March 31, 2010
∞ Memeo Connect Reader coming to the iPad
Memeo is bringing a reader version of its connect software to the iPad. The app has already been approved by Apple and will be available the day the iPad launches. (more…)
∞ Kleiner Perkins doubles iFund to $200M for iPad dev
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is the venture capital firm behind the original “iFund,” which helped to fund development and publishing of numerous iPhone apps when Apple first announced plans to start the App Store. The company hosted a press briefing on Wednesday where they revealed plans to double the size of the iFund from $100 million to $200 million, with iPad the focus this time around. The briefing has included execs from Apple, Ngmoco, Shazam and others.
Live: Kleiner Perkins’ Doubles Down The iFund To $200 Million For the iPad [TechCrunch]
∞ Nintendo should make an iPhone game
Dan Frommer suggests that it’s time for Nintendo to make a game for the iPhone. He makes the case for the iPhone OS by pointing to its increasing game sales numbers, and says he’d like to see the Super Mario Bros. series make it to the device – the original 8-bit games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System. What Frommer doesn’t delve into is Nintendo’s insistence on keeping its crown jewels – properties like Mario, Zelda and the like – exclusively on its own systems: the “Mario and Sonic” Olympic games titles, for example, exist solely for DS and Wii – Mario was excised from Sega’s Sonic at the Winter Olympics title for iPhone.
Hey, Nintendo, we DARE you to make an iPhone Game [Silicon Alley Insider]
March 30, 2010
∞ Apple releases iTunes 9.1, updates iPhoto, VoiceOver Kit for iPod
Apple on Tuesday released updates for iTunes, iPhoto and the VoiceOver Kit for iPod. (more…)
∞ App Store finds home on Facebook
A new Facebook application from Vitrue lets users of the popular social network browse and share details about apps on Apple’s App Store. This isn’t Vitrue’s first attempt at sharing Apple content with Facebook users – they’ve also created an iTunes Facebook page that has grown to more than 3.2 million fans.
Apple’s App Store finds Facebook home [Industry Gamers]
∞ Hands On: iSkin ProTouch Keyboard Protectors
In terms of the daily wear and tear that can occur with a laptop’s keyboard, there are many things to consider. Between dust, light, crumbs (should you nibble while you type), or just the oils from your fingertips that naturally occur, adding some level of protection may help prolong the life of your keys as well as your computer. (more…)
∞ Understanding Tower Defense games
Tower defense games have taken on a life of their own recently, thanks to an influx of great iPhone and iPod touch games. It turns out that this subgenre of strategy gaming has been around for quite a while. Let’s use the WABAC machine to take a look at their history. (more…)
∞ Analyst: Sony PSP fails against iPod touch
Industry analyst Michael Pachter says that Sony’s PSP is destined to finish behind the Nintendo DS platform and the Apple iPod touch, finishing in last place in the current play for market dominance for handheld game consoles. Pachter suggests that Sony is behind Nintendo in the “pure game front” and behind Apple when the iPod touch is considered, as well.
March 29, 2010
∞ Apple posts iPad Guided Tour videos
It’s not like actually having an iPad, but at this point it’s the next best thing. Apple on Monday posted several tutorial videos on its Web site explaining how the iPad works. (more…)
∞ Apple releases Mac OS X 10.6.3
Apple on Monday released Mac OS X 10.6.3 fixing a number of issues including improving reliability of QuickTime X. (more…)
∞ Steve Jobs is the world's most valuable CEO
Apple’s Steve Jobs was named the world’s most valuable CEO in a recent list by Barron’s. In November 2009, Jobs was named CEO of the decade by Fortune. Over the last 10 years Jobs has been behind some of the most innovative products in tech, including the iPod, iPhone and the iPad.
“Probably the world’s most valuable CEO is Steve Jobs of Apple, as shown by stock dips on news of his medical problems,” the report said. “Apple recently hit a record, with a market value topping $200 billion, a reflection of the Street’s confidence that a healthy Jobs (at least from what we can tell) continues to keep Apple ahead of the game. Jobs likely accounts for $25 billion or more of Apple’s market value.”
Apple’s Steve Jobs named world’s most valuable CEO [AppleInsider]
∞ Apple confirms iPad at Best Buy, iPad workshops
Apple on Monday said that consumers could purchase an iPad at several locations on April 3, including Best Buy. (more…)
March 26, 2010
∞ Firemint confirms Real Racing HD for iPad
Firemint, makers of the hugely popular iPhone air traffic control game Flight Control, on Friday confirmed plans to release a version of its auto racing game Real Racing for the iPad. (more…)
∞ PAX East gaming show descends on Boston
Boston hosts the very first Penny Arcade Expo – PAX – to happen outside of Seattle, Wash. PAX East 2010 is now in full swing, and runs through Sunday. The event gathers thousands of gaming enthusiasts at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center. (more…)
∞ Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt together again
There is a story on Gizmodo today with pictures of Steve Jobs and Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, having coffee in Palo Alto. (more…)
∞ iPad apps begin showing up on the App Store
We already knew that Apple had started accepting iPad apps from developers, but today approved apps started showing up on the iPad App Store. It’s a good sign that shows Apple should be ready for next Saturday when the iPad officially reaches the public. The list apparently shows several dozen apps with details of what they do.
iPad App Store Reveals Launch Apps, Top Seller Lists, App Details [Mac Rumors]
∞ Aperture the backbone of the Best of Photojournalism awards
The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is holding its annual Best of Photojournalism awards this week and Apple’s photography workflow application, Aperture, is playing a big role. (more…)
∞ Hacker gets 20 years for stealing credit card numbers
I guess this shows just how much we value our money. Maybe it shows how much we want to public to believe everything online is safe and that we should continue buying. Regardless, a man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for stealing millions of credit cards from T.J.Maxx, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Barnes & Noble. Seems he did pretty well for himself too.
