Tuesday April 9
17:02
Editorial: Rutgers Settlement Includes iPad…Oh, and...
Former Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti has reached a settlement with the university, and the good news is that he gets an iPad. Oh, and US$1.2 million, some insurance, and a car allowance, but when the AP found details of the settlement, it was the money and the iPad that made the headline.
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16:54
News: Think Starbucks is Ditching Free iTunes Cards...
Starbucks announced a change to its iTunes Pick of the Week program on Tuesday that pushes customers to the company's mobile app for free downloads, which had some people thinking the cards they're used to seeing next to the cash register were going away, and soon. Turns out that's not the case, and what Starbucks is really doing is giving away even more free iTunes content every week.
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16:19
Cool Stuff Found: SOS Charger - a Hand-Cranked...
We found something pretty cool called the SOS Charger. This is a portable recharger for your iPhone with a hand crank so that you can use it even when the power's out or somewhere where a wall socket isn't an option. The device can also be charged from a standard powered USB slot (like Apple's plug-in USB adapter). This is a Kickstarter project that zoomed way past its initial goal of US$27,000. There have been 2,261 backers who have pledged $86,491.
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13:40
TMO Quick Tip: Where is the FaceTime App on the...
iPad owners know where the FaceTime app is. So where is it on the iPhone? The answers is: well, there isn't one. But you can, of course, still make FaceTime calls. John Martellaro explains.
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13:35
Cool Stuff Found: Pathways Into Darkness. On the Mac...
Long time Mac users will remember Bungie's Pathways Into Darkness, and now everyone else can get a taste of this amazing first-person shooter, too. Thanks to Mark Levin and Bruce Morrison, the game has been brought back to life for the Mac, and it's available for free on Apple's Mac App Store. The game predates Marathon -- the FPS that redefined the genre -- and is an amazing snapshot of what state of the art gaming was like back in 1993, and thanks to The Loop's Peter Cohen turning us onto the OS X-compatible version, we're about to lose a lot of productivity.
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13:10
Cool Stuff Found: Scottevest’s Tropiformer Jacket...
Scottevest's Tropiformer is a water-resistant jacket with pockets for all your electronic gadgets, including your sonic Screwdriver, your Communicator, your portable Bluetooth speaker, a copy of the Hobbit, your iPhone...there's even a pocket big enough for your iPad, and that's a real iPad, not an iPad mini. Check out the video below. Come on, that's cool! It was made for ThinkGeek, and it's priced at US$149.99.
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12:32
Editorial: Letters from Steve: ‘If I Succeed, Call...
I love this one: some folks may not remember, but rumors started up in 1996 that Steve Jobs might team up with Oracle Larry Ellison to buy Apple, or maybe Mr. Ellison was simply going to buy Apple so his buddy could run it again.
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11:52
Apps: HBO GO 2.1, Injustice, Springpad 4.0 + Tempo 1...
HBO GO (free) from Home Box Office, Inc. has been updated to version 2.1. The app, which lets HBO subscribers stream episodes on mobile devices, now features AirPlay multitasking capability. Now users can stream HBO video to AirPlay while continuing to use other apps on their iPad, iPhone, or…
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11:15
In-Depth Review: Project Your Image With ipico...
Those mostly awesome tabletop optical projectors that are used for presentations are bright but are still fairly expensive. For certain uses, it's often handy to have a handheld device that can attach to an iPhone. The ipico handheld projector is about the size of the iPhone and can throw an image over 6 ft. with good visibility in darkened conditions. Currently available for iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S.
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10:15
Analysis: BlackBerry Music Crumbles to the...
BlackBerry, formerly Research in Motion, is shutting down its online music subscription service, which is bad news for its subscribers, but is also big news in that -- wait, BlackBerry still had a music service?
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07:29
Ron Johnson out as JC Penney CEO; Apple return?
As multiple outlets reported yesterday, former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson has been ousted as CEO of J.C. Penney. Johnson left Apple for J.C. Penney in 2011, and he has been replaced by his predecessor, Mike Ullman. Many are now speculating that Johnson could return to the job he…
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07:28
TMO Quick Tip: OS X: Make Your Own Printer Pool
Have a couple printers you'd like to get more use out of, or maybe you don't want to have to ask which printer is available? No problem. Just make your own printer pool from your Mac.
