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Jan 27
iPhone/iPod touch/iPad apps for Jan. 27

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).

Sovereign Dynamics has announced Global Feed 1.0 for iOS. The free app designed to stream news based on Geo-IP location. It's completely configurable by the end user.

Eys-Apps has released My Wedding Organizer 1.0 for iOS devices. Based on the prospective date of the wedding day, the US$1.99 app calculates the personal wedding countdown and assists the user in taking care of all upcoming tasks in a timely manner. An integrated cost calculator helps to keep track of total costs, money already paid, and outstanding payments.

M5859 Studios has unveiled Inside the World of Dinosaurs, narrated by Stephen Fry. It's a $13.99, interactive digital dinosaur encyclopedia that utilizes the multimedia capabilities of the iPad. Every dinosaur or object can be spun...

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Jan 27
Jon Rubinstein, former Apple exec, bids HP adieu

Jon Rubinstein, the former Apple exec who took over handheld maker Palm and moved with it to Hewlett-Packard in a 2010 acquisition, has left HP effective today, according to "AllThingsD."

Rubinstein is said to have no immediate plans, and had completed a 12-24 month commitment to stay with HP after the acquisition. "Jon has fulfilled his commitment and we wish him well," HP spokeswoman Mylene Mangalindan said.

In a brief comment to "AllThingsD," Rubinstein said, "I am going to take a well deserved break after four and a half years of developing webOS."

Rubenstein, who left Apple in 2006, served as the head of the Mac hardware engineering division before becoming senior vice president of the company's iPod music player division. For more, go to http://macte.ch/gFI2M . Read more at http://macte.ch/e7CsO .

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Jan 27
Apple Italy now informing customers of mandated, two-year warranty

Apple has complied with a court order in Italy and is informing customers at its online store about a legally mandated two-year warranty, reports "The Register" (http://macte.ch/AHf0w).

Now featured at the top of the main page of Apple's online store is a "communication to protect consumers" that links to a PDF explaining the court's ruling. The change to Apple's online store in Italy was first noted by setteBIT and detailed by The Register.

A small "Communication to protect consumers" has appeared at the top of the Italian Apple store, linking to a PDF document setting out the court decision against the company. That ruling found the company guilty of pushing its extended AppleCare warranty while failing to alert buyers of the legally mandated two-year warranty applicable to all Italian retailers, but was being appealed by Apple, notes "The Register."

In December 2011, Italy's Antitrust...

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Jan 27
Samsung loses another German lawsuit against Apple

One week after dismissing Samsung's first German patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, the Mannheim Regional Court also rejected Samsung's second complaint, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/).

"For Samsung, this outcome must be disappointing. But the Korean electronics giant is known for its fighting spirit and unlikely to back down," writes Florian Muellers for "FOSS Patents. "It remains to be seen whether Samsung will appeal any of these rulings to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court. Presumably, Samsung will have to analyze the reasoning behind this decision in order to decide on a possible appeal."

This is the latest development in the ongoing battle. Earlier this month, in Italy, Judge Marina Tavassi of the Tribunale di Milano -- the Milan-based Italian first-instance court for patent cases -- rejected a Samsung request for a preliminary injunction...

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Jan 27
Tim Cook emails Apple employees about factory worker reports

According to "9to5Mac," Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a lengthy letter to all of the company employees that are a direct response recent reports of factory worker mistreatment.

Per "9to5Mac," here's the opening of the email: "As a company and as individuals, we are defined by our values. Unfortunately some people are questioning Apple’s values today, and I’d like to address this with you directly. We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don’t care is patently false and offensive to us. As you know better than anyone, accusations like these are contrary to our values. It’s not who we are. For the many hundreds of you who are based at our suppliers’ manufacturing sites around the world, or spend long stretches working there away from your families, I know you are as outraged by this as I am. For the people who aren’t as close to the supply chain...

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Jan 27
Apple now world's largest smartphone vendor

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics (http://www.strategyanalytics.com), global smartphone shipments grew 54% annually to reach a record 155 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple reclaimed top position as the world’s number one smartphone vendor during the quarter.

"Global smartphone shipments grew 54% annually to reach a record 155.0 million units in Q4 2011," says Alex Spektor, associate director at Strategy Analytics. "Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume with 24% market share. Apple’s global smartphone shipments surged 128% annually to 37 million units, as distribution of the iPhone family expanded across numerous countries, dozens of operators and multiple price points.”

Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, adds: "While Apple took the top spot in smartphones on a quarterly basis,...

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Jan 27
PrivacyScan available at the Mac App Store

PrivacyScan is now available on the Mac App Store. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and is available at an introductory price of US$4.99 at the Mac App Store in the Utilities category.

PrivacyScan protects online and offline privacy by shredding files that can be used to track your web browsing and computer usage. Going above and beyond United States DoD (Department of Defense) government standards, PrivacyScan's shred feature can overwrite data with up to 35 passes.

PrivacyScan works by searching for known applications which leave files on your computer that could lead to privacy concerns. It offers support for a range of items, including web browsers such as Safari, Camino, Chrome, Firefox, Flock, iCab, OmniWeb, Opera, SeaMonkey, and Shiira, privacy threats presented by Flash Cookies, as well as standard apps such as Finder, Preview, and QuickTime.

Once a scan has run its course and privacy threats have been detected, PrivacyScan offers a variety of...

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Jan 27
DB-Text is new text format manager for Mac OS X

Tension Software has released DB-Text 1.0 for Mac OS X. The app is able to import, edit and manage text format. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and costs US$5. It's available at the Mac App Store and the Tension Software website (http://www.pomola.com/products_dbtext/).

DB-Text can import data both in CSV (comma separated value) text format or in TSV (tab separated value) text format coming from Mac OS X, Windows and Unix systems. Data can be manipulated and exported as text (as they were imported) or saved inside a native DB-Text document.

A pop-up inside the import dialog lets you specify field destinations. DB-Text supports data browsing before import inside the import dialog and an optional 'Use first row as header" feature.

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Jan 27
AJA Io XT with Thunderbolt is shipping

The new Io XT Thunderbolt-enabled professional video I/O device is now shipping from AJA Video Systems (http://www.aja.com). The company says it's the only Thunderbolt-enabled video I/O device on the market with dual Thunderbolt port.

Io XT connects to a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac via a single cable. An additional Thunderbolt port is provided, enabling users to daisy-chain Io XT to other Thunderbolt peripherals including high bandwidth storage and high resolution displays through a single interface; simplifying the connection of multiple devices.

The portable device supports capture and playback of 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 HD and SD formats and can unify disparate formats via its 10-bit realtime Up/Down/Cross conversion capability. Io XT also provides compatibility with the most popular NLE programs, the newest codecs, video formats, stereoscopic 3D workflows, and more. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of...

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Jan 27
TextSoap Express 1.0 slips onto the Mac

Unmarked Software has released TextSoap Express 1.0, a plain text cleaning solution based on its TextSoap product. It requires Mac OS X 10.7.x ("Lion") and is available through the Mac App Store with a retail price of US$23.99. However, it has an launch price of $14.99 through Feb 5.

TextSoap Express is designed specifically for the occasional user who needs the basics in cleaning up email text without fonts, styles, or colors. It includes the Scrub cleaner from its sibling, TextSoap. Scrub can tackle many of the common text problems found in emails and web such as text wrapping or removing old quote marks.

Express provides five custom cleaners that can be customized to the specific needs of the user, with 10 different core text actions to manipulate text. The software automatically manages the creation of custom cleaners, letting users select a custom cleaner and start dragging in the text actions they desire.

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Jan 27
Kidz Gear launches headphones for Apple devices

Kidz Gear (http://www.GearForKidz.com) has expanded its line of Wired Headphones for Kids to include a new Apple version designed specifically for the iPod, iPhone and iPad -- the Kidz Gear Apple Wired Headphones for Kids. 

