Iphone Updates

Filed under: Deals

‘Tis the season to start shopping until your brains melt (or skip it all entirely, depending on your interpretation of the term holiday). In that spirit, for the next few days we’ll be rounding up a dozen daily deals courtesy our friends at DealNews.com. Each afternoon tune in to TUAW for this handy summary. Keep in mind that while our posts will live on, the deals won’t. Each is lovingly generated by the deal-bot every day, so get ‘em while they’re hot. Enjoy!

• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: World Surfer, HandWriting Mail, Sign Here, Writie Talkie, more
• Home Depot: [Black Friday] Home Depot Black Friday Preview Savings Sale now live + extra 10% off
• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] 1Password Pro for iPhone downloads for free
• MacUpdate Promo: [Office Software Suites] Pages Templates 5 for Mac downloads for $20
• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] Electronic Arts iPhone / iPod touch Apps: Tetris, SimCity for $3, Madden 10 for $5, more
• [MP3 Downloads] The 99 Most Essential Tchaikovsky Masterpieces MP3 Album download for $5 … or $2
• InvisibleShield: [Notebook Accessories] 50% off ZAGGskins Protectors at ZAGG.com
• Sony Style: [46" - 47" LCD TVs] Free PS3 or Blu-ray Player w/ Sony HDTVs: 46″ 120Hz 1080p for $1,000 + free shipping, more
• Staples: [Media Receivers] Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD 500GB Media Player for $100 + free shipping
• Western Digital Store: [Media Receivers] Refurbished Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player for $70 + free shipping
• Meritline: [iPod Accessories] USB Data Cable for iPhone / iPod touch for $2 + free shipping
• Seehere: [Photo Services] FujiFilm SeeHere: 50 free holiday cards + $3 s&h

TUAWA Dozen Daily Deals originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IPhone – IpodTouch – ITunes – AppStore – Apple

Filed under: Developer, Found Footage, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Have you ever wanted to send a loved one a rose, but knew that you wouldn’t be able to deliver it yourself? Or maybe you wanted to cheer up a friend in the hospital, but you were on another continent? If the Liverpudlians at Little World Gifts have their way, you’ll soon be exchanging virtual gifts with your friends.

The six-person UK startup has been working on a self-titled iPhone app that they hope to ship in December. The app lets you purchase virtual gifts from a shop and send them to others who either have the app or are Facebook users. As you can see in the video above, the gifts are high-resolution 3D items that you and your friends can touch and manipulate.

Your friends receive push notifications that you’ve sent them a gift, and can then add them to their collection in their copy of the app, or enjoy them in a separate Facebook app.

In case you think virtual goods are a silly idea, Little Worlds Gifts points out that it is estimated that consumers will spend over US$1 billion on virtual goods in 2009 through online games and social networks. Facebook generates almost US$40 million annually through sales of virtual gifts.

Little World Gifts hasn’t announced a price for the app or the virtual gifts, but TUAW will keep an eye on this virtual boutique for future reference.

TUAWFound Footage: Little World Gifts enters the world of virtual gifting originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – AppStore – IpodTouch – Facebook – Apple

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

Well here we go. Up until now, we’ve heard a lot from developers about how much of a mess the App Store’s approval process is, from people who’ve been rejected outright to people who’ve been forced to resubmit to people who’ve just given up completely. But we haven’t heard much from Apple, and now Phil Schiller has spoken with Business Week about what it is about the App Store’s approval process that has devs pulling their hair out.

The verdict? Schiller says the process is in place for a reason. About 90% of the apps submitted merely have bugs or technical issues, and he says for the most part that devs are happy to get that feedback (though TechCrunch doesn’t buy that for one second). But the other 10% of the apps Apple denies are simply what they deem “inappropriate,” which could be anything from problematic coding (code that steals passwords or other private information), or app content that doesn’t belong on the store, from porn to apps that help break the law or steal in some way. Apple is also vicious about trademark defense — Schiller says that “if you don’t defend your trademarks, in the end you end up not owning them.”

That all sounds fine and dandy (ok, well, the “inappropriate” label is a little unclear — that’s broad enough that Apple could fit almost anything under that umbrella, which is a bit troubling), but what about all of those angry devs? Unfortunately, Schiller doesn’t address at all the idea that Apple might someday allow devs to release apps that haven’t been through their approval process, on the App Store or anywhere else. As far as Apple is concerned, it seems like they’re keeping their grip on what gets released, and anyone who doesn’t like it is welcome to go elsewhere.

[via TheAppleBlog]

Continue reading Schiller defends App Store approval process

TUAWSchiller defends App Store approval process originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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appstore – iPhone – Apple – Unofficial Apple Weblog – BusinessWeek

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Do you use eBay regularly for shopping for goodies? If you do, and if you’re an iPhone or iPod touch owner, you probably ought to turn on your device right now and download the new eBay Deals app [Free, iTunes Link].

In eBay parlance, a deal can be one of two things:

1. An eBay Daily Deal, which is a limited quantity item from a trusted seller, provided with free shipping
2. An item that is in big demand (an iPhone, for example) with zero bids and with less than four hours to go in the auction

But wait, there’s more! The app also uses push notifications to give you the bad news that you’re being outbid on an item or to tell you that an auction is just about over. There’s a “Shake for Deals” option that provides random deals when you shake your phone.