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06:00
Analysis: 4K Video: Thunderbolt’s Siren Call
Intel has been hard at work on prepping the next generation, and now the company is saying it'll double current Thunderbolt speeds to 20Gbps by the end of 2014. The company previewed the second gen Thunderbolt spec, code named Falcon Ridge, during the National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas and that was about the smartest move Intel could make.
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Monday April 8
16:38
Analysis: Apple Continues to Claim Lion’s Share of...
Apple Inc. continues to claim the vast majority of revenue generated fom app sales, despite the company's minority share of the smartphone market. Canalys released a report on Monday that said Apple claimed 74 percent of app revenues in the top 50 markets in the March quarter, which once again begs the question of what all those Android users are doing with their devices.
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15:39
News: Ron Johnson Ousted as JC Penney CEO
Former Apple retailing VP Ron Johnson has been fired from JC Penney, the company he left Apple for in 2011. Mr. Johnson had been hired to turn JC Penney around, and he promised to reinvent the shopping experience. Customers were slow to embrace change, and sales, profits and JC Penney's stock all fell during Mr. Johnson's tenure.
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13:50
Analysis: Apple Job Posting Points to Chip Design in...
An Apple job posting for a software engineer points to chip development in Florida. The job is in Melbourne, Florida, at a previously unknown facility called the Melbourne Design Center. That is (most likely not) coincidentally where fingerprint technology firm AuthenTec is located, a company Apple bought in 2012.
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13:01
Apple removes AppGratis from App Store for violations
Apple has removed AppGratis, a popular deal and discovery app, from the App Store for violating two clauses in Apple’s App Store review guidelines. According to a new report, Apple has confirmed the app violated clause 2.25, “Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in…
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12:02
iLounge launches Rumor + Speculation Roundups
Today, iLounge is introducing Rumor + Speculation Roundups — a new section of the site to keep readers updated on rumored Apple devices. Each page is designed to help readers quickly canvas all the major credible rumors and speculation concerning a specific upcoming Apple product, such as the iPhone 5S…
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10:40
TMO Appearances: Jeff Gamet Joins TUAW Talkcast for...
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, joined TUAW's Talkcast Sunday night to talk about the importance of backing up the files on your Mac. If you missed the live show, you aren't out of luck because it was recorded and is available online now.
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09:46
Avid debuts Fast Track Solo, Duo iPad audio...
Avid has announced the launch of Fast Track Solo ($179) and Fast Track Duo ($299), two new portable audio interfaces compatible with iPad. Both interfaces feature a metal chassis, a Bus-powered USB port, and the ability to capture two sources simultaneously at 24-bit, 48 kHz resolution. …
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08:33
TMO Quick Tip: OS X: Quick Print from Finder
Despite the promise long ago of the paperless office, we still need to print documents from our Macs at times. The usual launch an app to print a document routine works fine for that, but you can save a little time by printing your files directly from the Finder.
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07:49
USPTO withdraws refusal of iPad mini trademark
The US Patent and Trademark Office has withdrawn its recent refusal to Apple’s trademark application for the term “iPad mini.” A suggested disclaimer within the USPTO’s new office action now notes “mini” cannot be claimed as an exclusive Apple term, and can only be used in conjunction with…
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07:15
Analysis: USPTO Now Mostly OK with iPad mini...
The US Patent and Trademark Office has revised its stance on Apple's request for a trademark on the iPad mini name. The agency has resolved most of the issues it had with granting the trademark, and so far Apple hasn't had to do anything to make that happen.
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06:24
News: Verizon Could Follow T-Mobile, Drop Cell Phone...
Following T-Mobile's announcement that it will start offering Apple's iPhone on April 12 without contracts, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said his company could consider doing the same. He said changing to T-Mobile's no contract and no subsidy pricing model wouldn't be difficult, but the carrier is waiting to see how consumers respond.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Waiting to see how consumers respond is really code for "if lots of customers leave us for T-Mobile."
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05:35
TMO Appearances: Jeff Gamet Talks Facebook Home...
The Mac Observer's Managing Editor Jeff Gamet joined The BIG Show from the British Tech Network to talk about Facebook Home, HTC's Facebook alliance, and online government services.
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Sunday April 7
16:05
Mac Geek Gab Podcast: MGG 444: Diagnostic Mode Can...
John and Dave answer your questions about PhotoStrem, Cable Modems, iMessage and more. Dave dug deep into Apple's Two-Factor authentication and shares some surprising revelations about that, too. All this and more for free! Download today and enjoy.
