∞ Man murdered over auto-corrected text

We’ve all seen the funny ways auto-corrected texts have played havoc with people’s conversations, but one strange text didn’t turn out so funny. (more…)

∞ Portal 2 now available for pre-order

Valve Software on Monday announced that Portal 2, the sequel to its award-winning action game for Mac, PC and other platforms, is now available for pre-order. The game is expected to ship on April 18, 2011. Mac users can pre-order it through Valve’s Steam online game service for $44.99; it will also be included on the DVD version to be sold in stores. (more…)

∞ Early Facebook designer returns to the company

One of the men responsible for the early successes of Facebook has returned to the company. (more…)

∞ About this new MobileMe service

There has been a lot of speculation about what Apple will do with its MobileMe service and while the majority of the rumors claim it will be based on cloud storage, I don’t think anyone has quite nailed it yet. (more…)

∞ Train wins first ever Grammy for iTunes original content

Train on Sunday made history for Apple as the band accepted a Grammy award for “Hey, Soul Sister.” (more…)

∞ Sony Ericsson introduces first PlayStation-certified smartphone

Gamers looking for a serious smartphone may be interested in Sony Ericsson’s newly unveiled Xperia Play, a Google Android-based phone that will be hitting store shelves in the US in March, via Verizon Wireless. (more…)

∞ AT&T offers 1000 rollover minutes to iPhone customers

AT&T is continuing to do what it can to make sure it keeps as many iPhone customers as possible. (more…)

∞ Steve Jobs still calling the shots at Apple

Steve Jobs may be on medical leave but Apple’s CEO is still involved in the decision making at the company. (more…)

∞ 'Counterfeit' Lugaru game disappears from Mac App Store

Wolfire Games is rejoicing at the discovery that the “counterfeit” version of its game Lugaru has disappeared from the shelves of the Mac App Store. (more…)

∞ LEGO Harry Potter demo available

Feral Interactive has released a playable demo version of LEGO Harry Potter, now available for download through Feral’s Web site. (more…)

∞ Latest iPhone rumors: smaller handsets, global networking, unicorns

The latest Apple rumors to make the rounds suggests that the company is working on cheaper iPhone designs to compete with the wider variety of Android handsets hitting the market. (more…)

∞ Nokia adopts Windows Phone 7 as "primary smartphone strategy"

In a joint statement, Nokia and Microsoft announced Nokia will henceforth adopt Windows Phone 7 as its “primary smartphone strategy.” The two companies are seeking strategies that will keep them relevant in the smartphone market as Apple and Android continue to march towards domination. (more…)

∞ CDMA iPhone 4 cheaper to make than GSM model

I think we all knew that there would be some changes to the iPhone 4 CDMA model (besides the obvious chip differences). Well, it seems that technology comes at a cost. In a recent teardown and cost analysis, iSuppli says the new iPhone 4 is cheaper to manufacture than the GSM model.

The latest version of the iPhone 4 carries a BOM of $171.35, down from $187.51 for the previous model, based on a preliminary pricing estimate issued in June. When manufacturing expenses are added, the total production cost for the CDMA iPhone 4 amounts to $178.45.

Apple Reduces Build Cost of CDMA iPhone With Design Tweaks [Mac Rumors]

∞ Instapaper API available for developers

Marco Arment’s Instapaper is a great service. I like it so much, I pay the nominal $3 monthly subscription fee to make sure Marco has some income and can keep developing it. Not that my $3 feeds his family, but if enough of us do it… you get the picture. (more…)

∞ About this iPad 3

It seems really crazy to be talking — or even thinking about — the iPad 3, but here we are. (more…)

∞ iPhone case makers compare business to music industry

iPhone cases are everywhere. You can find them in the Apple Stores, online, Walmart, Best Buy and almost every other store you can think of. Like most businesses, making cases is a hit and miss market — if you have a hit, you make up for a case that doesn’t do so well. One maker even compared it to the music industry.