The app has a nice little tutorial that shows how the features work and what various icons mean. That’s a nice touch for getting users up and running quickly. If you’re looking for that perfect gift at a bargain price, you may need to look no further than the screen of your iPhone.

TUAWeBay Deals iPhone app pushes bargains in your face originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – AppStore – IpodTouch – apple – iTunes

Only the most die-hard Apple fan boys/girls could deny that in the last few months the gap between the iPhone and some rival products in terms of their hardware has significantly closed. The Google Android operating system has been…

Shiny Shiny has a big list which comes courtesy of research company Gartner. There’s no mega surprises – so you may have to wait longer for the teleporting app – but it certainly makes interesting reading. You can read the…

Shiny Shiny mentioned a new texting technology Swype a couple of days ago, and we were very impressed. Genius Texting works on touchscreens and simply requires you to slide your finger over the keyboard to write words. Swype claim…

Filed under: Odds and ends, Surveys and Polls, iPhone

It’s a rather stunning number from AdMob in an October report. The firm reports on web requests from thousands of sites world wide. In the latest report, Apple has 55% of the domestic Smartphone traffic share, and Android has 20%. Interestingly, the Blackberry share dropped 2% to a 12 percent share, and Palm’s webOS dropped from a 10% share to 5%.

Windows Mobile OS has 4% of the U.S. Smartphone web traffic.

The AdMob statistics do not show handset sales, but rather are calculated by measuring traffic on more than 15,000 web sites and applications.

The Motorola Droid, running only on Verizon, has captured 24% of all Android traffic, even though it has been out only a few weeks.

The iPhone has been on the market for 28 months. That 55% share of traffic is a pretty robust number for such a relatively new product. The Android numbers, especially those of the Droid are also good news for Google, Motorola and Verizon.

The balance of Smartphone data may change dramatically as the holiday season unwinds, and it will be interesting to watch the ebb and flow of the competing brands.

AdMob was recently purchased by Google. Apple also had reportedly had some interest in the company.

TUAWiPhone and Android now total 75% of U.S. smartphone web traffic originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Google – Apple – Smartphone – AdMob

Shiny Shiny mentioned a new texting technology Swype a couple of days ago, and we were very impressed. Genius Texting works on touchscreens and simply requires you to slide your finger over the keyboard to write words. Swype claim…

The creator of iKee, the first ever iPhone worm, has landed himself a job creating iPhone apps, it has been revealed today. Ashley Towns revealed his new post via Twitter today. The 21 year old Aussie is set to…

Over the last few weeks Paul from TechDigest has been working his nuts off downloading app after app to his iPhone. Now after literally putting hundreds of apps through his handset he is now ready to name his top…

Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

Zoowawa [US$0.99, iTunes Link] is a cute app targeted for toddlers between the ages of two and three. Your child is presented with a split screen displaying two animals. Tapping on one of the animals plays the sound that the animal makes.

Each half of the screen can be swiped individually to reveal 14 animal pictures per half, or 24 animal pictures in all. The pictures are brightly colored and the app has a very clean look to it. Zoowawa runs on any iPhone or iPod touch using OS 3.1.2 or better.

My daughter is finishing a masters in education and has familiarity with very small children, so I asked her about the appropriateness of this app. My first impression was that along with the sound, the printed name of the animal should be shown. My daughter told me that for most kids in the targeted age range, adding the text would be too complex since reading often doesn’t start until a child is three years old or older.

She did have few problems with the size of the pictures, saying that they may not hold a child’s interest for very long. Kids like big things and dividing the screen to make each animal half of the screen size was probably not the best idea. Even at full size, a picture may not attract the attention of a toddler for too long.

I also had a bit of a problem with the quality of the animal sounds. Most are not digitized animal sounds, but rather a recording of someone making the sound with his voice. Since for many kids this app might be their first introduction to animals, I think that sound accuracy should be important.

Continue reading The cow says mooooo! Zoowawa, an app for toddlers and their parents

TUAWThe cow says mooooo! Zoowawa, an app for toddlers and their parents originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – IpodTouch – Apple – iTunes – TUAW

Filed under: TUAW Business, Podcasts

You can catch last week’s show, the deep dive on the Psystar summary judgment with Lauren, via iTunes or Talkshoe. Granted, it was a bit single-minded compared to our usual attention deficit-driven topic hop, but I enjoyed it!

Tonight, we’re going to cover the week in review as we often do; plus we’ll take your calls and suggestions for our holiday gift guide choices. It’s a great time to drop hints to family and friends about what you’re hoping to get (for the record, the entire TUAW staff looks good in cashmere). Do join us.

To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the “TalkShoe Web” button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (take advantange of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 — during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8.

If you’ve got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here. Talk with you then!

