June 1, 2010
∞ Steve Jobs WWDC keynote — updated live
I am at Steve Jobs WWDC keynote and will provide live updates as they happen. The newest posts will automatically show up on the top of the feed. Enjoy the update! (more…)
∞ Intego warns of malware in a number of free Mac apps
Security company Intego on Tuesday issued a warning of a new spyware application that is installed by “a number of freely distributed Mac applications and screen savers found on a variety of websites.” (more…)
∞ Adobe focuses on "digital viewer" for iPad magazines
Adobe Systems and Apple may be at an impasse when it comes to allowing Adobe’s Flash technology on the iPad, but that’s not stopping Adobe from finding other ways to support the platform. On Tuesday Adbobe introduced new “digital viewer technology” that enables magazine publishers to bring their periodicals to the iPad. (more…)
∞ LG shows Windows 7-based tablet to compete with iPad
We knew it would happen. The iPad competitors would come out of the woodwork to try to capitalize on the incredible sales Apple is seeing from its iPad. LG showed off its UX10 tablet at Computex, but even the specs show that Apple’s competition hasn’t learned a thing about what’s going to make a successful product in this market.
Boasting a 10.1-inch LED capacity touchscreen, the UX10 was one of the most solid tablets we’ve had the opportunity to touch. The prototype on the floor was equipped with an Intel Atom Z530 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, an SD card slot, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a 7200mAh battery and a micro-HDMI output.
May 31, 2010
∞ Apple sued over use of trademarked term 'iAds'
Innovative Media is suing Apple over its use of the term “iAd,” which Apple uses to describe its new advertising system for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. (more…)
∞ Apple sells another million iPads
If anyone is wondering if the demand for iPads is slowing down, it appears not – Apple announced Monday that it has sold two million iPads in less than 60 days. This announcement comes less than a month after Apple announced that it had sold its first million iPads. (more…)
May 29, 2010
∞ Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess making music with his iPad and iPhone
I never get tired of talking with Jordan Rudess about music and technology. Not only is he a creative force in the music industry, Rudess is also one of the leading influencers in adopting technology and meshing the two worlds together. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Jordan on several occasions, so it was great to read a new article about how he uses the iPhone and iPad to create and expand music.
How iPhone and iPad Apps Will Make You a Rock Star [Jetsetextra.com]
May 27, 2010
∞ EVE Online game expands with free Tyrannis update
CCP has announced the release of EVE Online: Tyrannis, the 13th consecutive free expansion for its massively multiplayer online game EVE Online. The update is available when you log on to EVE Online from your Mac or PC, and will automatically be installed. (more…)
∞ Half-Life 2 comes to the Mac
The day that many Mac gamers expected never to see has come at last – Valve has released Half-Life 2, the legendary action game, for the Macintosh. It’s available through Valve’s Steam online download service, which was released for the Mac earlier this month. (more…)
∞ Analyst: Steve Ballmer to make an appearance at WWDC keynote
We were all wondering what surprises Steve Jobs would have for his WWDC keynote — how about Steve Ballmer on stage. (more…)
May 26, 2010
∞ Review: Iron Man 2 for iPad
It’s funny, but I usually stay away from games that are based on movies because, like the first paragraph of this review says, they usually suck. I actually started reading the review thinking they were going to surprise me and say this app was different — it wasn’t.
It’s a sad fact of video gaming history that licensed movie games are almost always disappointments. Shallow gameplay, rushed graphics and pedantic storylines typically dominate all but a very select few of these releases. Still, the faithful masses (like me) always hope for the rare title that will break this chain of mediocrity and rise to unexpected greatness.Iron Man 2 for the iPad, alas, is not one of these games.
Iron Man 2 for iPad Review [148Apps.com]
∞ The Windows era is coming to an end
The domination of Microsoft Windows may very well be coming to an end. I’m not saying that tomorrow we will wake up and nobody will know what Windows is, but the signs of its decline are all around us. The biggest of those signs is Microsoft’s inability to compete in the mobile market, especially against Apple, Google and HP, with its recent purchase of Palm.
Microsoft is trying to take a desktop operating system to mobile products. Its competitors are creating mobile operating system from the ground up. With the loss of one of its biggest proponents in HP, Microsoft’s mobile strategy took a big hit. It’s not quite clear how they will recover from that.
This has nothing to do with Apple passing Microsoft in market capitalization earlier today. It’s a simple fact that Microsoft is having a difficult time competing in a market that is becoming an important part of out computing experience.
The Windows era is over [Betanews]
∞ iPad taking a bite out of netbook sales
Consumers are making their choice between an iPad and netbook and despite positive projections for netbook sales in 2010, things don’t look good for the category. I’ve said all along that you can’t compare an iPad to a netbook and that all the netbook did was prove that consumers wanted a compact device — it doesn’t mean it was the right device. Now, consumers are moving to the iPad. Not a big shock.
I’d observe this means the iPad has made netbooks lose their mojo — and as more tablets from other manufacturers reach the shops (including Sony’s possible future Android-powered tablet), what fate for the netbook category?
iPad Xmas? Apple’s iPad seizes netbook hearts [Computerworld]
∞ Apple passes Microsoft in market capitalization
It’s going back and forth by the minute, but Apple on Wednesday officially passed Microsoft in terms of market capitalization. The move puts Apple in second place behind only Exxon, who holds the top spot. Exxon’s market cap is $282.02 billion, Apple’s is $228.56 billion and Microsoft is $228.12 billion.
