MacTech News

08:02

HBO GO & WatchESPN come to the Apple TV

Apple has announced that HBO GO and WatchESPN are now available directly on Apple TV. The company also says that iTunes users have downloaded more than one billion TV episodes and 380 million movies from iTunes to date and are purchasing over 800,000 TV episodes and over 350,000 movies per day.

"HBO GO and WatchESPN are some of the most popular iOS apps and are sure to be huge hits on Apple TV," says Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "We continue to offer Apple TV users great new programming options, combined with access to all of the incredible content they can purchase from the iTunes Store."

Apple TV users can choose from a selection of programming including over 60,000 movies and over 230,000 TV episodes, as well as the world’s largest collection of music on the iTunes Store. Apple TV also offers content from Hulu Plus, Netflix’s streaming catalog, live sports from MLB, NBA and NHL as well as Internet content from Vimeo,...

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07:56

Apple updates Configurator to version 1.1

Apple has updated Configurator -- a free tool designed to make it easy to mass configure and deploy iPhones, iPads and iPod touches in a school business or institution -- to version 1.1.

According to Apple, the upgrade offers" "significantly improved" reliability, scalability and performance, the ability to cancel scheduled or even in-progress operations, and bug fixes. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/ls37e9e .

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04:45

Output Factory for InDesign updated to version 1.4

Zevrix Solutions (http://zevrix.com) has announced Output Factory 1.4, an update to its professional output automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The new version makes Output Factory compatible with the recently announced InDesign CC, featured as part of Adobe Creative Cloud.

With Output Factory, users can output hundreds of documents or just single files with full control over batch printing, layer versioning, automatic preflighting, file delivery, and more. All they need to do is select the desired InDesign files and adjust workflow settings.

Output Factory can be purchased from the Zevrix website for US$169.95; a "lite" version costs $119.95), as well as from authorized resellers and Adobe Exchange. A demo is available for download. BatchOutput users can upgrade to Output Factory for 4.97. Output Factory is available for Mac OS X 10.5-10.8 on Intel-based Macs and works with Adobe InDesign CS3-CS6.

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04:40

Maintain serves up Cocktail 5.5 (Lion Edition)

Maintain has released Cocktail 5.5 (Lion Edition), the latest maintenance update for users running OS X Lion 10.7.

Cocktail is a general purpose utility for OS X that lets users clean, repair and optimize their Mac. This version adds the ability to change standby delay, the ability to disable shadow in window captures, the ability to show the Debug menu in App Store and Photo Booth, and compatibility with the latest versions of supported web browsers. It also provides improvements on the clear system caches procedure and updated network optimization presets.

Cocktail 5.5 (Lion Edition) requires OS X 10.7 and is tested for compatibility with OS X/OS X Server 10.7.5. It costs US$14 for a single user license. For more info go to http://maintain.se/cocktail .

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Jun 18

Apple releases Java update for Mac OS X

Apple has released Java updates for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and OS X 10.7 (Lion) and 10.8 (Mountain Lion). The update brings Java SE 6 to the most recent version.

This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle. This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

You can obtain the updates via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.

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Jun 18

WWDC Interview: TUAW and MacTech

While in San Francisco, TUAW and MacTech Magazine teamed up to speak to developers at Apple's WWDC 2013 about the keynote and how Apple's new technologies will help them and their customers. In the weeks to come, we'll bring you those videos on TUAW, MacTech and MacNews.

If you aren't currently a reader of MacTech Magazine, check out the special WWDC free MacTech on iPad issues for MacTech Magazine here.

This video features Neil Ticktin of MacTech Magazine and Victor Agreda, Jr. of TUAW at WWDC 2013. The two Editors-in-...

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Jun 18

File2Folder released for Mac OS X

Nikolai Nagornyi has announced File2Folder 1.0 for Mac OS X. It's an application that is designed to sort files.

File2Folder allows you to sort hundreds, or even thousands, of files with a single click. Users may move, copy, or delete files according to user rules. The interface features fast sorting.

File2Folder 1.0 costs US$5.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.7.3 or higher. It's available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Utilities category (http://tinyurl.com/k2wrdzg).

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Jun 18

iHome introduces first docks to handle both 8- and 30-pin devices

iHome has introduced their new line of Lightning docks that are capable of charging and playing both 8-pin Lightning and 30-pin iPad, iPhone and iPod models.

 The iDL45 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock and USB Charge/Play for iPad/iPhone/iPod transforms the iHome dock into an alarm clock speaker system fit for both the Lightning pin connector as well as the legacy 30-pin connector. A special universal USB port charges and plays all Apple devices, while the Lightning dock accepts the iPhone 5, iPad mini, fourth generation iPad, and the new iPods. The US$99.99 iDL45 (pictured) also contains an FM radio.

The iPL10 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock and USB Charge/Play for iPhone/iPod is a compact alternative to the iDL45. It sports an USB port for charging and playing both Lightning and 30-pin powered iPad, iPhone and iPod models. You can wake or sleep to your favorite iPhone or iPod tunes or FM radio stations through high...

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Jun 18

Keynote Zone releases Tiles Keynote theme

Keynote Zone has released a Tiles Keynote theme designed to help users organize all their data. The theme includes 33 layouts, custom designed charts and tables.

It's available in both standard and HD versions for Mac OS X. From a range of photo layouts, users will be able to choose elements for their presentation.

