Following Tuesday’s news that BlackBerry is postponing the release of its latest handsets to the beginning of next year, citing BlackBerry 10 OS technical problems as the reason, the coupon code website, CouponCodes4u (http://www.CouponCodes4u.com), has conducted a flash-poll to discover Americans’ reactions to the news.   CouponCodes4u conducted a flash-poll of 1,451 Americans, aged 21-35, in a bid to discover more about their reaction to the news that Research In Motion (RIM) has postponed the launch of BlackBerry 10 OS and its latest handsets, the BlackBerry London and BlackBerry Nevada, to the beginning of 2013. The study formed part of research into perceptions of American consumers towards their personal phones and gadgets.  Respondents were initially asked whether or not they owned a BlackBerry, to two fifths, 41% replied "yes." Respondents were then asked whether or not they were happy with the news that RIM was delaying its latest phone and OS release, to which 96% replied "...

Glu Mobile has released Frontline Commando on the Mac App Store. The third person military shooter is available as a free download and features in-app purchasing, full screen mode, and a fully optimized user interface available in OS X Lion. "The Mac App Store allows Glu to bring console quality gaming experiences to a new potential audience of tens of millions," says Mike DeLaet, vice president of Global Sales & Marketing. "We look forward to bringing additional Glu titles to the Mac App Store."

Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps: Cocktail (http:/www.maintain.se) -- a general purpose utility for OS X that lets you clean, repair and optimize your Mac -- has been upgraded to version 6. The new version is compatible with the upcoming OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Noodlesoft has announced Hazel 3.0.9 (http://www.noodlesoft.com/hazel.php), an update of thehousekeeper for your folders and files. The new version is now code-signed and ready for the Gatekeeper feature of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Hamrick Software (http://www.hamrick.com) has released Vuescan 9.1.07, a new version of the VueScan software for Mac OS X that's designed to let users produce better digital images from color snapshots, negatives, slides and documents. The new version adds support for new Epson printer/scanner/copiers. Synalsysis (http://www.synalysis.net/) has revved Synalyze It! -- a Hex Editor that lets you edit and analyze binary files of any size -- to version 1.3. The new version...

On Tuesday Apple and Samsung filed a join statement dropping additional claims against each other as an U.s. trial looms. The narrowing had been requested by Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The parties' joint statement is not necessarily the last word on narrowing., notes "FOSS Patents" (http://macte.ch/dxsJ5). Everything depends now on Judge Koh's assessment of the trial-readiness of this case, the article adds. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad devices.

"CNBC" reports that Samsung has emerged as the most valued brand by consumers in Asia, ending a four-year reign by Sony and ahead of close rival Apple, according to a survey by research firm Nielsen and media magazine Campaign Asia-Pacific. Apple ranked second in the survey, and Sony placed third. The survey spanned 12 markets in Asia and asked 4,800 respondents to disclose the brand they felt was the best or the most trustworthy in 14 major product and service categories. You can read more at http://www.cnbc.com/id/48076119?__source=yahoo%7Cheadline%7Cquote%7Ctext... .

AutoNavi Holdings, a Chinese maker of electronic navigation tools, has been selected by Apple to offer map services for users of future iPhones and iPads in China, reports "The Washington Post" (http://macte.ch/24Zzm), quoting two unnamed "people with knowledge of the matter." AutoNavi will supply its maps of China to users of the iOS 6 operating system, an upgrade for iPhones and iPads that will be released by Apple this fall, according to one of the people, who asked not to be named before an announcement. Last month Apple introduced its own maps tool for users of iOS 6, replacing Google Maps. The company is adding technology partners in China including AutoNavi, Baidu and Sina Corp. to expand the range of services to Chinese consumers and meet rising local demand for its mobile devices, notes "The Washington Post."