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Saturday April 6
07:30
How-To: How to Ignore Unwanted Callers on iPhone
Are there family members, friends, associates and just plain-ole obnoxious people and other clowns you'd rather not get calls from on your iPhone? Sandro Cuccia shows you how you can silence the calls from these nudniks.
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Friday April 5
17:20
Free on iTunes: 3 Free iOS System Monitors
Want to know what your phone is thinking about? Vern Seward points you to three free iOS app that should help you find out in this week's Free on iTunes. SysStats Lite, System Status Lite and System Utility.
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13:30
iLounge Weekly coming Monday, new giveaway for April
The latest edition of iLounge Weekly, our weekly newsletter covering all things iLounge, will be arriving in subscribers’ inboxes early next week. iLounge Weekly is a summary of the week’s best news, reviews, and feature articles we’ve published, and it also features giveaways and accessory discount offers from various companies.…
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13:19
Incase debuts Meta Slider, Shock Slider iPhone 5...
Incase has introduced Meta Slider ($35) and Shock Slider ($50) cases for iPhone 5. The Slider has long been a mainstay of Incase’s lineup — the most recent Slider case was released for iPhone 5 last year. Meta Slider and Shock Slider are notable for expanding the…
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12:45
Particle Debris: Facebook Home: Is That a Feature or...
Facebook continues to fascinate us with its ability to tap into the psychological mechanisms of human beings, the need for a human connection and the need to share -- even if what's shared is not so great. FaceBook Home has refined that technique such that it has transitioned from worrisome to treacherous.
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12:44
Editorial: Consumerism in China Reflected in Fake...
In a sign of both Apple's increasing clout in China and growing consumerism in that country, representations of Apple products have become a top offering to the dead. NBC reported that cardboard representations of iPhones, iPads, and iMacs have joined more traditional offerings of fake money, food, and bags of clothes as offerings to the dead at the annual Qingming Festival, or "Tomb Sweeping Day."
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11:55
Apple patent suit loss prompts iOS change
Apple’s loss to VirnetX for infringing VPN patents has caused the Cupertino company to change the way VPN On Demand connects in iOS. In a support article on Apple’s website, the VirnetX lawsuit is specifically mentioned as the reason VPN On Demand configured to “always” will now behave…
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10:15
Cool Stuff Found: Bill Gates & Paul Allen Pose...
In 1981, Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paull Allen posed with some classic personal computers of the time. Behind Mr. Allen is an Apple II and in front of Bill Gates is a Commodore PET. To the right of that is a TRS-80 Model 1. 32 years later, the classic photo has been reprised at Mr. Allen’s Living Computer Museum in Seattle.
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07:52
Apple “close” to deal for streaming iRadio
Apple is now close to signing deals that would pave the way for the company’s music streaming service, according to a new report. Sources claim Apple could reach agreements with Universal Music Group and Warner Music in the next week; a prior report indicated significant progress had been made…
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07:48
Rumor: Apple Closing In On Streaming Music Deal
Apple has apparently made some headway with record labels and is close to swinging a deal that would let it launch an iTunes-based streaming music service. The alleged deals are enticing to at least two of the labels because they would also include an easy way for listeners to purchase the songs they stream directly from the iTunes Store.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Streaming music looks seems to be the missing piece in Apple's iTunes lineup right now. Maybe it's time for the company to take on Pandora and Spotify.
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07:36
iPhone 5 available for pre-order at T-Mobile
T-Mobile has added the iPhone 5 to its site for pre-orders. The T-Mobile iPhone 5, which will have support for HD Voice, can be bought for a $100 down payment, with a corresponding $20 for 24 months payment plan. It can also be purchased in full for $580. The…
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07:05
TMO Appearances: Jeff Gamet Talks Facebook Phones...
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, dove into the new Facebook Home smartphone interface on this week's We Have Communicators podcast. The crew was also joined by a special guest from NASA -- an actual rocket scientist.
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06:23
News: T-Mobile Offers iPhone 5 Pre-orders Ahead of...
T-Mobile began accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5 on Friday a week ahead of the carrier's official April 12 launch. T-Mobile was the last of the big carriers to begin offering Apple's popular smartphone, although it has been supporting unlocked iPhones customers were using on its network.
The Mac Observer Spin:
T-Mobile's iPhone plans do away with subsidies in favor of financing the full price of the phone, and once it's paid off that cost drops off customer's monthly bill. Assuming customers like the idea, T-Mobile's gamble could be just the boost the carrier needs.
