Iphone Updates

When I purchased my MacBook Pro in early 2008, I threw down US$69 for a .Mac (now known as MobileMe) membership. I expected to get an email confirmation of my .Mac order (which I did), followed shortly by another email with an activation code.

Instead, I received the hot mess you see in the pic above (US size 9.5 shoe included for scaling purposes). First, a huge FedEx package, about the same size as the current MacBook’s packaging. Rattling around inside of it was a cardboard box with .Mac emblazoned on the front, large enough to fit a CD or DVD inside. But instead of a CD or DVD, I found a small paper booklet with a sticker on the front page containing my activation code. In all, it was about a pound of packaging (at least) for something that really didn’t need to be mailed to me at all.

Nearly three years later, the situation hasn’t improved. The New York Times notes that MobileMe’s packaging needs to go on a diet, and they’re absolutely right. Apple’s made a big deal in recent years about its push for “greener” practices in both its products and its packaging, and they’ve made big strides. In 2006, Greenpeace gave Apple very poor ratings for its environmental practices. Greenpeace spent the next few years hounding Apple for its environmental record, until earlier this year when Apple got top ratings. Apple has since slipped to ninth place in the rankings.

Continue reading MobileMe may be Apple’s least “green” product, packaging-wise

MobileMe may be Apple’s least “green” product, packaging-wise originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Comedian/musician/mad genius Reggie Watts found himself sans equipment (seems to be going around) when he was being interviewed on Sirius XM radio, but that didn’t slow him down one bit. He pulled out his iPhone 4, and using a looping app (possibly Everyday Looper, $5.99) he improvised a number that absolutely wowed host Ron Bennington and the rest of the folks in the studio. Be sure to listen for Bennington’s final line.

Seeing this, you wonder: are the rest of us really getting the maximum utility out of these ridiculously powerful miniature computers disguised as phones?

[via CrunchGear, hat tip to C.K. Sample III]

Found Footage: Reggie Watts and his iPhone rock Sirius XM originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Over the weekend TUAW is going to be featuring in-depth reviews of the new iLife ’11 suite — or at least the three apps that were updated. As most of you know by now, iWeb and iDVD didn’t receive an update at all. In light of that, we’ve compiled a list of several alternatives to iDVD and iWeb that you may want to try out. From a purely consumer standpoint, I don’t think any of these apps offer the ease of use that Apple has so successfully built into iWeb and iDVD, but given that iDVD seems all but abandoned — as should the MacBook optical drive be — and the future is uncertain for iWeb, it’s always nice to know you have some alternatives.

iDVD alternatives:

SmallDVD
SmallDVD is a simple utility that lets you take any video files and add them to a DVD image ISO which can then be burned onto a DVD using Disc Utility. SmallDVD doesn’t have many features, but it will appeal to those of you who want to create very simple DVDs with static background menus. It also has the added benefit of only creating the ISO file which can then be shared to DropBox or iDisk, and then downloaded and viewed on another computer using only the ISO — no optical drive needed. SmallDVD is a free download.

Continue reading After iLife ’11: Alternatives to iDVD and iWeb

After iLife ’11: Alternatives to iDVD and iWeb originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

After a sudden disappearance, it has been confirmed that many Middle Eastern carriers do not support FaceTime. Now, the team at iPhoneislam.com has offered a hack to get the service working.

To make it work, you’ll need a jailbroken iPhone 4 and the Cydia app. Once you’ve added apps.iphoneislam.com to Cydia, grab FaceTime Hacktivator. From there, you should be good to go.

Keep in mind that you jailbreak your iPhone at your own risk. If you’re comfortable with that process and adding apps via Cydia, then have at it.

[Via The Mac Observer]

Hack to defeat Middle East FaceTime block originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

We’ve drooled over the Joule, a classy metal iPad stand before, and the Vapor iPhone 4 case is one of my favorite iPhone cases. That said, they are not what you would call inexpensive. Nevertheless, the latest models to roll off their custom shop floor are even more exclusive, as limited-edition colors are now available under the “extreme metals” line.

