U..S. online holiday spending passes $21 billion so far
ComScore (www.comscore.com), a company that "measures the digital world," has reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 32 days of the November–December 2012 holiday season.
For the holiday season-to-date US$21.4 billion has been spent online, marking a 14-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week saw three individual days eclipse $1 billion in spending, led by Cyber Monday, which became the heaviest online spending day on record at $1.46 billion. However, growth rates softened considerably in the wake of Cyber Monday and through the weekend.
"While Cyber Monday was a high point for holiday e-commerce spending and Cyber Week saw several strong spending days, there was a clear softening in the growth rate during the back half of the week," says comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "It is likely that, to some extent, holiday spending was pulled forward to the Thanksgiving-Black Friday period given the heightened promotional...
Apple starts work on Austin expansion project
Construction work has "quietly started" on Apple’s planned US$304 million expansion project on Parmer Lane in Northwest Austin, Texas -- a project that is expected to create as many as 3,600 local jobs, reports the "American Statesman" (http://macte.ch/haiRf).
The article says there's "major earthwork happening on the 38.8-acre site and the concrete shell of what appears to be a three-story office building is taking shape." Apple will receive up to $36 million in state, city and county incentives over the next 10 years if it lives up to its economic development agreement, which includes creating 3,600 jobs over 10 years. The average annual wage for those jobs is $63,950, according to the "American-Statesman."
Stellar Data Recovery launches free edition of Drive Defrag
Stellar Data Recovery has released Stellar Drive Defrag, a free edition of its drive defragmenting software designed to optimize Mac hard drives and volumes.
The software defragments large files, including all associated metadata. It also performs full defragmentation of the entire volume or drive. Stellar Drive Defrag is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and higher.
Thes free edition is capable of optimizing free space in a hard drive into contiguous memory space. Temperature fluctuations during defragmentation can be monitored; the tool is also equipped with a "color legend" that allows color customization for memory blocks under similar categories.
In order to defragment the boot volume, the application offers to make a bootable DVD. You can boot the Mac system from this bootable DVD and can perform all the defragmentation operations directly on the boot volume. For more info, or to download Stellar Drive Defrag, go to http://www.stellarinfo.com/mac-software/drive-defrag.php .
Fall Trilogy Chapter 2: Reconstruction comes to the Mac
Coladia has released The Fall Trilogy -- Chapter 2: Reconstruction, the second part of the saga, for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher). It's available for US$9.90 at the Coladia web site (http://www.coladia.com).
Here's how the game is described: "In this episode, players wake up in a skyscraper and a strange contact guides you through this new adventure. The Fall Trilogy is a mouse-driven series of adventure and puzzle games from the developers of Destination: Treasure Island, Dracula 3 and Return to Mysterious Island."
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer released by Native Instruments
Native Instruments has introduced Abbey Road Vintage Drummer, a new Kontakt instrument that features the sound of two Vintage drum kits from the 1940s.
Both kits were recorded with a combination of state-of-the-art equipment and period microphones at Abbey Road Studios in London, providing a natural, open sound suitable for contemporary productions. For the first time in Native Instruments' successful Abbey Road Series, Vintage Drummer includes brush articulations especially recorded to provide the authentic sound and style of the swing/big band era.
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer features y rare instruments from the earliest period of trap kit recording. The first kit consists of a 1940 Leedy 26-inch bass drum, and two late-1930s tom toms once owned and used by the legendary percussionist James Blades. Vintage Drummer also features brush articulations -- a first for an Abbey Road Series release.
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer is available at the NI Online Shop for US$119. Additional...
Judge to Apple, Samsung: my instructions, my rules
Two days before the first post-trial hearing in the patent infringement fight between Apple and Samsung, a California judge has told attorneys for both companies that she expects them to follow her instructions and work by her rules, reports the "IDG News Service" (http://macte.ch/2WEK2)
In an order signed on Tuesday, Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, admonished both sides for their filings with the court, the article adds. She had previously imposed page limits on the filings each company could make as part of the post-trial process.
Samsung was limited to a 35-page limit on its filing in opposition of the verdict and Apple to a 15-page response to Samsung’s filing. Each could file supporting documentation.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. 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...
Stock broker arrested on fraud charges involving Apple stock
Former Rochdale Securities stock broker David Miller has been arrested on Federal wire fraud charges for allegedly using company money to buy US$1 billion in Apple stock for his own gain, which ultimately left his employer with a $5 million loss, reports "The MacObserver" (http://macte.ch/D0JJY.
