inanely stupid this application is, even as you fork over your two bucks. Because the powers of tweenage persuasion cannot be overestimated.

Reminder: there are more app reviews on the TUAW App Hub.

TUAWApp Review: Fashion Fix by Roiworld originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
IPhone – IpodTouch – Apple – TUAW – Maude

Filed under: Rumors, iPhone

iPhone users have been waiting for tethering for a long time. More specifically, AT&T customers are still waiting for it. Since the WWDC 2009 Keynote Address, where it was announced that iPhone OS 3.0 would support tethering, AT&T has said they would support it… sometime.

Appmodo.com is reporting that iPhone tethering will not be available this year. They suggested that AT&T had previously gone on-record saying “that iPhone tethering would become available ‘sometime this year’” — presumably referring to this quote on CNet.com, from AT&T Mobility chief Ralph de la Vega who said (in November of 2008) that “iPhone 3G users will be able to use their phones as wireless modems at some point next year,” which would obviously mean 2009.

The Appmodo story links to an article by Andrew LaVallee, writing for The Wall Street Journal’s Digits blog, who quotes an unnamed spokesman for AT&T who refused to say when tethering would be available and said: “Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience. For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience.”

Appmodo seems to think this is a change in AT&T’s official stance, but LaVallee explicitly refers to it as “the company’s prior statement.”

When it comes to iPhone tethering, has Appmodo gotten the story straight before? Well, on June 17th they quoted a source who said “The highly anticipated tethering option will also be delivered towards the end of July with pricing around $55 per month…” — then on June 19th, AT&T explicitly denied the $55 cost via their Facebook page.

On July 9th they quoted the same source saying that MMS and tethering were coming in September, and repeated the “around $55″ estimated cost which had already been dismissed on the record. Appmodo added, “Our source is from an undisclosed reputable AT&T employee.” So much for that. Granted, we’ve also been off the mark on tethering rumors, but we’re trying not to make such a habit of it.

When will AT&T make tethering available? The answer is that no one outside of AT&T and Apple knows. AT&T isn’t saying, but what Appmodo is seeing as a change in the answer, the WSJ says is the same line they’ve heard before. Given the way Appmodo has been reading the tethering tea leaves, I am highly skeptical that this represents an official schedule change — sure, tethering might not show up until 2013, but that was just as true last week as it is today.

TUAWAT&T remains elusive on official date for iPhone tethering originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – TUAW – AT&T Mobility – Apple – Wall Street Journal

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

PepsiCo’s Amp Energy brand stirred up a lot of hatred in the last couple of months when the “AMP UP Before You Score” app [iTunes Link] was released. This app, branded as sexist and inappropriate by a lot of people who rated it in the App Store, provides guys with cards to “identify her type,” pickup lines that are useful with a particular “type” of woman, and ways of keeping track and spreading the news via social networking if you “get lucky.”

A public apology was made by Amp on its Twitter feed (@ampwhatsnext) which introduced the app and its questionable content to a larger audience. Even worse is that the apology included a new Twitter hashtag, #pepsifail, and was retweeted on several other Pepsi feeds. That had the effect of not only causing more people to become aware of the app, but also increased the furor towards it and towards PepsiCo.

A post on Advertising Age noted that Pepsi’s strategy seems to be somewhat confused, as they haven’t pulled the app, and by linking the Amp Energy app to the Pepsi brand they’re beginning to get heat for the entire brand — not just the app.

An App Store review by iPhone developer Raven Zachary said it best: “Dear Pepsico, your iPhone app, AMP UP before you score, is offensive and is a great new case study for branded apps gone wrong.” You have to wonder, though, if this is actually working to introduce many more people to the Amp Energy brand.

[via AdAge]

TUAWPepsi apologizes for sexist iPhone app, inadvertently fans the flames originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – AppStore – Pepsico – Amp Energy – Apple

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

As you probably recall, Microsoft dropped Visual Basic from Office for the Mac with Office 2008. At the time, I was working for a company that had a huge investment in systems that relied on Visual Basic, and that change was a real blow. In fact, we didn’t upgrade past Office 2004 just to avoid trouble and plan our next step.

If anyone else is using Office 2004 for that reason, here’s a thin shard of hope for you. This week, Microsoft’s Office for Mac Team announced that mainstream support or Office ’04, scheduled to end on October 13, 2009, will be extended through January 10, 2012.

Why extend support? As the blog post notes, Visual Basic support will return in the next major release of Office for the Mac, scheduled to hit the stands in 2010. This way, folks reliant on VB will be able to hold on until that new release is available. This is good news for anyone who was wondering how to migrate from a slew of mission-critical scripts.

