Friday May 24
03:30
How fast is USB 3.0 really?
As a Mac user, I’ve never been a big fan of USB for storage. Keyboards, mice, sure. But a hard drive connected via USB has always been slow compared to those using Apple’s FireWire, FireWire 800, and (most recently) Thunderbolt interfaces. And booting from a USB drive on the Mac was a no-no for a long time.
Times have changed, however. And thanks to USB 3.0’s availability on almost all shipping Macs (and, in the case of the Mac Pro, something you can add via a PCI card), its bootability (since late 2005—but what can I say, I can hold a grudge), its improved performance, and its relatively low price, my bias is quickly disappearing. (Though the first certified USB 3.0 consumer devices were announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2010, Macs didn’t begin shipping with USB 3.0 ports until June 2012, when new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models were released.)
USB 3.0 (also known as SuperSpeed USB) has a maximum bandwidth rate of 5 gbps (gigabits per second)....
|
Read more »
03:22
Terminal: Using “lsof” When Files Won’t Delete
Got a file that's preventing you from emptying your Trash? Got a disk image that won't eject? Then we've got a Terminal trick you'll like. This command will show you what programs are accessing a file or volume, so you can quickly figure out what to quit to get on with your life.
|
Read more »
Thursday May 23
23:44
Judge says evidence will likely show Apple culpable...
In rare pre-trial "tentative view," Judge Denise Cote said the U.S Department of Justice will likely be able to prove that Apple colluded with major book publishers to falsely inflate the prices of e-books sold through the iBookstore. ...
|
Read more »
23:39
Box aquires Folders, plans to integrate into own iOS...
Enterprise-oriented cloud storage firm Box has acquired Folders, an iOS app used to manage files from cloud storage services. The purchase, for an undisclosed amount, will see the technology behind the app rolled into Box's own iOS app, with Folders developer Martin Destagnol being drafted in to help with its integration.... ...
|
Read more »
22:12
AT&T to reportedly add Apple's iPhone to...
The nation's second-largest carrier AT&T will reportedly add Apple's iPhone to the list of devices customers can buy through its GoPhone prepaid brand on Friday, with the handset coming alongside the activation of 4G LTE and HSPA+ support for the service. ...
|
Read more »
22:00
Reality Absorption Field: iPod's trail of tears...
The recent celebration of iTunes tenth anniversary provided an opportunity to remember that it debuted before the iPod and was initially positioned as a way to get Macs to play well with the CD burners that had come to the iMac as well as to early MP3 players from rivals. Before and (mostly) after the iPod, it's surprising to see not only how many different companies sought success in the portable media player category, but the diversity and depth of their approaches. While some achieved a degree of success and implemented a few things that were ahead of Apple, none came close to matching Apple's success.
This column will focus on how PC companies approached the portable media player market while the next Reality Absorption Field will look at how competitors from other industries fared.
Dell and Gateway
Prior to the arrival of Microsoft's Zune, Dell was...
|
Read more »
21:47
Apple airs new iPhone ad, continues brilliant '...
Apple on Thursday released a new ad focusing on the iPhone as a music player, with its quiet, serene style following in the footsteps of the company's last spot, and paving the way for a new breed of commercial. ...
|
Read more »
21:23
Nokia Adds New Suits In Patent Spat With HTC
Nokia on Thursday said it has filed additional cases in its patent dispute with Taiwanese phone maker HTC.
The new actions, which include a second complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission and a federal suit in Southern California, come on top of existing legal actions that date back to last year.
“We began actions against HTC in 2012 to end the unauthorized use of our proprietary innovations and technologies,” Nokia said. “Since then, despite the German courts confirming infringements of Nokia patents in HTC products, HTC has shown no intention to end its practices, instead it has tried to shift responsibility to its suppliers. We have therefore taken these further steps to hold HTC accountable for its actions.”
An HTC representative was not immediately available for comment...
|
Read more »
20:32
AT&T GoPhone may get iPhone, LTE/HSPA+ support...
AT&T's prepaid GoPhone brand is set to get a major upgrade on Friday, MacRumors claims. This includes official support for the iPhone, and access to LTE and HSPA+ networks. People have been able to sign up to GoPhone with an iPhone in the past, but until now had to sacrifice cellular data access.... ...
|
Read more »
20:23
Apple's Newest iPhone Ad Still Says Nothing, Is...
The deceptively simple iPhone ad Apple rolled out last month has garnered all sorts of praise. Totally justified!
So you can see why they’d try a new one, using the exact same format, music and spec-less pitch. The only difference is that this time, instead of focusing on the notion that iPhones = cameras, Apple is reminding you that iPhones also = personal stereos.
So why don’t I like this one quite as much as the first?
My gut: Because when you take a picture, you’re probably doing it with the hope of sharing it with someone.
And while Apple makes a point of showing some scenarios where the iPhone brings music to more than one person, it is honest about the primary use case: Just, you, your phone and some ear buds, sealed off from the rest of the world.
Honest. But not as much fun.
(Bonus content for hardcore Apple tea leaf readers: Note that...
|
Read more »
19:50
Dashlane 2.0 manages passwords, notes, security with...
Multi-device password management and e-wallet platform Dashlane has deployed a v2.0 upgrade. This includes overhauled designs for the desktop clients, particularly on the Mac. which is now said to be "cutting edge" in its visual elements. The platform as a whole now sports a new Security Dashboard with a security score and tips, and features such as two-step/three-field logins, among various other autofill and auto-login changes. Two-factor authentication via Google Authenticator can be used for the desktop and mobile apps.... ...
|
Read more »
19:15
Apple posts new iPhone “Music Every Day” ad
Apple has just posted a new iPhone 5 ad to their YouTube channel, detailing many of the ways people use their iPhone to listen to music. The ad is reminiscent of the “Photos Every Day” ad that debuted a few weeks ago.
