June 7, 2010
∞ Apple releases Safari 5 with support for extensions
While Apple didn’t talk about it during the keynote at WWDC earlier today, the company released Safari 5 late this afternoon. (more…)
∞ iMovie coming to iPhone 4
iPhone 4’s introduction brings with it dramatic new video capabilities, and to take advantage of them Apple plans to release an iPhone version of iMovie. It will be available for purchase and download from the App Store and will cost $4.99, and it’s designed specifically for iPhone 4. (more…)
∞ Hands On: iPhone 4
I got some hands on time with the iPhone 4 right after Steve Jobs introduced the device at his WWDC keynote on Monday. Obviously, there wasn’t a lot of time to test everything out, but here are a few quick observations. (more…)
∞ App Store pays out $1 billion to developers to date
During his keynote presentation to developers attending this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed that the App Store has paid out more than $1 billion to developers since going online. Apple returns 70 cents of every dollar spent on apps to developers. (more…)
∞ iPhone 4 goes on sale in US, UK, Japan on June 24
Apple on Monday introduced iPhone 4, which will go on sale in the US, UK and Japan on June 24, 2010. Preorders are expected to begin on June 18, and it will cost as little as $199 for qualified buyers. (more…)
∞ WWDC Keynote live update
I’m in the WWDC keynote hall waiting for the fun to begin. I’ll have a live update of the event today that you can follow on the special live update page on The Loop. Tune in and join in on the fun.
∞ MacTech conference planned for November
MacTech magazine has announced a technical conference planned for November 3 – 5, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The event is aimed at IT professionals and Mac developers, and will include sessions and activities throughout the day and evening. (more…)
June 5, 2010
∞ iPhone OS has triple the market share of Android
It turns out the back-and-forth race between Apple and Google in the mobile operating system wars may not be so back-and-forth after all. A new study from Nielsen puts Apple’s iPhone market share at 28 percent and Google’s Android at 9 percent. That gives Apple more than three times that of Google.
The numbers put Apple in second place behind BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, which has a 35 percent share. In third place is Microsoft Windows Mobile with 19 percent, followed by Google, Palm (4 percent), Linux (3 percent), and Symbian (2 percent).Apple and Google both moved up by 2 percent in the first quarter of 2010. In the same period, RIM and Microsoft both lost 2 percent market share.
∞ Mac OS X 10.7 showing up, but don't expect much at WWDC
I’ve been tracking the amount of traffic coming to The Loop from people using Mac OS X 10.7 since about February 2010 and while it has risen significantly, I don’t think we’ll see much of it at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. (more…)
∞ How you know when iPad has fit into your lifestyle
Gadgets and electronic devices are different today than they were years ago, and I don’t just mean with the technology, but how they fit into our lives. Apple’s iPad is truly a lifestyle device. The distinction between being somewhat of a tech toy and being a useful lifestyle product is key to its success long-term. (more…)
June 4, 2010
∞ Mac grabs more than 8 percent of Steam market in first few weeks
According to Valve Corp.’s Steam Hardware Survey, Mac computers already comprise 8.46 percent of Steam clients in the software’s first few weeks of availability. (more…)
∞ Apple shows-off the power of HTML5
If you were wondering why Apple chose HTML5 over Flash for the iPhone and iPad, you can see for yourself now. The company posted several examples of the types of content that can be made using the technology. Included in the showcase are video, audio, picture galleries and more. It’s definitely worth a look.
Apple posts HTML 5 demo page [CNET]
∞ Should AT&T offer rollover data?
AT&T changed its data plans this week offering 200MB and 2GB plans instead of the unlimited plans many in the U.S. have become accustomed to using. For me, the change doesn’t really mean much because I don’t go over the smaller limit most months anyway. Joe Wilcox gives us five reasons why AT&T made the change in the first place and five additional changes they should make to the data plans, including rollover data.
10 things you should know about AT&T’s new smartphone data plans [Betanews]
∞ Inside the iPad with MacFormat and iFixit
You’ve probably seen lots of tear-downs from iFixit.com and cringed as you see the guys tear apart brand new gadgets — I know I have. On the recent MacFormat Podcast, Brad Gibson speaks with iFixit.com’s Luke Soules, Technical Director of iFixit.com to get the scoop on what they found inside Apple’s iPad.