Miller claimed that he accidentally bought 1.625 million shares of Apple's stock when a customer actually requested 1,625 shares, then told coworkers the client was covering a short position. The transaction happened on Oct. 25, which was also the day when Apple announced its fourth fiscal quarter earnings, notes "The MacObserver."
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 5
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
MacPaw has updated CleanMyMac (http://macpaw.com/cleanmymac/fullfeatures), its Mac disk maintenance utility, to version 1.10.9. The upgrade can now uninstall Xcode correctly.
Sproutedapps has revved Nokumo, (www.nokumo.com), its business and personal information manager, to version 1.0.2. It's a maintenance upgrade with some bug fixes.
Rage Software has mailed out MailShoot 2.0 (http://www.ragesw.com/products/mailshoot.html), the new version of the US$69.95 newsletter and mailing list management software. The upgrade boasts faster email sending and better status updates when sending emails.
Noodlesoft (www.noodlesoft.com) has dusted off Hazel, a housekeeper for your folders and files, and promoted her to version 3.0.16 . She's a maintenance upgrade with some bug fixes.
Apple revs iWork apps for iOS, OS X
Apple has updated its suite of iWork apps for iOS. Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, as well as its iWork apps for Mac OS X.
The iOS versions were updated to version 1.7 with features designed to make it easier to collaborate and share items with iWork for Mac and Microsoft Office. iWork for Mac OS X was revved to version 9.3; the update adds support for the new features introduced in the iWork for iOS apps.
Canto announces Cumulus compatibility with Mountain Lion
Canto, maker of Canto Cumulus digital asset management (DAM) software, has announced that the latest release of Cumulus (8.6.1) is compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and Windows 8.
Canto Cumulus is a cross-platform solution that enables companies to organize, find, share and track their digital files in any format. For more info, including pricing, go to http://canto.com .
Ohanaware releases Fun Greetings Deluxe for OS X
Ohanaware has released Fun Greetings Deluxe 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher), a redesign of its photo greeting card software. It offers nearly 200 professionally designed card templates for 13 different occasions.
With step-by-step guidance, users can add filtered custom photos to the cover or inside of the card, create personalized messages, and add shapes, borders, or graphics. Featuring a high-resolution print engine, many different card sizes can be printed or sent by email.
Users can also create their own templates, starting with a blank page and building the card exactly as they want it. The app includes a variety of shapes, text boxes, text captions, graphics, and photo holders. Each element can be modified. Fun Greetings Deluxe is capable of printing folded cards in many different sizes (including custom sizes). What's more, cards can be shared via email, Facebook, flickr, or Twitter.
Fun Greetings Deluxe 1.0 is available for one week at the introductory price of US$9.99...
LaCie d2 hard drive gets USB 3.0, Thunderbolt connectivity
LaCie's d2 hard drive now features USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectivity together with the latest 4TB, 7200rpm hard drives.
The LaCie d2 performs at speeds up to 180MB/s, twice as fast as FireWire 800 and nearly four times faster than USB 2.0. These speeds allow the user to transfer a 10GB project in less than one minute, back up a computer in record time, easily edit video in demanding applications and browse through photo libraries without delay, says Erwan Girard, business unit manager, LaCie. Plus with 256-bit AES encryption the data is always secure, he adds.
The LaCie d2 features a solid aluminum casing that purportedly provides 60% more surface area than flat designs. Its design means it stays cool without requiring a fan.
The LaCie d2 is available with a full back up software suite in 3TB and 4TB capacities through the LaCie Online Store and LaCie Resellers starting at US$299. For more info go to www.lacie.com .
MetaCase upgrades flagship software development tool to version...
MetaCase (www.metacase.com) has released version 5.0 of their flagship software development tool, MetaEdit+.
MetaEdit+ 5.0 lets you create graphical domain-specific languages and code generators in a few hours. The graphical notations go beyond plain icons and links; they can change on the fly depending on model data, be nested to unlimited depth, retrieved from libraries, and have a fixed or dynamically varying number of ports to connect to. The new features allow domain-specific models to mimic closely the problem domains they describe.
The new version integrates into programming tools like Visual Studio and Eclipse. Software developers get one-click access from their IDE to MetaEdit+ models, can integrate generated code with hand-written code and libraries, and automate their build process.
Application functionality can be traced and debugged on both the code and model levels simultaneously. On the modeling side, the new version aims to minimize the...