These are extremely limited-edition collectible stands and cases. As you can see in the gallery, the Joule stands have a nice variety in colors (quite excellent for those of us enjoying the Fall colors), and the Vapor cases now include some shiny nickel and a “blood” red that is quite bright. The price range on the Vapor extreme metal line is $99 to $109, while the Joule extreme metal line is $159. As I said, these are not budget cases.

The Vapor cases are released in very limited quantities via pre-order list, expected to ship “within a few weeks,” whereas the Joule is available now. If you’re looking for high-end accessories for the holidays, these are a good bet.

Limited edition Joule and Vapor cases from ElementCase originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Several Apple executives took advantage of the fact that Apple stock hit an all-time high recently to cash out some stock options for extra christmas spending money. Apple hit $319 on October 18 and Bertrand Serlet, software engineering senior VP exercised 5,000 options at $318.50 while controller Betsy Rafael, operations SVP Jeffrey Williams and hardware SVP Bob Mansfield all sold at over $300.

Mansfield in particular made a killing exercising 40,000 options that were priced at $36.54 for $308 each. That’s a tidy profit of $10.844 million. Sometimes it’s worth hanging on to those options for a while. If only all stock options were so valuable. Mansfield has overseen the development of a number of Apple computers in recent years including the slim new MacBook Air, the iMac and the regular MacBook.

[Source: Fortune via Macsimum News]

Some Apple execs exercise stock options originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TextExpander, which allows you to create text shortcuts and macros, has been updated to version 3.2. Along with some bug fixes, it also adds the ability to easily backup and restore your shortcuts, including automatic backup and keyboard shortcuts to expand top search results.

The backup/restore feature is a nice addition. You can tell TextExpander to backup hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly and keep 50, 100, 200 or an infinite number of backups (well, limited to available disk space). These backups are uncompressed, which probably isn’t a big deal for most people (mine was about 2mb) but given that Apple has just released a new MacBook Air with a 64GB hard drive, we should remember that space is still a factor. It appears that TextExpander also makes a new backup even if nothing has changed since previous backup, so you could end up with 50 (or more) backups which are, for all intents and purposes, identical.

That’s a relatively minor complaint, however, compared to not having automated backups at all. I had not planned to test this feature, but for reasons unrelated to this article I suddenly found that I needed to restore my TextExpander shortcuts and settings yesterday, and it worked easily and perfectly.

TextExpander is one of my most used applications. I’ve created my own list of shortcuts to add everything from my phone number to my address to the start of a shell script and more. I use it so much that I won’t even consider a writing application for iOS which doesn’t include TextExpander touch. The Mac application is $35 for new users, ($15 if you owned TextExpander 2.x or earlier). Of course 3.2 is a free upgrade for existing 3.x users. If you haven’t used it, you get 90 days to try it before you have to buy it, plenty of time to decide if it’s for you. I wouldn’t think about using a Mac without it, and it keeps getting better.

TextExpander 3.2 offers backup, restore originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

All three iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models are available today at more than 2200 AT&T Stores. AT&T will offer customers 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad, complete with Apple’s easy on-device activation and management. All iPad data plans are available without a term contract and include unlimited access to AT&T’s more than 23,000 domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.

iPad is available today at over 2000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide. Verizon Wireless is offering three bundles — all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot — for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for a 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi, $729.99 for a 32GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi, and $829.99 for a 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month.

Walt Mossberg at AllThingsD.com reviews both the 11- and 13-inch models of the MacBook Air and writes that the “gorgeous, very thin and light, but very sturdy” computers “really do offer the different, more iPad-like experience Apple claims they do.” Noting their efficient flash storage, high screen resolution, strong battery life, near-instant wake from standby, and full-size keyboard, Mossberg concludes: “Overall, Apple has done a nice job in making these new MacBook Airs feel more like iPads and iPhones without sacrificing their ability to work like regular computers.”