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05:35
TMO Quick Tip: iCloud: Setting Up an Auto-Response
So you're going on vacation. If you're using an Apple-provided email address, how do you set up an auto-response to let people know you're out of town? We're going to tell you how because we're happy you're getting a vacation! And we aren't jealous even a little bit. No, we're not.
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Thursday April 4
18:39
Analysis: Apple’s iMessage Encryption Too Tough for...
It services 2 billion messages a day—or more, that was in the fall—and all those messages have one thing in common: U.S. law enforcement can't intercept them. The FBI alerted law enforcement agencies around the country that messages sent to and from iOS devices and/or Macs through iMessage are encrypted too well to be cracked.
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16:29
Analysis: HTC First, the Facebook Smartphone (Sort...
On March 28th, online reports claimed that Facebook would launch a Facebook smartphone on Thursday (today). That didn't happen, but the source of the rumor was the HTC First, a sort of dedicated Facebook smartphone made with cooperation from AT&T. Bryan Chaffin takes a look.
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14:25
Analysis: ‘Home’ App Makes Facebook Center of Some...
Facebook offered up its big reveal on Thursday, taking the wraps off of "Home," a new Facebook app for Android. Or, at least some android devices. Home puts Facebook services front and center by taking over your home and lock screens and giving you quick access to status updates and messages from your Facebook friends.
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13:10
Apple patent filing reveals hybrid notebook/tablet
A newly published patent filing reveals possible Apple plans for a hybrid notebook/tablet computer, according to a report. The invention could involve a keyboard-laden base and removable display — two components that could communicate wirelessly. Also noted as a possibility is the ability to transfer power wirelessly, perhaps through coils…
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12:16
Hidden Dimensions: Apple: The ‘Mitt Romney’ of...
Fighting the good fight is a noble thing to do for a corporation. Americans love the underdog. And so, after Apple's successful apology to Chinese customers, does Apple have an opportunity to improve its image in the U.S.?
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11:28
Report: iMessage encryption prevents federal...
Apple’s iMessage uses encryption that prevents police surveillance, according to an internal Drug Enforcement Administration document allegedly seen by CNET. The document notes “it is impossible to intercept iMessages between two Apple devices,” even with a court order, due to the secure end-to-end encryption. Apparently, the DEA realized full…
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09:54
Apple’s Campus 2 now costs estimated $5B
Apple’s Campus 2, the company’s currently in-progress corporate campus, has seen its costs swell to nearly $5 billion, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Budgeted for less than $3 billion in 2011, the building’s estimated cost now exceeds the amount being spent on the new World Trade Center complex in New…
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09:44
Quick Look Review: Hex’s Tribute Cloak Backpack Is...
The Cloak, a rucksack-style backpack, is part of the Tribute line from Hex. It is big, water resistant, secure and attractive. It can hold up to a 15-inch MacBook Pro with accessories and is made of durable corduroy. Did we mention big?
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09:18
Incipio, LifeProof up ante with waterproof case...
Stepping beyond the physical protection offered with traditional waterproof cases, both Incipio and LifeProof have recently announced peace-of-mind augmentations in the form of waterproof warranty coverage. Notably, the companies are taking different approaches to offering waterproof warranties. LifeProof has introduced an optional Total Water Protection Program that will cover…
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08:37
Apps: Djay 1.6.4, ShutterSnitch 2.9.6, SkyDrive 3.0...
Algoriddim’s djay for iPhone app ($1) — our 2012 pick for iPhone/iPad App of the Year — has updated to version 1.6.4 with an array of new upgrades. Most notably, the app has added Audiobus support, allowing users to stream live audio to any other Audiobus-compatible apps. The app…
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08:35
News: Apple Patent Reveals Tablet/Laptop Hybrid
An Apple patent showing what is clearly a laptop computer/tablet hybrid has surfaced showing a removable display instead of a fragile hinge system for making the transformation between device formats.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Just because Apple patented a toaster-fridge doesn't mean they're going to make one.
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08:08
Cool Stuff Found: How Far Is It to Mars?
We have robotic rovers driving around Mars and sending back spectacular images and data right now, but how far away is the little red planet from Earth? At its closest recorded distance, Mars was 56 million KM away, which in galactic terms is nearly nothing. In human terms, however, that's pretty hard to visualize which makes the How Far Is It to Mars website pretty awesome. It gives you a scale representation of the distance between Earth and Mars plus some extra details on your simulated journey between the two planets without requiring you to climb aboard a spaceship. Plus, it's amazingly cool.
