Iphone Updates

If you’ve been waiting to catch a whiff of some Cedar Trail freshness, looks like you’re just gonna hold your breath a little bit longer. DigiTimes is reporting that the next-gen Atom chip has been pushed back from its anticipated September launch to November. Apparently Chipzilla is having issues with the graphics drivers and has been unable to pass Windows 7 certification. The new low-power CPUs should still be ready in time for the holiday season though, and will likely find their way into plenty of netbooks that almost nobody will buy.

Cedar Trail may be delayed, new Atoms gone ’til November originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, we’re still waiting for that Microsoft-Skype deal to close, but it looks like Redmond’s about to get more than it initially bargained for. Skype announced today that it has reached an agreement to snatch up Groupme, the mobile group messaging service that made a splash at Google I/O. Outfit head honcho Tony Bates told TechCrunch that Skype needs to invade the mobile space if it hopes to reach its goal of scoring one billion users, and cites Groupme’s “sticky group messaging experience” as the ideal mobile addition to the Skype family. But don’t take our word for it, hit the break and dig the PR for yourself.

Continue reading Skype adds Groupme to social portfolio, sets sights on mobile market

Skype adds Groupme to social portfolio, sets sights on mobile market originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading LG sheds light on the Optimus Sol, available mid-September in Europe

LG sheds light on the Optimus Sol, available mid-September in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like AMD is finally ready to spill the (official) beans on that 1.65GHz E-450 Fusion APU we heard about at Computex, today announcing refreshed chips for its Fusion E and C-series APUs. The updated “Zacate” and “Ontario” APUs sport DDR-1333 and HDMI 1.4a support, snaring bragging rights to faster memory and 3D output for 3D-enabled televisions. The new chips also promise an increased resting battery life — up to 10.5 hours for the E-Series, and a staggering 12 hours on the C-Series. Although it didn’t name any specific manufacturers, AMD says that machines rocking the new APUs are available starting today. Hit the break for the full PR.

Continue reading AMD refreshes E and C-Series Fusion APUs, adds DDR-1333 support, better battery life

AMD refreshes E and C-Series Fusion APUs, adds DDR-1333 support, better battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently, the iOS hacking community is not working for the weekend, judging by the two days it took to crack Apple’s latest beta wide open. Available as of this morning, the Sn0wbreeze 2.8 Beta 6 unlock tool can now give those of you with developer credentials jailbreak access to iOS 5 beta 6. From the looks of this release, the hack works on most iOS devices with the sole exception of the iPad 2. Already itching to get that custom firmware on your Ive-designed iSlabs? Then hit the source link below, and let us know how things turn out.

iOS 5 beta 6 gets a Sn0wbreeze jailbreak, iPad 2 still stuck behind bars originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a long, long while since Nikon’s full-frame stable saw a refresh, but the company’s been keeping it clicking down at the low and mid-range. Take the D5100, for example — for $900, it offers up a fairly stout set of specifications, but as with everything else, we’re certain those that bought in have a thing or two to say after a summer’s worth of shooting. So, let’s have it! Are you satisfied with the quality of the 1080p movie mode? How’s that low-light performance? Is the construction solid enough for your clumsy hands? Are you feeling the burn with no built-in AF motor? Go on and nitpick in comments below — mama always said her kids deserved to be heard.

How would you change Nikon’s D5100? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Torch 9810 available on AT&T today for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

Incredible green architecture projects lifted off to the stars and charted the seas this week as Inhabitat showcased a solar-powered space pod hotel that could launch in 2016 and PayPal founder Peter Thiel invested $1.25 million to create a chain of floating micro-countries. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled new images of its spaceship-shaped headquarters and its Grand Central Terminal store, and OPEN Architecture floated plans to transform a Zeppelin hangar into a green-roofed extreme sports center. Living green building projects also got a boost as Mexico unveiled plans to develop the world’s largest urban park and an incredible crop of grass-covered cubicles sprung up in downtown Denver.