TUAWOffice 2004 mainstream support extended to January ’12 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
Visual Basic – Microsoft – Apple – MicrosoftOffice – TUAW

Filed under: Hardware, Portables, MacBook

Users have a love/hate relationship with Apple’s glossy displays. Namely, they either love them or they hate them. I haven’t used one myself, as I’ll be hanging on to my original MacBook Pro until it ceases to work.

Until now, shoppers could get either a glossy or matte display with the 15″ MacBook Pro, but not the 13″ model. TechRestore has stepped in to do the “repair.” For $200, they’ll remove your 13″ MacBook or MacBook Pro’s glossy display and slap a matte screen in its place. The work comes with a 1-year warranty and TechRestore says they’ll have your precious back to you within 24 hours of receipt. Note that this requires a trade-in of your existing screen; you won’t get it back.

If you have this service done, please let us know how it goes. Enjoy your glare-free computing!

For comparison, RadTech sells an anti-glare film that can be applied over a glossy display. They’re available for the 13in MacBook/Pro (unibody), the 15in MacBook Pro (unibody), the 17in MacBook Pro (unibody) and various iMacs. You can get the full list here. The films start at $19.95US each.

[Via Cult Of Mac]

TUAWSwap a Macbook’s glossy display for matte originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – MacbookPro – TUAW – IMac – MacBook family

Jefferson Graham (usatoday.com) writes that musicians are increasingly recording first and even final tracks at home in GarageBand and Logic Pro, which guitarists can operate hands-free using the new foot-controlled Apogee GiO for Mac. Writes Graham: “Apple has cranked up its offerings for musicians of all kinds — especially guitarists.”

Filed under: iTunes, Music

Update: ElectricPig is reporting on 10/13 that an Apple spokesperson said the LP format will be opened up for all, indies and majors alike.

There’s word from an indie record-label that iTunes LPs are not for the indies. Introduced at Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event in September, the iTunes LP format adds “bigger than a matchbook” album art, song lyrics, video clips, and other extra content to albums sold through the iTunes store.

Brian McKinney of Chicago-based label Chocolate Lab Records saw some promise in the new format and started looking into the idea of producing for iTunes LPs himself. But the truly small labels may have a hard time getting in. McKinney spoke to the digital distribution manager at his label’s distributor, who reportedly told him that Apple charges a $10,000 production fee for iTunes LPs. $10,000 may be less than the heads of Warner Music Group, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and EMI spend on breakfast, but could be cost prohibitive for the little label that could (if it had $10,000 handy for each of its acts).

It’s not just the cost that prohibits the little labels. According to McKinney, it’s also Apple. McKinney says his dude in distribution was told “that LPs aren’t being offered to indies and that there are only about 12 LPs being offered right now.”

“Foul, foul, filth and foul,” cries Cult of Mac’s Pete Mortensen. Like a financial analyst moving a stock from “buy” to “sell,” Mortensen says iTunes LP has gone from “the first digital album good enough to criticize,” to “the first major content misstep in the history of the iTunes Store.” Assuming that Chocolate Lab’s distributor info is on the up-and-up, Mortensen thinks iTunes LP is “less a new format for music than it is a new form of paid advertising on the iTunes store.”

Continue reading iTunes LP broken for indie record labels?

TUAWiTunes LP broken for indie record labels? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
Warner Music Group – Universal Music Group – EMI – iTunes Store – Record label

Well it’s mostly bug fixing, so we will see, I actually experienced some bugs reported, so cross fingers now…

Official information about it:

“iPhone OS 3.1.2 Software Update

This update contains bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

• Resolves sporadic issue that may cause iPhone to not
wake from sleep
• Resolves intermittent issue that may interrupt cellular
network services until restart
• Fixes bug that could cause occasional crash during
video streaming

Products compatible with this software update:
• iPhone
• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3GS

For feature descriptions and complete instructions, see the user guide for your iPhone at:

http://www.apple.com/support/manuals/iphone

For more information about iPhone, go to:

http://www.apple.com/iphone

To troubleshoot your iPhone, or to view additional support information go to:

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone

This update contains security content originally included in previous iPhone Software Updates. For more information, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222″

Tags:3.1.2 apple firmware iphone3.1.2, apple, firmware, iphone

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, Internet Tools, Deals

I’m a sucker for anything that allows me to get secure remote access to my home machine, so when I saw that FarFinder, the remote access tool from FlyingMac, was on sale for US$20, I jumped on the chance to buy it. It’ll be on sale until October 22nd, so if you want to get the application for US$15 less than the normal price, you’ll want to head over to the FlyingMac site right now. The family license is US$20 off during the sale, and is available for US$45.