Like the previous photo-centric commercial, this ad is mostly void of a voiceover, simply showing a wide variety of iPhone users, and how they enjoy their music. Both of these ads take a different direction than previous iPhone commercials, highlighting not apps, but rather features of the device.
The minute long spot ends with the line “Everyday, more people enjoy their music on the iPhone than any other phone.”
//
...
|
Read more »
19:01
Brazilian email may back Apple performing in-house...
An allegedly official Apple email sent to Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) in Brazil may support rumors that Apple is planning to do its own repairs of iOS devices, according to AppleInsider. At the moment, a person bringing a broken iPhone, iPod, or iPad to Apple is more likely to have the device swapped out for a refurbished unit, to which a person has to resync their data using iCloud or iTunes. It can often be cheaper and/or faster for the company than conducting a true repair, which requires having a supply of spare parts on hand.... ...
|
Read more »
19:00
Daily iPad App: Frozen Synapse simulates some very...
Frozen Synapse has been a successful title on Steam for a while now -- it's a turn-based strategy game, with twist being that you're a sort of tactical AI, running these battles on simulations and hardware rather than in real life. As a result, the big draw of Frozen Synapse is that while, like many other tactical strategy games, you are guiding a series of soldiers around turn by turn, these turns are actually simulated, and you can test them out and repeat them as many times as you like before playing out the "prime" sequence, and running the real thing.
The pacing of the game is pretty perfect, then. Frozen Synapse has now been ported to the iPad, and the touchscreen gives you a whole lot of flexibility over what commands you can give your little soldiers: Just double tap on the screen to set up waypoints for them, and then you can drag...
|
Read more »
18:48
Instagram reportedly mass-deleting seemingly-random...
.@instagram can you please let us know why so many people randomly had their accounts disabled tonight due to "terms of service violations"?
—
Tara (@FabulousButEvil) May 24, 2013
UPDATE: Some users are reporting that their accounts have been restored following the deletion earlier this evening. We’re still waiting on an official response from Instagram.
It seems many Instagram were caught off-guard today when the...
|
Read more »
18:31
Judge Cote Likely to Side with U.S. Against Apple
Judge Denise Cote said on Thursday that she expects the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will be able to prove that Apple conspired with publishers in the run-up to the release of the iPad. The judge issued a "tentative view" that effect to attorney representing the DOJ and Apple to that effect, adding that the opinion is based on reading through some of the evidence.
The Mac Observer Spin:
This case drives us nuts. On the one hand, Apple mostly likely did act as ringleader in getting the publishers to shift to the agency model for pricing. At the same time, before Apple did so, Amazon had monopoly power in this market and was dumping books to gain that power and shut down competitors.
|
Read more »
18:18
iOS 6 Flyover coverage expands to more of California
Apple has expanded its 3D Flyover coverage in iOS 6 Maps to more of California, AppleInsider notes. Flyover has long been available for cities like San Francisco, but now covers areas such as Anaheim, San Bernardino, Santa Monica, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and Moreno Valley. Some significant pieces of scenery include Disneyland and the Santa Monica pier.... ...
|
Read more »
18:00
Ultima Forever spotted on the Canadian App Store
If you've been waiting for Ultima Forever, the new iOS version of Ultima from EA, then it's here for you (kind of). The app has been spotted over on the Canadian App Store, and if you have an account over there, you can go and download it right now. The Canadian App Store is often used as a beta testing ground for iOS apps, especially by EA, so the company is likely testing out the game and its services before releasing it worldwide soon (probably in the next few weeks). So it's not completely done yet, but if you want to go get it, you can.
To switch your iTunes install over to Canada, you just need to go down and click on little flag located on the bottom right of each App Store page in iTunes. You can switch your client to any of the world's regions there, and I believe that you can download apps for free from any of those regions (including Ultima Forever).
You can also...
|
Read more »
17:48
Google reportedly mulling $1B Waze bid, could spark...
According to Bloomberg sources, Google is looking to throw in a $1 billion bid for Waze, possibly portending a bidding war between the search giant and Facebook, which is also rumored to be eyeing an acquisition of the social mapping service. ...
|
Read more »
17:30
DevJuice: Don't forget to order your WWDC...
With WWDC just around the corner, time is running low. Have you ordered new business cards for the event? If you're looking for something a little more interesting than a plain white rectangle, there are lots of options out there.
Moo is well known for their rounded-corner high-quality cardstock business card line. I know several TUAWians swear by them.
Want something with a little more texture? How about wooden business cards? Vendor Cards of Wood sells 100 cards from $35, with discounts at higher quantities.
Maybe you want to break out of the box with custom shapes? Taste of Ink studios offers custom die cut business cards with spot gloss,...
|
Read more »
17:00
Skycore uses MMS to send Passbook passes
Passbook users rejoice, as life is about to get a little easier. Skycore has announced support for cross-carrier delivery of Passbook passes via MMS. That means in the near future you will be able to send friends and family tickets, coupons, and gift cards via a simple text message, and have them installed in Passbook on their phones. The MMS message arrives showing an image, which the receiver simply has to tap on to install the pass.
Services for pass creators include the ability to monitor MMS delivery receipts and to confirm that passes have been installed. If the recipient of the MMS doesn't have an iPhone, the service automatically detects what phone they do use and offers an alternative for their operating system.