Bare Bones Software releases BBEdit 10.5
Bare Bones Software has released BBEdit10.5, an update to its professional strength HTML and text editor. It now supports the Retina display on some new Macs.
In addition, it introduces a new Go menu, new per-project website configuration and support for basic deployment,new Preview Filters and more. The new Go menu expedites navigation within documents, providing quick access to a Functions palette, a Jump Points palette and to any named symbols in a file -- all new in version 10.5.
The Functions palette presents a continuously updated listing of functions defined in the active document. The Jump Points palette presents a history of movement within the active document, providing an avenue to quickly revisit locations.
Now, projects can be configured as "Web Sites" via a new menu in the project window's action bar. The Site Settings sheet offers easier management of site-wide document settings, HTML syntax checking rules and other relevant details. A new Deploy Site command enables...
SUGARfx Movie Credits plugin released for FCP, Motion, AE, PP
Noise Industries (www.noiseindustries.com/), has introduced SUGARfx Movie Credits for Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro.
Movie Credits allows editors to create credits. Working in their favorite host application, editors can choose from 25 preset styles then use the full control panel to customize them.
SUGARfx Movie Credits (www.sugarfx.tv/) is available now on FxFactory for US$49.
New 'Dockster' malware targets Macs
A new piece of malicious software targeted at Mac users has been found on a website dedicated to the Dalai Lama, but one security vendor is labeling it as low risk, reports the "IDG News Service" ().
The malware, nicknamed "Dockster," is a backdoor that allows an attacker to control the victim's computer, record keystrokes and export files, according to Intego, which sells security software for Macs. Dockster tries to infect computers by exploiting a vulnerability in Java, CVE-2012-0507.
IDG says the vulnerability is the same one used by the Flashback malware, which first appeared around September 2011 and infected as many as 800,000 computers via a drive-by download. Flashback was used to fraudulently click on advertisements in order to generate illicit revenue in a type of scam known as click fraud.
Apple patched the vulnerability in Java in early April and then undertook a series of steps to remove the frequently targeted application from Macs. Apple stopped bundling Java with Mac...
Analyst: yield improves for in-demand iPhone 5
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com) -- Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu says improved production of the iPhone 5 means increased profitability for Apple.
The analyst says that, after checking with members of Apple's overseas supply chain, he believes iPhone 5 yields are still improving. The progress comes as estimated shipping times from Apple's online store have improved to between two and four days, while the handset is set to launch in more than 50 countries this month.
Wu adds that demand for Apple's latest smartphone is still "robust." He predicts that Apple will sell 47.3 million units in the December quarter, a forecast slightly greater than market consensus of between 45 million and 46 million iPhones sold during the holiday quarter.
Re/Max equipping agents with iPhones, Passbook
Re/Max is turning to the iPhone and the new Passbook feature of iOS 6 to equip its real estate agents with digital business cards, reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com). It will be offering digital business cards to its brokers and agents in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Southern Ohio, and Southeastern Michigan.
Re/Max (www.remax.com) is a global real estate network of franchisee-owned and -operated offices with nearly 90,000 sales associates. It's based in Denver, Colorado.
Passbook is designed to make it easy for consumers to organize, manage and retrieve local coupons, loyalty cards, and other money-saving information from one place. It was introduced with iOS 6.
Black Friday retail CE sales down nearly 6%
U.S. consumer electronics retail sales for Black Friday declined 5.6%, a steeper than anticipated decline according to l= market research company, The NPD Group (www.npd.com).
The drop follows last year’s loss of nearly 4%. Computers, Android tablets, and TVs accounted for 58% of all sales dollars, up from 51% of sales in 2009.
"This slow start is merely a continuation of the challenges seen in the consumer electronics business throughout 2012," says Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. "In an unbalanced market, where just a few categories deliver significant dollars, and even fewer offer any growth, the ability to deliver positive results will remain difficult for companies exposed to the entire consumer electronics marketplace."
Despite a 4% increase in unit volume, flat-panel TV revenue dropped 6% as a result of average selling prices (ASP) falling from US$367 last year to $333 this year. A record 40 percent of all flat-panel unit volume came from 32-inch...
Judge: Apple/HTC settlement can't be sealed
The patents shared between Apple and HTC in their global legal settlement can be revealed to the public, according to a late Monday ruling from US District Court Judge Lucy Koh, as reported by "MacNN" (http://macte.ch/uQHPz).
