Home audio peripheral maker Pioneer on Tuesday announced the release of its VSX-1021-K A/V receiver – the first of eight Pioneer receivers coming out this year with support for AirPlay, Apple’s streaming audio technology highlighted in iTunes and on iOS … Continued
∞ Dragon Age II released for Mac (and other platforms)
BioWare and Electronic Arts (EA) on Tuesday announced the release of Dragon Age II for multiple platforms, including Mac OS X. It costs $60.
∞ Air Display for Mac turns computer into monitor
Avatron Software on Tuesday announced the release of Air Display for Mac, which turns your Mac into a secondary wireless monitor for another Mac or a PC. The software is available through the Mac App Store and costs $19.99.
∞ Toast 11 adds support for social networking uploads, more
Rovi on Tuesday announced the release of Roxio Toast 11, a new version of its disc burning and media management software for the Mac. Available in Titanium and Pro editions, Toast 11 is priced at $99.99 and $149.99 respectively. Upgrades … Continued
∞ Legendary game maker Graeme Devine on iPad game development pitfalls
“The iPad is not an iPhone,” said Graeme Devine during a conference session at this week’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. It may seem obvious to some, but Devine thinks it’s important to underscore for game developers who … Continued
∞ Apple launches 'Joint Venture' program for businesses
Business owners looking to leverage Apple technology to their best ability now have a new place to turn: Joint Venture. Joint Venture connects businesses with Apple retail stores to buy products, schedule training, book appointments, get tech support and enroll … Continued
∞ Infinity Blade creator talks iOS game development
Donald Mustard, creative director at Chair Entertainment, gave developers at this week’s Game Developer Conference some insight on how his company made a hit game unlike any other for iOS in about five months. Chair’s game, Infinity Blade, is the … Continued
∞ Apple posts iPad 2 keynote video
If you couldn’t be at the iPad 2 unveiling in San Francisco, now you can watch it for yourself thanks to Apple. The company has posted an iPad 2 keynote video link on its Web site.
∞ Hands on with the iPad 2
Lighter, thinner, and way faster – that’s the iPad 2 in a nutshell. Following Apple’s iPad 2 announcement, the company invited the assembled throng to actually get their hands on one ahead of the March 11th release to the general … Continued
∞ Apple's iPad 2 event live update
Apple will unveil the iPad 2 on Wednesday at 10:00 am PT at a special event in San Francisco, Calif. The Loop is at the event and will bring you live coverage as it happens.
∞ Karelia Software offers sneak peek at Sandvox 2
Karelia Software has posted a Web page to give users just a taste of what’s coming with Sandvox 2, a new version of its visual Web site creation software for regular people.
∞ Say goodbye to journalistic integrity: NDAs no longer count for much
When did Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) cease to have any meaning? And what does this mean for the future of Apple reporting and blogging going forward?
∞ Angry Birds CEO: "We really have Apple to thank"
Of the thousands of games available for download from the App Store, none has had the sustained popularity of Rovio’s Angry Birds, a 99 cent physics-based puzzler in which you use a slingshot to launch birds of various shapes and … Continued
∞ Gameloft to develop Unreal Engine 3 games for iOS
Gameloft announced Monday plans to develop four new games using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3. The games will be released in 2011 and 2012, coming to multiple platforms including iOS.
∞ Photography for Beginners: Spring is Springing
Okay, so maybe I’m being a little bit optimistic in hoping that Spring is around a (hopefully) short corner. But my optimism is due to all the great shooting opportunities Spring brings.
∞ Macworld benchmarks new MacBook Pros
Apple’s new MacBook Pros are already out in the world, and Macworld Labs director James Galbraith has posted some benchmarks showing how they actually do. “In testing conducted by Macworld Lab, the laptops released Thursday turned in Speedmark scores between … Continued
∞ Verizon CEO says iPhone sales strong, hints at 4G future
Verizon Wireless CEO Daniel S. Mead told The Wall Street Journal that sales of the iPhone 4 were very strong, contrary to reports that the phone wasn’t selling as well as expected. The article, penned by Shayndi Raice, included some … Continued
∞ Epic Games raises royalty threshold on UDK games
Epic Games made headlines in 2010 when it announced its Unreal Development Kit (UDK) for iOS – a major advance to bring spectacular-looking games to the iPhone and iPad. Now Epic is making things a bit easier for developers that … Continued
∞ Adobe Digital Publishing Suite will support Apple, Google subscriptions
Adobe Systems Inc. on Friday announced that its Digital Publishing Suite will support both Apple’s in-app subscriptions model and Google’s One Pass. Adobe DPS is currently available as “pre-release technology,” though Adobe says commercially shipping tools will be available shortly.
∞ Opinion: Where parenting fails, the government will surely succeed
In the latest story illustrating the government’s insistence at sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong, Industrygamers reports that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is “investgating” Apple’s iOS in-app purchases to see if they pass muster with the Feds.
∞ Lion Server to be included with core Mac OS X Lion
When Mac OS X “Lion” debuts this summer, it will include something that, up to now, has cost Mac IT departments $499 extra: Mac OS X Server. The Loop has confirmed with Apple that Lion Server indeed will be included … Continued
∞ Apple releases FaceTime app for Macs, for 99 cents
After an extensive public beta test Apple has released its FaceTime application for Macs, available for 99 cents from the Mac App Store. The new app is also included on Apple’s newly shipping MacBook Pro models, also announced Thursday.
∞ Apple offers Mac OS X Lion developer preview
Amidst the clamor of Apple’s new MacBook Pro release, the company also announced a developer preview of Mac OS X Lion. The new version of Mac OS X is expected to be released to the public this summer.
∞ Apple's new MacBook Pros feature 'Thunderbolt,' more capable processors
Apple on Thursday took the wraps off a refreshed line of MacBook Pro laptop computers that include a new “Thunderbolt” high-speed I/O port and more capable microprocessors based around Intel’s “Sandy Bridge” architecture. Availability starts today, with prices starting at … Continued
∞ QuarkXPress 9 focuses on digital publishing
Quark on Wednesday introduced QuarkXPress 9, a major upgrade to its flagship desktop publishing software for Mac OS X and Windows. It’s priced at $799; upgrades from QuarkXPress 7 and 8 cost $299. QuarkXPress 9 ships in April.
∞ Square lowers credit card swipe fee
Square is the service that enables anyone to accept credit card payments using iPad, iPhone or Android smartphone. The company announced Tuesday that they are reducing their credit card swipe fee, eliminating a 15 cent per fee transaction.
∞ Valve to "simplify" Source SDK
The Source Software Development Kit (SDK) is Valve’s technology that’s been used to bring unforgettable games like Half-Life 2, Portal and Left 4 Dead — available for Mac, PC and other platforms, thanks to Valve’s introduction of Steam to the … Continued
∞ AllThingsD: iPad 2 to be unveiled in San Francisco March 2
Kara Swisher at All Things Digital reports that Apple is set to unveil the hotly anticipated iPad 2 on March 2, 2011, likely at an event to take place in San Francisco, Calif.
∞ Twelve South introduces Book Arc for MacBook Air
As regular readers know, The Loop doesn’t usually report on product releases unless it’s something that really captures our eye. But we figured we’d send out some love for that maker of beautiful accessories for Apple products, Twelve South, for … Continued
∞ Motorola iPad competitor Xoom ships Feb. 24
Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility announced Tuesday that Motorola’s Xoom tablet will ship through Verizon Wireless beginning Feb. 24, 2011. The device will cost $800 unsubsidized, though Verizon Wireless customers can get the tablet for $600 if they agree to … Continued