Wikipedia describes market capitalization as:
Market capitalization/capitalisation (often market cap) is a measurement of size of a business enterprise (corporation) equal to the share price times the number of shares outstanding of a public company. As owning stock represents ownership of the company, including all its equity, capitalization could represent the public opinion of a company’s net worth and is a determining factor in stock valuation.
Apple Passes Microsoft to Become Second-Largest U.S. Company by Market Capitalization [MacRumors]
∞ Analyst: Apple will not release a Verizon iPhone at WWDC
Looking at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, one industry analyst said it is unlikely Apple will release an iPhone compatible with the Verizon wireless networks. (more…)
∞ Feds investigate Apple's tactics in the music business
Apple has been getting a lot of attention lately, but not all of it is good. The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the company’s tactics in the online music business. (more…)
∞ Apple investigating suicides at Foxconn
Apple late Tuesday said it would investigate the recent rise in suicides at Foxconn, one of the company’s manufacturing partners. (more…)
May 25, 2010
∞ Google Chrome for Mac exits beta
Google removed the beta moniker from its Chrome for Mac Web browser on Tuesday, indicating its ready for primetime. I’ve had Chrome installed for some time and use it every once in a while, but it hasn’t become my default. I have Firefox installed too, but I still count on Safari for my everyday Web browser.
Chrome for Mac out of beta [TUAW]
∞ Apple launches Back-to-School offer: Free iPod touch with Mac purchase
Apple on Tuesday launched its new Back-to-School offer: Buy a Mac and get a free 8GB iPod touch. The promotion runs through September 7. (more…)
∞ FileMaker aims free Bento Student Survival Kit at college students
FileMaker on Tuesday released its new Bento 3 Student Survival Kit, a free collection of templates designed for students that will be entering college in the fall and for new graduates commencing a job search.
∞ GoogleTV, iPad use the same graphics processor
Considering everything that’s going on, I thought this was kind of amusing. Not that the products do the same thing, but two companies taking two different approaches end up with the same technology. It probably happens more than what we’ll ever know.
GoogleTV is manufactured by Logitech and Sony and contains a System on Chip (SoC) designed by Intel. The iPad’s SoC is an ARM design made by Apple (though manufacturing is outsourced to Samsung). However, both of these SoCs use a PowerVR graphics processor from a small UK-based company called Imagination.
GoogleTV and iPad share the same graphics processor technology [Fortune]
May 24, 2010
∞ Wal-Mart to sell iPhone 3GS for $97 starting Tuesday
Wal-Mart is having a blow-out sale of Apple’s iPhone 3GS model beginning on Tuesday. The company will sell only the 16GB model and it requires a contract. With the iPhone 4G leaked by Gizmodo, it could be that Wal-Mart is selling the iPhone to get rid of existing stock before the new model is released.
∞ Former Apple retail Geniuses file lawsuit against Apple
A group of former employees who worked as Geniuses at Apple retail locations have begun to receive letters from lawyers who filed a class action lawsuit against the company. (more…)
∞ Flash slows down Web browsing on Android 2.2
I think I can safely say this is probably not what Adobe and Google wanted to see, but here it is. PocketNow posted a video of Android 2.2 “Froyo” browsing Flash-based Web sites and playing games. The results are less than stellar.
Flash elements lead to stuttering while scrolling and zooming on webpages with Flash content, and even resulted in a low memory warning requiring the tester to actively manage the currently open applications on the test device. Commenters on the PocketNow article report that users have the ability to load Flash elements only on demand, but that even so the browser experiences some increased lag compared to Flash-free browsing.
Web Browsing Performance on Android 2.2 Hampered by Flash Compatibility [MacRumors via Daring Fireball]
∞ iPhone, iPad popularity forces designers reconsider use of Flash
Web site designers may want to continue using Flash, but their clients ultimately have the final say in how a Web site looks and more of them are asking for iPhone and iPad ready sites. (more…)
∞ Twitter bans third-party paid tweets, intros Promoted Tweets
In a lengthy post on its Web site on Monday Twitter said it will no longer “allow any third party to inject paid tweets into a timeline on any service that leverages the Twitter API.” (more…)
∞ Steve Jobs to deliver WWDC 2010 keynote
Not too much of a surprise from Apple today, but everyone holds their breath until they make it official. CEO Steve Jobs will keynote the company’s developer conference next month, kicking off the event on June 7 at 10:00 am. Nobody knows what will come, but an update an iPhone OS 4 is expected.
May 22, 2010
∞ Pocket Informant for iPad in development
We all use the iPad for different things. Some play games, others are interested in books or Internet apps, but for a large number of users organizational applications will be a big draw. While not much information is available, it appears Pocket Informant is coming to the iPad. Already available for the iPhone, Pocket Informant will be developed as a separate app.
Sneak Peak: Pocket Informant for iPad from WebIS – First Screen Shot [148Apps.com]
∞ Screenshots of AutoCAD for Mac beta posted
I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be talking about AutoCAD on the Mac again, but apparently it’s back, or at least in beta form. Screenshots of the latest Mac beta of the application have been posted to the Web this weekend, showing the app in action. This will make a lot of people very happy.
AutoCAD for Mac, the first images of Beta [TheAppleLounge]
∞ Retrospect joins Roxio family
Roxio owner Sonic Solutions has acquired Retrospect, the backup software long depended on by Mac users and IT professionals. (more…)