It was also an epic week for electric vehicles as Germany’s “Schluckspecht” car set a world record for driving over 1,000 miles on a single charge, Lightning Motorcycles broke the 200 MPH electric bike speed record, and Stanford unveiled what could very well be the fastest solar car ever built. We also watched the world’s largest solar-powered boat arrive in Hong Kong as it continues its trip around the world, while Google Street View began mapping the Amazon using cameras set on canoes and trikes. Solar Roadways also received a $750,000 grant to develop a large-scale installation and Zero2Infinity proposed a cheaper way to travel to space via an immense helium-filled balloon.

In other news, the past week was charged with renewable energy developments as a 13-year-old kid harnessed the Fibonacci sequence to make a solar power breakthrough and researchers developed an energy-harvesting LCD screen that could one day power our gadgets. We also learned that deep-sea mussels can convert hydrogen into energy, we were shocked to see another shiny slick of oil turn up near a BP well in the Gulf of Mexico, and we saw Australia outfit its soldiers with photovoltaic systems. Finally, on the home front we brought you a set of fun LEGO LED lamps perfect for illuminating any room, and we shared five tips for greening your finances.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: space pod hotel, Lego LED lamps and the world’s largest solar-powered boat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s August 21st, which equates to good news for hopeful buyers of the Samsung Conquer 4G. The latest device cranking out the WiMAX is available for a Benjamin starting today, both online and at Sprint stores. As a refresher, the Conquer brings a 1GHz CPU with Android 2.3.4 and 512MB of RAM, and does so using a 3.5-inch HVGA display. So no more rumors, no more Blurrycam shots, and definitely no more presales — it’s time for the real deal, if you’re so inclined to make the two-year commitment.

Samsung Conquer 4G now ready for your purchase on Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, you’ve done the deed. You’ve purchased an HP TouchPad, despite having no intentions whatsoever to do so just a week ago. But hey — a $400 discount can change perceptions. Now that you’ve got one (or have one en route), we’re curious to know what you plan on doing with it. We’ve heard such far-flung ideas as using it as a digital photo frame, keeping it wrapped up for eBaying in 2049 or just stashing it nearby for those late-night couch surfing sessions. The future of webOS development may be lost (at least on these consumer devices), but there’s still fun to be had with a hundred-dollar tablet. Share amongst yourselves in comments below — we could all stand to hear a tip or two!

View Poll

Poll: If you snagged a TouchPad on closeout, what are you using it for? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for the TUAW Talkcast. One of the fun topics for the evening will be to see how many participants have picked up a US$99 or $149 HP TouchPad to use as a drink tray or for recording their own version of “Will It Blend?” There will be much more to yap about as well.

I’m not sure if anyone else from the TUAW Team will be there this evening, but be sure to join in for the fun and games.

It’s really all about you, the community, so please join me won’t you? To participate, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for +5 Interactivity, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (Viva free weekend minutes!): 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 Blink or X-Lite SIP clients, basic instructions are here. (If you like Blink, the pro version is available in the Mac App Store.) Talk to you tonight!

TUAW Talkcast: The HP TouchPad fire sale episode originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dear Dev Juice,

Can you help me generate a unique identifier for my iOS apps? I don’t want to rely on using UDIDs anymore. I’d say why but then you’d have to shoot me.

Watm-ever

Dear Watm-ever

That sounds dire. Let’s avoid the violence and focus on the Core Foundation. Here you go. If you’re not using ARC, then you’ll need to autorelease uuidString rather than bridging.

You’ll probably want to store your new ids into the keychain to allow them to persist.

Happy developing.

Update: Readers ask if this approach will persist between application reinstalls. Yes, as I originally posted, it will if you use the keychain. It will not persist with system re-installs if the keychain is wiped and not restored from a backup. Can you use the MAC address, yes — but it looks as if Apple wants you to stay away from device-specific information.

Dev Juice: Help me generate unique identifiers originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised (threatened?) in yesterday’s roundup of three outstanding iPad case and stand products, I have another case to review for you. The Adonit Writer for iPad 2 (US$99) is the second generation of a rather sleek Bluetooth keyboard case for the iPad and from my testing this week, it’s the keyboard case you wanted to wait for. (Click here to see our review of the original Adonit Writer for the first generation iPad.)