Skycore CEO Rich Eicher explained the move to...
|
Read more »
16:58
Exclusive Deal
While supplies last, save 40% off over 40 iPhone 5 and iPhone 4/4S cases and chargers as well as Samsung S III cases at Kensington.com. Use coupon code 'SAVE40%' at checkout to receive this exclusive discount.
|
Read more »
16:45
Apple expands iOS Maps' 3D Flyover coverage of...
In a recent update to its iOS Maps app, Apple added Flyover support a large swath of California, including popular tourist attractions like Disneyland in Anaheim. ...
|
Read more »
16:42
The Loop Magazine Issue 2 available
The Loop Magazine Issue 2 is now available for download from Apple’s Newsstand.
There’s a great line-up of writers in this issue including Joe King, the co-founder of Denver-based rock band They Fray, UI expert Matt Gemmell, iMore Editor-in-Chief Rene Ritchie, Peter Cohen, Stephen Hackett, and The Next Web’s Managing Editor Matthew Panzarino.
You can download The Loop Magazine from the App
∞ Read this on The Loop
|
Read more »
16:30
Disk Drill file recovery app moves to 2.0 release
We first looked at Disk Drill from Clever Files back in 2011. Now in its 2.0 release, this app continues to help prevent data loss by enabling you to recover lost files that you've already deleted.
The app goes beyond searching your garbage pail. This is meant for users who have already emptied their trash, and need to access that data from the file system. If you haven't used some sort of data shredding app, chances are good that the deleted files are still recoverable.
Available in Basic (free), Pro ($89), Expert ($169), and Enterprise ($299), Disk Drill offers a range of products that ramps up in ability from simple scanning (without file recovery), all the way up to a full site license with forensic data investigation.
Disk Drill scans your drive, offers a list of recoverable files, and lets you preview and retrieve them...
|
Read more »
16:30
Remains of the Day: Don't panic
If you were worried Apple might not have a keynote at WWDC this year, you can finally relax. But don’t get too relaxed: Comixology’s pulling controversial comics again, and iPhone repair costs are up, up, up. The remainders for Thursday, May 23, 2013 are powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive.
Apple’s WWDC Keynote Scheduled for Monday, June 10 (AllThingsD)
Phew. For a minute, I was really worried that they might decide to hold it a week later, just to mess with people.
ComiXology pulls 56 digital comics from iOS app [Updated] (ComicBookResources)
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click...
|
Read more »
16:30
Google posts Chrome 28 beta, integrates services...
Google has released a beta version of Chrome 28 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. The most significant change is in the Windows release, where a native notification center for apps and extensions has been turned on. These can include not only text and images, but optional actions such as making a phone call or sending email. Notifications can appear even when Chrome is closed. Google is promising Mac notifications "soon."... ...
|
Read more »
16:02
Microsoft Commercials Take Swipes at Apple’s iPad
Microsoft is taking pot shots at Apple's iPad in its efforts to promote moribund sales of Windows 8 tablets. In a new series of commercials, the Redmond, WA company harnesses Siri to disparage iPad's one-app-at-a-time nature, and compares specs to show an Asus device is thinner and weighs less than iPad.
|
Read more »
16:00
AT&T explains its new 61 cent/month...
.
Thanks reader Kory for screenshot
AT&T started this month charging an administrative fee of $.61/month/user for its mobile customers in addition to its current fees. While the fee may be small, as the Verge notes it adds ‘up to hundreds of millions of dollars’ over 24 month contracts and millions of customers. What gives? An AT&T spokesperson told us:
Consistent with similar fees charged by other carriers, the monthly fee of 61 cents per line will help cover certain expenses, such as interconnection and cell site rents and maintenance
The fee applies to consumer mobility lines as well as IRU lines – the kind of business lines where the employee pays the bill directly.
AT&T isn’t alone in this endeavor. Verizon charges admin fees of $0.91 and Sprint charges $1.99. (Plus more for regulatory fees.) T-Mobile’s combined regulatory...
|
Read more »
16:00
Turn your photos into a comic book with Halftone 2
We looked at the original Halftone app for iOS a couple of years ago and were impressed. The app has been completely rewritten and is more touch oriented , supporting vector graphics for smooth insertion of picture elements.
Halftone 2, which is iPad-only and was released today, lets you import pictures and create a real comic book look by adding bubbles, banners and other bold graphic elements to your photos. The app also embeds an image editor, so your photos can be filtered to have a more graphic look. There are also tools for fixing blemishes, and the usual contrast, saturation and brightness sliders. Halftone 2 also adds the ability to work with multiple picture frames, rather than just one image.
I didn't get too fancy with my image creation, but I could see the possibilities....
|
Read more »
15:48
Rumor: Apple outlines new in-house repair policy in...
A purportedly official email sent out to Brazilian Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) earlier this month appears to confirm a previous rumor that Apple is planning on performing iOS device repairs in-house, a change from the current policy of replacing the damaged model with a refurbished unit. ...
|
Read more »
15:46
Amplified: I Was a Co-Ed
Jim and Dan talk about Tim Cook’s senate testimony and discuss the issues involved in owning a company in the US but manufacturing your products abroad. Later they delve into Google’s new 3D maps, a very young musician’s incredible rendition of Van Halen’s Eruption, the new Xbox one, and more.
Sponsored by Hover (use code DANSENTME for 10% off), Shutterstock (use code DANSENTME5 for 30% off), and Squarespace (use code DANSENTME5for 10% off).
∞ Read this on The Loop
|
Read more »
15:45
Google in 'holding pattern' with Apple for...
