∞ Apple details how to remove MacDefender malware

Apple updated its Web site on Tuesday with details on how to remove the much talked about MacDefender malware.

“A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus,” Apple wrote on its support site. “The user is then offered Mac Defender ‘anti-virus’ software to solve the issue.”

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∞ Apple close to deal for iTunes cloud music

Talks have progressed because music industry insiders are said to be hopeful that a cloud streaming service, which would allow users to access their music from any Internet-connected device, will boost sagging music sales. This way, users would be able … Continued

∞ Apple has NOT announced Steve Jobs as WWDC 2011 keynote speaker

Despite published reports to the contrary, Apple has not announced CEO Steve Jobs will give the keynote address. I confirmed this with Apple PR this morning.

Gigaom on Tuesday published a story that said Jobs would give the keynote. The Web site cited an official announcement from Apple in the story. The problem is there is no official announcement from Apple.

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∞ Objectify for Mac 1.0 Creates Objective-C Code from JSON

Tigerbears on Tuesday released a new application called Objectify that is targeted to Apple developers.

According to the company, Objectify saves Cocoa developers time and effort by automatically building customizable model classes from JSON content. These classes can be exported as Objective-C source code files, ready to be used in the developer’s development environment of choice.

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∞ Report: 500,000 apps approved on Apple's App Store

It wasn’t that long ago that Apple first opened the doors to the App Store and now the company has reportedly surpassed 500,000 approved apps.

That figure comes from a group of companies that have been involved in the app business since it launched: 148Apps, a mobile app blog; Chomp, an app search engine; and Chillingo, a game developer.

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∞ Developers 'extremely grateful' for Apple's letter to Lodsys

There is no doubt iOS developers are breathing a little easier today after Apple’s letter to patent holding company Lodsys.

“It’s been the longest ten days that I can remember,” PCalc developer James Thomson, told The Loop. “When I got the original FedEx parcel, I honestly thought somebody had sent me a present. To say I was surprised by the contents would be an understatement.”

Ken Landau, CEO of MobileAge agrees. “There is certainly a feeling of relief, he said.

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∞ Law firm investigating RIM for violating federal securities laws

Georgia-based law firm Holzer Holzer & Fistel on Monday said it was launching an investigating into RIM.

According to the law firm, the investigating is focusing on statements made by the company between December 16, 2010 and April 28, 2011. The investigation will try to determine if the statements “were materially false and misleading at the time they were made.”

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∞ Trooper's Ra McGuire and 'The Politics of Songwriting'

I remember hanging out with my friends, driving around the neighborhood with the music cranked up so loud it was impossible to hear anything but the thump of the kick drum and Ra McGuire’s voice. Those were good days.

Ra McGuire is the lead singer and songwriter for one of Canada’s best-selling rock bands of all time, Trooper.

With hits like “Raise a Little Hell,” “The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car,” “Three Dressed Up as a Nine,” “We’re Here For a Good Time (Not a Long Time),” and “Oh, Pretty Lady,” Trooper has had Platinum and Double-Platinum albums.

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∞ PlayBook vs. Etch A Sketch: A head-to-head battle

I was surprised with how many PlayBook fans were upset when I compared the device to the iPad 2. So I thought I’d try again.

According to the emails I received, a comparison between the PlayBook and iPad 2 wasn’t fair. These comments came despite the fact that RIM’s co-CEOs blathered on about how much better the PlayBook was than the iPad.

So if comparing the iPad 2 isn’t fair, what is? There aren’t very many modern devices that don’t allow its users to send email or work with calendars.

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∞ Assassin's Creed Brotherhood available at MacGameStore

Good news tonight for Mac gamers. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is available from the MacGameStore as a digital download — that means you can get it right now.

In the game, you assume the role of Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, in his enduring struggle against the powerful Templar Order. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood who will rally to his side.

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∞ Apple working with Foxconn to investigate iPad factory explosion

Apple working with Foxconn to investigate iPad factory explosion

Apple on Friday said it is working with Foxconn to investigate an explosion at the factory where the company makes the iPad 2.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at Foxconn’s plant in Chengdu, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” Apple said in a statement provided to All Things D. “We are working closely with Foxconn to understand what caused this terrible event.”

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∞ PlayBook returns high, misses sales targets by 90%

The news just keeps getting worse for RIM’s PlayBook tablet. Not only is the company missing targets, but return rates for the device are quite high.

Citing a source from a big box retailer, BGR on Friday said the PlayBook missed the retailer’s internal projected sales targets. RIM didn’t just miss the targets by a little — according to the source, the PlayBook fell short of the targets by over 90 percent.

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∞ Nielsen: 70% of tablet owners uses device while watching TV

The latest report from market research company Nielsen looks at how consumers are using their tablets, smartphones and eReaders.

According to the study that surveyed about 12,000 people, the television and bedroom are popular places for all of the devices. According to the responses compiled by Nielsen, here are the main points in the study:

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∞ Lawsuit claims AT&T overcharges iPhone data users up to 300%

A new lawsuit alleges AT&T is regularly overcharging iPhone and iPad customers for data usage, in some cases up to 300% more.