Erik Attkisson, chief marketing officer for manufacturer Case-Mate compares his business to the music industry. “For us, this is a hit-driven business,” he says. “Not every one of these cases that we invest in is going to pay off for us. That means we’re going to have some significant losses at times that must be covered by successes.”

The Quest for Phone ‘It’ Look [WSJ.com]

∞ iPhone exploit gives access to passwords in six minutes

German researchers say they have been able to reveal passwords stored in the iPhone’s Keychain while the device is still locked. (more…)

∞ Video: Silicon Valley has its own 'Fight Club'

Some Silicon Valley software engineers seem to have forgotten the first rule of “Fight Club” — “you don’t talk about Fight Club.” (more…)

∞ HP hires former Apple exec to head up developer relations

HP on Wednesday announced a number of new products, including a tablet to compete with Apple, but the company had one more surprise up its sleeve — a new hire. (more…)

∞ Steve Jobs spotted at Apple's campus

Apple’s CEO is apparently in good spirits as he was spotted on the company’s Cupertino, Calif. campus. (more…)

∞ Apple updates iBooks for iPhone and iPad

Apple on Wednesday updated its book store and reading app, iBooks. (more…)

∞ Dell's MacBook Air killer dies

Dell is not exactly firing on all cylinders these days as it discontinues another product that was to compete with Apple. (more…)

∞ HP's Palm TouchPad details leaked

HP is getting set to introduce its new iPad competitor, but before it could, the information was leaked by people attending the event. (more…)

∞ World of Goo sells faster on iPad than Wii, Steam – 125K copies and counting

Game developers, take note. 2D Boy has posted a detailed postmortem of its release of World of Goo on the iPad. The developers revealed some eye-opening information – the game has outsold any other platform release, including Steam and WiiWare, and in its first couple of months it’s already netted 125K sales – not bad for a port of a two-year-old game. The lengthy post gives some fascinating insight into what it takes to score a bona fide hit on the App Store, especially in the incredibly competitive games space. (more…)

∞ AT&T offers unlimited calling to any mobile number

AT&T is serious about keeping its customers. The company on Wednesday introduced a new plan that will give customers unlimited calling to any mobile number. (more…)

∞ Video: Steve Jobs prepping for his first ever TV interview

Oh how times have changed. This is a video of Apple CEO Steve Jobs getting ready for what is apparently one of his first television interviews. (more…)

∞ Dragon Age 2 to ship on hybrid DVD for Mac, PC

Bioware’s hotly anticipated fantasy role-playing game Dragon Age 2 is almost ready to ship to retailers. When it does, the game will arrive on a hybrid DVD-ROM that’s compatible with Mac and Windows out of the box. Users who don’t want to get a physical copy will be able to buy the game online as well (TransGaming is accepting pre-orders through its GameTree Online service, for example). Bioware noted that Dragon Age 2 won’t be available through Steam, however.

“Why the love for the Mac this time around? ‘I have a Mac at home… There’s a lot of us [Mac users] at Bioware these days.’ He and others ‘wanted to have Day One love for Mac fans.’ He says its effectively ‘the same game’ to look forward to.

First Look: Dragon Age II is gorgeous, violent [Macworld]

∞ Facebook off limits for Obama girls

Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking Web site, but if you’re a child of the current President, it’s off limits for you. (more…)

∞ iPod Classic supplies dwindle

Apple’s iPod Classic, the one reminiscent of the first iPod design, is apparently running low in the supply channel. This has led some to speculate that the iPod may be in for a refresh sometime in the near future. Apple could update the Classic at anytime, and because it’s not one of its flashier models, it certainly wouldn’t require an event. I love my Classic.

I wouldn’t doubt that Apple is preparing a refresh to the iPod classic. An update to the iPod classic is overdue. We’ll keep watch and see what Apple does decide to do with the iPod classic. They may update it, or maybe they’ll just eliminate it altogether. We’ll find out soon enough.

Could iPod classic be getting a refresh? [Macgasm]

∞ Report: iPad 2 in production, no Retina display

Apple’s iPad 2 is now in production and will have a number of new features, including a front facing camera. (more…)