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06:48
News: Messages Lands Apple in Patent Lawsuit with...
Mobile Telecommunications Technologies has slapped Apple with a lawsuit alleging the company's Messages service infringes on patents it holds. MTel alleged that Apple is infringing on seven of its patents and added that by offering text messaging and email features, the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch infringe on those patents, too.
The Mac Observer Spin:
MTel's list of patents is pretty inclusive for text-based message and email transmission, but these are technologies that well established and even the patent holder-friendly court in Texas may be hard pressed to side against Apple in this case. If it does, Google, Microsoft, and a long list of other tech companies should expect lawsuits targeting them will be coming soon.
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05:43
TMO Appearances: Jeff Gamet Talks Travel Tech on NAMP
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, joined the Not Another Mac Podcast team to talk about some of the gear and apps he uses to stay connected when on the road, and whether or not the Retina Display matters for the iPad mini.
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Wednesday April 3
17:08
Apple Context Machine Podcast: ACM 198: Big Changes...
Macworld/iWorld is on the move, at least on the calendar. Jeff and Bryan take a look at what's up with IDG rescheduling the annual conference for 2014, what that means for exhibitors and attendees, and whether or not the move is a good thing. They also have some thoughts about what may be in store for iOS 7, and even manage to invent a new animal.
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14:00
In-Depth Review: Follow the Sun with the Fabulous...
There are occasions when a photographer, cinematographer, astronomer, real estate agent, gardner, pilot or architect needs to know a lot more about the Sun's position than simply sunrise and sunset. Sun Seeker by Ajnaware Pty Ltd in Sydney, Australia tells you almost everything you can know about the position of the Sun for any day of the year. Plus, augmented reality allows you to find the Sun even on a cloudy day.
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11:23
News: Lodsys Targets Disney, PCalc in New Patent...
After several months without any news from Lodsys, the patent holding company is back with a fresh round of lawsuits targeting the likes of The Walt Disney Company, and PCalc maker TLA Systems. Lodsys gained notoriety for its legal threats and lawsuits targeting small iOS and Android OS developers demanding licensing fees for using in-app purchase mechanisms.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Apple pays to license the in-app purchase patents, and Lodsys wants developers to pay additional licensing fees. The company's litigation as a business model is bad news for app developers, and if Lodsys should somehow manage to win its infringement fight you can bet other patent holding companies will line up to strongarm developers out of even more money.
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09:09
Analysis: iOS 7: It’s Time to Clean House
It's no secret Apple is working on a new iPhone model and a new version of iOS. Apple is always working on a new iPhone and new version of iOS. What's different this time is that there's been a changing of the guard with industrial designer and Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive heading up interface design, and that means we can expect some changes when iOS 7 ships. The question is how significant will those changes be.
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07:36
iOS 7 running late; iPad event possibly April?
06:55
News: Hearing Aid Maker Sues Apple Over EarPods Name
Apple has been hit with yet another lawsuit, although this time it's over the EarPods trademark and comes from hearing aid maker Randolph Divisions. The lawsuit alleged that Apple's EarPods headphones that ship with the iPhone 5 infringe on the HearPod trademark and product.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Assuming Apple really is infringing on the HearPod trademark, the company needs to find a way to swing a deal with Randolph Divisions, which presumably means writing a big check. Considering the different nature of HearPod hearing aids and EarPods stereo headphones, the Randolph Divisions may have a hard time making its case.
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06:08
Cool Stuff Found: Set Your Desktop to the View from...
Seeing where you are from space is always cool, and Satellite Eyes lets you do that any time you like from your Mac's desktop. This app shows the satellite view of your current location as your desktop image, spans images across multiple monitors, lets you choose from several different image styles, apply filters, and uses Location Services to update your desktop image so it always shows the view from where you are. As if that isn't enough, it's also free to download.
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05:33
TMO Quick Tip: Safari: Zoom In on Text Only
In this article, Melissa Holt is going to cover a bunch of methods for zooming in or enlarging small text in Safari (and around your Mac!). She'll also discuss one special setting that you can use to leave images the same size as you enlarge the text on a page, which is especially useful for sites that are covered with ads. Folks with bad eyesight, this tip's for you.
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Tuesday April 2
17:45
Analysis: USPTO Invalidates Key Overscroll Patent...