MacFormat Podcast [MacFormat]
June 3, 2010
∞ iPhone tops industry in customer satisfaction, AT&T is lowest
ChangeWave Research recently released a report that shows iPhone customers are the most satisfied among all smartphone makers — by quite a nice margin too. (more…)
∞ Authorities search Gizmodo's Jason Chen devices for iPhone 4G info
Gizmodo’s plans to stop police from searching Jason Chen’s devices for information pertaining to the lost (or stolen) iPhone 4G appears to have failed — sort of. Lawyers for Gizmodo and the chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo County have come to an agreement to allow a third-party (called a special master) to search the devices and alert both sides of only information about the iPhone 4G.
After the search is concluded, the special master will send his findings of what he believes is relevant to the case on to the judge, who will then present it to Chen and his lawyers so they can make any objections. The judge will then decide what to forward to the district attorney. The process could take up to two months, Wagstaffe told CNET.
June 2, 2010
∞ Q&A with AT&T on the new iPhone data plans
You may have heard that AT&T announced a couple of new data plans earlier today that essentially put caps on the amount of data that iPhone users can consume. Our friends at TUAW talked to AT&T today and have posted a Q&A from that interview.
Candid answers from AT&T on the new iPhone data plans [TUAW]
∞ Flurry analytics responds to Steve Jobs' criticism over data collection
During his time at the D8 Conference on Tuesday, Steve Jobs went off a little on Flurry, an analytics company that collects data from mobile devices. The company gets developers to put the code in their apps and it sends data to Flurry. A vice president said they have been in touch with Apple to work out the problems.
Here’s what Jobs had to say last night:
“Some company called Flurry had data on devices that we were using on our campus; new devices,” according to Jobs. “They were getting this info by getting developers to put software in their apps that sent info back to this company! So we went through the roof. It’s violating our privacy policies, and it’s pissing us off! So we said we’re only going to allow analytics that don’t give our device info; only for the purpose of advertising.”“After we calm down from being pissed off, then we’re willing to talk to some of these analytics firms,” Jobs added. “But it’s not today.”
∞ Apple has no competition from PC-based tablet makers
It’s interesting to watch the PC industry play catch-up with Apple’s iPad and make no mistake, that’s exactly what’s happening. The PC tablet has been out for some time, but they didn’t bring anything new to the game and they still don’t. (more…)
∞ AT&T caps data usage, intros $20 monthly tethering with new plans
AT&T on Wednesday introduced new data plans to replace current iPhone unlimited data plans. The company also introduced the long-awaited tethering option for iPhone users. (more…)
∞ Video: Steve Jobs at the D8 Conference
I could write all day about what Steve Jobs said at the D8 conference last night, but why bother when you can hear from the man himself. Here are some clips on the topics we all want to hear Jobs’ views. (more…)
June 1, 2010
∞ Stanford Laptop Orchestra concludes season Wednesday
Music and Macs have been a huge part of my life, but I’ve never used them together like this. Those close to Stanford University can celebrate the integration of the two by seeing the final show of the Stanford Laptop Orchestra’s 2009-2010 season.
In a practice room on the Stanford campus last week, an ensemble of more than a dozen performing musicians gathered to rehearse for an upcoming chamber concert of student work. One young composer after another stepped to the front of the room, distributed scores, and started cueing entrances and ironing out details of coordination.Just another day in the chamber-music world, except for one key detail: Every musician in this ensemble was playing the same instrument – a MacBook.
Stanford Laptop Orchestra makes music with Macs [San Francisco Chronicle]
∞ Intego releases list of Mac apps that download spyware to your computer
Following news earlier on Tuesday from Intego that it found some apps and screensavers that download spyware in the background when being installed, the company released a preliminary list of apps. According to Intego, the screensavers are all made by one company, 7art-screensavers. They will download an app to your system called PremierOpinion. (more…)
∞ 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]