Lawyers for the lawsuit said they spent $80,000 testing devices in preparation for their day in court. In one instance, lawyers purchased a brand new iPhone and turned off everything that could affect data usage. When the bill came in from AT&T, there were 35 transactions for data usage, according to MSNBC.

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∞ Fail: RIM sells 250,000 PlayBooks

It’s almost a month to the day that RIM’s PlayBook tablet went on sale and according to one analyst’s prediction, the company sold 250,000 so far.

RBC Capital Markets General Manager Mike Abramsky said in a note to clients on Wednesday that according to his channel checks, sales have been steady since the launch of the device. He also predicted that RIM would sell 500,000 PlayBooks during its first quarter on store shelves, according to BGR.com.

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∞ Line 6 releases Pod Farm 2.5

Line 6 on Tuesday released a new version of its amp and effects modeling software, Pod Farm.

Pod Farm 2.5 features compatibility with any USB audio interface and 64-bit support. There is also a trial version that can be downloaded from the company’s Web site.

Included in POD Farm 2.5 are POD Farm Elements, plug-ins that streamline workflow and conserve CPU horsepower by grouping POD Farm models together by effect type. Users can load single amps, preamps or effects instead of loading multiple instances of POD Farm 2.5.

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∞ iPad, iPhone win Display of the Year Awards

Two of Apple’s devices were presented with awards last night for their advancements in display technology.

Presented by the The Society for Information Display, Apple’s iPhone won the Display of the Year Gold Award for its Retina display. The iPad won the Display Application of the Year Gold Award.

In awarding the iPhone, SID said:

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∞ About this new product launch and NFC for Apple retail

It’s been quite a week of rumor and speculation in the Apple world. There’s been so much that I thought I’d give my thoughts on what’s being said.

There are three things that have been talked about over the past few days: Apple’s retail anniversary celebration, a new product launch to celebrate that anniversary, and the introduction of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology at the Apple retail stores.

None of these make any sense to me.

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∞ Rock Band 3 to feature 8-pack of Ozzy songs

Rock Band 3 users will soon have the opportunity to celebrate something big with Ozzy Osbourne.

On May 31, Rock Band 3 users will be able to download an 8-pack of songs celebrating the release of Diary of a Madman/Blizzard of Ozz 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. The songs will be available in the Rock Band 3 music store for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles.

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∞ iPhone 5: NFC or no NFC?

iPhone 5 rumors are running rampant these days. The latest speculation is focusing on whether or not the iPhone will include Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that NFC will make it into the iPhone at point, but whether or not it will be with the upcoming iPhone 5 depends on who you listen to.

Quoting Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi last night, AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski wrote that the technology probably wouldn’t come in the iPhone 5. He correctly points out that the technology has to be adopted by merchants before it becomes popular among consumers.

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∞ RIM blames faulty OS for PlayBook recall

RIM issued a recall over the weekend for about 1,000 PlayBook tablets. Until now, we weren’t sure of the reason for the recall.

RIM’s PR firm contacted The Loop and said the recall was issued because of an operating system issue. It also wasn’t known whether the PlayBooks in question had made it into customer’s hands or whether they were still in distribution.

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∞ RIM recalls faulty PlayBooks

RIM executives argued that its PlayBook tablet would change the way people viewed the devices. Apparently they meant it would be the first to be recalled.

RIM has reportedly issued a recall for over 900 faulty PlayBooks. At least some of the PlayBooks were shipped to Staples stores, but it’s not clear that they were the only location to receive the faulty devices, according to Engadget.

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∞ iPhone developer threatened with lawsuit for using in-app purchasing

James Thomson, the owner of TLA Systems, makers of DragThing and PCalc for Mac, and PCalc for iOS, was served with a letter this morning threatening to sue for his use of Apple’s in-app purchasing system.

Thomson didn’t say who the company was that sent the letter, but on Twitter this morning he said, “They seem to be effectively claiming the rights to in-app purchase, but going after me, not Apple.”

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∞ Pros choose iPhone over Android; 99.8% choose iPad

There is a lot of talk recently about how Android is winning the hearts and minds of users, but according to a new study released on Thursday, those users aren’t professional business people.

The study done by Intermedia, a company that manages 320,000 hosted Microsoft Exchange accounts, says that 61 percent of customers activating ActiveSync-based smartphones are choosing the iPhone. Only 17 percent chose Android device.

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∞ Apple launches its 100th iAd campaign

Apple on Wednesday said it had launched the 100th iAd campaign with real estate company Coldwell Banker.

The iAd allows iPhone and iPod touch users to search for their dream home, scrolling through visually driven search features to find specific homes matching their criteria. You can search by price, zip code, and include images of the homes.

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∞ Apple faces another data location lawsuit

Apple is being sued again over the controversial data location file on its iPhone and iPad devices.

Filed in the United States District Court for the District Of Puerto Rico, Lymaris M. Rivera Diaz is suing Apple, The Weather Channel and Pandora Media for intentionally intercepting personally identifying information.

The lawsuit also names Does 1-10, leaving room to name other defendants at a later date.

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