Design

As with all of the cases of this genre, the Adonit Writer for iPad 2 features a full case to protect the device as well as a built-in Bluetooth keyboard. However, that’s where the resemblance to other keyboard cases ends. Most of the units I’ve seen use a built-in battery pack that needs to be plugged into a USB port for charging; with the Writer, power is supplied by three AAA batteries that are loaded into a cylindrical “hinge” that connects the keyboard and the frame that holds the iPad. That frame covers the back of the iPad, and has a magnet in the correct spot to turn your iPad 2 on and off as if it was a Smart Cover.

Closing the Writer’s lid not only shuts off the iPad 2, but also puts the keyboard into a low power sleep mode. Although I have not yet been able to wear down the batteries, a note on the Adonit site says that they’ll last for about a month of heavy use or two months of normal use. While that’s similar to what I’ve seen with other cases, with those units I just plug in the USB cable and charge up the batteries for another day. One could use an inexpensive AAA compact recharger and rechargeable AAA cells. However, that’s something else to carry around and lose during travel, while the USB cables used to recharge the other keyboard cases are ubiquitous and something that I carry around anyway.

There’s another slight problem with the battery holder. It’s meant to work like the one that is built into Apple’s Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, with a closure that can be opened with a coin. The closure on the Adonit Writer opened easily enough, but it took about three times for me to close the battery door without having it fall off. I would not be a happy camper if the door fell off and was lost while I’m in transit… This door seems to be a point of difficulty for the Adonit designers, as the first generation product had issues with some of the doors jamming.

On the other hand, the Adonit Writer is slimmer than many of the other keyboard cases I’ve reviewed. Some of them can be downright bulky — the Qmadix Portfolio, for instance, is about 1.4″ thick. The Writer is .8″ thick near the keyboard, but slims down to about .6″ elsewhere. I was initially concerned that the proximity of the keyboard to the screen might result in some key marks on the iPad display, but that concern disappeared when I noticed that there are three small “bumps” that keep the keys and display from ever touching.

While most of the other keyboard cases use a series of folding flaps to keep the iPad in an upright position, the Adonit Writer (and the Crux360 case as well) use a stiff hinge to perform the same function. One thing I like about the Writer is that the keyboard and case are magnetized so there’s a limited range in which you can adjust the angle between the keyboard and iPad.

Functionality

With any keyboard, I have three main criteria that must be met. First, I must be able to touch type quickly on the keyboard; second, the keyboard must provide tactile feedback to assist that touch typing; and third, the keyboard must not rattle or click loudly.

I found the keyboard on the Adonit Writer to be excellent by these criteria. While the keys are closer than I’d like — all iPad keyboards have that issue — they have an excellent feel, good feedback, and the keyboard is relatively quiet compared to others. More than any other iPad keyboard I’ve reviewed, the Adonit Writer keyboard gave me the necessary comfort and feedback to type quickly. That’s not to say that I didn’t go through a short adjustment period to get used to the smaller space bar and the location of several other keys, but one I did become familiar with the layout I was almost back to my normal typing speed.

To me, one test for any iPad keyboard case is whether or not I can actually use it as a pseudo-laptop. This has been an issue with several keyboard cases, but not with the Adonit Writer. It balanced very well in my lap and was usable, although not a real substitute for a “true” laptop like an MacBook Air.

The fit of the Writer is perfect, and it’s a cinch to put the case on or remove it for touch-only iPad use. Since this version is for the iPad 2 (there is a model for the original iPad as well), there’s also a strategically-placed hole in the back where the rear-facing camera can peer out.

Unlike some cases where I’ve never really been quite sure how to get the Bluetooth keyboard into a discoverable mode, the Writer is very clear — you press and hold the power button until it blinks green and then finish the pairing by typing a code on the keyboard. If your batteries are about to go out, the keyboard supplies a warning by turning the LED in the power switch a yellow color, and when it’s time to replace them the LED flashes red.

As with other cases of this type, the keyboard has a set of keys that serve to control iPad functions. There’s a home key, a Spotlight search key, a slideshow key, and a key for displaying the onscreen keyboard. In the center of the keyboard are three keys for controlling music or video playback, and on the right side of the keyboard are volume keys and a lock key. Want to use these as standard function keys? No problem — they’re numbered as F1 through F15, and there’s a “fn” key that enables them.