This Apple-specific version of the headphones features KidzControl Volume Limiting Technology for a safe listening experience while helping to protect children’s hearing. according to Kidz Gear founder Laurie Peterson. It also sports an inline microphone and a remote with controls for track up, track down, and more. 
 
The headphones can be used to record audio, issue a voice command to iPhone’s SIRI personal assistant and answer phone calls on the iPhone, or talk through an internet phone, such as Skype.  The Remote controls volume up and down, as well as lets the user play, pause, skip a track, return to a previous track or even hear the playlist that is currently...

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Jan 27
Digital Film Tools releases Film Stocks plug-in

Digital Film Tools (http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/index2.htm) has released Film Stocks (US$195) with plug-in support for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe After Effects CS5 and up, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 and up, Apple Aperture, Apple Final Cut Pro 6 and 7, and Avid editing systems.

It offers artists simulations of 288 different color and black and white photographic film stocks, motion picture film stocks, and historical photographic processes. Film Stocks offers a range of preset looks as well as the necessary controls to create analog film stock presets from scratch, including color correction, curves, colored filters, sharpness, diffusion, vignetting and film grain.

You can apply one of the many presets and customize the settings, or create your own looks and simulations and save them as presets to use in the...

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Jan 27
Read&Write 5 Gold released for the Mac

Texthelp Systems has announced Read&Write 5 Gold for Mac (http://www.texthelp.com/North-America/our-products/readwrite), the newest release of its literacy support software program.

Read&Write 5 Gold for Mac is a customizable toolbar that integrates with common applications, including Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Safari and Adobe Reader. It provides students of all ages -- especially those with reading and writing difficulties, learning disabilities, and English Language Learners -- with support tools.

Read&Write 5 Gold for Mac’s expanded toolbar includes new features and enhancements to provide even more support for the variety of learning styles and abilities found in today's schools, colleges and universities, and the workplace, says Jack Dolan, president of Texthelp Systems. New features include a picture...

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Jan 27
GoGadget syncs data between iDevices, Macs

Mark/Space has released an update to the Mac version of GoGadget -- and introduced a Windows version. It connects media players, mobile phones, tablets, GPS navigators, gaming systems, digital picture frames, and more for synchronization of media files and documents with computers.

According to the folks at Mark/Space, GoGadget brings media sync to virtually any device that connects to a Mac or Windows PC via a standard USB cable. It lets you choose between and sync photos, music, videos, ringtones, documents, files, and folders between mobile devices and Macs and PCs. For example, Mac users can sync playlists from iTunes and albums from iPhoto.

GoGadget transfers entire playlists, albums of photos, folders, documents, ringtones and videos -- whatever a gadget or device can play and display. The GoGadget product web page (http://www.markspace.com/gogadget) includes a sampling of...

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Jan 27
Qmadix introduces boostpac eclipse, boostpack quick

At this week's Macworld/iWorld Expo, Qmedix (http://www.Qmadix.com) premiered two new auxiliary battery pack options to its boostpac brand: the boostpac eclipse and boostpac quick shot. Pricing hasn't been announced.

The boostpac eclipse and boostpac quick shot are universal, rechargeable auxiliary battery packs that support iPod, iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Both auxiliary packs feature an LED battery indicator light that measures the remaining battery life, and Smart Technology that enables automatic shutoff to avoid overcharging.

Users can recharge the battery packs from any computer or laptop with the included USB 2.0-to-micro USB charging cable. The boostpac eclipse transforms into a docking station for iPhone and iPod charging.

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Jan 27
New device charges 16 iPads at a time

A new 16-port professional USB charging station -- the PowerPad 16 -- can charge up to 16 iPads at a time. The station can be placed in a cabinet, cart or carrying case. It can also be mounted on a table, wall or under a counter”

Created by Datamation Systems (http://www.ipadcarts.com/) the Power Pad 16 (DS-IP-PP16) can be used to replace power strips and the AC adapter bricks of the standard chargers. It's not an "universal" USB charger but Datamation Systems is creating other versions that will accommodate most USB devices, according to Vice President Joe Mazz. Contact Datamation for pricing.

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MacTech Blog

Jan 27
Online movie purchases in 2011 accounted for only 1%...

Apple will almost certainly never support Blu-ray on the Mac -- though I'd love to be surprised with, say, a "Super" SuperDrive with an accompanying Mac OS X update that supports playback of Blu-ray movies.

I won't be at all surprised if the next iMac and MacBook Pro upgrades lack an optical drive entirely a la the MacBook Air and Mac mini. After all, Apple is determined to encourage (force?) you into using iTunes to rent/buy movies as well as purchase music.

That's a mistake. The day may come when buying films online is feasible, but, with bandwidth considerations, that day hasn't come.

Compare the online market for music purchases with that of movie purchases. Digital sales accounted for 32%of global music revenues in 2011, compared with just 1% for films (and, just so you'll know, 5% for newspapers and 4% for books).

Clearly, there's great growth potential for movies on iTunes, books at the iBookstore and newspapers at Newsstand (the latter two...

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Jan 26
Apple considering an universal remote control

A new patent (number 20120019371) at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office shows that Apple is working on a apparatus and method to facilitate an universal remote control. Could this hint at the much-rumored Apple HDTV (the "iTV")?

One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal remote control, which includes a display screen and a user input mechanism. The universal remote control also includes a processing unit that is configured to display information on the display screen and to accept selection data from the user input mechanism. The universal remote control additionally includes a wireless communication mechanism that is configured to provide communications between the processing unit and an appliance or computer program running on a computer system.

The appliance provides information to be displayed on the display screen, and information entered through the user input mechanism is communicated to the appliance. Since the appliance provides the...

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Jan 26
Apple eyeing location-based media presentation

How would you like access to certain media based on your current location? According to a new patent (number 20120021773) at the U.S. Patent & Trade Association, Apple is working on such technology.

Per the patent, media can be presented based on location associated with presentation of media (e.g., physical location of a device that is to present media). Presentation of media can be effectively controlled in order to automatically present a first media content (e.g., a list of songs, an album) in accordance with a first set of media presentation attributes or parameters (e.g., volume associated with presentation of audible media) at a first location, while a second media content is automatically presented in accordance with a second set of media presentation attributes or parameters when the current location is changed to a second location. Michael M. Lee is the inventor.

Here's Apple's background and summary of the invention: "Traditional electronic devices (e...

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Jan 26
Apple working on programmable, magnetic connectors

A patent (number 20121619) at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office shows that Apple is working on programmable, magnetic connectors for its iOS devices -- and perhaps OS X systems.

Connectors and methods of coupling electronic devices and cables are provided in the patent. In one embodiment, a connector has a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device. The first coded magnet has at least two different polarity regions on the first surface. A second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device is also provided.

The second coded magnet is configured to provide identifying information regarding the device on which it is located. The inventors are Brett Bilbrey, Aleskander Pance, Peter Arnold, David I. Simon, Jean lee, Michael D. Hillman, Gregory L. Tice, Vijay Iyer and Bradley Spare.

Here's Apple's background and summary of the invention: "Electronic devices are common in both home and work environments. Indeed, it is common for multiple...

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Jan 26
Apple patent involves playing data from an optical...

A new patent (number 20120020644) from Apple at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for playing data from an optical media drive.

The patent relates generally to optical media drives and to systems using such optical media drives; as well as to improved methods of operating such optical media drives. It's a bit surprising to see this patent, as most evidence indicates that Apple will phase out built-in optical drives on most Macs. But perhaps this involves a revamped, external SuperDrive.

In an example embodiment, the disclosure relates to playing data from an optical media drive. Example embodiments provide various techniques for playing data from an optical media drive. The optical media drive may detect certain media access information for use in accessing optical media. This media access information is stored a non-volatile memory.

The optical media drive then retrieves the media access information from the non-volatile memory once the optical media...

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Jan 26
Steve Jobs' name appears on interface-related...

The late Steve Jobs' name is listed as an inventor on a new patent at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Patent number 20120023434 regards an user interface for providing consolidation and access.

Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a user bar is established which includes a plurality of item representations.

To permit a greater number of items to reside in the user bar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the user bar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface. The inventors are Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs and Donald J. Lindsay.

Here's Apple's summary of the invention: "According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, these and other drawbacks and difficulties of conventional GUIs are overcome by providing a simple, consolidated and...

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Jan 26
Apple patent is for magnetically implemented security...

A new Apple patent (number 20120023597) for magnetically implemented security devices has appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. It relates generally to programmable magnetic devices, and more particularly to security for computing devices and peripherals that may be provided by programmable magnets.

Security devices and methods of securely coupling electronic devices and peripherals are provided. In one embodiment, a peripheral has a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device. The first coded magnet has at least two different polarity regions on the first surface. A second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device is also provided.

The first coded magnet is configured to securely provide data to a device associated with the second coded magnet, if the first and second coded magnets' patterns are keyed to one another. The inventors are Brett Bilbrey, Aleskandar Pance, Peter Arnold, David I. Simon, Jean Lee, Michael D. Hillman,...

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Jan 26
Apple eyeing SDK for iAP accessories

A new patent (number 20120023199) at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office shows that Apple is considering a software development kit (SDK) for iAP [in-application programming] accessories. It relates generally to communication between an accessory and a mobile computing device and in particular to using accessory and/or application specific protocols for such communications.

Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol.

In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and...

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Jan 26
Apple patents reflect work on even better displays

A plethora of patents at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office show that Apple is working on several methods of improving the displays across its product lines.

Patent number 20120019152 is for ambient light calibration for energy efficiency in display systems. It involves a method, system, and apparatus that can be used to operate a display device in an energy efficient manner. The energy efficient display device can effectively and efficiently compensate for changes in ambient light incident at a display screen of the display device using an internal ambient light sensor to provide control signals to a backlight driver. David W. Lum is the inventor.

Patent number 20120019152 involves a display brightness control based on ambient light angles. Methods and devices are provided for controlling the brightness of a display for an electronic device based on ambient light conditions. In one embodiment, an electronic device may employ one...

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Jan 26
Should Apple do more to help the US economy?

Once upon a time Apple boasted that its products were made in America. That's changed. And the question is: should Apple do more to support the U.S.. economy?

A recent "New York Times" story (http://macte.ch/MofNt) notes that almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products Apple sold in 2011 were manufactured overseas. The company earned over US$400,000 in profit per employee -- more than Goldman Sachs, Exxon Mobil or Google. With that kind of moolah, couldn't Apple bring more jobs to our country?

Depends -- as does most things in life -- on how you look at it. As the "Times" notes, President Obama and others are "vexed" that high tech companies like Apple that are rolling in money don't help American jobs as other famous companies, such as General Motors and General Electric, did in the past.

Apple employs 43,000 people in the United States and 20,000...

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Reviews and Kool Tools

Kool Tools: Ch 7.0
SoftIntegration's (http://www.softintegration.com/) is being revved to version 7.0, a major release with features designed to make the a C/C++ interpreter appealing for learning computing and math for students in... Read more »
Power2U can eliminate cable, power adapter clutter
OWC's Power2U (http://www.newertech.com/products/power2u.php) is an US$29.99 gadget that lets you power iOS or other USB equipped mobile devices without a bulky adapter. The advantage: it eliminates clutter created by... Read more »
Compact digital camera gets faster with Ricoh CX5
By Daniel East How is it possible to take a compact digital camera that for most people is already perfect and improve upon its stellar features? It seemed as if this line had reached its pinnacle with the CX4 (http://... Read more »
Kool Tools: NeatDesk for Mac
NeatDesk (http://www.neat.com/products/neatdesk) is an US$399.95 desktop scanner and digital filing system solution that lets you eliminate paper clutter by turning stacks of paper into organized digital files.  The... Read more »

News Scanner

Friday January 27

18:45
Expo Notes: Omni Group shows off iPad version of...
Macworld

Project managers rejoice! The Omni Group has announced a full-featured iPad version of its project management software.







...

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18:23
Expo Notes: Brevity is the soul of wit at Rapid Fire...
Macworld

Mac luminaries had just five minutes to impart some knowledge on the crowd at the Thursday night Rapid Fire session at Macworld | iWorld. Here's a rundown of some of the highlights from that event.






...

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18:06
Macworld Expo: TMO’s Editors Choice Awards for...
Mac Observer

The Mac Observer’s Editors Choice Awards from Macworld|iWorld Expo 2012 are out, and just like previous years, there were plenty of great products for us to check out. We chose seven products that we feel represent the best of what was shown at the conference and expo for the Mac, iPhone and iPad.








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17:50
Israel plans fiber-based national broadband network
MacNN

Israel has followed Australian footsteps in planning its own national broadband network. The country's Israel Electric Corporation plans a purely fiber-based network that will supply many of the country's homes with at least 100Mbps speeds. They picked fiber with the intention to scale and could theoretically hit 1Gbps in time....



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17:30
Facebook IPO filing expected within weeks, could...
AppleInsider

Facebook is making plans to file papers for an initial public offering as early as next week with a valuation that is expected to range between $75 and $100 billion, a new report claims.

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17:21
Steve Jobs told Google to stop poaching workers
The Loop

Reuters:

Apple’s Steve Jobs directly asked former Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt to stop trying to recruit an Apple engineer, a transgression that threatened one junior Google employee’s job, according to a court filing.

The 2007 email from Jobs to Schmidt was disclosed on Friday in the course of civil litigation against Apple Inc, Google Inc and five other technology companies. The proposed class action, brought by five software engineers, accuses the companies of conspiring to keep employee compensation low by eliminating competition for skilled labor.

Who said Apple and Google couldn’t be cooperative?

∞ Permalink

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17:00
Aspyr puts four Mac App Store game titles on sale
MacNN

Mac game maker Aspyr has selected four titles from its catalog for a special month-end sale. From now through the end of January, Prey, Tomb Raider II, Duke Nukem Forever and Neverwinter Nights 2 for Mac will be on sale for $5, up to 75 percent off their normal price. The sale prices are already available for the Mac App Store versions, which require Intel Macs running OS X 10.6.6 or higher. Graphics requirements vary by game....



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16:37
∞ Apple’s an easy target, but you can’t blame them...
The Loop

The cries from the media blaming Apple for the conditions at Foxconn are getting out of hand. Blaming Apple solely for the problems at the factory is like blaming one car-maker for greenhouse gasses. It doesn’t make sense. There are many companies and many factors that make Foxconn what it is. [...]

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16:20
iPad marks 2nd birthday with new rivals, quiet...
MacNN

Friday signaled the second anniversary of the iPad's introduction and what has since been interpreted as the start of a shift in the entire computing space. Apple's tablet was unveiled this day in 2010 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco by its late co-creator, Steve Jobs. It would only go on sale April 2, but it proved to be polarizing from its unveiling, even for Apple loyalists....



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16:20
Macworld iWorld expo: in pictures
MacNN

IDG World Expo rebranded the Macworld expo using the 'iWorld' label for 2012, an appropriate change as the event continues to evolve. MacNN attended the event to check out the latest products in the Mac and iOS ecosystems, and to see how the event organizers and exhibitors have adapted to Apple's absence....



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16:02
Macworld Expo: Hub Innovations Shows Stylish Anvil...
Mac Observer

SAN FRANCISCO - Hub Innovationsw was showing several new products at this year’s Macworld|iWorld show, but the one that caught out eye the most is Anvil, a very cool stand for the iPad. The device holds your iPad in either portrait or landscape mode, and it includes a stabilizer bar if you want to lean your iPad back and type on it.








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16:00
Siri probably isn't the bandwidth hog the WaPo...
TUAW

"How Siri is ruining your cellphone service." That's the searing headline from the Washington Post in an article by Paul Farhi. Farhi claims that "Siri's dirty little secret is that she's a bandwidth guzzler, the digital equivalent of a 10-miles-per-gallon Hummer H1."