The Tiles standard version theme for Mac comes in two sizes (800x600 & 1024x768) and is available for US$16 at the Keynote Zone site (www.keynotezone.com). Tiles HD version theme for Mac comes in five sizes (800x600, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1680x1050, 1920x1080) and is available for $20.

Tiles HD version theme for Mac is also included in the Collection for Keynote 12. It includes 12 HD Keynote themes, Extras slides and demo files and is available for $69.99 at the Keynote Zone site or at Mac App Store.

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Jun 18

Flexibits releases Chatology for the Mac

Flexibits has introduced Chatology, a Mac OS X app that allows to you quickly find all of your messages in Messages or iChat. It allows instant searching with multiple filter options including filtering by image or link.

"We made Chatology because we were so frustrated searching for our messages," says Michael Simmons, co-founder of Flexibits. "There were no solutions to fix this so we created one, and we think all Messages and iChat users are going to love Chatology as much as we do."

Chatology is localized in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. It's available for US$19.99 from the Flexibits Store (http://flexibits.com/chatology). Chatology requires Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later.

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Jun 18

Researchers say they can predict iOS-generated hotspot passwords

Although iOS generates seemingly random passwords for its hotspots to eliminate the use of "default" passwords, researchers at a German university have found that they are able to break these passwords in under a minute, reports "ZDNet" (http://tinyurl.com/n7haj5f).

Researchers at the University of Erlangen in Germany say they've found a flaw in the automatically generated pre-shared keys used in Apple's iOS hotspots. They say the method in which these passwords are generated leaves them vulnerable to attack.

According to their paper, "Usability vs. Security: The Everlasting Trade-Off in the Context of Apple iOS Mobile Hotspots," the passwords are a combination of a short dictionary word followed by a series of random numbers. This does allow each password to be different, but, according to the researchers, an attacker can easily determine what passwords iOS uses for its defaults, because...

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Jun 18

Mac OS X increasingly attractive to cybercriminals

Security specialist Kaspersky is warning of the increased vulnerability of Mac systems to malware, reports "betanews" (http://tinyurl.com/kzgp5ok).

The firm says there are now more than 63 million OS X users in the world and that since 2010 the number of antivirus signatures for Macs has increased more than six times. According to Kaspersky the top five threats include becoming part of a zombie network via a compromised WordPress site, fake antivirus products like MacDefender and MacGuard, exploitation of software vulnerabilities, targeted attacks and network infections.

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Jun 18

Update to Adobe Creative Cloud available

Adobe has announced that a "major" update to Adobe Creative Cloud, the company’s flagship offering for creatives, is now available. This release reimagines the creative process through a set of "CC" desktop applications and cross-device collaboration and publishing capabilities, according to David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media, Adobe.

Creative files can be stored and shared, via Creative Cloud, on Mac OS X, Windows, iOS and Android. Behance, an online creative community, is now integrated with Creative Cloud, so customers can showcase work, get feedback on projects and gain global exposure.

According to Wadhwani, the core features of the Creative Cloud update include:

° Creative Cloud experience on the desktop. With the new Creative Cloud desktop app, your entire creative world is synced and organized across your desktop, website, and mobile device. You can stay connected to work on Behance; track feedback; and install and...

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Jun 18

Eduoard for OS X gets sales return, partial sales credit notes features

Flying Pig (www.flyingpigcorp.com) has released Edouard 1.3, an update to its business management system for Mac OS X. The upgrade brings bug fixes and improvements such as sales returns and partial sales credit notes.

The software is designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Edouard supports classic business needs such as inventory management, contacts, purchases, sales, production, accountancy and more..

Edouard runs on OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and has satellite apps running on iOS. Its license price is $1,299 per simultaneously connected user with volume licensing discounts. Licenses can be purchased at any time using Flying Pig's online store.

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Jun 18

vjoon Overset Manager now compatible with Adobe Creative Cloud

vjoon has stepped up its support for customers who use Adobe Creative Cloud for professional purposes. The latest version of the vjoon Overset Manager plug-in now supports Adobe InDesign CC and InCopy CC.

Efficiency-enhancing plug-ins such as vjoon Notes Manager and vjoon Content Activator are to follow and will also be compatible with Adobe Creative Cloud products. vjoon Overset Manager measures the length of a specific text frame, column or the entire text flow on the fly without interrupting the writer or editor’s creative process. It also counts overset text in real time and shows this overflow in a special frame highlighted with a background color.

A demo version of Overset Manager is available at http://tinyurl.com/lobvwpg . Registration is approximately US$105.

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Jun 17

MMColor for Mac OS X gets new GetScreenColor function

Comm-Unity Network Systems (http://mmcolor.cnsplug-ins.com/) has updated MMColor, an interface plug-in that allows you to create and edit color in FileMaker Pro, to version 1.6.3. The upgrade introduces a new GetScreenColor function that returns the color of the point under the mouse cursor from any part of the screen. This version also includes several bug fixes and improvements imported from other CNS plug-ins.

MMColor is a user interface plug-in that allows users to work with color palettes as they would in any professional design application. The software has functions for bringing up the system color picker as well as custom sliders for adjusting any component of any color space used by MMColor right in FileMaker Pro. MMColor supports the RGB, HSV, HSL, CMY, and CMYK Color Spaces.

Version 1.6.3 a free upgrade for anyone with a 1.x.x license. However, if you haven't upgraded to...

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Jun 17

PhotoMarks is new photo watermarking app

PhotoMarks is a new photo watermarking program for that Mac and PC with a companion iOS app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It enables photographers, web designers, business people, and families to protect their copyrighted images.