Looking to amaze and impress your gaming friends with a new decal for your iPhone 4? Well then feast your eyes on the Game Boy Color sticker for your iPhone!

The vinyl adhesive decal affixes to the back of your iPhone to give that retro-gaming look to your iDevice. The same seller makes the skin in other colors, as well as a classic Nintendo console controller. Each sells for US$6, and it’s not exactly clear whether or not they’re easily removed once the novelty has worn off. I guess you could always just stick it on a case.

Alright, maybe it won’t so much amaze or impress. But old-school gamers will find them just nostalgic enough to prompt a purchase.

[via DVICE]

Game Boy decals for your iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Sex Offender Tracker App (US$1.99) for the iPhone isn’t the first such app on the App Store (Offender Locator and Sex Offenders Search are two others), but it is the first to use augmented reality. As an added bonus, it has Antoine Dodson‘s approval.

The app uses your GPS location and a national database to identify registered sex offenders in your area. The information is presented as an overlay on top of video of your location. Users can specify search criteria and opt for a list view if the augmented presentation is less than ideal.

It’s notable that BeenVerified, the company behind the app, is donating 5 percent of purchase proceeds to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network or RAINN. The app is compatible with iPhone 4 or 3GS and iOS 3.1 or later.

To see Dodson’s ad, click the link below.

Continue reading Sex Offender Tracker for iPhone keeps you in the know

Sex Offender Tracker for iPhone keeps you in the know originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple today introduced the Apple Store in China, the easiest way to shop online for Apple products including the revolutionary iPhone 4 and the magical iPad. Apple’s online store in China features free shipping, free personalized engraving on any iPod or iPad, and the ability to custom configure any Mac with just a few clicks. The online Apple Store also offers a wide selection of third-party products and is the only place online to buy the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED.

Macworld reviewer Jason Snell writes that with “the new 11- and 13-inch laptops, the MacBook Air product line has finally come of age.” Snell praises the notebook’s all-flash storage, full-size keyboard, Multi-Touch trackpad, and high-resolution display. He concludes: “…those who value smallness and lightness above all else will find the 13-inch model more tempting than ever. And that 11-inch dynamo, the smallest and lightest laptop in Apple history, the one with the $999 price tag? It’s quite possibly the most desirable laptop Apple has ever made.”

Reviewer Wilson Rothman (msnbc.com) writes that the new MacBook Air turns “a niche style statement into a mass-friendly option,” adding that: “Until last week, the MacBook Air line started at $1500. Now the base is $1000.” Citing its unibody construction, longer-lasting battery, two USB ports, and fast performance, Rothman suggets that for those “who want to replace a clunker of a laptop with something sufficiently capable but easier to tote around, the Air is the option.”

Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Andy Ihnatko finds lots to like about the “small and mercilessly-thin” MacBook Air, including its excellent build quality, reasonable price, quick and quiet performance, and longer battery life. He adds: “…the key point is that it could handle every app and every task that I perform daily on my main machine.”

Calling the new MacBook Air “the computer I’ve been waiting for,” Techcrunch reviewer MG Siegler outlines why: “It’s not just the size…that I love so much — which is amazing — it’s the speed. This thing boots up in less than 15 seconds, ready to go. Applications seem to load quicker. Files transfer quicker. It just screams.” Siegler concludes that with a “great price” and “killer performance” MacBook Air has the “wow” factor.

A MacBook Air update already? Yes, we’ve had some tips about intermittent MacBook Air issues, and it seems Apple’s next-generation super-thin wedge-Macs are already sporting a shiny new software update that addresses “an issue where a MacBook Air (Late 2010) computer may become unresponsive while playing back movie trailers in iMovie” and a bug where the Mac becomes unresponsive after waking from sleep when connected to an external display. Oh, the the requisite “general graphics performance updates,” whatever that means.

Fire up software update or check here for the manual download. The update is wafer thin like the new Air itself!

Thanks to Swords for the tip.