Where's he coming up with this? Apparently, the "Siri eats bandwidth" claim is based on a study by Arieso that reports that iPhone 4S owners consume twice as much cellular data as iPhone 4 users and 3 times as much as iPhone 3G users. Recent Android phones are also chewing up twice as much data as the iPhone 3G, while 3G and 4G mobile hotspots are by far the biggest download hogs (26x the baseline...

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15:56
Steve Jobs asked Google to stop poaching Apple...
AppleInsider

As part of a civil suit involving the employment practices of seven major tech firms, a court filing was unveiled on Friday that includes an email which late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs personally sent to former Google chief Eric Schmidt requesting an end to worker poaching.

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15:55
Jobs caught Google recruiting Apple engineer, letter...
MacNN

An unredacted letter from Steve Jobs to Google head Eric Schmidt in March of 2007 reveals that Google was attempting to recruit an Apple engineer, which resulted in swift repercussions after Schmidt was notified. The letter is part of a court case that alleges that informal "no poaching" agreements between Apple, Google and five other tech companies amounted to a conspiracy to limit opportunities and keep compensation low....



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15:45
Hands on: Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo...
MacNN

Just weeks after announcing its first Thunderbolt hard drives, Western Digital appropriately brought the offerings to show off at the Macworld iWorld expo in San Francisco. Electronista took a close look at several of the company's My Book Thunderbolt Duo drives, which were daisy chained to a Thunderbolt display....



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15:36
Ron Johnson using Apple experience to remake JCPenney
The Loop

ifoAppleStore:

During the 90-minute JC Penney briefing, former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson explained his plans to remake JCP into “America’s favorite store” over the next three years, admittedly drawing from his 10-year stewardship of Apple’s stores. In fact, the very first item on Johnson’s agenda was to explain why he left Apple, and the very first presentation slide was an Apple logo.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made yet,” he said of moving to JCP. The only hard part of the decision was driving to Steve Jobs’ house to announce he was leaving. Jobs looked up at him and asked, “Are you serious?”

It will be interesting to see how Johnson can bring the Apple Retail experience to JCP.

∞ Permalink

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15:27
Macworld Expo: PadDock 10 Turns an iPad Into a Mini...
Mac Observer

SAN FRANCISCO - iPad stands are nearly as numerous as iPhone cases, but the PadDock 10 is more than just a stand. In addition to making your iPad look like a smaller version of an iMac, it adds speaker and connector features too.








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15:20
2011 Best App Ever Awards
The Loop

148Apps:

With over 1.5 million votes cast (over three times the number cast last year) and a record number of nominations, we now have the winners of the 2011 Best App Ever Awards. Thanks to all that voted, nominated, and made these fantastic apps!

Awards were handed out in over one hundred categories including Best Visual Design, Most Innovative, Best Time Killer and

∞ Permalink

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15:18
Apple's Cook Steamed Over Labor Practices Report
MacNewsWorld


Since the middle of this week, the buzz about Apple hasn't been so much its record earnings as disclosures of the working conditions its overseas workers endure, as detailed in a recent report, which touched on worker deaths, inhumane working conditions, disregard for workers' health, the use of underage workers, suggestions that Cupertino cares only about cutting costs and maintaining product quality, and allegations of infighting among senior management at Apple over these issues.

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15:15
The State of iCloud-enabled apps
The Loop

Federico Viticci:

In 107 days since iCloud went live, and 235 since Apple’s announcement at WWDC ’11, it appears the majority of third-party developers are still considering whether or not iCloud is something worth investing their time — and customers’ money — or not.

An interesting read.

∞ Permalink

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15:13
Dear Apple: Do something about Chinese working...
The Loop

Molly Wood at CNET:

The company has been actively auditing its suppliers for labor, health, safety, and other concerns since 2007. Yet, as the Times points out, problems remain–the kinds of problems that kill people. It’s time for Apple to get serious, publicly and with vehemence, about addressing safety and rights violations, and firing suppliers who don’t comply.

Is it fair to single out Apple?

It’s a valid question but one without an easy

∞ Permalink

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15:05
Court filings show Steve Jobs told Google to stop...
9 to 5 Mac

Following reports earlier today that U.S. District Judge Lucy H Koh would allow a lawsuit claiming Apple, Google and 5 other companies entered in “no-poach” agreements, now court documents made public today show in 2007 former Apple CEO Steve Jobs asked with Google’s Eric Schmidt to “stop trying to recruit an Apple engineer.” Reuters reports:

The email from Jobs to Schmidt was disclosed on Friday in the course of civil litigation against Apple, Google and five other tech companies. The proposed class action, brought by five software engineers, accuses the companies of conspiring to keep employee compensation low by eliminating competition for skilled labor. 

According to excerpts of the the documents posted by Reuters,...

| Read more »

Rumor Scanner

Friday January 27

12:46
Macworld 2012: Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac Coming
MacRumors



Autodesk was at Macworld showing off a new product for the Mac called Autodesk Inventor Fusion. Autodesk Inventor Fusion is an existing 3D mechanical design software on Windows, but will soon become available for the Mac for the first time.

Autodesk made headlines back in 2010 when they returned to the Mac platform after a two decade hiatus. Due to the success they've seen with their existing Mac products, the company will be bringing Inventor Fusion to the Mac.

In the next few weeks, Autodesk will be releasing a free Technology Preview for the program which will allow Mac users to download an early version and provide feedback. The final release will come at some point...

| Read more »
10:30
Civil Suit Against Google, Apple and Others Over Employee-...
MacRumors

A U.S. District Judge has ruled that an anti-trust case filed against a number of tech companies can continue, saying "they still have an antitrust claim" according to Bloomberg.

[Judge] Koh didn’t take issue with the allegations about the agreements between individual companies, Joseph Saveri, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview after the hearing. Instead, Koh has questions about “how it ties together,” or claims of an over-arching conspiracy between all the companies, he said.The case goes back more than 5 years, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that "no solicitation" agreements appeared in 2005 between Apple, Adobe, Google, Intel, Intuit, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. The agreements prevented companies...

| Read more »
07:05
Intel Looks to Challenge Apple's iTunes on Future Ult...
Patently Apple

With Apple having snubbed Intel's every offer to win them over to their mobile processors, Intel is deadly focused on challenging Apple's MacBook Air and eventually their iPhone and beyond. In 2013, Intel will be introducing the Haswell processor that will allow Intel's Ultrabook to offer a very smart ultrathin notebook-tablet form factor that will be able to challenge Apple's mobile platform. Yesterday, Intel showed how they're ...

| Read more »
06:25
Tim Cook Responds to Report on Working Conditions at Suppl...
MacRumors

In the wake of yesterday's report regarding treatment of workers at the facilities of Apple's suppliers, Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent an email to company employees addressing the situation. As published by 9to5Mac, the email highlights Apple's efforts to oversee compliance with company standards for workers' rights and the transparency with which it has shared that information. From Cook's opening statement:As a company and as individuals, we are defined by our values. Unfortunately some people are questioning Apple’s values today, and I’d like to address this with you directly. We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is...

| Read more »

Thursday January 26

20:13
Apple Estimated to Retake Title of World's Largest Sm...
MacRumors

Research firm Strategy Analytics today announced its estimates of the global smartphone market for the fourth quarter of 2011, finding that Apple narrowly squeezed by Samsung to retake the title of world's largest smartphone vendor as measured by unit shipments. According to Strategy Analytics' numbers, Apple's 37 million iPhones narrowly eclipsed Samsung's quarterly smartphone shipments of 36.5 million units.Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “While Apple took the top spot in smartphones on a quarterly basis, Samsung became the market leader in annual terms for the first time with 20 percent global share during 2011. With global smartphone shipments nearing half a billion units in 2011, Samsung is now well positioned alongside Apple in a two-horse race at the forefront of one of the world’s largest and most valuable consumer...

| Read more »
14:51
iWorld 2012: Bottle Opener Cases, Wave Cradle, Nomad Brush...
MacRumors

Macworld | iWorld carries the usual collection of iPhone cases and accessories, not all of which are insanely great. But here are a few interesting ones that were on the show floor as I made my way through the masses.