The desktop version has a wizard-like interface with previews available for every step of the process. The iOS version has a beautifully designed interface, completely optimized for touch-screen devices and with support for multi-touch gestures.

PhotoMarks can completely customize the appearance of text and logo marks, as well as perform additional edits like resize, rename, auto rotate, or decorate photos with graphical frames, all in the same session. It works by editing photos in batch mode and takes advantage of multi-core processors for speeding up the process. Settings can be saved as profiles to be easily reused later.

The Mac version requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$29.95. A demo is available for download...

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Jun 17

D-Link gaming router available for pre-order

D-Link has announced the pre-order availability of its D-Link Gaming Router with Qualcomm StreamBoost technology (DGL-5500). It will begin shipping Aug. 1; you can pre-order at at newegg.com for US$199.

The D-Link Gaming Router offers AC1300 wireless speeds with traffic shaping and bandwidth management coupled with four gigabit Ethernet ports.

"The Gaming Router represents the ultimate in high-performance connectivity to give power users the ability and control they need to do what they love online without the concern or interruption of buffering and lag," says Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems. "Today’s action role-playing games and MMOs are more competitive than ever and with limited bandwidth coming into the home, gamers need to ensure they’re making the most of their connectivity to maintain an advantage. With Qualcomm StreamBoost technology, the new Gaming Router is designed to do just that -- shape the network traffic to help gamers do...

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Jun 17

Apple issues statement concerning NSA, FBI tapping into servers

Apple has issued a statement regarding reports that the National Security Agency and the FBI are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, including Apple, to obtain data. Apple's statement reads: 
"Two weeks ago, when technology companies were accused of indiscriminately sharing customer data with government agencies, Apple issued a clear response: We first heard of the government’s 'Prism' program when news organizations asked us about it on June 6. We do not provide any government agency with direct access to our servers, and any government agency requesting customer content must get a court order.

"Like several other companies, we have asked the U.S. government for permission to report how many requests we receive related to national security and how we handle them. We have been authorized to share some of that data, and we are providing it here in the interest of transparency.

"From December 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013,...

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Jun 17

Power Manager gets on-demand scheduling tasks

DssW has released Power Manager 4.1.4 for Mac OS X. This release adds new on-demand scheduling tasks and addresses bugs.

Power Manager is an automation and energy saving solution for Mac OS X. It boasts a range of energy saving events, including the ability to run applications and scripts to a schedule.

For more information, and to download a 30-day demo version of Power Manager, go to http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/ . Registration is approximately US$53 and $398 for Power Manager Professional.

System requirements are Mac OS X 10.6 or later for Power Manager, and Mac OS X 10.6 for Power Manager Professional. Version 4.1.4 is free for users of Power Manager 4.x. Existing users can update using Power Manager's automatic software update.

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MacTech Blog

Jun 19

Classic video on demand vendors risk losing half the...

The shift of video consumption to tablets and smartphones is causing operator requirements for video on demand (VOD) systems to change as vendors struggle to keep up with current generation needs, according to ABI Research.

Equipment and system vendors, such as Arris (including Motorola Home), SeaChange, Cisco, and Ericsson are expected to lose ground to cloud-oriented companies such as thePlatform, Synacor, and KIT Digital (expected to emerge from bankruptcy as Piksel), according to the research group (www.abiresearch.com). VOD vendors will see less than 30% growth over the next five years, while content management system (CMS) vendors will capture the market and see nearly 100% growth to seize half of the total VOD management markets.

Classic VOD back-office systems are built around delivery to the TV via a set-top box, leveraging a single video format, a managed network, a modest number of...

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Jun 18

Hotel guests put wireless access as top demand

Wireless access is the top customer demand of hotel guests in their rooms and throughout the hotel properties, according to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Motorola Solutions (www.motorolasolutions.com) in April 2013.

This survey includes responses from 500 North American hotel guests, including business and recreational travelers. Among the findings: 

° 90% wished hotels offered WiFi as an amenity, making it the top priority of both business and recreational travelers.

° More than 90% of hotel guests surveyed indicated they wanted WiFi in their hotel rooms, not just in common areas.

° 40% of business travelers said they would not stay at a hotel without Internet.

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Jun 17

Mobile traffic forecast to reach 131K PB in 2018

Global mobile data traffic expanded at 69% in 2012 and is anticipated to grow at 72% in 2013 to reach 23,000 Peta Bytes (PB), according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com). By 2018 total mobile data traffic will likely eclipse 131,000PB, adds the research group.

"There has been much 'doom-mongering' about this growth in mobile data traffic but mobile carriers should not panic just yet. There are indications that mobile carriers have a number of options to handle the traffic loads," says Jake Saunders, vice president and practice director for core forecasting at ABI Research.

According to the research group:

° Carriers are commercializing LTE but there are additional benefits to be gained from quickly adopting the LTE-Advanced roadmap. LTE-A’s release 10 introduces enhanced Multi-In Multi-Out antenna technology as well as interference mitigation technologies such as CoMP and eICIC. A crucial...

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Jun 17

Kool Tools: Clips 3D for iMovie, FCPX

Mosa Motion Graphics has introduced Clips 3D for iMovie and FCPX 1.0 for Mac OS X.

Clips 3D dispenses 36 different exciting animated 3D HD clips. Videos can be dragged out of Clips 3D right onto an iMovie or Final Cut Pro X shot collection "event." The video clip immediately appears in the project.