"This Court has repeatedly explained that only the pricing and royalty terms of license agreements may be sealed," the ruling states. "There are compelling reasons to seal pricing and royalty terms, as they may place the parties to the agreement at a disadvantage in future negotiations, but there is nothing in the remainder of the agreement that presents a sufficient risk of competitive harm to justify keeping it from the public."
On Nov. 12, it was announced that Apple and HTC have reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a ten-year license agreement. The license extends to current and future patents held by both parties.
Apple launches iTunes Store in 52 more countries today
Apple has announced the launch of the iTunes Store in Russia, Turkey, India, South Africa and 52 additional countries featuring a selection of local and international music from all the major labels and thousands of independent labels.
The iTunes Store features local artists including Elka in Russia, Sezen Aksu in Turkey, AR Rahman in India, and Zahara in South Africa, international artists including The Beatles, Taylor Swift and Coldplay, and world-renowned classical musicians including Lang Lang, Yo Yo Ma and Yuja Wang. Customers can choose from over 20 million songs available to purchase and download on the iTunes Store.
Movie fans can choose from a selection of films available for rent or purchase from the iTunes Store, with many available in HD, from studios including 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as leading local distributors.
FileWave releases version 5.8 of FileWave Management
FileWave (www.filewave.com) has released version 5.8 of FileWave Management with a new "Zero Touch" auto enrollment feature that allows FileWave Administrators to add iOS devices to the FileWave system automatically,.
FileWave's new integrated Profile & Managed Prefs editor provides FileWave Administrators a single interface from which they can deploy both iOS version 5/6 and Mac OS X 10.5 (and higher) settings. FileWave's deployment system works whether settings need to be applied via profiles or via Managed Preferences for legacy clients.
FileWave has added more extensive Kiosk customization capabilities, multiple URL support for Software Update and support for Windows 8 clients in desktop mode.
JAMF Software announces enterprise plug-ins for managing Macs
JAMF Software has released plug-ins for Windows management systems including Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 (SCCM) and Altiris Client Management Suite.
The Casper Suite is management software for the entire Apple platform, enabling organizations to manage and secure devices as they respond to the growth of Apple in the enterprise. With the release of plug-ins that integrate with the latest versions of the leading Windows management systems, enterprise organizations are immediately able to manage the Apple platform by using the Casper Suite alongside existing infrastructure.
Support for Microsoft SCCM 2012 and Altiris Client Management Suite 7.1
In environments where Apple devices are flooding into traditionally PC-based organizations, IT management is often faced with the dilemma of settling on a single cross-platform product that has lesser capabilities for one platform or training administrators to work with parallel systems that have stronger platform-specific...
TeamViewer launches version 8
TeamViewer has released TeamViewer 8, which expands client service capabilities and provides faster and easier performance for both remote control and online meetings sessions.
With the new version, TeamViewer is introducing the new TeamViewer Management Console, a cloud-based administration tool. It addresses the needs of corporate environments and with greater emphasis on accountability, stricter security guidelines and the need for central control of their TeamViewer user accounts, according to the folks at TeamViewer.
The Management Console opens up completely new possibilities for support teams in companies large and small, they add. Features in the new TeamViewer Management Console include comprehensive user management, connection reporting of all sessions and browser-based single-click connections.
The Management Console offers a new set of user management capabilities. All employees within a company using TeamViewer for IT support services can be managed and controlled...
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 4
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
ipSoft (http://islenskt.com/) has announced Chord Dictionary 1.2 for Mac OS X, an update to its app that provides reverse chord lookup from a guitar fretboard. It requires Mac OS X 10.7 or higher.
Synium Software has released CleanApp 4.0.0 Beta
(http://synium.de/products/cleanapp/index.html), a new (and beta) version of the uninstaller and system management tool for Mac OS X. The upgrade squishes several bugs and fixes several localization issues.
MacRabbit has brewed Espresso 2.0.5 (http://macrabbit.com/espresso/), an upgrade of the web development tool. The new version fixes some glitches and is tweaked for Retina display Macs.
Digital Rebellion has given us version 1.1.8 of Pro Media Tools (http://www.digitalrebellion.com/promedia/), a suite of workflow utilities focused on processing and managing media, with functions including detecting gamma shifts, editing QuickTime movie metadata, batch renaming files and more. The new version...
Apple rumors: iMacs assembled in the U.S., more
Here are the latest Apple rumors from the blogosphere.
