March 17, 2010
∞ MacUpdate Spring 2010 Software Bundle launches
Mac software tracking site, MacUpdate, launched its spring software bundle on Wednesday, offering users 10 apps for $49.99. (more…)
March 16, 2010
∞ Your next friend request could be from the FBI
If you’re one of the millions of people on a social networking Web site, you should be aware that the U.S. government may use the sites for undercover work. For most law abiding citizens, it won’t matter much, especially if you only add friends that you know.
The Obama administration has considered sending federal police undercover on social-networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.A confidential U.S. Department of Justice presentation (PDF) on social-networking sites made public Tuesday said online undercover work can help agents “communicate with suspects,” “gain access to nonpublic info,” and “map social relationships.”
∞ Microsoft employees love the iPhone
Really, it shouldn’t be a big surprise that Microsoft employees love the iPhone, right? Everyone seems to appreciate the design and functionality of Apple’s iPhone. What may be surprising is that 10 percent of Microsoft’s worldwide workforce accessed their email using an iPhone.
One Microsoft worker said he knows several colleagues who try to disguise their iPhones with cases that make them look more like generic handsets. “Maybe once a year I’m in a meeting with Steve Ballmer,” said this employee. “It doesn’t matter who’s calling, I’m not answering my phone.”
Oh, I’d pay to see that!
Ten Percent of Microsoft Employees Use an iPhone [WSJ via Daring Fireball]
∞ Navigon introduces $25 iPhone GPS navigation app
In the era of 99 cent apps, GPS-based driving assistance for the iPhone has up to now been a big financial nut to crack, with apps regularly costing $70 or more. Navigon, makers of MobileNavigator, have addressed this by introducing Navigon MyRegion, a regionalized GPS navigation system priced regularly at $30, but available for a limited time for $25. (more…)
∞ Motorola Backflip 'an abomination of design'
Sometimes I get criticized for being too opinionated, but I love it when people say what they think. So, if you were thinking of buying one of Motorola’s new Backflip mobile devices, you should take a look at Sascha Segan’s review. It’s quite entertaining, to say the least.
It is an abomination of design, encrusted with bloatware and built on top of a platform that should have been retired six months ago. Motorola, AT&T, and Google can all do much, much better than this, and I hope they will soon.
Review: Motorola Backflip [PC Magazine]
∞ Roland ships the AC-33 acoustic guitar amplifier
Roland on Tuesday began shipping the AC-33 acoustic guitar amplifier. The amp has the ability to run on batteries or be plugged in to a power outlet. (more…)
March 15, 2010
∞ Parallels 5 kicks VMWare's butt in graphics test
I’m not much of a gamer on Windows systems — it’s just not what I use virtualization software for. However, it is something a lot of people want to do, so it’s important for Parallels and VMWare to make sure their software can handle games as fast as possible. A big part of that equation is graphics. MacTech posted a video with side-by-side testing today and the results are quite interesting.
Head-to-Head: Parallels Desktop for Mac vs. VMware Fusion [MacTech via TUAW.com]
∞ Apple releases Aperture SlideShow Support Update 1.1
Apple on Monday release an update for its professional photography workflow application, Aperture. (more…)
∞ Etude sheet music app coming to iPhone, iPad
A promising new music app is making its way to the iPhone and iPod touch on Tuesday from Wonder Warp Software. (more…)
∞ Eight reasons Apple sued HTC and not Google
The speculation around the Web has been that Apple sued HTC to get at Google. By suing its biggest licensee, Apple hopes to hurt Google’s operating system business — at least that’s what people think.
Apple has good reasons to fear Android. In the three months from December to February, Android’s US smartphone subscriber share shot up from 2.8 perent to 7.1 percent. Worldwide, in 2009, Android smartphone market share — based on sales — rose from 0.5 percent to 3.9 percent, according to Gartner (The first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, shipped in late 2008). Last month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt asserted that 60,000 Android handsets are shipping by the day.
Joe Wilcox gives eight reasons why Apple chose to sue HTC.
Apple’s HTC patent lawsuit is a bluff [Betanews]
∞ McCracken's impressions of Opera Mini for iPhone
Technologizer founder, Harry McCracken, is at South by Southwest this week and took some time to try out the Opera Mini Web browser for iPhone. I must admit, I’ve never been a real fan of many alternative browsers for the Mac (except Camino), and haven’t really thought about needing something else for the iPhone, but as Harry says, “Apple’s response will be one of the bigger litmus tests in iPhone history to date.”
First Impressions: Opera Mini on the iPhone [Technologizer]
∞ Apple, LG, HTC, Nokia sued for patent infringement
ADC Technology launched a lawsuit against several technology companies claiming they infringed on its patents. (more…)
March 14, 2010
∞ AT&T's network holds up at SXSW
AT&T said it was prepared for SXSW this year and by all accounts, the network is holding up. The problem is that they didn’t really fixed the underlying problem. AT&T put in mobile cell towers to handle the extra bandwidth consumed at the show, but the network is still broken. That’s what needs to be fixed.
March 13, 2010
∞ Apple will replace iPad with new one for $99 if battery dies
With all of the hype surrounding the iPad in the past couple of days, we missed an interesting page on Apple’s Web site: Battery Replacement. (more…)
∞ Wife vents on Twitter at husband that left for SXSW
There’s trouble in paradise. A self-professed “pissed off wife” is posting openly on Twitter about her husband leaving on their anniversary weekend to attend South by Southwest (SXSW). The bio for @ScrewYouSXSW is a gem:
My husband f****d off to Austin on our anniversary weekend for South by Southwest. Asshole. Follow me to see what happens in his absence.