Clips 3D's iPad like interface sits atop your editing program. Its royalty free content makes this helper application a great production tool for video makers. The Clips 3D library is sorted into four categories: Illusion, Physical, SiFi and Simulated.

Clips 3D for iMovie and FCPX supplies royalty free animations that are otherwise, difficult to create. These animations are useful as title backgrounds, transitions, credit rolls -- or simply as eye candy.

The Clips 3D application contains a pictorial help file, and a help video for easy learning. Shots are up to 30 seconds in duration, and are 720P HD, at 30 FPS, MP4-H.264 .MOV files. Clips 3D videos are...

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Jun 14

Worldwide server market revenues decrease 7.7% in...

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) research group (www.idc.com), factory revenue in the worldwide server market decreased 7.7% year over year to US$10.9 billion in the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13).

This is the fifth time in the previous six quarters that the server market has experienced a year-over-year decline in worldwide revenue. Server unit shipments decreased 3.9% year over year in 1Q13 to 1.9 million units as consolidation continued to be a strategic focus for many large and small customers around the globe.

On a year-over-year basis, volume systems experienced a 3.1% revenue decline. This was only the third time in the previous fourteen quarters that volume system demand declined year over year. At the same time, demand for midrange and high-end systems experienced year-over-year revenue declines of 18.3% and 17.1% respectively in 1Q13. The midrange and high-end markets were impacted by...

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Jun 13

Enterprise videoconferencing, telepresence market sees...

New data from the IDC research group (www.idc.com) showed first quarter 2013 (1Q13) videoconferencing equipment revenue declined 13.2% year over year and 21.9% quarter over quarter. Total worldwide enterprise videoconferencing and telepresence equipment revenue was US$563.4 million in 1Q13, its worst result since the second quarter of 2010, according to IDC.

From a market segment perspective, endpoints, which include multi-codec immersive telepresence, single-codec telepresence, and personal videoconferencing, declined 10.7% year over year and video network infrastructure decreased 20.5% year over year in 1Q13.

Regionally, Latin America declined just 3.5% year over year, followed by the 9.1% year-over-year decline in Asia/Pacific and the 10.1% decrease in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). North America was a particular area of weakness this quarter with its 20.3% year-over-year drop.

"Videoconferencing...

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Jun 12

NFC service, secure element shipments to grow 120% in...

NFC momentum continues to build despite the on-going delays affecting the launch of NFC payment services, according to new data from ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com). The research group raised full year 2012 shipments of secure elements to 147 million with 125 million enabled handsets being shipped.

Growing inclusion of embedded solutions by OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] will account for the majority of secure elements in 2013 as MNOs seed the market with close to 100 million SWP SIM cards, says ABI Research. Expected NFC-enabled device shipments were increased, with 2013 forecasted to reach a minimum of 320 million units across all product categories -- an increase of 118% over last year. This will drive the market past the half billion NFC devices in use in 1H13.

"This is certainly encouraging after many years of 'will they, won’t they.'The market has now passed the tipping point and...

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Jun 11

Software market forecast to continue on modest growth...

IDC (www.idc.com) has released the latest forecast from the Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker. For 2012, the worldwide software market grew 3.6% year over year, less than half the growth rate experienced in 2010 and 2011.

The research group believes these results mark the beginning of a more conservative period of growth. The forecast growth rate for 2013 is 5.7% while the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the 2012-2017 forecast period is 6.3%.

The collaborative applications software category is forecast to have the highest growth in the short term (2013). This category includes social software, which is growing from a lower revenue base. The collaborative applications category is also experiencing more cloud deployments than other categories and this represents new software investments.

The structured data management software category is expected to show the strongest growth over the five-year...

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Jun 10

Electrical Grid unprepared for cyber security threats

The use of ICTs within the electrical grid means an evolution from isolated structures into open and networked environments where the subversion of power control systems has become a reality. The restructuring of the power sector and the emergence of the smart grid has largely ignored the issue of cyber security, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com).

Industrial control systems have poor methods of authentication, little encryption, and are not often capable of detecting intrusions, according to the research group. By failing to address cyber security, and focusing on the cost-savings and gained efficiencies of a market-oriented model, the susceptibility to cyber-attacks has grown. ABI Research estimates the spending on cyber security solutions to secure the infrastructure will total US$2.9 billion globally by the end of 2013.

"Cyber-attacks that can cause serious damage to electrical...

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Jun 07

Software revenues grow twice as fast in emerging...

The worldwide software market grew 3.6% year over year in 2012, less than half the growth rate experienced in 2010 and 2011, according to the "International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker."

Although some deceleration was expected, the economic contraction in the mature markets of Western Europe and Japan played a determinant role in the overall market performance, according to the research group. Meanwhile, the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMA), Latin America, and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) enjoyed year-over-year growth of 7.2% in 2012. This was the fourth consecutive year of solid growth in these emerging markets, enabling them to collectively gain more than two points of worldwide market share over this period.

Mature markets still represent more than 85% of the worldwide software opportunity, but in recent years the strong growth in these emerging markets has...