Google wants to submit an All Access app for iOS, but is still working to find something Apple will accept at the App Store, say 9to5Mac sources. What disputes the companies might have are unmentioned, but they could conceivably involve things like the revenue split from in-app purchases, and/or features that may violate App Store guidelines.... ...
|
Read more »
15:40
OmniPresence
OmniPresence is the best way to sync all of your documents across all of your devices. And it works on most web hosts, including OS X Server, which means you can store all of your data yourself.
The folks at The Omni Group are some of the best developers around.
∞ Read this on The Loop
|
Read more »
15:30
Amazon's MacBook Air stock dwindles
Last week TUAW reported on the diminishing numbers of MacBook Airs available from third-party retailers like Best Buy. Now the source of that information, AppleInsider, is reporting that Amazon is completely sold out of the 11.6-inch low-end MacBook Air (1.7 GHz Intel Core i5, 64 GB storage) with other models showing that they're "n/a".
AppleInsider points out that Amazon's listing for the entry-level 11.6-inch model is "consistent with a discontinued item on Amazon, with no indication that stock will be replenished. In contrast, the online retailer typically portrays a simple stockout with availability advertised for '1-2 months'."
Stock of many MacBook Air configurations is limited at other retailers, including Best Buy, MacMall, J&R, and...
|
Read more »
15:22
AT&T Wireless adds $0.61 per month...
AT&T Wireless has started billing customers $0.61 per month as a mobility "administrative fee." The new charge came into effect May 1, and has been applied to all consumer bills, in addition to business accounts where the user pays the amount due. The new fee will add nearly $500 million to AT&T's coffers in a year.... ...
|
Read more »
15:08
9to5Toys Last Call: App Sales Galore, $80 Logitech...
From 9to5Toys.com:
A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites that feature a couple exceptional deals for just 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second of the day, so we’re going to roundup the best daily deals to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want.
Be sure to follow Follow 9to5Toys so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook
Today’s Featured deals:
- Apple iPad mini 64GB WiFi for ...
|
Read more »
15:00
Box acquires Folders, in what sounds like the least...
Filesharing service Box has acquired the technology behind a French app called Folders, which is also centered on browsing and sharing files on the iPhone. Terms of the acquisition weren't revealed, but Box said that Folders would be a big influence on the next few iterations of the filesharing software. The company also noted that its iPhone and iPad apps will be "cleaner, faster and more beautiful throughout 2013."
Folders is still available as a 99-cent download right now, but presumably that app will be abandoned or replaced as Box integrates it into the main offering. Box boasts more than 15 million users at 150,000 businesses, and those numbers are growing all the time. If the folks at Box can find a way to team up with Staples and...
|
Read more »
14:59
Apple Updates Fuji-Xerox Printing & Scanning...
Apple released Fuji-Xerox Printer Drivers v2.4 for OS X on Thursday. The patch notes don't specify what's new, saying simply, "This download includes the latest Fuji-Xerox printing and scanning software for OS X Mountain Lion, OS X Lion and Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard."
|
Read more »
14:58
Verizon brings Verizon Cloud to iOS, more Android...
Verizon has officially launched Verizon Cloud for iOS devices, as well as a broader slate of Android phones. The iOS app is designed primarily for the iPhone, but can still be run on the iPad and iPod touch. Newly-supported Android phones include devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC Droid DNA.... ...
|
Read more »
14:54
Apple: Samsung shirked FRAND obligations, filed suit...
Samsung abused its rights as a standard-essential patent holder, Apple said Wednesday, by filing a complaint with the International Trade Commission before even trying to come to an agreement with the Cupertino company over licensing terms. ...
|
Read more »
14:31
gMusic app unofficially brings Google’s new “All...
When Google unveiled its brand new $9.99/month “All Access” Google Play music streaming service earlier this month at its I/O keynote, we quickly learned that the service would not be coming to iOS initially. Google didn’t get into why, but today developers of the popular gMusic iOS app has unofficially brought support for the service to iPhone and iPad.
The app previously acted as client for songs stored in your Google Music library, but with an update to version 6.0 today the All Access subscription service is now officially available to iOS users. The changelog on iTunes also lists the ability to “Create/play Radio Stations” and “Search, listen, and add music to your library from inside the app.”
As for why Google didn’t make it’s own All Access app for iOS, we’ve heard from sources close to the situation that Google wants to...
|
Read more »
14:30
Study: Mobile gamers download five titles a month,...
A new study released by Applifier says that word of mouth is still the number one way mobile game players find the games they like. That doesn't necessarily mean in-person discussion about mobile games, however, though 36% of users did report that hearing from a friend or family member was a major source of games, and 25% of users said actually seeing a friend or family member play a game was one way they found out about their favorites. 43% of users, however, say reading user reviews was the main way they found what they liked to play.
Video is another big game pusher -- 70% of users polled by Applifier say that they watched online video about mobile games in the last week, and 45% of users said that watching the video had them downloading that same game right away.
Most mobile game players, according to Applifier, download up to five mobile games a month, which...
|
Read more »
14:10
Jon Stewart on Tim Cook's Less-Than-Taxing...
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations earlier this week to defend Apple’s tax practices was a largely uneventful affair, particularly given the issues at hand.
While the subcommittee panel described Apple on paper as an “egregious offender” that has “sought the Holy Grail of tax avoidance,” it took a very different tone while meeting in person with Cook. “So nice to meet you. I have an iPad,” Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R.-N.H., said while greeting the Apple CEO — a cordial, but fawning, welcome surpassed only by that of her counterpart, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. who said simply: “I love Apple . …I love Apple.”