Opena Case and Intoxicase were both showing off iPhone cases with built in bottle openers. Intoxicase's even integrates with an app that counts the number of openings. Not sure the demand for such a thing, but here they are.

WaveCradle is simple aluminum stand that amplifies the audio coming from your iPhone. The stand simple curves the audio towards the listener and they claim an 8 decibel increase. Cradles cost from $19.85 to $28.50.

Nomad Brush sells capacitive...

| Read more »
13:24
Macworld 2012: WDC Shows Off MyBook Thunderbolt Duo
MacRumors

We briefly mentioned WDC's press release that they would be showing their new MyBook Thunderbolt Duo at Macworld. Here are photos from the show floor of the unit. As expected, the new drive shares the same appearance as their previous two drive MyBook hardware.

This new model, however, incorporates two Thunderbolt ports that allows the units to be daisy chained with each other to create a single logical drive.

At the show, WDC was showing 4 devices daisy chained with Thunderbolt in a striped configuration. Each MyBook Thunderbolt Duo had two 3TB drives, giving a total capacity of 24TB that appeared on the desktop as one contiguous 24TB device.

The individual drives within each unit are user serviceable/replaceable and can be configured in either RAID 0 or RAID 1 configurations...

| Read more »
13:21
Apple's Second Siri Patent Discusses All Things Hands...
Patently Apple

On January 26, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's second Siri centric patent. Our first report on Apple's Siri was titled "Apple introduces us to Siri, the Killer Patent," which described a large basket of concepts and possible future applications. In Apple's second Siri patent, it's all about the "hands-free Context."

| Read more »
11:19
iPhone Average Selling Price Remains Steady Even With Free...
MacRumors

Earlier this week, Apple reported its best quarterly earnings ever, taking in more than $46 billion over three months. 53% of that revenue was from the sale of 37 million iPhones, at an average selling price of nearly $660. This ASP is particularly impressive, considering this is the first quarter that Apple has sold a "free" iPhone in the U.S. -- the iPhone 3GS is available for free to new two-year contract signers on AT&T.

Apple's iPhone ASP has remained fairly consistent, hovering between $622 and $660 for most of the phone's lifespan. With Apple offering their cheapest iPhones yet this quarter, some analysts wondered if that would have a negative effect on the iPhone's ASP. It seems that demand for the 64GB iPhone 4S -- the most expensive iPhone yet at $849 -- has easily offset the cheaper iPhone 3GS and 4 models.

All...

| Read more »
10:54
Part-Time Apple Employees Now Eligible to Participate in C...
MacRumors

One of Tim Cook's first acts when he became CEO of Apple was to institute a charitable matching program for employees. Under the program, Apple would match employees' personal contributions to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations up to $10,000 per year. However, the program initially only applied to US-based full-time employees.

Now, it seems Apple has expanded the program to include part-time US employees as well, and covering international workers soon, according to a tweet from the Apple Retail Workers Union twitter account.

As of November 2011, some two months after the program went into effect, Apple had matched $1.3 million in employee...

| Read more »
10:36
Macworld 2012: 'Clear' To Do App for iOS, WDC My...
MacRumors

Macworld | iWorld 2012 kicked off this morning in San Francisco with the opening of the expo show floor. For years, Macworld was the major trade show for Apple to announce their new products. The venue was the launching ground for the first iPhone launch back in 2007.

Since Apple's departure, the show has continued with a focus on 3rd party companies. This year, the show has been rebranded as Macworld | iWorld reflecting the increased importance of iOS in the Apple ecosystem.

Clear

Realmac Software and Impending used Macworld | iWorld to announce their new to do app for the iPhone. Impending is a new studio formed by Phill Ryu and David Lanham. Ryu is best...

| Read more »
09:37
Former Apple Executives Address Working Conditions in Supp...
MacRumors

The New York Times today published a lengthy report discussing working conditions at the facilities of Apple's suppliers in China, part of a growing focus on how Apple's popular products are made. While the company is making strides in holding its suppliers accountable to company standards, the report cites former Apple executives who note that the company continues to struggle balancing its desire for better working conditions and workers' rights with its business priorities.Some former Apple executives say there is an unresolved tension within the company: executives want to improve conditions within factories, but that dedication falters when it conflicts with crucial supplier relationships or the fast delivery of new...

| Read more »
08:42
Apple introduces us to the Wild World of Coded Magnets
Patently Apple

Once in a while we're treated to new Apple invention that virtually contains a new self-contained world of possibilities and vocabulary to enrich it. It comes out of the blue and feeds our need for meaty new technology brimming with potential. Today is such a day. This is such an invention. Apple's invention reveals a wild world of programmable magnetic devices, and more particularly, to security for computing devices and peripherals that may be provided by programmable magnets. And yet, it reveals so much more than that. Apple envisions this technology eventually working into iOS devices to produce wild haptic effects using Ferrofluids on touchscreens and virtual keyboards. It will also ....

| Read more »
07:53
iPad Grabs 58% of Tablet Shipments in 4Q 2011
MacRumors

Research firm Strategy Analytics today announced the results of its calculations of worldwide tablet shipments during the fourth quarter of 2011, revealing that Apple continues to hold a majority of the market as Android improves its standing on the strength of Amazon's Kindle Fire.Peter King, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global tablet shipments reached an all-time high of 26.8 million units in Q4 2011, surging 150 percent from 10.7 million in Q4 2010. Demand for tablets among consumer, business and education users remains strong. Apple shipped a robust 15.4 million iPads worldwide and maintained its strong market leadership with 58 percent share during the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple shrugged off the much-hyped threat from entry-level Android models this quarter.”Despite strong growth in shipment share for Android, Apple's share is down less than four percentage points since...

| Read more »
06:15
iPhone Drives AT&T's Record-Smashing Quarter for...
MacRumors

AT&T today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011, revealing that the carrier saw record-smashing sales of 9.4 million smartphones, nearly double the previous quarter's sales and 50% higher than the company's previous record. The iPhone was clearly the primary driver of smartphone sales for AT&T, as the carrier reported 7.6 million iPhone activations during that quarter, with the "majority" of those activations being iPhone 4S devices.In the fourth quarter, the company set a new record with 9.4 million smartphones sold, nearly double the number sold in the third quarter and 50 percent more than the previous quarterly record. Fourth-quarter smartphone sales represented more than 80 percent of postpaid device sales. Both iPhone and Android device sales set records. During the quarter, more than 7.6 million iPhones were activated, the majority of which were...

| Read more »
00:20
Apple to Give Employees $500 Off Macs and $250 Off iPads
MacRumors

According to 9to5Mac, during today's town hall meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that they would get $500 off Macs and $250 iPads.

The new discount program starts in June 2012, and can only be used once every 3 years. Employees also need to have been working at Apple for at least 90 days. The discount is reportedly for both corporate and retail employees. The discount is said to exclude the Mac mini.

Apple employees presently are allowed a one-a-year 25% discount on Apple systems. One report even claims that this discount will remain in place alongside the new discounts.

In 2007, shortly after the original...

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Wednesday January 25

13:28
Brazil Approves Tax Incentives to Begin iPad Production as...
MacRumors

Brazilian newspaper Folha reports [Google translation] that the Brazilian government has officially approved tax incentives that will allow Foxconn to begin producing iPads in the country. Interministerial Ordinance #34, signed on Monday and published in Brazil's official register today, specifically provides for a reduction in or exemption from certain taxes associated with the production of touchscreen tablet devices lacking a keyboard and weighing less than 750 grams.According to ministerial decree 34 published Wednesday in the "Official Gazette", the company will be entitled to the benefits provided for in Decree 5906 of September 2006.