"Apple may be taking some of the burden of assembling the new iMac off Chinese supply partners by performing parts of assembly in the U.S., as a number of newly-purchased standard units are showing an "Assembled in USA" notation usually reserved for made-to-order machines." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
"Intel is working to cut the power consumption of its chips -- not only in future processors, but also in the current Ivy Bridge line that's used in all recent Macs." -- "CNET" (news.cnet.com)
After months of anticipation, Apple's iTunes Music Store may finally be coming to Russia according to an invitation-only iTunes event scheduled for Tuesday evening in Moscow. The Russian iTunes Store currently only distributes apps, public domain books, and podcasts, a significant limitation for Apple in Europe's largest Internet market." -- "The MacObserver" (www.macobserver.com)
"As part of a lengthy press release sharing details...
onOne Software offer free, premium editions of Perfect Effects 4
onOneSoftware has released Perfect Effects 4 Premium Edition and Perfect Effects 4 Free Edition.
Both software programs offer a library of photographic effects and tools for image enhancement and creative stylization. Each may be used as a standalone application, as an external editor for Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom, or as a Photoshop plug-in.
Perfect Effects 4 Premium Edition provides photographers with a library of more than 400 photographic effects that instantly add professional looks to photos. Effects are sorted into more than 40 categories, such as HDR, Movie Looks, and Vintage. Also included are effects that recreate the look of film and darkroom techniques, add glows, vignettes, and borders, and correct common photography problems. Effects may be added with a single click or combined to create unique looks.
Both Perfect Effects 4 Premium and Free Editions are now available from onOne Software. New users may purchase Perfect Effects 4 Premium Edition for US$99.95....
DssW announces Battery Guardian for Mac OS X
DssW has released Battery Guardian for Mac OS X. It helps users know when to deplete their laptop battery. The free app works by placing a small heart in the top-right of the menu bar.
When the time comes to deplete, the heart turns red. This simple and clear indicator makes looking after the battery easy, says Graham Miln, director, Dssw.
He adds that to get the most out of a MacBook battery, it should be depleted once a month. Depleting involves disconnecting the mains power and using the battery until the charge is nearly empty.
Once started, Battery Guardian runs in the background and doesn't require the application to be left running. Battery Guardian will automatically track the battery charge. Each time the battery is depleted, Battery Guardian will reset the reminder.
To download go to http://www.dssw.co.uk/batteryguardian/ . System requirements are Mac OS X 10.6.7 or later.
Flying Pig releases Localizator 1.0 for Mac OS X
Flying Pig (www.flyingpigcorp.com) has released Localizator 1.0, an Xcode project's localizations tool. It's specifically designed for developers who are working on massively localized projects with external support for translation.
Localizator browses a selected root directory looking for strings files, copies them, organizes them by language and creates a separate Localizator project, which can be saved aside and exchanged between engineers and translators outside of the actual Xcode project, making it safe to edit.
Upon completion of the localization work, the user can push the changes into the Xcode project file tree. Localizator will replace only edited files automatically removing for developers the hassle of finding and replacing each file one by one,.
Combined with Base Internationalization feature from latest Xcode versions, Localizator can integrate the developers workflow and serve as a tool designed to help developers master the challenge of the diversity the Apple App...
Dream Pinball 3D pings onto the Mac App Store
Runesoft (www.rune-soft.com) has introduced Dream Pinball 3D 1.0 for Mac OS X. It's available for Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and costs US$9.99.
Here's how the game is described: "With Dream Pinball 3D you can transform your Mac into six different, multilevel, 3D pinball machines. Featuring clever gameplay, balls made of different materials have special ballistic properties that affect how those balls roll. A cutting edge engine gets the best out of this classic game's optics and acoustics, including state-of-art particle technology, HDR and multiplayer 3D sound."
iPhone 5 arrives in South Korea, more companies this month
Apple today announced that the iPhone 5 will be available in South Korea on Friday, Dec. 7, with more than 50 additional countries being added in December, including Brazil, Russia and Taiwan.
The iPhone 5 is currently available in 47 countries around the world including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK. iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: Shared Photo Streams, Facebook integration, all-new Maps app, Passbook organization and even more Siri features and languages.
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 3
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Apple has posted Digital Camera Raw Update 4.02. Available via the Mac OS X Software Update app, it adds support for several new cameras from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony to its supported import list for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11.