All of this was great fodder for Jon Stewart and The Daily Show team. As Stewart quipped during last night’s broadcast, “Who are those people...
|
Read more »
14:09
Report claims details of iPhone 5S, fifth-gen iPad,...
A new Macotakara report claims to have learned details about several upcoming Apple products, beginning with the rumored low-cost iPhone. The site says it has heard conflicting views from two sources on colors; one alleges that the phone will come in navy, white, gray, and gold orange tones, while another mentions white, pink, green, blue, and yellow orange. In both cases, black is omitted.... ...
|
Read more »
14:00
Evernote introduces reminders to Mac, iOS apps
One of the reasons that I've never been a super-user of Evernote is that while it's a great place to save your notes, scans, and other materials, it's never had the ability to simply let you know when you need to get something done. Instead, it has always relied on another app to give you a heads-up that you need to work on something. Today, Evernote released updates for the Mac and iOS clients that introduce a build-in reminder function.
In a beautiful writeup of the feature over at MacStories.net, Federico Viticci details his experiences testing the reminders capability prior to release, saying that "reminders are a good addition that fit well with Evernote's focus on remembering everything through a unified, polished interface."
As Viticci notes, this update doesn't add the level of reminder functionality that you'll find in Due or OmniFocus. Instead, the...
|
Read more »
13:57
Reuters Traces Apple’s Irish Operations Back to 1980
Reuters has put together a detailed look at Apple's operations in Ireland at the center of the company's tax strategy. As noted by CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer during their testimony in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Apple first started doing business in Ireland in 1980. Reuters explains how the Irish government used generous tax concessions to attract companies like Apple going back to 1956, and how those efforts led to many multinationals using Ireland for their European operations. If you're following Apple's tax story, it's a great read.
|
Read more »
13:51
1Password 4 for Mac beta signups are now open
13:50
Pioneer debuts third generation AppRadio in-dash...
Pioneer Electronics has deployed two new smartphone connectivity options for the car with two versions of its next generation AppRadio 3 smartphone connected in-dash receiver -- the SPH-DA210 and the SPH-DA110. Both AppRadio 3 models feature compatibility with MirrorLink enabled smartphones in addition to the current AppRadio compatibility with both iOS and select Android smartphones. ... ...
|
Read more »
13:43
Draw Something From This: Yahoo's Design Chief...
Yahoo’s design chief, the effervescent Tim Parsey, will be leaving his job at the Silicon Valley Internet giant, sources said.
As SVP of User Experience Design at Yahoo, which centralized the task under Parsey, he has been part of a range of redesigns of its major properties, including its homepage, Flickr photo-sharing site, email and more.
As I noted when Parsey arrived in early 2011, “in the 67-ring circus that has been Yahoo’s product organization, design was widely dispersed.”
Translation: It was not pretty, unless you enjoyed the Web stylings of 1997.
Parsey certainly had the cred in the design industry, with stints at Apple, Microsoft’s entertainment and devices unit, Mattel and Motorola. Just before Yahoo, he was a principal at...
|
Read more »
13:30
Twitter #Music adds new chart features
When Twitter launched its music discover service Twitter #Music last month the service had a lot going for it. Spotify and Rdio support for streaming full songs, music discovery based on what was trending at the moment, and the #NowPlaying feature that shows what your friends are listening to added a lot to the service. But it had one major flaw: It lacked specificity. It lacked Charts that allowed you to see the top artists in genres, that you cared about. And now, that problem has been fixed.
Twitter has added genre charts to its Twitter #Music app in the hopes of helping you better find the music you're looking for. Currently there are fifteen charts to browse; ten genre stations (alternative, country, dance, metal, pop, etc) and 5 specialty stations (superstars, popular, emerging, unearthed, and hunted).
The genre charts are self-explanatory, and don't worry folk fans you're...
|
Read more »
13:28
Rumor: Apple to vastly expand color options with...
Both Apple's next-generation flagship iPhone and the company's anticipated low-cost iPhone will come in an array of colors well beyond the current black and white options, a new rumor claims. ...
|
Read more »
13:25
Daily Deals for May 23, 2012
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring a handy list from Dealnews and our own hand-picked selections that include some sweet deals on iOS and OS X software (all prices are USD).
Deals from Dealnews
- Other World Computing: [Computer Accessories] OWC 2012 Featured Move 'em Out Sale: RAM, accessories, HDDs, more
- MacMall: [Apple Computers] MacMall Memorial Day Sale: Up to $1,099 off Macs, iPads, and more
- Dell Home: [Hard Drives] Hard Drives at Dell Outlet Home: 25% off, deals from $53 + $8 s&h
...
|
Read more »
13:23
Apple cites FRAND ruling to ITC, calls Samsung...
Apple has wasted no time filing with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding the landmark ruling from May 22 enjoining a standards essential patent holder from enforcing a potential ITC-ordered sales embargo. Apple's filing with the court summarizes Judge White's decision, and calls Samsung's conduct "even more egregious" than that of the cited case's patent holder.... ...
|
Read more »
13:15
Daily Update for May 23, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.
You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here.
No Flash? Click here to listen.
Subscribe via RSS
Daily Update for May 23, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our...
|
Read more »
13:08
Apple's fifth-gen iPad rumored to debut after...
The next full-size iPad from Apple will launch toward the end of 2013, after Apple's next iPhone, and the new tablet will gain a rear-facing microphone much like the iPhone 5, a new report claims. ...
|
Read more »
13:06
iAd gets Media Ratings Council aaccreditation
The Media Ratings Council has awarded full accreditation to Apple's iAd, the first mobile ad platform to achieve that status, says Advertising Age. The accreditation reflects iAd's compliance with standards set by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Mobile Marketing Association. That includes accurate reporting of data such as taps, visits, views, impressions, conversations, and average time spent.... ...
|
Read more »
13:00
NYT Columnist Joe Nocera laughably calls Tim Cook a...