The determination provides...

| Read more »
10:53
New Motorola Lawsuit Claims iPhone 4S & iCloud Infring...
Patently Apple

According to court documents, Motorola has launched their second patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in Miami, Florida. In Motorola's new complaint they claim that Apple is infringing on six additional patents ranging from concealing an external antenna on a cell phone on through to a wireless ...

| Read more »
09:47
Apple Gearing Up for iPhone 5 Production Ahead of Summer L...
MacRumors

9to5Mac reports that it has received word from a "reliable" source at Foxconn that Apple is gearing up to begin production of the iPhone 5, suggesting that the company could be pushing for a mid-year launch more in line with pre-iPhone 4S debuts.The source said various sample devices are also floating around (which vary slightly from one another) so it is impossible to tell which one will be the final. Some things in common with all of them, however, are:

- 4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them)

- No teardrop-shaped devices as were rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been symmetrical in thickness. Also longer/wider.

- None of the sample devices have the iPhone 4/4S form factor

- None of the devices are final versionsThe report notes that the start of...

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08:27
Apple Sneaks by Android in Fourth Quarter U.S. Smartphone...
MacRumors

Reuters reports on new data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech showing that Apple slipped past Android by the narrowest of margins in fourth quarter U.S. smartphone sales, with Apple's iPhone taking 44.9% of the market and Android taking 44.8%."Apple has continued its strong sales run in the U.S., UK and Australia over the Christmas period," Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at the research firm said.

"Overall, Apple sales are now growing at a faster rate than Android across the nine countries we cover," Sunnebo added.The results, driven by Apple's blockbuster quarter in the wake of the iPhone 4S launch, saw Apple double its U.S. sales share year-over-year while Android slipped from its 50% share a year ago. Apple yesterday reported sales of 37 million iPhones during the quarter, far exceeding...

| Read more »
08:09
Apple Ramping Up Operations in Israel with Anobit Acquisit...
MacRumors

According to a new report from Israeli business newspaper Calcalist (via 9to5Mac), Apple has begun hiring for its research and development center in Haifa, Israel with a goal of opening the center by the end of February. The report claims that Apple has already received "several hundred resumes" from engineers looking to work in the new center, which is being headed up by Apple's newly-hired Israeli high-tech executive Aharon Aharon.

The report notes that is likely to set up its research center near existing facilities run by Intel, Microsoft, and Phillips, with Apple seeking expertise in chip development, specifically with electrical circuits and...

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Documentation Scanner

Friday January 27

10:15
Xsan: Compatibility of SAN clients with Xsan and...
Apple - All...

Learn which versions of Xsan can be used in the same SAN with StorNext controllers, and which versions of StorNext can be used in the same SAN with Xsan controllers.

| Read more »
07:30
Control+T in Terminal shows time snapshot
Mac OS X Hin...

Not sure if this was available before 10.7, but hitting Control+T while running a command in the Terminal will show what process is executing, the load, the PID of the process and its user and kernel time.



I was running a script and accidentally hit Control+T instead of Command+T to create a new tab. I was surprised at what I got. Here is an example of what gets printed:

# buildOrder.py
load: 2.51 cmd: p4 15179 running 0.00u 0.00s
load: 2.23 cmd: p4 17962 waiting 0.01u 0.00s
load: 2.53 cmd: Python 15167 running 94.68u 66.33s
load: 2.60 cmd: Python 15167 running 150.71u 101.82s



[crarko adds: I wasn't able to reproduce this, but it may be due to the briefness of the running command. Give it a try and post a comment about your results. Try it in Snow Leopard too if you ...



...

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07:30
10.7 : Enable Recovery HD after restore from Time...
Mac OS X Hin...

File Vault 2 and embedded 'Recovery HD' disk are new additions to OS X in Lion release.  



A fresh OS X Lion installation creates 'Recovery HD' by live re-partitioning 'Macintosh HD'. The recovery disk is 650MB in size (as of 10.7.2), of partition type Apple_Boot, and therefore, will be hidden during normal usage by OS X user interface. It does not show up in Finder, and not even 'Disk Utility.'



If the recovery disk 'Recovery HD' is proper, booting up a Mac without File Vault 2 while holding down the Option key will result in listing 'Recovery HD' as an alternative to 'Macintosh HD' for booting the machine up. For Macs with File Vault 2, only holding down the Cmd+R key combination will boot 'Recovery HD.'



The 'Recovery HD' of a Mac without File Vault 2 contains 'Base System Install', which is a minimal OS X kernel plus useful utility applications (Disk Utility, Time Machine, Network Utility, Pasword...

| Read more »

Thursday January 26

16:00
Manage Default Language Settings in iTunes Connect
iPhone Devel...

You can now edit the default language for app metadata any time. If you have multiple apps, you have the added flexibility of managing metadata localizations for each individual app. Any localizations you add will be displayed automatically based on customers’ OS or iOS language settings. Otherwise, the default language you select will be displayed to all customers. Learn more in the latest iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

| Read more »
16:00
Manage Default Language Settings in iTunes Connect
Apple Tools

You can now edit the default language for app metadata any time. If you have multiple apps, you have the added flexibility of managing metadata localizations for each individual app. Any localizations you add will be displayed automatically based on customers’ OS or iOS language settings. Otherwise, the default language you select will be displayed to all customers. Learn more in the latest iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

| Read more »
16:00
Manage Default Language Settings in iTunes Connect
iPhone Devel...

You can now edit the default language for app metadata any time. If you have multiple apps, you have the added flexibility of managing metadata localizations for each individual app. Any localizations you add will be displayed automatically based on customers’ OS or iOS language settings. Otherwise, the default language you select will be displayed to all customers. Learn more in the latest iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

| Read more »
16:00
Manage Default Language Settings in iTunes Connect
ADC Headline...

You can now edit the default language for app metadata any time. If you have multiple apps, you have the added flexibility of managing metadata localizations for each individual app. Any localizations you add will be displayed automatically based on customers’ OS or iOS language settings. Otherwise, the default language you select will be displayed to all customers. Learn more in the latest iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

| Read more »
12:51
Mac 101: Connect your camera or camcorder
Apple - All...

Digital cameras and camcorders allow you to capture memorable events. Learn how to import your photos and videos from your camera or camcorder.

| Read more »
10:19
Mac 101: Desktop
Apple - All...

The desktop is the space where you see file, folder, and application windows. Learn about your desktop and how to customize it.

| Read more »
08:55
Mac 101: iChat
Apple - All...

Learn how to use iChat to text chat, audio chat, or video chat over the Internet.

| Read more »
07:30
iOS 5: iPad show mailbox gesture
Mac OS X Hin...

Maybe everybody already knows this, but I missed it in all the new features of iOS 5. The iPad mail app adds a new gesture to show and hide the message list window when in portrait orientation.



I always use my iPad's Mail app in landscape mode because I get to see my message list in addition to the message detail. And for some reason, I find it tedious to push the mailbox button at the top left of the screen to see the message list. iOS 5 added the ability to swipe right anywhere on the message window to pop up the message list and to swipe left to hide it again. Nice! Not having to move my finger six inches has somehow made portrait mode much more bearable for me.



[crarko adds: Well, I didn't know it either, so here's the hint. I also was a landscape mode only iPad mail user.]



...

| Read more »
07:30
A Spotlight Plugin for InDesign
Mac OS X Hin...

Every now and then I poke around the web to see if someone has found a way to search InDesign files with Spotlight. For many users of InDesign, this missing capability has been a point of frustration since Spotlight was introduced with Tiger back in April of 2005. Now there's a little something for anyone running InDesign CS5 or CS5.5.



Over in the Adobe forums, John Hawkinson put together a plugin. He recommends installing it, then using Terminal to re-index specific files or folders using:



mdimport /Users/UserName/Path/To/File/Or/Folder



I installed the latest version of his plugin (version 0.1c) into ~/Library/Spotlight then ran the mdimport command on my Documents folder. While he's explicit that this is alpha software, I've seen no issues and it seems to work very...

| Read more »

Wednesday January 25

10:59
Mac OS X Server: Limiting DDNS registration to...
Apple - All...