According to an Asymco report (http://macte.ch/dsmhh), Apple has whittled down the Windows-to-Mac OS ratio "dramatically" in the past several years -- and that ratio is even more impressive when figuring in OS X plus iOS devices. According to Asymco: ° The ratio of Windows PCs to Macs in 1995 was 15:1. ° By 2004 the ratio had dropped to 7:1, thanks to the growing popularity of laptops -- and the MacBook. ° Currently, if you figure in both OS X and iOS devices, the ratio is about 2:1. ° "Considering the near future, it’s safe to expect a “parity” of iOS+OS X vs. Windows within one or two years," says Asymco. "The install base may remain larger for some time longer but the sales rate of alternatives will swamp it in due course."

Cable digitization efforts in developing economies will be a key driver for cable broadband penetration worldwide, giving service providers access to more lucrative markets with service revenues reaching the US$50 billion mark in 2017, reports ABI Research (http://www.abiresearch.com). Cable technology’s adoption of DOCSIS 3.0, with higher maximum speeds than DSL, has been a key competitive strength against Telco’s offering only DSL service in the United States, Canada and parts of Western Europe, says the research group. "Cable MSOs’ marketing focusing on use of advanced services, such as video streaming, and number of devices in the home has encouraged consumers to upgrade to higher bandwidth tiers," says Adarsh Krishnan, senior analyst, TV & video at ABI Research. Looking to next generation bandwidth-hogging services, including 3DTV and 4K video resolutions, technology providers are working with operators to prove out the next generations of DOCSIS. DOCSIS 3.1 focuses on...

Hooby Groovy (http://www.hoobygroovy.com/) has announced the Raccoon iPad Case. It's part of the Animals of Hooby Groovy Land Collection. Hand crafted from 2mm thick felt, the design of the Raccoon iPad Case stays true to the Hooby Groovy minimalist aesthetic. It's designed to fit all current iPads (the iPad 1, iPad 2 and the new iPad). Users utilizing the Apple Smart Cover for iPad 2 and the new iPad will also be able to fit their iPads into the Raccoon iPad Case. The Raccoon iPad Case has a sleeve-style design with an opening for the device at the top. A closure tab secured with hook and loops tape at top opening to secure the device within. There's a pocket on the back for additional storage for notebooks, pens, etc. To celebrate the launch of the new Raccoon iPad Case, all products within the Animals of Hooby Groovy Land Collection are on sale for US$10 off the usual price. Besides the Raccoon iPad Case, this collection also includes a Pig iPad Case, a Panda iPad Case, a Panda...

On July 4, 1776, the United States declared its independence from Britain. Today "MacNews" and "MacTech" are closed in honor of Independence Day, the Fourth of July. We hope all our readers have a great day and that peace and freedom will flourish throughout the world.

Tablets such as the iPad are expected to be the growth driver for the mobile computer market over the next few years. Tablet shipments will surpass notebook shipments in 2016, according to the latest info from NPD DisplaySearch (http://www.displaysearch.com). Overall mobile computer shipments will grow from 347 million units in 2012 to over 809 million units by 2017, notes the research group. While notebook shipments are expected to increase from 208 million units in 2012 to 393 million units by 2017, tablet shipments are expected to grow from 121 million units to 416 million units in this period, for a compound annual growth rate of 28%. A key driver for tablet growth is adoption in mature markets (including North America, Japan and Western Europe), which will account for 66% of shipments in 2012 and remain in the 60% range throughout the forecast period, according to NPD DisplaySearch. Tablet shipments into mature markets will grow from 80 million units in 2012 to 254 millions...

The U.S International Trade Commission refused Apple's request for an emergency customs ban on HTC Android devices, but is reportedly examining whether redesigned phones from the Taiwanese handset maker still constitute infringement of Apple's "data detectors" patent, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). Apple won an import ban of HTC's Android phones in 2011; however, HTC devised a workaround. However, Apple maintains that HTC devices continue to infringe on its patents and has asked the ITC to step in and assert the injunction, notes "AppleInsider." However, the answer was "no." In November 2010 Apple sued Motorola, alleging that the company's smartphone lineup and the operating software it uses infringe on the iPhone-maker's intellectual property. The two lawsuits came after Motorola sued Apple in October 2010 for patent infringement. Motorola claims that Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and certain Mac computers infringe Motorola patents. Also in 2010 Apple filed...