MacBook Air software update addresses responsiveness and graphics issues originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CNET writes that the new iLife ’11 is a “welcome” update to Apple’s suite of digital media applications that adds “advanced features to iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand without making them more difficult to use.” Citing key features like full-screen view, Faceboook enhancements, and emailing photos in iPhoto ’11; movie trailers and all-new audio editing in iMovie ’11; and Flex Time, Groove Time, and ‘How Did I Play?’ in GarageBand ’11, the reviewer concludes: “…we can definitely recommend picking this up.”

I noticed it first a few days ago. Then people started emailing me about it. Now it’s gaining increased mention on Twitter and the rest of the net: when you go to Facebook.com on your iPad you can no longer use the pinch and zoom features of iPad’s mobile Safari web browser on the site.

Reader Stephen F. noted in an email to me that when you go to Facebook on an iPad this line of code appears: <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;” />

It’s the user-scalable=0 part that disables zooming on the iPad. Stephen also pointed out that you can test this by changing the user agent on your web browser to iPad and seeing how the code only appears for the iPad. To change the user agent in the OS X version of Safari to emulate Safari for iPad go to Safari>Preferences>Advanced>Show Develop menu in menu bar, then select Develop>User Agent>Mobile Safari 3.2.2 – iPad.

In short, Facebook has either deliberately or accidentally disabled zooming in mobile Safari on the iPad. If it’s accidental, it’s odd that they haven’t fixed it in almost 72 hours. If deliberate, the question is why? Was dinner that bad?

UPDATE: Zooming works again just fine again. I contacted Facebook PR about the issue, but they didn’t reply.

Facebook disabled iPad mobile Safari zooming? originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sometimes it’s very easy to predict the future. Just as the day follows the night and the sniffles follow ragweed pollen, we can confidently say that within a short time there will be incidents of unwanted exposure on Facelette, followed by urgent cries to protect the innocent, and likely as not the collapse and disappearance of the whole thing shortly after. The path trodden by Chatroulette is a wide one — but maybe we can hope for some awesome piano improvisation along the way.

In the meantime, if you’re of a mind to video chat with random strangers via FaceTime for Mac, check out the service. Developer Zach Holman acknowledges he whipped it up in “about an hour” and that it’s “dumb as hell.” You definitely want to create a throwaway/spampot email address for this, rather than your fulltime Apple ID.

[via Hacker News & Download Squad]

Facelette brings random chat to FaceTime for Mac originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Macworld Germany has described what they’re calling a security hole in the FaceTime for Mac beta (Google translation). The gist is this: once a user has logged into FaceTime for the Mac, his/her Apple ID and password can be altered from the app by anyone with access to the computer while FaceTime is running.

Let that sink in for a second.

If you were to log into FaceTime for Mac and then abandon your computer with everything running and no concern for who has access to it and for how long, there’s a possibility that a n’er-do-well could sit down in your empty but still warm chair and engage in a scandulous conversation with your poor Aunt Shirley (who undoubtedly is wondering why you’d be dumb enough to walk away from your operational Mac in public) before changing your password and making several pricey purchases in iTunes.

In related security news, cash registers left unattended with their drawers open are likely to be robbed and cars left running with the doors unlocked are likey to be stolen. As Ars notes, “…whoever happens to be sitting at the computer can change the associated account password.”

In the interest of our readers’ safety, here are a few steps we suggest you take:

• Don’t go to the bathroom while FaceTime is running on your Mac at Starbucks. Hell, don’t leave your Mac on a table at Starbucks no matter what it’s doing.
• Don’t run FaceTime on a public computer.
• If the “office prankster” asks to use your FaceTime account to make a call, SAY NO.
• Think. Physical access is total access.

The takeaway here is this: any miscreant who has physical access to your computer is a potential security threat.

FaceTime for Mac security hole easily remedied originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It seems that Apple will sell its iWork and iLife apps individually through the forthcoming Mac App Store. Some keen-eyed observers noticed hints during this week’s demonstration, ElectricPig reports.