Conclusion

While there are still a few minor issues that I have with the Adonit Writer for iPad 2, it’s still about the best that I’ve used. I love the feel of the keyboard, the slim design of the case, and the limited adjustability of the screen angle. The fact that the case acts like my Smart Cover to turn on and shut off the iPad 2 is nice, and the process of pairing the keyboard was easier to understand than with other Bluetooth keyboards.

The only negatives for me were with the use of AAA batteries (which I was able to overcome with the use of rechargeables) and the design of the battery door, which always seems to me to be on the verge of popping off.

If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth keyboard case for an iPad 2, I highly recommend considering the Adonit Writer. The slim and intelligent design make it a joy to use, and the build quality is apparent from the minute you remove it from the packaging. As Chris White noted in his earlier review of the original model, “The Writer itself looks and feels like it could be an Apple product.” That’s high praise, and it stands with the Adonit Writer for iPad 2.

Adonit Writer for iPad 2: A smart keyboard case originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I often travel with more than a few Apple devices, all of which usually need power at some point during the day, so the idea of this one intrigues me a lot, obviously. Energizer (the bunny people) is releasing a brand new travel charger that, as you can see above, goes industrial on charging your devices. not only does it expand an outlet into three, but there’s a built-in iPhone dock, and even a USB charger to plug into on the side. That’s some serious charge.

I’m sure if you plugged charging units into everything on the iSurge, you might run the risk of pulling off too much power — especially if the outlet isn’t set up right, it’s hard to see how this wouldn’t cause problems. Still, that’s a handy little unit, even if you do end up using all of the various outlets at different times. The charger is indeed called the iSurge, and is set to be sold for $60 by the end of the year.

[via Wired]

Energizer travel charger powers your Mac, iPhone, and iPad … all at once originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple apparently hasn’t answered back the Australian government just yet about its query this week on pricing for both apps and hardware. The Australian Parliament, including Labor Minister Ed Husic, has been knocking on Apple’s door trying to figure out why the company charges more for its products in that country. Originally the issue was partially based on the difference between the American dollar and the Australian currency, but in more recent times, that difference has narrowed, to the point where they’re only a few cents’ difference. Apple already brought down app prices once this year, but those prices are still relatively high, and the company hasn’t moved on hardware prices, sometimes selling computers for hundreds of dollars more than they’d sell for the US.

Apple isn’t the only company with higher prices down under — Australians also face higher prices on video game consoles and their software (which is another issue that the local government is fighting with companies about). A certain percentage of this is politicians rabble-rousing, I think, but Husic is at least threatening more consequential action, suggesting that it might be “time for our pricing watchdog, the ACCC, to take up the case for long-suffering consumers and carry out a formal inquiry.” Certainly in the case of digitally distributed software, there shouldn’t be a reason for this phenomenon, which Aussies themselves are calling the “tech tax.”

Australia fights with Apple on pricing originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The flow of new iPad cases and stands continues unabated here at TUAW Labs, where I’m making room for the next round of goodies by boxing up what I’ve reviewed over the past few months and shipping it to NYC for the Engadget meetup. In order to get a few more into the box, I’m taking a look at the G-Form Extreme Sleeve 2 (US$69.95), Bracketron iTilt stand ($19.95), and ZooGue Case Genius for iPad 2 ($49.99). The nice thing about these three iPad accessories is that they all have something innovative and unique to make them stand out from the crowd.

G-Form Extreme Sleeve 2

The first thing I have to say about the G-Form Extreme Sleeve 2 is that it is, at least to my eyes, butt-ugly. The second thing is that despite the looks, it’s probably one of the best protective sleeves that I’ve seen for the iPad.

As you can see from the photo below, the Extreme Sleeve 2 comes in a eye-jarringly bright yellow with a flexible armor that would be more at home on a Navy SEAL than an iPad. Fortunately for those of us with sensitive eyes, G-Form also makes the Extreme Sleeve 2 in a more sedate black.

It’s the armor that counts here, though, and this would be perfect for carrying an iPad or iPad 2 around to construction sites, campsites, college dorms, kindergartens, or other potential disaster areas where a broken iPad is just a slip away.

The Extreme Sleeve 2 uses a material called PORON XRD that stiffens and absorbs energy from impacts to protect your iPad. This material is also water-resistant, and it’s surprisingly lightweight. How good is the protection? Well, answer this question — will your iPad sleeve protect your iPad against the impact of a 12-lb. bowling ball being dropped from a three-foot height?