When connecting Mac OS X Server v10.5 or later to networks that implement dynamic DNS (DDNS), including Microsoft Active Directory networks, Mac OS X Server may register each configured network interface address in DNS.

| Read more »
09:41
Mac 101: Change your screen saver
Apple - All...

Learn how to change the screen saver--you can even use your own slideshow creation.

| Read more »
07:30
Logitech Solar Keyboard and the Scroll Lock/Num Lock...
Mac OS X Hin...

I'm a happy user of the Logitech Solar Keyboard for Mac -- never having to change batteries is quite liberating. However, this keyboard lacks a few things, including dedicated Scroll Lock and Num Lock keys, that you may find on other keyboards.



I don't use those two keys often, but I do use them while working in Excel. After some trial and error, and some Googling, I figured out how to turn them on and off. (Because there aren't any physical keys, there aren't any indicator lights for these keys' states. Instead, you have to look at Excel's onscreen indicators, at the lower right corner of the worksheet.)



Scroll Lock: Press Shift+F14.

Num Lock: Press Shift+Clear (on the numeric keypad).



I'm not sure if these shortcuts work on other Logitech keyboards or not.



[crarko adds: The hassle of dealing...

| Read more »
07:30
Sticky Widget from Selected Text
Mac OS X Hin...

There's a recent Macworld article for quickly making Stickies. I thought that some folks might want to make Sticky Widgets instead.



This is derived from my hint posted a few years ago.



Depending on your system version (and possibly other factors), you may need to launch Dashboard at least once if you haven't since system startup before trying the Service.



Here are the simple steps:

  • Open Automator and create an empty Mac OS X Service document. In the document window set the first popup to text and the second pop-up to any application.
  • Drag a Run AppleScript action into the right side of the Automator document window. Then paste the following line into the Run AppleScript step just beneath the (* Your script goes here *) line:
    ...





...

| Read more »

Tuesday January 24

19:53
TA12-024A: "Anonymous" DDoS Activity
US-CERT Aler...

Original release date: January 24, 2012

Last revised: --

Source: US-CERT




Overview

US-CERT has received information from multiple sources about coordinated
distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks with targets that included
U.S. government agency and entertainment industry websites. The loosely
affiliated collective "Anonymous" allegedly promoted the attacks in
response to the shutdown of the file hosting site MegaUpload and in protest of
proposed U.S. legislation concerning online trafficking in copyrighted
intellectual property and counterfeit goods (Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA,
and Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of
Intellectual Property Act, or PIPA).




I. Description

US-CERT has evidence of two...

| Read more »
14:02
GarageBand for iOS: How to extend the length of your...
Apple - All...

Learn how to make your song longer in GarageBand for iOS by adding bars or song sections.

| Read more »
10:18
Mac 101: Set your preferences
Apple - All...

Besides changing the look and feel of your Mac, you can also let your Mac know how you prefer to work by using System Preferences. Learn how to change settings in your System Preferences.

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: Unlock screens using any admin password
Mac OS X Hin...

Under Lion, the screen saver authentication dialog box does not allow you to enter a username. So even if you've made the changes detailed in this Snow Leopard hint there is no way to put in alternate credentials to unlock a user's screen.



First, edit /etc/pam.d/screensaver as per the original Snow Leopard hint:

  • Open /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app
  • Type cd /etc/pam.d
  • 3. sudo cp screensaver screensaver.bak
  • 4. sudo nano screensaver
  • 5. Find the line:

    account required pam_group.so no_warn group=admin,wheel fail_safe

    and change it to:

    account sufficient pam_group.so no_warn group=admin,wheel fail_safe
  • Press Control+X to save /etc/pam.d/screensaver and exit nano.

Then, still in Terminal, we make a wholly unintuitive change...

| Read more »

Technology Showcase

Dec 16
Appcelerator offers '4 Steps to creating a mobile...

Appcelerator has published a white paper on "4 Steps to creating a mobile development strategy."

"Companies now have a window of opportunity to think about how mobile can transform their business as radically as the web did," says AppCelerator. "By making mobile a part of their overall digital strategy, companies can transform their relationships with their customers in even greater ways than they did with the web."

The white paper tells you how this can be accomplished. Appcelerator (http://www.appcelerator.com/) is a company that helps web developers create mobile, tablet and desktop applications.

| Read more »
Sep 19
InterMapper publishes white papers on network...

InterMapper has published four white papers on network monitoring, mapping and alerting and InterMapper. You can find them all at
http://www.intermapper.com/resources/whitepapers.aspx .

The papers look at "Top 8 reasons SMBs need to monitor their networks," "top 8 considerations for selecting SMB network monitoring software," "10 steps to streamline the deployment of network monitoring software for SMBs," and "6 ways to calculate returns from your networking monitoring investment."

InterMapper is Mac OS X compatible network monitoring software. It uses SNMP to monitor the network infrastructure, and has probes for monitoring many kinds of servers, including web, mail, LDAP, FTP, etc. More information and a free 30-day demo are available at the product Web site (...

| Read more »
Aug 11
Video tour of new Data Rescue Center headquarters...

The Data Rescue Center, a a data recovery company founded in 2009 and a division of Prosoft Engineering, recently opened a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Livermore, California. You can get a video tour of it at http://www.thedatarescuecenter.com/company_background.html .

In June of 2010, the Data Rescue Center and Prosoft Engineering finalized the purchase of a building in Livermore near the Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Work immediately began on the design and construction of the new recovery lab facility.

In late January of 2011, both The Data Rescue Center and Prosoft Engineering moved all operations to this new facility. It boasts a Class 2 UL-Listed Vault and extensive security features.

The ISO 5 / Class 100 Cleanroom exceeds all manufacturers specifications for cleanroom recovery environments, according to...

| Read more »
Mar 11
Video looks at 'Fixing Flat Color in Final Cut...

Future Media Concepts has posted a video on "Fixing Flat Color in Final Cut Pro." It teaches you how to make your colors "pop" in footage in Final Cut Pro. You can find it at
http://www.fmctraining.com/fmc.asp?w=blip_AYHdkS4C .

Future Media Concepts is a digital media training center representing the leading software manufacturers, including Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Boris FX, Digidesign, NewTek and Softimage. Headquartered in New York City, FMC now operates 5 additional digital media training facilities located in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Orlando and Chicago.

| Read more »
Oct 04
Video showcases Zco's services

Zco Corp. (http://www.zco.com) has posted an overview video for their technology showcase. You can view it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzE89z-jexA .

Zco can help you build custom software, as well as market it. The company developsb oth industrial strength backend applications using .NET, PHP and Java as well as apps for all major mobile platforms, including the iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone 7, WebOS and Symbian.

Zco can also help you promote your products and services using search engine optimization and social media optimization techniques, HD video, stunning graphics, 3D animation and video effects, press releases, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google, Yahoo and Bing.

| Read more »
Aug 26
Video looks at digital storytelling features of...

A new online video (http://www.memoryminer.com) shows some of the best ways for using MemoryMiner, a digital storytelling application for Mac OS X. Designed an an complement the iLife suite, the software is all about capturing and exploring your life memories.

MemoryMiner allows anyone to zero in on the stories depicted in their photos by linking them to each other based on people, places and time. While photos are used as the starting point, the goal is always uncovering the backstory.

With MemoryMiner, you can directly record audio or video to capture the backstory of a photo. You can attach documents, web URL's, or other media to add depth and context. Each photo becomes a frame in a storyboard that can be browsed by periods in a person's life, where people overlap, by place, by time, or any combination.

MemoryMiner requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. It's Universal Binary so runs...

| Read more »
Jul 30
Ergonis posts video on using Typinator

Ergonis Software has posted a video (http://www.ergonis.com/products/typinator/movie.html) on Typinator (http://www.ergonis.com/products/typinator/), its tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos system-wide across all Mac OS X applications.