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Reviews and Kool Tools

Kool Tool: SuperDrive Sleeve

Apple may show little love to the external SuperDrive -- an external optical drive that allows you to install software, play, and burn both CDs and DVDs -- since the company wants you to go completely with digital media... Read more »

Kool Tools: Grip Power Battery Case for the iPhone 5

Belkin has given us the US$99.99 Grip Power Battery Case for the iPhone 5, which doubles the battery life of the Apple smartphone. Offering a combination of power and style, the Grip Power Battery Case is available in... Read more »

Kool Tools: SAVANT in-wall wireless charging docks

Savant Systems (http://www.savantsystems.com) has introduced three new iOS device docks that should make iDevice users happy. The line-up include the IDC-100L in-wall wireless charging dock for the iPad mini with... Read more »

Kool Tools: DJ Slims headphones

If you need rugged, wireless headphones with a built-in microphone for hands-free call functionality, you need the US$69.95 DJ Slims from Outdoor Tech (www.outdoortech.com). The slim shape helps the headphones stay in... Read more »

News Scanner

Wednesday June 19

08:45

HBO GO, WatchESPN come to Apple TV

TUAW

Apple announced today that HBO GO and WatchESPN are now available on the Apple TV. Eddy Cue, Apple senior vice president of Internet Software and Services said that "HBO GO and WatchESPN are some of the most popular iOS apps and are sure to be huge hits on Apple TV."

The two new content providers are joined by Sky News, Crunchyroll, and Qello. Sky News on Apple TV will deliver 24/7 news to viewers in the US, UK and Ireland. Crunchyroll is a Japanese Anime and Asian media provider, and will let subscribers view the latest HD shows one hour after airing in Japan.

Qello is an on-demand streaming service for HD concerts and music documentaries, and offers free or paid subscriptions. Both Qello and Crunchyroll will be available for subscription on Apple TV. The full press release from Apple is included below.

Show full PR...

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08:00

Researchers easily crack iOS-generated hotspot...

TUAW

When you enable the Personal Hotspot feature on your iPhone, iOS will generate a password on your behalf. It's convenient, but recent research from FAU in Germany suggests it is not very secure.

According to researchers Andreas Kurtz, Felix Freiling, and Daniel Metz, the default Hotspot password uses a short english word with some random numbers at the end. Not surprisingly, these passwords can be cracked in no time via a brute force dictionary attack. Using one AMD Radeon HD 6990 GPU, the team was able to guess a password in 50 minutes. When they bumped the GPUs up to four AMD Radeon HD 7970s, they were able to drop the password cracking time to a mere 50 seconds.

One reason the cracking was so easy is that Apple apparently uses a password list that picks from 1,842 words, and the selection of these words is not...

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07:30

Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions hit 700,000

Macworld

Despite customer outcry over Adobe’s switch from Creative Suite software in a box to Creative Cloud software as a service, the company reports that it added 221,000 paid Creative Cloud customers to its roster in the second quarter of 2013 for a total of 700,000 subscribers to date. That’s an increase over the 479,000 subscribers Adobe reported at the end of the first quarter. Those numbers, revealed as part of the company's second quarter earnings, are on track, and even ahead of Adobe's goal, according to Scott Morris, senior marketing director for Creative Cloud.

Adobe expects it will add more subscribers in the third quarter than in the second, aiming for a total of 1.25 million subscribers by the end of the year.

"Going into Adobe Max we had a lot of momentum...

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07:26

Alleged schematic leaks show 2013 iPhone designs

iLounge

Accessory makers are already making cases for Apple’s new iPhones based on leaked “design plans believed to have originated at Apple,” according to a new report. The schematics show an iPhone 5S that closely resembles the iPhone 5. The other phone, referred to in the report as “iPhone Light,” shows…

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07:20

HBO Go, WatchESPN come to Apple TV

Macworld

Apple on Wednesday announced the additions of HBO Go and WatchESPN to the Apple TV. Those are channels that the Roku has long offered, but they’re new to Apple’s set-top box. Despite reports that it was coming soon, the CW still isn’t on Apple TV.

HBO Go allows subscribers to stream all of HBO’s programming on demand, including all of its older shows like The Wire and The Sopranos, along with all of the movies currently showing on HBO. (Not all HBO subscriptions include HBO Go access; it’s up to your cable company to suppor the service.)

WatchESPN simulcasts ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Goal Line, and ESPN Buzzer Beater, though again, access...

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07:13

Big Apple TV update adds HBO GO, WatchESPN, Sky News...

9 to 5 Mac

Apple has just pushed out a massive update to its $95 set-top box that brings the much anticipated HBO GO and WatchESPN channels to the platform. According to the Apple press release, users will be able to watch content from HBO and ESPN directly from their Apple TV without the need for a direct cable subscription though “HBO GO on Apple TV requires a subscription to HBO through participating television providers” (thanks mom and dad!). HBO GO on Apple TV ...

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07:12

Apple TV update adds HBO Go, WatchESPN & more...

AppleInsider

Apple on Wednesday issued an update for its Apple TV set-top box, adding HBO Go, WatchESPN, Sky News and other channels to the home screen for new, integrated streaming video options. ...

| Read more »

07:00

Steve Jobs talks about his legacy in new video from...

TUAW

The Silicon Valley Historical Association has released a short video clip of Steve Jobs from 1994, part of a 20 minute interview he gave while at NeXT. Jobs talked about his future legacy and discussed if he would be remembered for his work.

The clip's release is a promotion for the Silicon Valley Historical Association's 60-minute documentary based around the interview. Titled "Steve Jobs: Visionary Entrepreneur," the documentary is available on the Silicon Valley Historical Association's website. A digital download is US$14.99, with the DVD costing $24.99, and an audio-only version for $4.99.

Steve Jobs talks about his legacy in new video from 1994 originally appeared on TUAW - The...