As we reported previously, Tim Cook and two other Apple executives appeared before Congress earlier this week to discuss Apple's tax practices. The focus of the hearing centered on how Apple manages to keep the bulk of its foreign earned cash overseas and what might be done to incentivize Apple to bring that cash back to the U.S.
In an op-ed piece in the New York Times today, columnist Joe Nocera misconstrues the events which took place at the hearing and proceeds to characterize Tim Cook as a liar who, according to Nocera, learned how to create a 'reality distortion field' from Steve Jobs.
I'm not sure if Nocera watched the entire hearing, but I did, and many of his characterizations of the events which took place are skewed at best, if not downright false.
Let's dive in.
Nocera writes:
On Tuesday, despite the overwhelming evidence presented...
|
Read more »
12:59
Verizon Cloud service now available on iOS devices
After announcing that it would be rolling out a new Verizon Cloud service to iOS and Android users back in April, the carrier provided an update today informing us that the service is now available to iOS devices and additional Android users. The app, available...
|
Read more »
12:59
Rumor: Cheaper iPhone is being tested in a plethora...
Credit: Ferry Passchier
Japanese Blog Macotakara purports to have some interesting details on the plastic ‘low cost’ iPhone Apple is expected to release later this year. The site says that runs of colors Navy, Gold Orange, White and Gray are in one run of the device and White, Pink, Green, Blue and Yellow-orange are in another. There is no black model according to the report.
Theoretically these models will be tested in small numbers and some might not make the cut, if the report is to be believed.
Their source also indicates that the cheaper iPhone will be produced 1,000 units for field test from June, and will be produced during July-September for shipping. If you want to see what these colors might look like head over to...
|
Read more »
12:58
Kiloo Touts 175 Million Downloads for Subway Surfers
Danish mobile games company Kiloo’s most popular app, the runner game Subway Surfers, has racked up 175 million downloads since it launched one year ago. In that time, the game has been played 5.5 billion times, the company said in a press release today. Subway Surfers is often used as a reference point among free-to-play game developers seeking to monetize their games with in-app purchases. Kiloo’s IAP store has kept the game in the top 50 of Apple’s “top grossing” charts for the past nine months.
|
Read more »
12:52
Microsoft caught lying about tablet size in...
In an attempt to draw interest away from Apple's iPad, Microsoft has set up a tablet comparison page that falsely presents the iPad as having a smaller screen than a Windows tablet with less screen area. ...
|
Read more »
12:46
Microsoft lies and cheats to portray advantage in...
Optical illusions? The iPad screen on the left is actually bigger
Earlier today Microsoft unleashed its second ad in what appears to be a new campaign focusing on directly comparing iPad to Windows 8 tablets side-by-side– not unlike Apple’s own very successful ‘Get a Mac’ campaign. However, it appears that some of Microsoft’s claims are turning out to be quite inaccurate.
To go along with the two videos posted to its YouTube channel and currently running on TV, curi.us (Via DaringFireball) points us to a comparison Microsoft has posted on its website pitting iPad against the ASUS VivoTab Smart...
|
Read more »
12:42
MacBook Air in CSS3
12:30
Jon Stewart covers Tim Cook and Apple's tax...
12:26
Apple receives patents for push-to-talk, double-...
If you’re hankering for new hardware features on a next-gen iPhone, the patent office is on your side.
Per AppleInsider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently published 26 newly granted patents for Apple, and among them were the Cupertino company’s take on a push-to-talk feature and a double-sided touch-sensitive panel, both of which could possibly appear in future iPhones.
No current models of Apple’s bestselling iPhone support the Push-to-Talk (PTT) feature that many carriers have made available for years now. Users do have access to a number of apps in the iTunes App Store that can reproduce PTT, but U.S. Patent No. 8,447,341 indicates that Apple has at least considered integrating it into a model of its phone.
The patent notes that...
|
Read more »
12:20
ProDesk3D color 3D printer open to pre-order, blue...
BotObjects, the creators of the ProDesk3D printer, has opened it up for pre-orders. Billed as the world's first full-color 3D desktop printer, the ProDesk3D is going on sale in two different versions, one in orange and a limited edition version with blue coloring and extra equipment, with the first shipments due to be sent by the first of October.... ...
|
Read more »
12:00
Google Drops Support for Standards-Based Chat
Google will no longer support the XMPP standard for its chat system as it moves from Google Talk to Hangouts. It has already severed ties with compatible, federated systems.
Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.
|
Read more »
12:00
Parenting Tip: How to control what your child...
My kids are growing up as part of the Internet generation and, as a result, they love watching videos online. Being good Internet citizens, it's not surprising their favorite videos involve cats doing silly tricks. I would love to let them loose on YouTube to watch their cat videos, but there is an unsavory side to the video website that pops up in searches or YouTube's suggested videos list. Here are a few tips to help parents control the content that their child views on YouTube, and on the web, in general.
Filtering on OS X
The quickest and easiest way to make YouTube kid-friendly is to enable Safety Mode. Safety Mode will screen out potentially objectionable content, so children can view YouTube in a web browser without unsavory videos and vulgar comments floating to the top. You can turn on Safety Mode by scrolling to the bottom of any YouTube page and clicking the drop-down...
|
Read more »
12:00
Apple's iAd first major mobile ad-network to...