During the demo, you could clearly see GarageBand, iMovie and iPhoto icons among the available apps. Indeed, the screenshot on the official Lion information page shows the same thing. It’s impossible to see what the cost will be (we *think* it says $14.95), but the idea is interesting. Many users buy the bundle for one or two apps only (iMove and iPhoto, but not GarageBand for instance). An a la carte offering would prevent those shoppers from paying for an app(s) that they won’t use.

The Mac App Store will premiere for Snow Leopard users in about 90 days. We’ll know for sure by then.

[Via MacNN]

iLife, iWork apps to sell individually in Mac App Store originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Loyal tipster Tarik sent word that the iMovie ’11 Trailers theme using a globe (very similar to the Universal Studios opener) won’t allow you to use the word “Universal” in the title.

He’s currently testing other themes for similar censors, but it looks like Apple didn’t want people spoofing Universal Studios trailers. Because I’m sure “Me and my dog go to the beach” could easily be confused with “Marley and Me,”* right?

As you can see in the picture, Tarik tried to input Universal for the “studio name” field. iMovie detected this, and substituted the hyphens. Further, he reports you’re able to use the string ‘Universal’ in other themes, just not in this one. Was this accommodation reached directly with Universal, perhaps to prevent any derailing of Universal’s deal for distribution on iTunes and Apple TV? I doubt we’ll ever know.

Let us know in the comments if you find more examples of this.

UPDATE: iMovie ’11 won’t let you write in the text string “Paramount” without the adding the hyphenations either. Image on the next page.

*Yeah, I know “Marley and Me” is a 20th Century Fox production.

Continue reading iMovie ’11 Trailers feature won’t let you spoof Universal trailers

iMovie ’11 Trailers feature won’t let you spoof Universal trailers originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Laptop Magazine awards the new MacBook Air 4 out of 5 stars, noting that: “It’s always ready to go. Not only does this notebook weigh a mere 2.3 pounds and boast a razor-thin profile, its use of flash memory means you’ll never have to wait to start surfing the web, touching up photos, or making FaceTime calls.” The reviewer adds: “The 11-inch MacBook Air is a powerful ultraportable that makes other systems in its class look positively bloated.”

Computer Shopper reviews MacBook Air, awarding it an Editors’ Choice and a 9.3/10 rating. Citing its “wow-inducing” dimensions (“the 11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air is as beautiful as it is thin”), “unheard of” screen resolution, and pre-installed iLife ’11 suite, the reviewer concludes that “the 2010 MacBook Air is a gold-standard laptop for demanding users seeking a powerful travel companion or others who want the media punch of iLife.”

No matter how good your application is, no matter how novel, how brilliant, how special — none of it matters if you don’t have anyone to use it. The iOS App Store changed the way developers work by providing a streamlined channel between software developers and potential customers.

Consider my APIkit scanner application. After opening the app to public beta a few months ago, I may have gotten about 200-300 users. Total. (And a grand total of zero feedback, but that’s a completely different gripe about public betas.) Contrast with App Store.

As far as I can calculate, I have now shipped well over a million apps on App Store — that’s extrapolating from the 600+ thousand copies that iTunes Connect tells me I’ve pushed out in the last six months, not including updates and such — just individual purchases. And no, I haven’t earned much from those purchases because nearly everything I’ve put on App Store to date has been free.

That’s not the point.

Being able to touch that many people’s lives, and offer them a few nice utilities is the point. Even as a primarily free developer, it’s brilliant to know that I can create apps that matter, that entertain, and that help. I love when people write me and say: “This app is fun” or “helpful” or “silly” or “delightful.” And I wouldn’t have been able to do that without App Store.

I’ve got a ton of lonely little Mac apps sitting on my back burner that I think can help a lot of people. And now there’s a chance that I can share them in a meaningful way.

Now, step back and consider this from a business point of view. If App Store has done this much to help me reach people as a free dev, consider what it can do for a Mac developer’s bottom line. App Store sells apps. It connects customers to content and developers to an audience. And that’s why it matters.