The last time someone at TUAW wrote about FarFinder was back in 2008, when blogger Mat Lu referred to it as “your Finder on the web.” That’s a perfect way to describe FarFinder, since it makes your Mac’s files and folders (plus any network-attached or external drives that are mounted) available to you from most web browsers and your iPhone (see screenshot at right).

FlyingMac offers a 20-day free trial of the application. One thing I really like about FarFinder is that once you’ve purchased it, there are no extra subscription fees. That means that US$20 price will give you service forever…or at least until there’s a major upgrade you need to purchase.

Continue reading FarFinder remote access tool: on sale and iPhone savvy

TUAWFarFinder remote access tool: on sale and iPhone savvy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – Apple – TUAW – Web browser – Remote access

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

Edible Apple has an interesting analysis up about this Newsweek article claiming that App Store developers aren’t getting rich. Newsweek basically claims that all those success stories we’ve heard about App Store developers have a darker side: if they aren’t already buried in costs from developing that hit app, they’re desperately scrambling to rise above the noise and get another one’s sales up on the App Store. [For a similar perspective to Newsweek's, check out this post from Ged Maheux at the Iconfactory.]

Edible Apple replies that that’s true, but a closer inspection of the numbers shows that these devs are actually making plenty of money — while their costs are going higher than they expected (one example has a developer paying over $100,000 to make $200,000) there is still money to be made. What developers are actually discovering, says Edible Apple, is that the App Store isn’t a gold rush — it’s a business.

That’s an interesting point. In the beginning, the App Store was a gold rush — you could hack together a fart app and come up with a few month’s worth of beer money over night. But with almost 100,000 apps, it’s a different ballgame. You either need to come up with an original idea that people are interested in, or polish an existing idea until it shines so bright it’s unavoidable. And as Edible Apple says, that’s actually a good thing. There is money to be made in the App Store these days — multiple developers have proven that already. It’ll take work and luck to do it, but isn’t that the case with any successful business?

TUAWWhy the App Store is working just right originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
AppStore – Apple – TUAW – Iconfactory – Newsweek

Reporting the results of PCMag’s 2009 Cell Phones Service & Reliability Survey, Sascha Segan (pcmag.com) writes that “our readers’ love affair with the Apple iPhone abides, as it was the only phone brand they rated significantly better than average, making it the clear Readers’ Choice with a SBA 9.0 out of 10.”

Filed under: Wireless, Apple, iPhone, App Store

Business Insider is reporting that AT&T has given Apple the go-ahead to enable Voice over IP (VoIP) apps such as Skype on its 3G network. In the past, VoIP apps required a Wi-Fi connection.

The announcement was made in advance of the annual conference sponsored by CTIA – The Wireless Association. AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega is scheduled to give a keynote at the conference tomororw and could use the event to further elaborate on their intentions.

The announcement is most likely a response to recent events at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is proposing new rules that would prohibit carriers from blocking apps on their networks.

A public announcement by AT&T stating that they will allow apps such as Skype on their network would remove any doubt that it’s the company that is doing the blocking, and put the spotlight firmly on Apple to explain why they’re not approving VoIP apps. As noted yesterday, VoIP provider Vonage has made its app available in the App Store, although ratings after the first day probably make them wish they hadn’t…

It should be noted that the announcement will likely have no bearing on the fate of Google Voice, which was rejected by Apple on the grounds that it duplicates functionality already found in the iPhone. The Google Voice app allows users to control their Google Voice account, send SMS messages and check voicemails, but does not provide any VoIP functionality.

TUAWBusiness Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – AppStore – Skype – Federal Communications Commission – AT&T

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

After months of rumors, Apple’s official online store for Brazil has officially opened at apple.com/br. It joins the 34 other countries with localized online stores. The Brazilian store is a mirror of many others and joins Apple’s effort to establish a presence south of the United States. Presently, there are localized online stores in Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador among others.

Right now, there are no brick-and-mortar Apple Stores in Brazil, but they do run eight “Stores within a store” complexes in association with Fnac (similar to the arrangement with Best Buy here in the USA). Brazilian customers have anticipated the real thing for a long time.

Here’s hoping you get physical stores soon. Until then, enjoy your online shopping, Brazil!

[Via AppleInsider]

TUAWOnline Brazilian Apple Store now live originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
Apple – TUAW – United States – Colombia – Ecuador

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Features, iTunes, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, Music

By the time you read this, Tap Tap Revenge 3 should have made its way to the App Store. The latest version of the rhythm game/music platform for the iPhone and iPod touch is a huge release for Tapulous — from the series’ humble beginnings as a pre-App Store bit of code to the more recent incarnations of artist-specific music collections, Tapulous has taken Tap Tap a long way in the still short history of this gaming platform. And now they’re trying to go even farther: they’ve introduced in-app purchases to the game (you can find a full list of songs available now as in-app purchases inside the interview below), and they’ve added in social features, from customizable avatars to in-game chat and score sharing.