Another day, another lawsuit. Apple has just settled an ongoing lawsuit with one Chinese firm, Proview. Now it's being sued by Chinese household chemical company called Jiangsu Xuebao, who claims that Apple has infringed its "Snow Leopard" trademark. Ziangus Xuebao registered the trademark of the Chinese translation of Snow Leopard ("Xuebao (雪豹)” for electrical equipment production in 2000, reports "M.I.C. Gadget" (http://macte.ch/m28tO). Mac OS X Snow Leopard violates the trademark, the company claims. A court in Shanghai has already accepted this trademark lawsuit case and a hearing is scheduled for July 10. "M.I.C. Gadget" says Jiangsu Xuebao is seeking 500,000 RMB (around $80,645) in compensation and an apology from Apple.

Apple has updated Configurator -- its Mac utility for the mass deployment of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches -- to version 1.1. The upgrade adds a preference to disable auto-removal of app and profiles when a configuration is re-applied and a preference to stop re-application of a configuration when a device is connected. Apple says Configurator makes it easy for anyone to mass configure and deploy iPhones, iPod touches and iPads in a school, business or institution. Up to 30 devices at a time can be configured. It's a free download at the Mac App Store.

ComScore (http://www.comscore.com), which "measures the digital world," has released new data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending May 2012. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 25.7% market share. Google Android continued to grow its share in the U.S. smartphone market, accounting for 50.9% of smartphone subscribers, while Apple captured 31.9%. For the three-month average period ending in May, 234 million Americans age 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM [original equipment manufacturer] with 25.7% of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.1 percentage points), followed by LG with 19.1% share. Apple continued to grow its share in the OEM market, ranking third with 15.0 percent (up 1.5 percentage points), followed by Motorola with 12% and HTC with 6.1%. Nearly...

Just weeks after Apple's introduces the Retina display MacBook Pro (rMB Pro) without the Kensington security slot, Maclocks has released the newMBP Lock. As devices become thinner the Kensington slot is becoming obsolete, and so Apple had excluded it from the rMB Pro design. The new MBP lock bundle (Retina lock) includes a lightweight security skin (0.35 pounds) and "super slim" security cable. The new MacBook Pro lock bundle ‏is now available for pre-order on Maclocks website (http://www.maclocks.com) for US$69.95.

MakeMusic (http://www.makemusic.com) has released Garritan Classic Pipe Organs, a virtual pipe organ collection. It's available as a download for a special, limited time price of US$119.95. A boxed (DVD) version will be available soon for $169.95. This sound library features six historic instruments, each representing a specific school of organ building, ranging from early Baroque to Classical, through the Renaissance, Romantic and Modern eras. Every organ stop/combination in this collection can be freely mixed with those of other organs, according to Gary Garritan, MakeMusic director of instrumental sciences. Included with Garritan Classic Pipe Organs is the ARIA Player, which now includes Convolution Sampled Reverb. With this technology, the sound of specific performance spaces can be captured and shared. Included are many sampled venues, from a small chapel to a cathedral, with a variety of concert halls and other acoustic spaces in between. Classic Pipe Organs is designed to be...

Markzware (http://www.markzware.com) has released PDF2DTP for QuarkXPress 9. It's an XTension module for QuarkXPress that enables you to open and convert PDF documents within QuarkXPress 9 and supports both Macintosh and Windows platforms. PDF2DTP converts all elements that are possible to bring over from the PDF, including text, colors, and images. It will also extract the images embedded within most PDFs and saves them in a separate folder. PDF2DTP for QuarkXPress 9 is available immediately at the PDF2DTP Store (http://markzware.com/products/pdf2dtp/pdf2dtp-quarkxpress-store/) for US$199. On the Mac, it requires an Intel-based system running Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.

Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps: DssW has updated Power Manager, its energy saving software for Mac OS X, to version 4.1.3. This release adds support for Gatekeeper and Mountain Lion. MacMate (http://www.macmate.com), a multi-use cloud service for Mac users, has introduced a Galleries feature into it's service. The feature lets you create online photo galleries for users to share online with family and friends. Ohanaware (http://www.ohananware.com) has released App Wrapper 2.0 for Mac OS X, an update of the development tool used to package applications for the Mac App Store and web sites.

Apple has been threatened with the temporary closure of its operations in Italy and with further fines of up to 300,000 euros (about US$377,500) if it doesn't offer customers a free two-year warranty as demanded by Italian law, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/kkMIT). In December 2011, Italy's Antitrust Authority fined Apple 900,000 euros (approximately US$1.2 million) for its handling of customer guarantees. The watchdog group said Apple had failed to inform shoppers of their legal right to two years' technical support, recognizing instead only a one-year standard warranty. The Antitrust Authority said the firm's action had led people to pay extra for Apple's own support service, which overlapped in part with the free guarantee. However, months after the earlier fine, Apple has failed to comply with warranty request, says the AGCM. Apple has 30 days to respond, notes "Reuters."

A new study by the Goldman Sachs investment bank -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- notes that iOS users are so loyal and unlikely to leave the Apple platform at any price, they have a total collective value of almost US$295 billion -- or about 55% of the company's current market cap. Analyst Bill Shope told investors on Friday that he believes the average single iOS customer is worth $1,053, assuming the average selling price of an iOS device for the June quarter is $535 with 5% erosion, gross margin is 45%, and annual defections are 5%. In the Goldman Sachs poll of over 1,000 respondents, 71% said they're "highly likely" to choose an Apple device for their next tablet or smartphone purchase. Another 23% are "likely" to stick with Apple, and only 1% are "unlikely" to stick with Apple.

Apple has paid US$60 million to Proview Technology to end a dispute over the iPad trademark in China, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/8Jvhq). The court-mediated settlement, announced on the website of the Higher People's Court of Guangdong province, will allow Apple to get on with selling the iPad in one of its most important markets, analysts told "Reuters." Reportedly, the cash-strapped Proview had been holding out for at least $400 million. In February Proview accused Apple of "deception" in the way it acquired rights to the iPad name. In Californian court filings, Proview claimed Apple created a UK-registered "special purpose company," IP Application Development Ltd (IPADL).

In a move that should make it easier for Apple to implement its spaceship-shaped headquarters in Cupertino, California, by 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown announced that the project has been approved for a streamlined treatment as it moves through the environmental review process, reports "The Mercury News" (http://macte.ch/cLYl9). "Apple's state-of-the art campus brings at least $100 million dollars in investment to California and generates no additional greenhouse gas emissions," Brown said in a statement to the newspaper, listing two of the requirements Apple had met to qualify under the law. "On-site fuel cells and 650,000 square feet of solar panels will provide clean, renewable energy for more than 12,000 Apple employees on the new campus." Fast-tracking the project, however, doesn't mean construction will begin any sooner than the early-2013 time period Apple had previously announced. But by qualifying as a "leadership project" under legislation signed into law last year, "Apple will...

AvisNocturna Software has announced Logoist 1.0, a design application for Mac OS X. It's available at the Mac App Store at the normal price of US$39.99; however, until Aug. 15, it's being offered for $19.99. With Logoist, you can create title art, logos, icons, greeting and invitation cards, ads or facebook covers. It comes preloaded with more than 3, 000 clipart images and over 100 effect presets. Logoist requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is fully supported. It fully makes use of 64-bit capable processors found in all recent Macs but also runs on older 32-bit based Macs.