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07:00

Macworld Pundit Showdown: WWDC Edition

Macworld

What do you do when the brightest minds of the Mac and iOS developer community descend upon San Francisco for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference? You pull aside four of those bright minds, and ask them a series of foolish questions about the week’s events before declaring a winner.

Yes, it’s another installment of our Pundit Showdown, and we’ve assembled a tip-top panel to take on all the news coming out of Apple’s developer confab. This week’s panel includes:

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop and the Amplified podcast;
Daniel Jalkut of Red Sweater Software and the Bitsplitting and...

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06:50

Apple releases Java 2013-004 update for Mac OS X 10....

PowerPage

A well-timed security update never hurts.

On Wednesday, Apple released its Java 2013-004 update for its Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 operating systems. The update, a 64 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
- Java for OS X 2013-004 supersedes all previous versions of Java for OS X.

- This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_51 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later.

- This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled “Missing plug-in” to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle.

- This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

The Java...

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06:42

Apple cofounders in the news: Steve Jobs on legacy,...

9 to 5 Mac

The Loop spotted that YouTube channel EverySteveJobsVideo has uploaded a previously-unseen video of Steve Jobs answering a question about what would be his legacy.

Rather ironically, one of the statements he made – that in a few years it wouldn’t even be possible to fire up an Apple I to see what it was like – was proven wrong by the other Steve yesterday doing just that. Mercury News reports that Steve Wozniak fired-up not just one but three Apple I computers at the History San Jose centre. Given that one recently...

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06:30

LinkedIn integration could be coming to iOS 7, code...

MacNN

Apple is considering LinkedIn integration for iOS 7, beta code references suggest. In particular the references hint that LinkedIn could be supported in the same manner as Facebook and Twitter, meaning single sign-in support, and the ability to quickly post content via a share sheet or hooks in iOS apps. Some essential code strings are missing though, preventing LinkedIn options from turning on in the current iOS 7 release.... ...

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06:29

Solar iPhone Chargers Coming to NYC

Mac Observer

If you're in the city that never sleeps, there's a good chance your iPhone doesn't, either. To that end, AT&T, Goal Zero and Pensa have teamed up to bring solar powered smartphone chargers to the streets of New York City. The outdoor charging stations include built-in Dock and Lightning connectors as well as USB ports for people that prefer to use their own cables, small shelves to hold your phone while charging, and can be placed anywhere there's direct sunlight. The chargers are part of a test program in several locations such as Fort Greene Park, Union Square, Central Park. They'll be moving around and could end up in other cities at some point, too. Assuming the test program is successful, this'll be a handy way to power up on the go or when regular electrical service is down. If you get the chance to try one out let us know!

...

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06:00

'Max Payne 3' coming to the Mac on June 20

TUAW

Rockstar Games has announced that it is bringing its popular console and PC title 'Mac Payne 3' to the Mac on Thursday. Rockstar has yet to release its pricing, only stating that the Mac version of the game supports "a number of advanced graphics options, scalable high-resolution textures and character models, DirectX11 features, multi-monitor support and 3D."

As far as what users need to run the game, Rockstar recommends the following:

Mac OS X 10.7.5 Lion
Intel Dual Core Xeon / Core i Series 2.4 GHZ or greater
4GB System RAM
NVIDIA(R) 8800GT 512MB VRAM
or AMD Radeon HD 4870 512 VRAM
HDD Space: 35GB

'Max Payne 3' coming to the Mac on June 20 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19...

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06:00

Lab Tested: New MacBook Air offers best battery life...

Macworld

When Apple revealed the new MacBook Air at WWDC, the highlighted feature was its drastically improved battery life. While Macworld Lab didn’t experience the 12-hour battery life cited by Apple, our tests do show that the new MacBook Air lasts considerably longer than before. And our results were the best we've seen from an Apple laptop.

Apple

To test battery life, we ran two different tests on the new models, last year’s models, and a...

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05:56

XCOM: Enemy Unknown for iPhone & iPad now...

9 to 5 Mac

We told you that XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a critically acclaimed game of the year on PC and consoles from 2K Games, would be arriving in the App Store starting tomorrow on June 20. However, today the game has...

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05:50

Leaked schematics reveal what case makers expect...

AppleInsider

Using design plans believed to have originated at Apple, accessory makers are beginning to manufacture cases for the company's anticipated low-cost iPhone, and AppleInsider offers a first look at the schematics they are using to predict the device's appearance. ...

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05:45

Why you don’t want to use the default password for...

9 to 5 Mac

Weaknesses in the system used to generate default passwords for the iPhone’s personal hotspot function – allowing a wifi-enabled device like a MacBook to share the phone’s mobile data connection – mean that they can be cracked in just 50 seconds with the right hardware, according to researchers at a German university (via ZDNet).

Any default password used within an arbitrary iOS mobile hotspot is based on one of 1,842 different words.

This, combined with an increase in cracking hardware — a GPU cluster consisting of four AMD Radeon HD 7970s — allowed the researchers to crack any iOS hotspot with an OS-generated password within 50 seconds. Although such hardware is physically out of the reach of most users, the researchers said that similar resources are easily available...

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05:40

Apple wins $30 million iPad contract from LA school...

AppleInsider

The second-largest school system in the U.S., the L.A. Unified School District, has awarded Apple with a $30 million contract to provide iPads to every student it serves. ...

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05:29

A closer look: iOS 7 Siri and iOS in the Car

MacNN

Siri is a feature that was unveiled with much fanfare during the iOS 5 launch two-years ago, bringing with it more fully featured voice actions to the iPhone. Although Siri has received a mixed reception from critics and users, Apple has continued to pursue the voice-controlled interface, giving it an all-new look and functional tweaks in the iOS 7 beta that help to refine the user experience. Has Apple done enough with the revisions in Siri to warrant a second look?... ...