Why the Mac App Store rocks for developers originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

In the wake of such huge news from Apple today, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. Here’s one story you won’t want to miss, though: Chillingo, the publisher behind the wildly popular game Angry Birds, was acquired by EA Games for a cool $20 million in cash.

Not to worry, though, because Angry Birds isn’t going anywhere. The rights to the game are actually owned by the developer, Rovio, who updated his Twitter profile earlier today to clarify that Angry Birds was not part of the sale and will not be controlled development-wise by EA. Even so, it’s no secret that the App Store’s most popular game of all time certainly helped to sway EA towards this acquisition. With many successful apps available, Chillingo probably looked pretty delicious to all of the big fish in the game industry who were hoping to cash in on the mobile market.

Now, it’s time to fire up Angry Birds and do some additional research on the story. What? Why are you giving me that look? Yes, I’m working!

Angry Birds publisher Chillingo acquired for $20 million originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

I do most of my reading of books purchased from Amazon on my iPad, but there are times where my laptop and desktop Mac would be just dandy for catching up on my non dead-tree efforts.

Amazon has released a new version of Kindle for Mac, and it brings the Mac version up to feature parity with the iOS versions. The new version includes these capabilities:

• Add, edit or delete notes and highlights
• Search for words or phrases in a book
• Multi-column text is now supported
• The overall look and feel are improved and a bit more contemporary

The update is free of course, and a quick download. I’d like to use the Apple iBookstore more often, but the selection of books just isn’t there. Also, Apple doesn’t even have an app that will let you access your iBooks on Mac desktops or laptops, which is a pretty big omission in my view.

New Kindle app for Macs adds many desired features originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple today unveiled the all-new MacBook Air, the first of the next generation of notebooks that will replace mechanical hard disks and optical drives with Internet services and solid-state flash storage. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models and weighing as little as 2.3 pounds, the MacBook Air is Apple’s lightest, most mobile notebook ever. MacBook Air uses the same solid-state storage technology as iPad to deliver instant-on responsiveness, up to seven hours of battery life, and up to 30 days of standby time. Starting at $999, the MacBook Air is available now on the Apple Store and at your favorite Apple Retail Store.

Apple introduced iLife ’11, a major upgrade that gives Mac users even more great ways to create and share photos, movies, and music. iPhoto ’11 has a whole new look, with stunning full-screen modes for Faces, Places, and Events. iMovie ’11 makes it easier than ever to edit videos and quickly transform them into fun theatrical trailers for easy posting online. GarageBand ’11 introduces new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs with Flex Time and Groove Matching. Free with every new Mac, iLife ’11 is available immediately as a $49 upgrade for existing users.

Apple today gave a sneak peek of Mac OS X Lion, the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Shipping next summer, Lion is inspired by many of iPad’s software innovations. Features include the Mac App Store, a new way to discover, install, and automatically update desktop apps; Launchpad, a new home for all of your Mac apps; system-wide support for full-screen apps; and Mission Control, which unifies Exposé, Dashboard, Spaces, and full-screen apps into an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac, allowing you to instantly navigate anywhere.

Apple announced the public beta of FaceTime for Mac, an entirely new application that allows Mac users to video call iPhone 4 and iPod touch users as well as other Mac users. Featuring an intuitive interface, FaceTime for Mac automatically uses your Address Book contacts so there’s no need to create special buddy lists, and it works seamlessly with the built-in camera and mic on Mac notebooks, iMac, and Apple LED Cinema Displays. The public beta is available immediately as a free download.

I remember the first time I made a call on my iPhone all the way back in 2007; I was truly smitten with Apple’s revolution. However, during the second call, I realized that the sharp edge really was uncomfortable to my delicate, mirror-encrusted earlobes.

Fast-forward to 2010, and the problem has only been exacerbated by the folks at Cupertino. Sure, iPhone 4 is a beauty to behold, but while it’s easy on the eyes, it’s certainly hard on the ears.