With thousands of predefined corrections for common typos and misspelled words for US and British English, German and French, Typinator is not only just a typing assistant that speeds repetitive typing tasks, but also a system-wide auto-correction tool that automatically fixes typing errors and misspelled words. You just define an abbreviation along with its replacement text or picture. Whenever you type one of your abbreviations in any application, Typinator inserts the corresponding...

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Jul 19
Seagate introduces GoFlex Home for centralized storage

Seagate (http://www.seagate.com) has unveiled the newest addition to its GoFlex family of hard drives -- the GoFlex Home network storage system. When it's connected to a wireless router, an entire household can centrally store, easily access and continuously back up files wirelessly from Mac and Windows systems on the home  network.

The new centralized storage system simplifies the backup process by being compatible with the Apple Time Machine, as well as including a version of the backup application for both Mac OS X and Windows operating systems, says Darcy Clarkson, Seagate vice president of Retail Sales and Marketing. With the GoFlex Home storage system, families can also wirelessly stream photos, movies and music to most network connected DLNA devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player, from any room in the house.

The GoFlex Home is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities at...

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Software Updates via MacUpdate

Backblaze 2.0.1.450 - Online backup serv...
Backblaze... With half of the founding team heralding from Apple, Backblaze is deeply committed to the Mac platform. The service has been designed natively for the Mac platform, integrated into the... Read more
EarthDesk 5.8.3 - A striking animated im...
EarthDesk replaces your static desktop picture with a rendered image of Earth showing correct sun, moon and city illumination. With an internet connection, EarthDesk displays real-time global cloud... Read more
Fantastical 1.2.1 - Create calendar even...
Fantastical is the Mac calendar you'll actually enjoy using. Creating an event with Fantastical is quick, easy, and fun: Open Fantastical with a single click or keystroke Type in your event details... Read more
iStat Menus 3.21 - Monitor your system r...
iStat Menus lets you monitor your system right from the menubar. Included are 8 menu extras that let you monitor every aspect of your system. Some features: CPU - Monitor cpu usage. 7 display modes... Read more
Google Earth 6.2.0.5905 - View & con...
Google Earth gives you a wealth of imagery and geographic information. Explore destinations like Maui and Paris, or browse content from Wikipedia, National Geographic, and more. Google Earth... Read more
Bean 3.0.5 - A fast and uncluttered word...
Bean is lean, fast, and uncluttered. If you get depressed at the thought of firing up MS Word or OpenOffice, try Bean. If you use Text Edit but have to jump through hoops just to get a word count or... Read more
X-Plane 10.04 Beta 1 - Ultra-realistic f...
X-Plane is the world's most comprehensive, powerful flight simulator, and has the most realistic flight model available for personal computers. Welcome to the world of props, jets, single- and multi... Read more
Growl 1.3.3 - Notification system for OS...
Growl is a notification system that allows any application to send it a notification, and then it displays it. You can (for example) be notified that you have new email, or that a download completed... Read more
VueScan 9.0.78 - Scanner software with a...
VueScan is a scanning program that works with most high-quality flatbed and film scanners to produce scans that have excellent color fidelity and color balance. VueScan is easy to use, and has... Read more
 

FREEday 1/27/12 – “FREE is the Way, I Go...
With all the freebies that have been flying around each week, it’s a wonder we haven’t run out. Then again, how many hundreds of apps and games are released each week? Yeah, I suppose when I think about it that way it’s no wonder we’re still going... | Read more »
Paper Monsters Review
Paper Monsters Review By Carter Dotson on January 27th, 2012 Our Rating: :: TRADITIONAL STATIONERYUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Paper Monsters is a game that takes inspiration from traditional platformers that define... | Read more »
The Passenger Review
The Passenger Review By Sinan Kubba on January 27th, 2012 Our Rating: :: BRIEF ADVENTUREiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad A noir adventure game that shines too briefly.   | Read more »
PyramidVille Adventure Review
PyramidVille Adventure Review By Rob Rich on January 27th, 2012 Our Rating: :: JOBS OF THE NILEUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Build, expand and maintain an Egyptian city in this iOS adaptation of the Facebook hit.   | Read more »
Five For Friday: Week Of January 27
Things are ramping up on the App Store with Christmas well and truly behind everyone. While most of these apps and games will be covered in reviews, we take a look here at five of the best from the last week. Orphion | Read more »
Cytus Review
Cytus Review By Jennifer Allen on January 27th, 2012 Our Rating: :: EXCYTUSUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad A treat to the eyes and ears but a rhythm game that’s perhaps a little too on the easy side for old hands at... | Read more »
Where’s My Water? Gets Cranky With Gamep...
Disney’s physiscs puzzler Where’s My Water has gotten a new update that adapts the familiar mechanics in new ways with the new Cranky’s Story levels. The goal of these levels is to help out Cranky, the alligator who tries to thwart protagonist... | Read more »
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Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Today only! 11″ 64GB MacBook Air for $899, $100 of...
 MacConnection has the 11″ 64GB MacBook Air on sale today only for $899.94 with free shipping. That’s $100 off MSRP, and it’s the lowest price available for this model from any Apple Authorized... Read more
13″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro on sale for $1129, $70 off...
Amazon.com has the 13″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro on sale for $1129 including free shipping. That’s about $70 off MSRP, and it’s among the lowest prices we’ve seen for this model. Read more
Apple refurbished iMacs available starting at $999
The Apple Store has Apple Certified Refurbished iMacs available for up to $340 off the price of new models. An Apple one-year warranty is included with each model, and shipping is free: - 27″ 3.1GHz... Read more
64GB iPod touch on sale for $359, save $40
Walmart has Black and White 64GB iPod touches on sale for $359 with 97 cent home shipping or free site-to-store shipping. Their price is $40 off MSRP, and it’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this... Read more
240V/PAL iPhone Motion Activated Home Surveillance...
US $521.55 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Jan-27-2012 20:16:19 PSTBuy It Now for only: US $581.94Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list Read more
Apple drops prices on refurbished iPod nanos to $9...
The Apple Store has Apple Certified Refurbished iPod nanos available starting at $99 – a $10 price drop. Each nano comes with an Apple one-year warranty, and shipping is free: - 16GB iPod nano (all... Read more
Apple offers refurbished 27″ Thunderbolt Displays...
The Apple Store now has Apple Certified Refurbished 27″ Thunderbolt Displays available for $849 including free shipping. That’s $150 off the cost of new models. Read more
Limited time offer: 32GB iPod touch for $269, $30...
Take 10% off the 32GB Black iPod touch with promo code EMCNJHF23 at Newegg.com through January 30th. That drops their price to $269 including free shipping. It’s the lowest price currently available... Read more
 

Jobs Board

iPhone Developer at Vonic (Chicago, IL)
years of software development experience 1+ years hands on iPhone experience in a professional environment Source code ... A passion for mobile device technologies, especially iPhone Mobile user... Read more
APPLE MAC Technician (19651) (Universal...
MUST HAVE: Strong 100% Mac Technician needed with 5 years experience in a corporate environment. Experience creating and deploying images in a Macintosh platform. Strong minded individual that can... Read more
IT Administrator - MAC, at Kelly IT Reso...
file server, backups) as well as Mac administration (mac open directory); Our Client's environment is 90% mac ... familiarity with Apple open directory (ASCP or better) Mac desktop support; Mac... Read more
Operations Program Manager - iPhone at A...
manufacturing site in for Apple's flagship product, the iPhone! Responsibilities include utilizing your strong operations management experience to perform the following tasks: - Leading Apple and OEM... Read more
Junior Systems Administrator - Apple at...
Job Title: Junior Systems Administrator - Apple Profession: Computer Engineering and Information Technology -> System ... support needs. Including, setup, maintain, and troubleshoot Apple computer... Read more

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