In an 11-page plea agreement (PDF) last year, Gonzalez admitted to unlawfully accessing a computer, wire fraud, identity theft, and other crimes. He agreed to forfeit a Miami condo, a 2006 BMW 330i, a Tiffany diamond ring, three Rolex watches, and more than $1.65 million in cash.
March 25, 2010
∞ Apple updates Aperture and iMovie
Apple on Thursday released updates for its pro photography workflow application and its consumer-focused iMovie, according to MacUpdate. (more…)
∞ First iPad game names leak out
The names of several iPad games have slipped through the cracks – apparently pushed live to the App Store prematurely (the iPad isn’t released in the United States until April 3rd). The names include ones we’ve already heard about, such as Flight Control HD from Firemint, along with other pleasant surprises, like Worms HD and Plants vs. Zombies HD. Labyrinth HD also is a natural fit – its iPhone predecessor is one of the surefire ways to convince non-iPhone users that its accelerometer is cool for games. I already own Plants vs. Zombies for my Mac and iPhone, and I’m looking forward to buying it again for my iPad.
∞ Ultimate-Guitar.com releases guitar tab iPhone app
One of the guitar resources I use the most on the Web, Ultimate-Guitar.com, has jumped into the iPhone app business. (more…)
∞ Beta Monkey releases Rock Essentials drum loops
My favorite drum loop company, Beta Monkey, released two new drum libraries for Rock musicians and engineers. (more…)
∞ The Settlers 7 released for Mac and PC simultaneously
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom is TransGaming’s latest Mac release. The game is available for purchase and download using TransGaming’s GameTree Online download service. It costs $49.99, and a “Gold/Collector” edition costs $10 more. (more…)
∞ More on iPhone app review payola
There’s been a lot of talk since last week when it came to light that some iPhone app review sites were charging developers to do reviews of their products. Shawn King and I talked about this last night on Your Mac Life — readers should go to sites they trust. As a reader, I don’t trust a review that was paid for by a company or a site that requires cash to do a review.
Several developers have responded by promising to avoid sites with such policies. In reaction to our article, Jeff Campbell, owner of Tapestry Apps, pledged to blacklist pay-to-play websites and urged other developers to do so as well. Alexandra Peters, community manager of Firemint, which develops the popular iPhone game Flight Control, also said she would avoid sending news releases to pay-to-play sites.
Developers, Websites Respond to iPhone App Payola Story [Wired]
March 24, 2010
∞ First TiVo Premiere reviews posted
I don’t know that I’ve ever talked to someone that didn’t like their TiVo. Most marvel about the ability to record their favorite programs, share media around the house and transfer recordings to their computers. The newest Tivos are out and the reviews are complete. Two of my favorite gadget sites were among the first to give their opinions of the TiVo Premiere.
It’s not fast and it’s completely devoid of eye candy. Corners were cut, and there’s no excuse for those moments when basic elements of a UI don’t match.But the Premiere is still the best turnkey set top DVR I’ve ever used—TiVo has me there. As a self-contained package that combines your cable subscription with goodies on the internet, it’s very intuitive, natural and, ultimately, successful. Indeed, it’s a peanut-wielded TiVo through and through.
TiVo Premiere Review: Where’s the Razzle Dazzle? [Gizmodo]
It’s been three years since the TiVo HD first arrived and just about a year and a half since TiVo first started beta testing this interface, and after using the Premiere for a day, here’s what we want to know: what the hell has TiVo been doing all this time? The new UI is excellent, but it’s only skin deep, lags like crazy, and accessing any deeper functionality requires a resolution switch and a fallback to the old interface. The major content partnerships have been in place for a year now, and the interfaces used to access them haven’t been updated in any significant way beyond integrating the search results.
TiVo Premiere review [Engadget]
∞ iPhone, Safari, IE 8, Firefox all hacked at CanSecWest
The Pwn2Own contest kicked off today at the CanSecWest security show. So far, the iPhone, Safari, IE 8, Firefox have all been hacked. Charlie Miller won $10,000 for hacking Safari without having physical access to the machine. All I know is these guys all scare the hell out of me and make me want to turn off my computer completely.
iPhone, Safari, IE 8, Firefox hacked in CanSecWest contest [CNET]
∞ Apple releases Pro Applications Update 2010-01
Apple released a pro applications update on Wednesday, targeted to Final Cut Studio users. (more…)
∞ Boss introduces the BR-800 portable multi-track studio
For a lot of musicians Boss is one of the most trusted name in the music business. The company on Wednesday added to its product line with a portable studio. (more…)
∞ Apple may match Amazon e-book prices
There has been a lot of talk about how much Apple will charge for books in its iBookstore, mostly because it is believed that Apple will charge more than Amazon. That may not be the case. A report from someone that has seen the iBookstore says the prices are exactly the same for Amazon and Apple.
Anyway, at the moment, out of the 32 eBooks featured in the New York Time’s Bestsellers section, 27, including the entire top 10 are priced at $9.99.
iPad iBooks Pricing Revealed – Matches The Kindle [AppAdvice]
∞ Microsoft releases Messenger for Mac 8 beta
Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit on Wednesday released Messenger for Mac 8 beta, adding support for audio and video calls. (more…)