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05:20

iOS: Prevent Unauthorized Siri Use

Mac Observer

Whether you've locked your iOS device with a passcode or not, anyone who happens to "acquire" it has access to Siri (and thus some of your personal data, too). There is a way to prevent that, and Melissa Holt's here to tell us how. She also plans on scolding you if you don't have a passcode set. Hey, she's just looking out for you guys.

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05:00

Facebook update boosts privacy features to iOS app

TUAW

Facebook has updated its iOS app, adding new status icons and new privacy features. The version 6.2 update follows updates made to the web version of Facebook, especially regarding the all-important privacy status. Now after a user has posted a status update, photo or a link, they can tap a drop-down arrow next to the update and change the privacy settings. Users can change the privacy settings for older posts as well.

Users can now select emoticons and other status icons while writing a status update. The emoticons are meant to be selected after a user has written a status update, with the intention that the emoticon will give that users friends a quick visual glance as to how that person is feeling.

Here's a complete rundown of all the changes made and Facebook 6.2:

o. Add icons to status updates to show what you're feeling, reading, watching and more (English only)
o. Easily...

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Rumor Scanner

Wednesday June 19

07:13

Apple Adds WatchESPN, HBO GO, Sky News, and More to Apple...

MacRumors

Apple today announced a software update for its Apple TV set-top box adding new channels including WatchESPN and HBO GO. The update also brings live streaming of the UK's Sky News, as well as anime site Crunchyroll and music concert and documentary streaming service Qello.“HBO GO and WatchESPN are some of the most popular iOS apps and are sure to be huge hits on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We continue to offer Apple TV users great new programming options, combined with access to all of the incredible content they can purchase from the iTunes Store.”
WatchESPN and HBO GO require that customers be subscribed to appropriate cable TV services, while Sky News offers free live streams to users in the US, UK, and Ireland.

The update arrives as Apple TV software version 5.3 and is available now for the second- and...

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06:37

Design Drawings Reveal Case Makers' Expectations for...

MacRumors

Following yesterday's photos of a case said to be based on the expected design for Apple's lower-cost iPhone, AppleInsider now shares design drawings from a case maker showing expectations for the exact dimensions and profiles of the both the lower-cost iPhone and the iPhone 5S.

Unsurprisingly, the dimensions of the iPhone 5S are nearly identical to those of the iPhone 5, with case makers also apparently expecting the same layout and size of the physical features.

The lower-cost iPhone, which is rumored to be adopting a plastic shell that will requires a slightly larger body than the iPhone 5/5S, is expected to be approximately 0.6 mm taller, 0.6 mm wider, and 0.8 mm thicker than the current...

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Tuesday June 18

19:47

Apple, NEC, HTC in Race for Next Generation Cooling System...

Patently Apple

DigiTimes reported today that smartphone players such as Apple, Samsung Electronics and High Tech Computer (HTC) have started showing interest in adopting ultra-thin heat pipes for their smartphones and are expected to release heat pipe-adopted models in the fourth quarter, at the earliest, according to sources from cooling module player. Yet like so many times, Apple has been known to buck some of the industry's traditional trends. The most recent is Apple's AirDrop solution coming to iOS 7 which blatantly bucks the trend of using NFC technology that the likes of Samsung use in their Galaxy product line-up. Apple's Craig Federighi got quite the laugh ...

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17:49

Apple's Siri Trademark Updates Reveal Some Possible F...

Patently Apple

The US Patent & Trademark Office recently showed activity in a series of Apple trademark filings related to Siri. Three were updated on June 13 and another was updated in mid-May. We usually don't cover many trademark applications as we now cover trademarks when USPTO deems them to be Registered Trademarks. Yet there are always exceptions and in the case of Siri, Apple may have provided us with a few hints at what could be next for our intelligent personal assistant. One of them was for ...

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15:55

New Video May Show iOS 7 Running on an iPad

MacRumors

Apple has yet to release iOS 7 for the iPad, which has led to speculation about what the operating system will look like on a larger screen.

Over the weekend, photos from the iOS 7 simulator in Xcode 5 surfaced, demonstrating how several stock iOS apps might look on Apple's tablet, and now a tipster has directed us to Russia-based YouTube user Rozetked, who has released a video of what he claims is iOS 7 "alpha" running on an iPad.

Rozetked does not explain where the software came from nor how it was installed on the tablet, so there is no proof that the video depicts a bona fide version of iOS 7 running on the iPad. In fact, at one point, a crash displays the iOS 6 Apple loading icon rather than the flatter iOS 7 version, which means it could...

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15:15

Apple Giving Retail Employees Beta Access to OS X Maverick...

MacRumors

Last year, roughly a month before Apple released OS X Mountain Lion, it extended its beta program to certain Apple Retail Store staff members. This year, the company appears to be doing something similar.

9to5Mac reports that retail store staff are again being invited to try the beta of OS X Mavericks.
You are invited to participate in the pre-release OS X Mavericks seed program. Participation, including submitting feedback, is completely voluntary and not an expectation of your job. If you accept, we will provide you with a pre-release version of OS X Mavericks to install and use. You will get to preview all of the exciting new features like iBooks, Maps, Calendar, Safari, iCloud Keychain, Multiple Displays...