TUAWTalkcast tonight: Holiday gift suggestions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – TUAW – TalkShoe – Voice over Internet Protocol – User interface

In an in-depth review of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, Ryan Faas (computerworld.com) cites “performance gains, improvements to several collaboration tools introduced in Leopard Server, enhanced simple administration for non-technical users and new features designed for mobile access and for supporting the iPhone.” Adds Fass: “Snow Leopard Server is a tremendous value.”

Filed under: Software, Tips and tricks, Bugs/Recalls, Troubleshooting, Snow Leopard

I have a couple of Gmail accounts set up with Google Apps, so that Google is hosting my email using my own domain names. While those accounts have been working flawlessly for quite a while, I suddenly ran into issues a few days ago where Apple Mail couldn’t pull email from the server. I could use the Gmail Web client and access the email, but using Mail or my iPhone, I’d get an error.

Both Mail and the iPhone initially reported that either my password or username was incorrect, but after restarting my MacBook Air, the message changed to what you see above. While I had been sending some large files through email last week, I wasn’t using anywhere close to the 2 or so GB per day of bandwidth that Google allows.

A quick search revealed that there’s a known bug where accounts are locked out for exceeding IMAP bandwidth limits when using Apple Mail under Snow Leopard. To quote Google’s support page,

This is a known issue for users of Apple Mail on the Snow Leopard OS. We are working with Apple on a resolution to the issue. In the meantime, there are a few workarounds to reduce the likelihood of hitting the bandwidth limit:

1. Do not sync attachments.
2. Reduce the number of folders you sync by using the Advanced IMAP Controls tab in Gmail.
3. Close your email client when you are not using it.

For my business, I keep my email client up and running most of the day, so the third workaround was not an option. Syncing attachments is easy to turn off in Apple Mail Preferences for Gmail IMAP accounts by selecting “All messages, but omit attachments” under “Keep copies of messages for offline viewing” on the Advanced tab, but it didn’t resolve the problem.

I fortuitously noticed that my MacBook Air seemed to be losing a lot of disk space, and searching the ~/Library/Mail folder indicated that the issue seemed to be in the “Recovered Items” Inbox for this Gmail account — something I didn’t even know existed! It was taking up a whopping 18.66 GB of space, so I went into Mail and deleted the “Recovered Items” inbox.

While this didn’t fix the issue immediately, it did eventually allow the account to come back on line with no problems. All told, I was without Mail.app and iPhone access to the account for four days, but at least I could check my Web mail occasionally to see what was coming into the Gmail account.

If you’re running Snow Leopard and get bit by the “bandwidth bug” with a Gmail account, I hope that this tip can help you out.

TUAWGetting bit by the Gmail “exceeded IMAP bandwidth limits” bug originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Mail – Google Apps – Apple – Internet Message Access Protocol

Filed under: Software, Reviews, Graphic Design

Continue reading Super-panoramic showdown for Mac

TUAWSuper-panoramic showdown for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – iPhone – Macintosh – TUAW – Unofficial Apple Weblog

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Freeware

All new Macs come with great bundled software. Between the iLife suite, Safari, iTunes, and TextEdit, plus the ability to access and use cloud applications for free, almost all of the most basic modern computing needs get met for most users.

That said, having used four different Macs over the past seven years, there are several applications that don’t come with OS X that I find myself immediately loading onto a new Mac. Most of these are big-name apps that you’ve probably already heard of, but it’s still pretty amazing how much extra functionality you can eke out of a Mac with only ten additional programs, and all of them (save the last one) are free.

Whether you’re buying a new Mac for a relative this holiday season or getting a new one for yourself, these are ten applications you should download as soon as that shiny new machine loads the desktop for the first time.

Continue reading Giving or getting a Mac for the holidays? 10 apps every new Mac user needs

TUAWGiving or getting a Mac for the holidays? 10 apps every new Mac user needs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple – Macintosh – Mac OS X – iTunes – Safari

Tesco Mobile (MVNO with O2) is entering the iPhone war, and certainly with attractive prices.

So watch the space and I hope the US will have soon the same competition as UK for the iPhone.

Tags:iphone iphone 3gs mvno tescoiphone, iphone 3gs, mvno, tesco

Filed under: iPhone

The iPhone is getting yet another carrier in the great white north. Virgin Mobile Canada has announced that it’ll start selling the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in the coming months.

When exactly? How much? Can I get a Richard Branson ringtone? Actually, I can make my own ringtones, but what about the rest of it? We’ll have to wait to find out. All the company said in its incredibly short notice was that it’ll sell the phones online and in its brick-and-mortar stores at some point. Well, that and that its gotten some love from J.D. Power and Associates for its prepaid and postpaid wireless services.

The phones are already on sale north of the border through Rogers Wireless, its subsidiary Fido, Bell Canada, and Telus. While a Canadian friend tells me Virgin Mobile Canada has a reputation for inexpensive phones with prepaid service, Canadian mobile news site MobileSyrup expects Virgin to charge roughly the same prices with the same three-year contracts as Canada’s other iPhone carriers.

Thanks EZ Mac Mike for the tip!

[via iLounge, MobileSyrup]

TUAWVirgin Mobile Canada: Fifth Canadian outlet for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone – Virgin Mobile Canada – Canada – Apple – Rogers Wireless

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.