Apple's iAd for iPhone and iPad gained a bit more legitimacy this month as it received accreditation from a major advertising body, making it the first mobile platform to achieve the distinction. ...
|
Read more »
11:50
Apple: WWDC keynote coming Monday, June 10
Apple has formally announced that the Worldwide Developers Conference will begin with the traditional keynote address, set for the first day of the conference: Monday, June 10. Unusually this year, the company has pre-announced that the convention (and presumably the keynote) will focus on the forthcoming OS X 10.9 and iOS 7. Though not included in the announcement, CEO Tim Cook is expected to headline the presentation.... ...
|
Read more »
11:35
Apple WWDC Keynote set for June 10
In case there was any ambiguity on the matter, Apple has confirmed that it will open its annual Worldwide Developers Conference with a keynote speech on Monday, June 10. By all accounts, Apple will be showing a preview of iOS 7 at the event, as well as the next generation…
|
Read more »
11:29
Dubai hotel provides guests with iMacs, 24-karat...
Apple's iPads are premium products with a premium price, but apparently not enough for one Dubai hotel, which provides its guests with 24-karat gold versions of Apple's popular tablet. ...
|
Read more »
11:28
Brother MFC-9000 series digital all-in-ones include...
Brother has rolled out a new range of digital color all-in-one devices aimed at small business users. The MFC-9000 series of printers all use a 3.7-inch color touchscreen display with WebConnect and offer Wi-Fi connectivity, with the MFC-9340CDW flagship model providing a print rate of 22 pages per minute for both mono and color documents.... ...
|
Read more »
11:15
Missing the Xserve? Sonnet has a rack-mounted answer
If you're missing Apple's Xserve line of computers, then Sonnet's xMac Mini Server is one way to get your Mac back into the rack.
|
Read more »
11:13
∞ The iMore Show 350: All new!
The iMore Show 350 happened, and Peter was there.
|
Read more »
11:05
Apple confirms June 10 for WWDC keynote
11:01
Apps: Foursquare 6.2, Hyper Breaker Turbo, Pandora 4...
Foursquare Labs has introduced a number of new search features to its Foursquare (free) app in version 6.2, letting users filter searches by price, places that users have saved, places users haven’t been yet, places open at that time, and more new options. These advanced filters were added to…
|
Read more »
11:01
Apple Reportedly Plans WWDC Keynote for Monday, June...
Apple has reportedly scheduled its keynote event for its 2013 World Wide Developer Conference on Monday, June 10th. We say reportedly, because while AllThingsD reported the date, Apple hasn't officially announced it and media invites have yet to go out.
|
Read more »
11:00
Element Case Sector 5 Black Ops Elite: The tactical...
Element Case is one of the few iPhone case manufacturers we talk to on a regular basis that continues to innovate with impressive designs that are entirely different from the mainstream. Whether it's their wood, aluminum and leather Ronin or the original Sector 5 case, you can be certain that an Element Case is going to be something that stands out from the crowd. Today we're taking a look at the Element Case Sector 5 Black Ops Elite (US$219.95), which is the perfect case for the Navy SEAL, SWAT team member, or tactical team wannabe in your life. We're giving our review case away, so stick around until the end of the review.
Design
To get the amazing look of this...
|
Read more »
10:49
Giveaway: Waterfield Designs Finn wallet
Just in time for Father's Day, WaterField Designs has unveiled their new fine leather Finn wallet. This is the ultimate wallet for securely carrying cash, credit cards and even a cell phone. Electronista has two to give away, read on to learn more about this wallet, and how you can enter to win.... ...
|
Read more »
10:44
Galaxy S4 Shipments Top 10 Million in First Month
Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 handset has become the company’s “bestselling” smartphone, just as co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun predicted it would last week. The South Korean company said today that “global channel sales” of the S4 today surpassed 10 million units.
That’s a massive amount of product to move in the first month after the device’s commercial debut. But, as noted here last week, this number doesn’t refer to devices sold to consumers, but to carriers: “The S4 may well be selling much faster than its predecessor, but not so much faster that there will be 10 million units in consumer hands next week. Some will still be sitting on carrier shelves awaiting purchase.”
And that’s worth noting. Because while many handset vendors like to tout...
|
Read more »
10:30
Briefly: Mailbox for iPad, iOS Rhapsody
Mailbox (free), an alternative GMail client for iOS, has released a new version that fixes a few bugs and is also now optimized for iPad as well as the iPhone. The app offers features not found on the default iOS mail client, such as gestures to prioritize incoming mail and the ability to reschedule a message to reappear later.... ...
|
Read more »
10:24
Evernote gains reminders, Telltale's poker...
A new update for popular note taking app "Evernote" adds reminders, while Telltale Games' "Poker Night at the Inventory 2" has debuted on iOS. Also, Rovio's "Angry Birds Space" has gone free on the App Store. ...
|
Read more »
10:24
Apple gains patents for double-sided touch panel,...
Apple has been granted 26 new patents this week, two of which could end up being used in a future iteration of the iPhone. The filings from the US Patent and Trademark Office show Apple as owning patents for a push-to-talk (PTT) system, as well as one for a double-sided touch panel that could help the company make an even thinner smartphone.... ...
|
Read more »
10:19
Jon Stewart rubs Tim Cook’s Senate testimony the...
You can’t help but laugh at Stewart’s ribbing of the senators’ questioning, but it is pretty clear Apple is pushing for simplicity and is only jumping through the loopholes because they are there. Tim Cook appears very genuine in his hopes for a more simple, fair tax code.
In other news, Apple is doubling its lobbying spending.