So what happens is his absence?
Uh Oh. New text from hubby “We need to talk when I get home on Tuesday.” Should I tell him that I’m leaving for Hawaii on Tues?
Anniversaries come and go, they say. Divorce settlements only come around once, maybe twice in a lifetime.
Worst text to-date from husband “wish I could check-in to your pants this morning” WRONG F*****G DAY TO BE SAYING THAT ASSHOLE.
March 12, 2010
∞ Apple gives Tim Cook $22 million performance bonus
Apple gave its Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, a $22 million performance bonus on Friday. The bonus was split between a cash bonus of $5 million and the rest as restricted stock. Cook’s bonus was approved by the board on Friday after being recommended by Steve Jobs. He was apparently given the bonus for his performance while filling in for CEO Steve Jobs while he was off on medical leave.
∞ Apple adds screen orientation lock to iPad
It seems that Apple added a little something extra to the iPad for the launch — Screen rotation lock. (more…)
∞ AT&T's CEO gets 35% pay hike, makes $20.3 million
It’s a good news, bad news story for AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson when looking at his 2009 pay package. The bulk of Stephenson’s pay was in the form of stock awards, which were valued at 12.1 million, down 8 percent over the 2008. (In case you didn’t know, that folks, was the bad news). The good news is that Stephenson earned a $5.85 million performance bonus pulling his 2009 salary up 35 percent over 2008 to 20.3 million.
AT&T CEO’s pay jumps 35% to $20.3 million in 2009 [Network World]
March 11, 2010
∞ Universal Audio releases three new audio plug-ins
My favorite audio plug-in maker, Universal Audio (UA) on Thursday released an update for its plug-in platform. UAD 5.6 includes many fixes and three new plug-ins. (more…)
∞ 'Law & Order' actor accused of harassment by Apple store employee
Strange but true. “Law & Order” actor Richard Belzer (Detective Munch) has been accused of harassment by an Apple Store employee. According to the employee Belzer “grabbed her by the shoulders, shook her, choked her and barked, ‘I need help!'” Belzer said he put his hand on her shoulder, nothing else. Apparently, the incident was captured on surveillance tape and after viewed by police, no charges were filed.
‘Law & Order’ star Richard Belzer says Apple Store harass accuser targeted him because of fame [NYDailyNews.com]
∞ Apple accepting iPad pre-orders at 5:30 am PT on Friday
If you’ve been following iPad news since it was introduced, tomorrow will be a big day. (more…)
∞ Apple releases Safari 4.0.5
Apple on Thursday released an update for its Web browser, bringing the current version of Safari to 4.0.5. (more…)
∞ Debunking the iPad bunk
I’ll admit it. I get very frustrated reading opinions from people saying the iPad has problems and it may be better to wait until the next version to buy one. Most of these people haven’t even touched one, but yet they feel compelled to give an opinion. (more…)
∞ Pink Floyd wins case, bans individual sales of songs on iTunes
Earlier this week, Pink Floyd sued its record label, EMI, for selling individual songs on digital music services like iTunes. (more…)
March 10, 2010
∞ New Jimi Hendrix album released with iTunes LP
I saw a new album on the iTunes Store today that I just had to share: Jimi Hendrix’s “Valleys of Neptune.” Best of all it comes in Apple’s iTunes LP format, meaning there are extras. These are previously unreleased recordings of Hendrix captured right after he recorded “Electric Ladyland.” I’m downloading it right now.
∞ Dell will call its tablet the 'Streak'
Get this. Dell will call its forthcoming tablet the “Streak.” I kid you not, that’s what reports are saying today. If Dell needs a theme song for its marketing campaign, they could contact Ray Stevens about his 1970s classic song, “The Streak.”
Leaked Dell Streak flyer shows multitude of color options, confirmed specifications [Engadget]
∞ GDC: Fallen Earth MMO comes to the Mac
At this week’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, Icarus Studios announced the Mac beta release of Fallen Earth, a Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game. The new Mac beta release – available now – requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 or later. (more…)
∞ Hands On with Aperture 3.0.1: A huge step ahead for Apple's photo software
Whether you’re a seasoned digital photographer or an amateur looking to step up from iPhoto, chances are that Apple’s Aperture software can help you dramatically. Now in its third major iteration, Aperture is easier to use and more powerful than ever. (more…)
∞ Apple releases MainStage 2.1.1
Apple on Wednesday released an update for its professional guitar and keyboard app, MainStage. (more…)
March 9, 2010
∞ Lindsay Lohan sues E-Trade for $100 million over subliminal TV ad
Have you seen the E-Trade ad with the kids in it talking about stock trading? Cute ad, right? Not to Lindsay Lohan. One of the kids is named Lindsay and is referred to as a milkaholic. Apparently Lohan thinks her name is as recognizable as Madonna or Oprah.
They used the name Lindsay,” Ovadia said. “They’re using her name as a parody of her life. Why didn’t they use the name Susan? This is a subliminal message. Everybody’s talking about it and saying it’s Lindsay Lohan.
I don’t know what to say. Really, I don’t.
If you haven’t seen the commercial, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEXZ2hfD3bU
Lindsay Lohan wants $100M over E-Trade ad [New York Post]