Enter Yanko Design. The Earos ear cushion is truly one of the most elegant and striking solutions to the ear pain woes of the masses. Finally, we can answer a call on our beloved iPhones without wincing in pain as we bring it near our noggins.

YD points out that ear discomfort is not the only symptom that they’re curing. The Earos doubles as protection from ambient device heat as well as an ear shield for use in colder climates. As a no-charge bonus, the Earos can be flipped around and used as a display stand on flat surfaces.

There is currently no word on pricing or availability, but you can guarantee that this will be in my stocking if they can release this in time for Christmas delivery — even if it does qualify as a No Comment.

[via AppAdvice]

No Comment: iPhone ear cushion originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

This is a feature in that “gee, I wish I’d of thought of that” category. The latest update to the TomTom app (version 1.5) lets you select any photo that has been geo-tagged and navigate to that location. It’s great for finding that favorite picnic spot, or that great photo location.

I tried the feature out today, navigating to 2 locations I had in my iPhone photo roll. In each case, the app showed a map of the location, and with a couple of clicks I was on my way.

The app also now supports the iPhone 4 Retina display and the speed of the app is supposed to be faster but I didn’t see anything dramatic. TomTom U.S.A and U.S. & Canada apps are currently available for $49.99 and $59.99, respectively. It’s a really full featured way to navigate. Navigating to a photo is a really great idea, and I’d like to see some of the other nav apps add this feature as well.

Continue reading TomTom for iPhone now lets your photo gallery be your address book

TomTom for iPhone now lets your photo gallery be your address book originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Man, I love everything about Game Dev Story — from the excellent premise to the cute, pixelated aesthetic to the great simulation gameplay. The idea is that you run your own game studio, and that idea is executed flawlessly. You hire your staff, choose a game genre (or do some contract work if you need extra cash), and then build up your game in terms of fun, graphics, sound, and gameplay, all while trying to keep your staff paid and avoid bugs when possible. Finally, you ship out your game and hope the reviews come back well, even while you’re planning out your next title.

It’s incredible fun, and the great chiptunes and graphics bring a lot to the table. There’s a wild sense of humor in the mix here, too. New consoles are released into the market, a video game magazine comes every month, and you slowly build up your own studio’s fanbase.

Game Dev Story is a ton of fun! It’s somewhat pricey at US$3.99, but honestly, if you’re a fan of the game industry at all (there’s even a fake E3 where you can promote your games!), you’ll find a lot of joy in this one. It’s a very, very cool title.

TUAW’s Daily App: Game Dev Story originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

As the world watched rapt and astonished, the emergence of the 33 Chilean mine workers from their subterranean refuge made for dramatic stories and oddly compelling TV.

Along with the wraparound sunglasses (for eye protection) and other gifts that the miners and their families received, each man is getting a new iPod courtesy of Apple. While the French newspaper Le Figaro describes the media players as “personal gifts” from El Steve, likely as not, they were procured and delivered by Apple’s Chile offices without direct executive involvement.

The iPod gifts are a thoughtful gesture, and we’re sure the miners will enjoy them — but what else could Apple have included in the gift basket? iPads, to share movies and photos on the job? A MacBook, to document the experience and field movie-of-the-week offers? Licenses for Final Cut Studio, in case the miners want to take creative control of said MOW? Give us your suggestions below.

Next Apple gift to the Chilean miners should be… originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T and Apple today announced that all three iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available at more than 2,200 AT&T Stores starting Thursday, October 28. AT&T will offer customers 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad, complete with Apple’s easy on-device activation and management. All iPad data plans are available without a term contract and include unlimited access to AT&T’s more than 23,000 domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.

Verizon Wireless and Apple today announced that iPad will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide beginning Thursday, October 28. Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles — all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot — for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for a 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi, $729.99 for a 32GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi, and $829.99 for a 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi and MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.