JNSoftware has announced Dialectic 1.9 (www.jonn8.com/dialectic/), an update to the telephony tool for Mac OS X. Among the enhancements are support for Polycom SoundPoint & Grandstream IP phones, and improved compatibility for
magicJack, Kerio Operator, Snom IP phones and X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
Mapdiva (www.mapdiva.com) has released Artboard 1.7, an update of its vector drawing software. The upgrade is enhanced for the MacBook Pro with Retina-display and features major workflow enhancements.
Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has rolled out Output Factory 1.3.10, a feature update to its professional output automation solution that automates printing, exporting and post-processing from InDesign. The new...
iFixIt tears down the new 21-inch iMac
The gang at iFixit have torn down the new 21.5-inch iMac from Apple. They say "it's an exercise in disappointment for us."
"We were quite worried when we saw that super-thin bezel during Apple's keynote, and unfortunately we were correct: the glass and LCD are now glued to the iMac's frame with incredibly strong adhesive," says Miroslav Djuric, chief information architect, iFixit. "Gone are the lovely magnets that held the glass in place in iMacs of yesteryear.
He adds: "... the bad news doesn't stop there. Once inside, folks can still replace the RAM, hard drive, and CPU, but they'll have to remove the entire logic board before doing so -- everything is located on the back of the board, nooked right into the iMac's slim frame. Consequently, this year's unit received a super-sad 3 out of 10 repairability score, down from a healthy 7 on last year's unit. Hackers, tinkerers, and repairers be forewarned: get last year's model if you'd like to alter your machine in any way.
You can find...
ComScore: Apple has 34.3% of U.S. smartphone market
ComScore (www.comscore.com), a company that "measures the digital world," has released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending October 2012.
The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 26.3 % market share. Google Android continued to lead among smartphone platforms, accounting for 53.6% of smartphone subscribers, while Apple secured 34.3%.
For the three-month average period ending in October, device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM [original equipment manufacturer] with 26.3% of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.7 percentage points). Apple ranked second for the first time on record with 17.8% market share (up 1.5 percentage points), followed by LG with 17.6% share, Motorola with 11% and HTC with 6%.
Approximately 121.3 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones (51.9% mobile market penetration)...
Apple: we weren't aware of jury member's Seagate...
Apple says it wasn’t aware during trial that the foreman of the jury that issued a US$1.05 billion verdict against Samsung was involved in a lawsuit with his former employer, Seagate Technology, reports "Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://macte.ch/nKPJF).
Samsung asked Apple to disclose when it first learned about the litigation between the jury foreman, Velvin Hogan, and Seagate. Apple responded in a filing Friday in federal court in San Jose, California. Samsung is attempting to get the Aug. 24 verdict thrown out based on claims the trial was tainted by the foreman’s failure during jury selection to tell U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh, who presided over the case, that he filed for bankruptcy in 1993 and was sued by Seagate.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. 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.
Bob Mansfield cashes in $20 million of Apple stock
Bob Mansfield, Apple's senior vice president of the newly created Technologies division, has cashed in more than US$20 million worth of Apple shares, reports "Macworld UK" (http://macte.ch/wrneM).
Mansfield sold 35,000 AAPL shares, which, based on the closing price on 28 November, ($582.94) would be worth around $20,402,900. The sell off was revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Apple offers unlocked version of the iPhone 5
Apple is now offering unlocked versions of the iPhone 5. They're available at http://macte.ch/wmsJ0 .
The unlocked iPhone only works on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5 from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone won't work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.
The unlocked iPhone 5 costs US$649 for 16GB model, $749 for the 32GB version and $849 for the 64GB model. The limit is two per customer.
App Studio goes live for digital publishing with HTML5
App Studio (www.AppStudio.net), the new cloud-based HTML5 solution that turns print into interactive digital experiences, is live.
With HTML5 at its core, App Studio takes the risk out of digital publishing by offering designers -- from small agencies to large enterprises -- the flexibility to use familiar tools to create app content for virtually any tablet or smartphone. With a free trial and low publishing costs, designers and content creators can get started to create and test apps through App Studio’s managed cloud environment.
App
Studio pricing plans start at US$199.95 for a single edition app or $99.95 per month for a multi-issue publication. A children’s book is an example of a single edition app while a monthly magazine is an example of a multi-issue publication.
Designers can get started with App Studio by creating a free account to access App Studio’s managed cloud environment. With an App Studio account, designers log in to the App Studio app within QuarkXPress or...
iPad mini, iPhone 5 arrive in China in December
Apple has announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad mini and fourth generation iPad with Retina display will be available in China on Friday, Dec. 7, and iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, Dec. 14.
The iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries. The Phone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.
Arcade Pinball pings onto the Mac
Arcade Pinball is now available at the Mac App Store. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$3.99.
Here's how the game is described: "Miss the 8-bit days of sprites and beeps, yet still addicted to the thrill and dynamism of modern apps? Want to have your cake and eat it, too?
Get your paws on digital pinball moguls Gameprom's latest release, Arcade Pinball and get all your kicks in one dazzling app!
This unique table features pinball bumpers and targets, plus a color monitor where upi can take on a variety of old-school digital minigame challenges – a space scroller, car racing, missile defense, a block breaker, and more.
"And like many Gameprom tables, Arcade Pinball pushes the digital environment to deliver more than a mechanical table, while capturing the same feel and response of a real physical pinball game."
eSellerate updates the Embedded Web Store SDK for Macintosh
eSellerate has released version 5.0.0.0 of the Embedded Web Store SDK [software development kit] for Macintosh.
Beginning with this release, two different versions of the eSellerate Embedded Web Store Engine are available for use with eWeb Libraries for Macintosh. The only difference between these engine versions is that one is always included within the application, while the other is typically installed in locations external to the application.
Developers can use either or both of these engines to suit their needs. You can download the new SDK by logging in to your publisher account at http://publishers.esellerate.net and going to eSellerate Downloads.
Griffin Technology announces charge/sync cables with Lightning...
Griffin Technology (www.griffintechnology.com) has announced its charge/sync cables featuring Apple’s new Lightning Connector.
Griffin’s new cables with Lightning Connector are charging solutions that are built to resist kinks and tangles. The cables work with Griffin’s family of PowerBlocks and PowerJolts, as well as Apple’s USB power adapters, or plug into a computer's USB to sync with iTunes. The cables offer connectivity to users of all new Apple devices featuring the Lightning Connector, including iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad fourth generation), iPod touch (fifth generation), and iPod nano (seventh generation).
Designed for use in the car, the four-foot coiled USB to Lightning Cable (US$24.99) is designed to save space and eliminate tangles. With Griffin’s new three-meter USB to Lightning Cable ($29.990 users can charge and sync new Lightning devices from just about anywhere in the room. Almost 10 feet long, it'sis built to handle the power needs of Lightning devices. The cable...
iBattz introduces snap-on battery case for the iPhone 5
iBattz has introduced their first protective battery case for the iPhone 5 with the Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case. It's a two-part protective case that features a detachable 2500mAh aluminum battery to keep users powered up on the go.
The battery is thin, lightweight and complementary to the iPhone 5’s minimalistic design. In addition, it can also be used to power other USB devices. The user has the option to use the battery or just protect their phone with the case.
Included with the Mojo Hi5 Powerbank case is the 2500mAh battery, matte black and gloss white cases, USB to Micro USB charging cable, Velcro strap and a short flex USB cable for charging the iPhone 5 when connected with the Apple Lightning to micro USB adapter, available at the Apple Store and online, sold separately. The Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case is available at Amazon.com and usa.ibattz.com for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$79.90.
Sonnet announces Echo Express II Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis
Sonnet has announced the Echo Express II, the newest member of the company's Echo family of Thunderbolt expansion chassis for PCIe cards.
Featuring two PCIe slots, the new Thunderbolt-to-PCI expansion chassis enables the use of a variety of high-performance PCI Express cards -- originally designed for use in desktop computers -- with any computer equipped with a Thunderbolt port.
The Echo Express II was designed for users needing a compact solution to connect two PCIe cards to their computers, and supports the majority of Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe cards. Based on the original Echo Express expansion chassis, the Echo Express II adds a second slot to support two half-length (up to 7.25 inches long), full-height, single-width PCIe 2.0 x16 cards. Like its siblings, the Echo Express II expansion chassis has dual Thunderbolt ports to support daisy-chaining of devices.
The new Echo chassis includes three temperature-controlled, variable-speed fans for cooling the cards and the chassis'...
These speakers go BOOM
The BOOM Movement is taking its next supreme idea to the streets with Urchin, a Ready 4 Anything (R4A) Bluetooth speaker designed to go where you go.
The Urchin's interchangeable silicone skins give the Urchin its distinct look and also make it shock and water resistant, according to the folks at the BOOM Movement. It ships with a carbineer for hooking on a belt loop or backpack, a suction cup for sticking to a shower tile, and a screw mount attachment for the dash of a car, or it can be used with the optional bike mount or strap attachment.