If you’re going for sleek style, look elsewhere, but if you want to protect your iPad, the G-Form Extreme Sleeve 2 is probably right for you.

Bracketron iTilt

I wrote about this product a little over a week ago, but I wanted to bring it up again. Why? Because it’s rare to find a product that is both inexpensive and does one job very well. For $20, you’re getting a very adjustable and sturdy iPad stand that folds flat for transport. For those of us who like our Smart Covers and don’t want to have buy some expensive, fancy case with a folding leg that pops out of the back, this is perfect for using the iPad hands-free.

I just wish the iTilt had one feature built into it — a Google+ “plus” button or a Facebook “Like” button.

ZooGue Case Genius for iPad 2

I’ve been a big fan of ZooGue’s iPad cases since Macworld Expo 2011, when the company seemed to be giving them away to everyone in sight. Frankly, they did a good job of marketing the case by doing so, as they made it easy for a lot of the Apple press to get their hands on one of the most versatile iPad cases on the market.

The second-generation (perhaps third?) Case Genius is now available for iPad 2, and it still beats most of the competition in terms of being able to do a lot of tasks very well. Want a portfolio case that adjusts to a huge range of angles? It’ll do that. Want a case with a hand strap so you can carry the iPad around while you do your rounds in the hospital? Yep, the Case Genius can do it. How about a case that you can strap to the car headrest so the kids can watch a movie while you’re driving? Case Genius does it.

The Velcro-covered leather case has improved as time has gone by, and the company obviously responds positively to owner comments. The ZooGue Case Genius for iPad 2 definitely wins the prize for “iPad case most likely to be used everywhere in your life.”

Conclusion

I was pleasantly surprised with all three of these iPad accessories, since all of them bring something unique and innovative to the table. The ZooGue Case Genius is priced less than other cases or stands that have much less capability, the Bracketron iTilt takes up very little space when folded and is actually reasonably priced, and the G-Force Extreme Sleeve 2 can literally take a pounding.

Stay tuned to TUAW this weekend for several reviews of other innovative accessories for iOS devices.

iPad cases and stands: The few, the proud, the innovative originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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id’s Rage app went free earlier on this week, and that seems to have inspired a little avalanche of free and discounted apps on the App Store. Good news for us, of course: There are quite a few solid apps to pick up if you haven’t yet.

• Trucks and Skulls Nitro is now free and so is the HD version for a limited time.
• Retro platformer Pix ‘n’ Love Rush is down to just 99 cents.
• Firemint’s Real Racing is down to just cents as well, and the sequel, usually $6.99, is down to $2.99. The HD version is $4.99, a couple bucks less than usual.
• Halfbrick’s great dualstick shooter Age of Zombies is 99 cents right now.
• Capcom’s Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting just got a big update, and to celebrate, the price has dropped to $1.99.
• And Namco released a game called Rally-x Rumble that I haven’t yet played, but it is on sale for 99 cents. Looks like a solid title!
• Gameloft’s Spider-man: Total Mayhem is 99 cents.
• Recent Daily App spotlight Siege Hero is free for a limited time.
• EA’s Scrabble is $1.99.
• Shift 2 Unleashed for iPhone is $1.99, and the HD version for iPad is discounted as well.
• Apple Design Award winner Star Walk is only 99 cents on the iPhone.
• As is Articles, also an ADA winner.

So there’s a few to pick up. Have fun this weekend!

Trucks and Skulls Nitro free, other iOS price drops this weekend originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reading the headlines today, you’ll see the usual exaggeration of half-understood factoids bubble out from today’s iOS 5 beta 6 release. Thank goodness for that NDA, huh?

As reported by our sister site TechCrunch, Apple is deprecating the use of UDIDs as unique identifiers for developers, thereby severing one of the most common ties between physical devices and the apps that need to know which specific iOS gadget they’re on. It’s the end of the world as we know it! Well, no, actually. Let’s get to the real story here, brought to you by feedback from some iOS developers with real-world knowledge of what the implications of this change will be.