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14:12

Leaked Image Suggests 'Voice Memo' Will Return i...

MacRumors

A leaked image from a WWDC developer session is making the rounds, showing that the Voice Memo app that isn't currently included in the iOS 7 Beta 1 will make an appearance in a future release.

Also, a tipster tells us the release notes for the first iOS 7 Beta mention the Voice Memo app:
Voice Memos - Known Issues

The VoiceMemos app is not available in this seed.The Voice Memo app doesn't seem to appear in any of the iOS 7 marketing materials on Apple's website, but developers should see it in a future iOS 7 beta release and we expect it to be included in the final iOS 7 release this fall.

Recent Mac...

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09:38

New Stats Show iOS losing Ground in Various Markets

Patently Apple

During last week's WWDC Keynote, Apple's CEO Tim Cook emphasized a series of iOS strengths in the form of statistics. Market share stats, of course, don't always tell the full story. For instance, Android is statistically the leading smartphone operating system in volume, but not in profits. Apple still rules the profits stat where it really matters. That being said, Apple's CEO kept hammering stats home to their developer community to show them that iOS is still number one in the market. Yet the ...

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08:54

Apple TV iOS 7 Beta Adds iTunes Radio and Conference Room...

MacRumors

Last week, Apple released iOS 7 Beta 1 for iPhone to developers. At the same time, it released a new beta for the Apple TV as well.

Users of the Apple TV beta have discovered at least two new features inside. AppleInsider notes that Apple built an iTunes Radio client for the Apple TV -- something that Eddy Cue mentioned during the WWDC Keynote and that Apple has promoted to potential iTunes Radio advertisers -- with in-line video advertisements.

Apple has also added a 'Conference...

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06:49

Case for Lower-Cost iPhone with Thicker Profile and Curved...

MacRumors

Macotakara points to a blog post [Google translation] from case design firm MGM showing off a new case intended to fit Apple's rumored lower-cost iPhone. The photos reveal a case that is largely identical to iPhone 5 cases, with the exception of being approximately 2 mm thicker.

iPhone 5 case (left) vs. lower-cost iPhone case (right)
Macotakara has also posted a hands-on video of the case. In the video, an iPhone 5 is placed into the case and appears to fit fairly well. It is clear, however, that the case is intended for a device with rounded edges rather than the squared edges of the iPhone 5.

Descriptions of the lower-cost iPhone having curved rear edges date back to a...

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06:27

Hidden iOS 7 Settings Reveal Potential Gesture and Folder...

MacRumors

As the developer beta testing period for iOS 7 continues, user Hamza Sood (via 9to5Mac) has discovered hidden settings within Apple's latest iOS that include toggles for additional gesture, folder and multitasking options. It is unclear, however, how Sood came across the settings.

Image via Hamza Sood

The gesture settings include options for a new "corner swipe" gesture. In addition, there appear to be expanded options for the "press and hold" gesture, which has so far only been used to prompt "edit mode", which allows users to move and delete apps. There also appears to be a section for "edge swipe", which has become prominent in Apple's redesigned stock iOS 7 apps. 9to5Mac notes that the settings indicate that these gestures could be...

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04:20

Apple Granted 39 Patents Today Covering Multi-Touch, the i...

Patently Apple

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 39 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. Our report covers three new multi-touch patents, Aperture's 2D Slider Control, a few major design patents wins for the iPhone 5 and Lightning connector and others. Our report closes out by presenting you with a list of the remaining thirty patents that were granted to Apple today.

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Monday June 17

22:50

Adobe Releases New Creative Cloud Apps

MacRumors

Back in May, Adobe announced plans to abandon its Creative Suite to focus on several new Creative Cloud apps, including Photoshop CC, InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Dreamweaver CC, and Premiere Pro CC, among others.

As of today, those apps have been made available for users on a subscription basis. While all of Adobe's previous Creative Suite apps are available in Creative Cloud, a number of the apps have received significant upgrades.

Photoshop CC, for example, offers impressive new features like Smart Sharpen, Camera Shake Reduction, Behance integration, and more. In...

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13:01

iPhone 5S Display Assembly Surfaces, Appears to Fit Leaked...

MacRumors

Earlier today, we noted that photos of what was claimed to be the bare logic board of the iPhone 5S had surfaced, showing some changes to the board's layout compared to the iPhone 5 and perhaps even a slight narrowing of the board itself.

Several repair firms, including iHeart Repair, have shared with MacRumors a new set of images from a supplier showing the display assembly of the iPhone 5S. While the low-resolution images do not immediately reveal any significant changes to the technology behind the device's display, there is one item of interest supporting the claim that the logic board photos from earlier today are genuine.

iPhone 5S display assembly
The iPhone 5 and 5S display assemblies each contain a pair of connectors on flex cables at the top of the part, supporting the display itself and the digitizer for registering touch input. On the...

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10:45

Video Shows Differences Between Mavericks and Mountain Lio...

MacRumors

During the WWDC Keynote presentation last week, Apple executive Craig Federighi showed off Mac OS X Mavericks. One of the new features is more substantial support for multiple monitors.

In Mountain Lion, there are issues with using full-screen apps on setups with multiple monitors. Putting an app into full-screen mode disables the rest of the monitors. In Mavericks, apps can be set to full screen on individual monitors and moved around as necessary.

However, as this video shows (via 9to5Mac), there are some changes in Mavericks that multiple monitor users may not like. For instance, application windows cannot be used across multiple monitors anymore -- windows can only be used on one monitor at a time. Also, spaces...

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