The Urchin's silicone skin is molded with a hole at the top so it can easily be attached to most anything with everything from a screw in the wall, to a rope tied around a tree. Also included is a built-in microphone that instantly turns the Urchin into a hands free speaker for any Bluetooth phone allowing it to be used on the go.
The Urchin is built to connect with pretty much any Bluetooth device, with support for Version 2.1 + EDR or higher,...
Small budget Bollywood movies get online release with Spuul
Bollywood movie lovers worldwide can now watch big-budget blockbusters as well as small-budget movies on Spuul.com, an online platform for streaming Indian movies and TV shows.
Until recently, small budget Bollywood movies had little chance of a worldwide audience. But now producers of budget titles such as “Ata Pata Laapata” and “Future Toh Bright Hai Ji” are releasing their films online on Spuul with the assurance of access to a larger audience base.
“Ata Pata Laapata,” a small budget comedy flick by actor Rajpal Yadav, will release on Spuul on Dec. 1, 2012, within a month of its theatrical opening. This follows the recent online release of “Future Toh Bright Hai Ji,” which started streaming on Spuul within ten days of its theatrical opening. Other upcoming 2012 budget titles on Spuul include “Fatso,” “Gali Gali Chor Hain,” “Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai,” “Staying Alive,” “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai,” and “I am 24.”
Viewers can now instantly watch these movies at Spuul.com or download...
Clockwork Man 1 and 2 available on the Mac App Store
Total Eclipse (www.totaleclipsegames.com) says the Clockwork Man Hidden Object/Adventure Series is now available on the Mac App Store. They require Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and cost US$9.99 each.
Here's how the series is described: "In The Clockwork Man (U$9.99) players explore a fantastic vision of the past through the eyes of Miranda Calomy, a feisty engineer with a knack for creative problem-solving. Accompanied by her loyal robot friend, Sprocket, she embarks on a global adventure trying to help her grandfather. Will she manage to compile the parts to the world's greatest invention before it's too late?
"The Clockwork Man: The Hidden World ($14.99) brings twice as much fun, puzzles, adventure game play and a captivating story. The discovery of a strange obsidian artefact takes Miranda and Sprocket on a quest for The Hidden World, a land lost in time and glimpsed through legends. Yet they are not alone; doggedly chasing them every step of the way, an unknown menace will do anything...
SecureMac offers security guide to Mountain Lion
SecureMac has released a free Mac OS X security guide, outlining the top tips for securing your computer against threats. The guide, "Top 10 Security Tips for Mac OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)," outlines the new security features, measures and practices for Apple's latest operating system Mountain Lion.
The guide covers some of the latest technology including, GateKeeper, File Vault 2, Privacy Controls, Firewall, Password Assistant, Anti-Phishing, Software Updates, iCloud locator, and more. You can download the free guide at http://www.securemac.com/10-MacOSX-MountainLion-Security-Tips.php .
Mac OS X software updates for Nov. 30
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has announced Output Factory 1.3.10, a feature update to its professional output automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The new version lets users output InDesign documents as single files without splitting them into single pages.
Managing Editor (www.maned.com) has released MEI Portico 2.0, the latest in the Adobe development partner's lineup of solutions for publishers. MEI Portico lets publishers create custom branded user interfaces for their mobile and tablet apps. The new version of MEI's custom storefront software for tablets was built to empower Adobe Digital Publishing Suite customers.
St. Clair Software (www.stclairsoftware.com) has rolled out Default Folder X 4.5.3, an update to their utility that enhances the file dialogs in all Mac OS X applications. The upgrade addresses stability and compatibility issues.
It's here: iTunes 11
iTunes 11 has been released and is available at www.itunes.com as a software update. It features a completely redesigned player, integration with iCloud, and a new look for the online music, apps, TV and movie stores.
The new iTunes features a dramatically simpler and cleaner interface that keeps your favorite iTunes content at the forefront, according to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. With iCloud integration, your music, movie and TV purchases made on any of your iOS devices or computers is conveniently displayed in your iTunes library on your Mac or PC, available anytime you want them.
The redesigned iTunes Store, App Store and iBookstore have been rethought to make buying your favorite content on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC simpler than ever, says Cue.
"We created iTunes because we love music and we’re going back to our roots with an incredibly clean design that keeps your music at the forefront," he adds. "The new iTunes...