First off, let’s clear up what it means for Apple to ‘deprecate’ this identifier. A deprecated function or software component is not yanked out immediately; it’s simply been flagged by the developer of the platform (or app, command line tool, what have you) as something that will be going away in the future, eventually. While the feature remains in place for the sake of backwards compatibility, deprecation is a clear sign to all the programmers in town that they will have to move away from using this feature in the long run.

To the average person, this deprecation of developer access to UDIDs means little more than one step towards better privacy. UDIDs are far from the only way a developer could ensure “your” iPhone is, in fact, your iPhone. Using the identifier has always been a relatively easy way for developers to do this, however, and so many used it, some abused it, and the average user was never the wiser.

From the beginning, Apple has always uniquely identified its devices via UDIDs or other means, and the iPhone is no exception. There is a class called “UIDdevice” which describes the things on the iPhone, i.e., the features unique to that device. Until today, developers could have access to a users’ UDIDs, and they’ve used them as identifiers for a lot of gaming, user info persistence and subscription systems (including some of our favorite apps). The downside of UDIDs in the past is because they’re related to devices and not accounts, sometimes it’s hard to have the device identifiers talk to each other. Some developers have grabbed or scraped these without user permission for marketing and other less than reputable purposes — hence the privacy concern behind broadcasting UDIDs to third-party developers.

The utility of developers having access to the UDID is far lower than the potential for abusing it. The UIdevice class does things like telling you the battery state, system name, OS version, phone model, and so forth — it identifies the device and the features on it. It’s been helpful in terms of letting developers determine which devices run certain features better — knowing the difference in performance between an iPhone 3G and an iPhone 4 is certainly important, especially to game developers — but other than that, there’s not much utility there.

So why isn’t losing access to the UDID a big deal, at all? Any developer can always roll their own unique identifier. Apple provides a way to randomly generate one, so you never really had to use the UDID. People have been using UDIDs for various reasons — not all of them good — and there’s not a lot of positives to UDID use other than ad-hoc app distribution (i.e., for beta testing).

Apple’s deprecation of UDID access is something that’s been expected for some time. MacStories’ take on it aligns with our own; privacy concerns over UDID sharing have been in the news for a long time, so it’s not a shocker that Apple’s now contemplating denying third-party access to them. From a user’s perspective, this is a Good Thing. From a scrupulous developer’s position, this may complicate your life for a while, but that’s all. Unscrupulous developers who’ve been abusing UDIDs for marketing or other purposes are the ones that will get hit hardest by this change, but as far as I’m concerned, they can wither up and die with no tears shed.

Some have speculated that iCloud account information might be substituted for UDIDs, but developers don’t really have access to user account information from iCloud — and they shouldn’t. That would be an even bigger security hole than UDIDs.

Apple seems to be taking a “none of your business” approach to user IDs where developers are concerned. We speculate that’s the motivation behind removing the UDID API. Meanwhile, try not to buy into widespread reports of dogs and cats living together/mass hysteria, because it’s just not that big of a deal in the long run.

iOS 5 deprecates UDID as identifier for developers, but it’s not the end of the world originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First fake Apple Stores, now China has fake Steve Jobs biographies. The fake biography’s title roughly translates to Steve Jobs Gives 11 Advices To Teenager in English and its author is a man who goes by the name “John Cage.” MicGadget says the fake bio first went on sale at Taiwanese bookseller KingStone in April and has already sold 4,000 copies earning US$39,000 in profit.

The official Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson launches on November 21st. There’s no assertions that this is a stolen and translated copy of Isaacson’s manuscript, rather its likely the content of the book is assembled from previously printed information about Jobs. TechCrunch also suggests that the title could imply that the material was translated from Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement speech.

Until the book is pulled by Apple legal it can be purchased for US$8.10 here.

First, fake Apple Stores. Now, fake Steve Jobs biography. originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s a quote by Nolan Bushnell I love that says, “Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.” Most people reading this have probably had an idea for an iPhone app, but after reading Connor Zamary’s story, you might feel a little more pressure to dry off and do something about it.

Connor is a seven-year-old who started his own iOS development company. His first game, the US $0.99 Toaster Pop is aimed at kids his own age. He told Cnet where his idea came from: “My dad was telling me about an old fashioned toaster since I never saw one before. Then it just came to me to create an app, where toast would pop out of the toaster, land on a plate and you would have to butter it with butter.”