The company spent about $2 million on lobbying last year, up from $180,000 in 1999, records show. This year it is on pace to nearly double last year’s figure.
Apple’s lobbying expenditures still pale in comparison with those of Microsoft Corp., which spent $8.1 million in 2012, and Google, which spent $16.5 million, records show.
Daily Show Flash code below for when the YouTube video gets taken down....
|
Read more »
10:15
Analyst: iWatch Coming in 2014 with Biometrics
Don't plan on spending your money on an Apple smartwatch this year, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He expects the rumored iWatch will surface later in 2014 and that it will include biometric-related features, too.
The Mac Observer Spin:
It's a pretty safe bet that Apple is experimenting with wearable technology in its labs, and that most likely includes watch-type devices. Whether or not any of those products ever make it to market remains to be seen, and it's also a safe bet they won't make it out of testing if Apple doesn't think they'll be market changing devices.
|
Read more »
10:08
Apple schedules WWDC keynote for June 10th
10:00
iAds gets full accreditation by the Media Ratings...
AdAge has an interesting article on the risks and challenges advertisers face when displaying ads on mobile devices. Besides the potential that users may never actually tap on your ad, there's also the risk that an advertiser's ads may not display correctly on various devices. If you're an advertiser and that keeps you up at night, you only have one real option for choosing a reliable ad network: Apple's iAds. That's because iAds are the only major mobile ad network yet to be accredited by the Media Ratings Council. As AdAge explains:
Apple's iAd earlier this month became the first major mobile-ad network to be fully accredited by the Media Ratings Council as adhering to the standards the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Mobile Marketing Association jointly released earlier this year.
During the auditing process, iAd demonstrated accurate reporting of impressions, taps, tap-through-rate,...
|
Read more »
09:54
Square expands to Japan
09:50
Apple announces WWDC 2013 keynote for Monday, June 10
Apple has officially confirmed that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote presentation on Monday, June 10, where it is expected to showcase iOS 7 and OS X 10.9. ...
|
Read more »
09:49
Apple confirms WWDC keynote address scheduled for...
09:49
Briefly: Evernote gains reminders, Microsoft offers...
Evernote has added one of the most requested features to its iOS, Mac and Web apps, reminders. Available for all Evernote customers, the new option is represented with an alarm clock icon in the top-right corner of the web and Mac interfaces, and at the bottom of a note in the iOS apps. Reminders saved within the app will provide users with in-app alarms, as well as optional e-mail alerts when a reminder is due. Additionally, notes with reminders are automatically sorted into a new section at the top of the Note list, and can be reorganized by simply dragging them up or down.... ...
|
Read more »
09:47
Apple patent application details interactive AirPlay...
A newly-published Apple patent application discusses an interactive AirPlay update—one that lets a single AirPlay-enabled app simultaneously show multiple, different user interfaces on multiple display devices, coordinating separate interactivity with each display. User input through any display can make changes to the central app and/or modify the app’s data.…
|
Read more »
09:47
Researchers find more versions of digitally signed...
Security researchers have identified multiple samples of the recently discovered “KitM” spyware for Mac OS X, including one dating back to December 2012 and targeting German-speaking users.
KitM (Kumar in the Mac), also known as HackBack, is a backdoor-type program that takes unauthorized screen shots and uploads them to a remote command-and-control (C&C) server. It also opens a reverse shell that allows attackers to execute commands on the infected computers.
The malware was initially discovered last week on the Mac laptop of an Angolan activist at the Oslo Freedom Forum, a human rights conference in Norway, by security researcher and privacy activist Jacob Appelbaum.
The most interesting aspect of KitM is that it was signed with a valid Apple Developer ID, a code-signing certificate, issued by Apple to someone named “Rajinder...
|
Read more »
09:37
Apple's WWDC Keynote Scheduled for Monday, June...
Apple today said the keynote address for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference will occur on Monday, June 10, at Moscone Center in San Francisco. Not a big surprise, as that is the day the event kicks off. Speakers for the keynote have not been announced — nor are they likely to be. But expect to see CEO Tim Cook presiding over the standard cast of characters as they demonstrate the latest in Apple tech.
|
Read more »
09:30
Google: Voice Search coming to Chrome for iOS soon
Yesterday TUAW showed you how voice search on Chrome for Mac has improved, now providing eerily Siri-like functionality in Google Search. According to a post yesterday on the Google Chrome Blog, the next target for voice search is iOS -- and we should see the update in just a few days.
The update won't require users to point Chrome at the Google home page. Instead, whenever you tap on the omnibox (the combination address/search field), a microphone appears. Tap it, speak your search query, and your results appear in a flash. As with the Chrome for Mac update yesterday, some of the results come back in the form of both a screenful of information and a spoken response.
The Googlers say that the update will also enable "faster reloading of web pages by using the cache more efficiently when...
|
Read more »
09:15
Turn your iPad or iPhone into an external Mac...
09:13
Microsoft hits iPad again, this time about hardware...
Following up on its ad from yesterday claiming that the iPad is not a productivity device, Microsoft has posted a new ad pitting Windows 8 tablets against the iPad. Today’s ad focuses on expressing that Windows 8 tablets are better productivity devices with the full Microsoft Office suite rather than just OneNote and multitasking capibilities. Additionally, the Redmond-based company pits a single ASUS tablet’s weight and thinness against the iPad. Additionally, Microsoft shows how that single ASUS tablet includes an SD card reader, and the company claims that Windows 8 printing is more versatile than Apple’s AirPrint. Thanks, Matthew!
//
...
|
Read more »
09:03
Rhapsody releases completely redesigned iPhone app...