Tapulous COO Andrew Lacy sat down to talk with us just before the release of the software, both about how he thinks consumers will react to the new business model, and what’s next for Tapulous and this series that has come so far already. Tap Tap Revenge 3 should be in the App Store very soon — it’s available for 99 cents, with extra music packs at six songs for $2.99, or two songs for 99 cents.

Continue reading TUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3

TUAWTUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – appstore – Andrew Lacy – Apple – IPod Touch

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, SDK, iPod touch

So there’s still no Flash in Safari, but once Adobe hatches Flash Professional CS5 you’ll be able to port your wacky Flash games or animations out to real, live iPhone/iPod touch apps. Yep, ActionScript 3 nerds rejoice: that tasty App Store pie will soon be yours, never minding the whole plug-in debate.

This is truly quite awesome in one regard, as it lowers the barrier to entry for some app developers, and will ease the port of some cool online games that we’ve seen floating around the interwebs. Then again, if you’ve spent a little time at places like Newgrounds.com, you will quickly see the dark side to this announcement from Adobe. All those crummy Flash toys online just got one step closer to coming to life on the App Store (we’re guessing most will sell for the low, low price of $.99). At this rate there will be more apps than iPhones!

Still, back when I taught animation and game design, we had a lot of fun playing around in Flash for the powerful prototyping capabilities, if nothing else. It would have been cool to test games on the iPhone so easily. The video on Adobe’s site looks pretty cool, with them touting the “responsiveness” of apps. Yeah, unlike the slowpoke performance my kids suffer on our G4 Mac when playing Flash games, eh? I get it — when Unity 3D for iPhone came out there were problems with performance (it has matured nicely now), and any tool that exports in this way (turning an .fla into an .ipa, essentially) is bound to suffer from performance. Does anyone else find it ironic that a plug-in that was designed to make multimedia on the web lighter has become one of the most bloated? I digress.

No word on what SDK features are supported yet, but you can sign up for the demo when the beta starts. Those SDK features could be a killer, of course. If you can’t leverage some of the features on the iPhone (multi-touch, GPS, camera, etc.) these may be relegated to the Entertainment category. One other thing to note about all the CS5 applications: they will be Intel-only, Cocoa and 64-bit native.

Update: Well, lookee there, apparently some games in the store have been using this already. Did you know South Park Avatar Creator was made using Flash? Amazing.

TUAWTurn your Flash into iPhone apps with Flash Professional CS5 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
iPhone – AppStore – Apple – IPod Touch – TUAW

Filed under: Hardware, Video, Mac mini

When we published our “Ultimate Mac mini Home Theater” guide in August, I drooled along with everyone else at the idea of supercharging my HDTV with a mini for movie and music playback. Something nagged at me, though, as I looked over the options for going from the mini’s video-out ports (the current model sports both DVI and Display Port) to the HDMI standard connector that most TVs expect nowadays… how to get that digital audio signal onto the HDMI link, and avoid a second set of cables to handle sound? It seemed less than graceful.

If you want to skip over a clunky external converter box like this one, current minis and other Macs featuring the Mini Display Port connector now have a new option for HDMI; Kanex’s two audio-included connectors can put the sound onto the HDMI link where it belongs.

Kanex is selling two models of the connector (both are on extremely limited availability right now, the company says). The $60 Digital Audio version includes a TOSLINK optical connector for premium quality sound, and the USB Audio version delivers analog audio for $50. Both let you put all your eggs in the HDMI basket and clear your cable clutter, while simplifying your TV remote input dance as you try to get the audio and video sorted.

We’re hoping to get our hands on one of these units soon and we’ll let you know how it performs.

Thanks to Michael W. for the tip.

TUAWKanex brings digital audio into a Display Port to HDMI adapter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sponsored Topics:
HDMI – Digital Audio – Universal Serial Bus – Digital Visual Interface – High-definition television

Dan Moren (macworld.com) reports that the iPhone has maintained its “head-of-the-class standings” in the latest J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction studies and that “its lead has only grown more dominant in the latest numbers.” Writes Moren: “In the consumer market, Apple scored 811 points out of a possible 1000, handily besting the industry average of 765. On the business side, Apple’s lead was equally impressive. The company scored an 803-point ranking, 79 points above its second-place rival, RIM’s BlackBerry.”

Kevin Burton, founder and CEO of Burton Asset Management, a business continuity and disaster recovery firm, has a very focused job description: “I make sure that people are prepared for the unforeseeable.” Key to enabling that client preparation is Burton’s iPhone: “With iPhone in my hand, I’m connected to everything. I have everything I need to know to do my job,”