After he had his idea, Connor laid out the app, formed his own LLC, made PowerPoint presentations, pitched investors, and attended conference calls with developers on the West Coast. He then hired a developer to build the app. All his hard work paid off too. Toaster Pop currently has twenty-six five-star reviews on the App Store.

Connor isn’t done making other seven year olds (and adults) look lazy either. He currently has plans for Toaster Pop 2.0, which Cnet says, are hanging on his parents’ refrigerator.

7-year-old iPhone developer is on a roll originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At the world-famous Missouri School of Journalism, the MacBook Pro is now a universal presence in a curriculum designed to give students the hands-on experience they need to produce work at the same level as any professional journalist. Students use their Mac notebooks with iLife and Final Cut Pro to report, write, edit, and produce stories for the school’s newspaper, TV station, and online news service. Says Associate Dean Brian Brooks, “The Mac can really transform how we teach journalism in this country.”

Reviewer Jim Dalrymple writes in The Loop that the new 13-inch
MacBook Air combines all the capabilities required for doing day-to-day work with optimal screen size and resolution. Dalrymple also praises the device’s spacious keyboard, “amazing” battery life, and pre-installed OS X Lion. He concludes: “The 13-inch MacBook Air is the computer that all other laptops will be measured against. It has power, portability, and a sleek design that is only matched by other MacBooks.”

Apple announced that Mac OS X Lion — the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system — is available today as a download from the Mac App Store for $29.99. Lion offers more than 250 new features, including Multi-Touch gestures; systemwide support for full screen apps; Mission Control, a bird’s eye view of everything running on your Mac; Launchpad, a new home for all your apps; and a completely redesigned Mail app.

Apple today updated the MacBook Air with next-generation Intel Core processors, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, a backlit keyboard, and Mac OS X Lion, the world’s most advanced operating system. With up to 2.5x the performance of the previous generation, flash storage for instant-on responsiveness, and a compact design so portable you can take it everywhere, MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook. MacBook Air starts at $999 (US) and is available for order today and in stores tomorrow.

Apple today unveiled the new Apple Thunderbolt Display, the world’s first display with Thunderbolt I/O technology and the ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook. With just a single cable, you can connect a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display and access its FaceTime camera, high-quality audio, and Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt ports. The new display features a thin aluminum and glass enclosure and includes a MagSafe connector that charges your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

Apple today updated the Mac mini with next-generation Intel Core processors, new discrete graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, and Lion, the world’s most advanced operating system. The new Mac mini delivers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of the previous generation in the same amazingly compact and efficient aluminum design. Starting at just $599 (US), the new Mac mini is available for order today and in stores tomorrow.

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended June 25, 2011. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $28.57 billion and record quarterly net profit of $7.31 billion, or $7.79 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $15.70 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.25 billion, or $3.51 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. “We’re thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Right now, we’re very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall.”

For Standard Chartered Bank — a Global 500 international bank with 1800 branches on six continents — iPhone and iPad provide a perfect platform to expand its mobile services, both internally and to its increasingly tech-savvy customers. “With iPhone and iPad, we’re really looking at the next generation of banking,” says Todd Schofield, Global Head of Enterprise Mobility at Standard Chartered Bank. “Managing our customers’ money is a responsibility we take very seriously, and our mobile services reflect that.”

Computerworld reviewer Michael deAgonia calls the new 27-inch
iMac “a thoroughly modern all-in-one computer, with a sharp, bright screen that’s perfect for editing movies, organizing/editing photos, watching streaming video or making your own presentations.” Citing its minimalist design, enhanced performance from Sandy Bridge processors and AMD graphics chips, and the “very important addition” of Thunderbolt data transfer capabilities, deAgonia concludes: “Apple has delivered a solid update to what was already a popular and successful line.”

Apple today announced Final Cut Pro X, a new version of the world’s most popular pro video editing software, rebuilt from the ground up on a modern 64-bit architecture. Final Cut Pro X completely reinvents video editing with a Magnetic Timeline that lets you edit on a flexible, trackless canvas; Content Auto-Analysis that categorizes your content upon import by shot type, media, and people; and background rendering that allows you to work without interruption. Final Cut Pro X is available from the Mac App Store for $299.99.