The Wall Street Journal turns its attention to parents using iPad and iPad apps to educate and communicate with special needs children. Shannon Rosa, an advocate and writer whose nine-year-old son, Leo, has autism and uses an iPad says, “It’s portable and something he can carry, and yet it’s large enough to be accessible. There’s no cursor analogy he has to work through; it’s a direct connection.” Holly Gray, whose daughter, Caleigh, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, uses an app that speaks the words associated with pictures she touches on the screen. Says Gray, “We’re not having to fight to prove to people that she is a smart little girl anymore, because it’s there once they see her using the iPad.”

CNET reports that for the fourth consecutive year, J.D. Power and Associates has ranked Apple highest in customer satisfaction among smartphone manufacturers. The study showed that iPhone scored particularly well in ease of operation, operating system, features, and physical design.

The amazing presentation skills of Steve Jobs have been the topic of many articles, but it’s downright rare to see an entire press event done by a Steve Jobs clone — especially one who is speaking in Chinese.

The press conference in question was held yesterday in Hong Kong to celebrate the launch of the MTR Mobile subway app. This is an impressive app, using augmented reality to show the location of stations, displaying schedules and maps, and including a helpful route planner. It’s also incredible for finding local goods and services.

The clone at the conference was local celebrity Law Kar-ying, who has obviously watched enough Stevenotes to pick up a lot of the mannerisms of His Steveness, including “One More Thing,” gulping bottled water, and plucking an iDevice from his jeans pocket. He’s even wearing a close facsimile of the Jobsian wardrobe of a black St. Croix mock turtleneck, Levi’s 501 jeans, and New Balance 991 shoes.

As Winandmac.com reports, the Steve clone did something that Jobs never does at press events — he gave away four iPhone 4′s to audience members. Perhaps the real Jobs can learn a lesson here…

Check out the video (in Chinese) after the break.

[via Engadget]

Continue reading Found Footage: Chinese Steve Jobs clone intros new iPhone app

Found Footage: Chinese Steve Jobs clone intros new iPhone app originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Archaeologist Steven Ellis and his team are using iPad — with apps like Pages, FMTouch, iDraw, OmniGraffle, and Photos — to capture invaluable historical data in the trenches at Pompeii. Says Ellis, “That my team could both type and draw on the screen, and also examine all previously entered data, made it an ideal single-device solution.”

CNBC reports that iPad is the highest-scoring product the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has ever tracked.

IGN calls iPod touch “the greatest iPod to date,” noting its new A4 processor, built-in cameras, FaceTime video calling, and Retina display — which results in “incredibly smooth and detailed menus, game graphics, photos, and video playback.” The reviewer adds that the hardware improvements make iPod touch “uniquely prepared to take on richer, more complex games” and that “the latest model may be a worthy upgrade for gaming applications alone.”

Reviewing iPod nano, Peter Ha (TIME.com) writes that “the current generation nano is focused on one thing and one thing only — music.” Citing its small size, extremely responsive Multi-Touch display, and “intuitive UI,” Ha notes that iPod nano “now rivals the shuffle as the smallest iPod and the touch as one of the coolest and ‘funnest’ iPods ever made.”

From world-class hospitality to medical rehabilitation, iPad is helping to transform the way businesses work. See how Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, RehabCare, and other organizations are using iPad to improve the way they get business done.

Watch this video profile to see how the Mac has changed the way teachers teach and students learn in the Greene County school system in rural North Carolina. A new project-based curriculum has engaged and motivated students, and college-going rates have risen dramatically.

Apple today announced that in less than 48 hours since its launch on Wednesday, more than one million users have joined Ping, its new social network for music. Ping lets users follow their favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to, and downloading. “One-third of the people who have downloaded iTunes 10 have joined Ping,“ said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “As many more people download iTunes 10 in the coming weeks, we expect the Ping community to continue growing.“

Computerworld reviewer Michael deAgonia writes that for “the past month, the latest 27-inch iMac from Apple has been the center of my digital universe.” Citing the computer’s high-resolution LED-backlit display, clean design, and speed, deAgonia concludes: “The iMac is pretty much everything I could want from a modern computer, the ultimate all-in-one.”