A review of Apple's so-called overscroll bounce patent has invalidated a key claim. Though the review process reaffirmed three of the patents claims, claim 19 was at the heart of Apple's legal victory in Apple v. Samsung in which Apple won more than a billion U.S. dollars in damages. It's a complex situation, and Bryan Chaffin explains.
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14:02
Apple sued for EarPods trademark infringement
Apple has been sued for infringing on a trademark with its EarPods headphones. Randolph Divisions, makers of the HearPod digital hearing aid, have filed suit against Apple in Honolulu court. Randolph Divisions registerd the “HearPod” trademark in 2007. Apple’s EarPods with Remote and Mic first shipped in early…
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13:42
Apps: Creatorverse 1.2, Final Fantasy V, Square...
Creatorverse (free), the inventive, open-ended game app from Linden Research, has become free after updating to version 1.2. The app is optimized for iPad, and includes basic creation tools that allow users to invent complex objects such as basic machines, then set their inventions in motion with a physics…
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13:30
Analysis: iPhones, Phablets & iPads: Does Size...
A Flurry Report recently suggested that display size and OS choice has all kinds of implications for the popularltiy of small devices, smartphones and tablets. The survey data suggests that phablets are a fad for now and that Android customers aren't really enthusiastic about full-size tablets. John Martellaro slices and dices the report.
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12:20
T-Mobile to enable LTE for unlocked iPhones April 5
Following its joint announcement with Apple regarding official support for iPhones, T-Mobile will be sending out a carrier software update on April 5 to enable unlocked original iPhone 5 units to access T-Mobile’s LTE network, as well as previously authorized carrier-limited features such as Visual Voicemail. A report…
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12:08
Analysis: Multi-Continent Deal Rumored for AT&T...
Verizon and AT&T are reportedly in talks with Vodaphone in a three way merger deal that would see Verizon as the sole owner of Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and AT&T with Vodaphone's European operations. Bryan Chaffin looks at the rumor from the iPhone owner's point of view.
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12:04
WSJ: New iPhone production to start in Q2
Apple plans to start production of a new iPhone in this year’s second quarter, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Journal confirms that the new iPhone—likely the iPhone 5S—is “similar in size and shape to its current (iPhone).” A summer launch is noted as possible, which would match…
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08:26
TMO Quick Tip: Hiding App Purchases in iTunes
Typically when someone says "Do you know which iTunes feature I like?" I get ready to hear a long list of complaints. Occasionally, however, I get surprised when they mention something they actually do enjoy -- like the ability to hide App Store purchases they no longer want to see.
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08:21
China, state-controlled media praise Apple’s apology
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s apology and warranty improvements for Chinese customers has earned praise from China’s state-controlled media. Although it was recently criticized by the Chinese media in what appeared to be a coordinated campaign, Apple is now “worth respect compared with other American companies,” according to the Global…
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08:04
Claim for Apple’s ‘rubber-banding’ patent still...
A key claim in Apple’s “rubber-banding” patent — the patent that gives graphics a bounce back effect when scrolling — has been ruled invalid in a “Final Office Action” by the US Patent and Trademark Office, a court filing by Samsung revealed. While the action is “final,” Apple can…
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07:40
News: AT&T Says HD Voice Coming to iPhone in 2013
AT&T confirmed it plans to roll out HD Voice support on its cell networks before the end of 2013, giving subscribers with compatible phones -- which includes the iPhone 5 -- substantially better audio quality on calls. The news follows T-Mobile's announcement that it will officially start carrying the iPhone on April 12, and that it will include HD Voice support on launch day.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Thanks for finally committing to HD Voice, AT&T. And thanks for being the catalyst to get more carriers to commit, T-Mobile.
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07:31
HD Voice coming to AT&T this year
AT&T senior VP Kris Rinne announced the carrier will support HD Voice later this year. Speaking at the VentureBeat Mobile Summit, Rinne also said AT&T will start to work on “advanced LTE,” which reduces interference, among other things. T-Mobile was the first to announce improved phone call quality through…
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07:23
Apple to announce Q2 2013 earnings April 23
Apple has announced on its investor page that it will release its second quarter 2013 financial results at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 23. During the financial quarter, the company released a 128GB version of its fourth-generation iPad, and also released Wi-Fi + Cellular versions of the…
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06:30
Product News: Mac Geek Gab Podcast App Beefs Up...
The Mac Observer's Mac Geek Gab podcast released version 1.3 of its self-named podcast playback and management app on Tuesday. The new version added an auto-bookmark feature when listening to Mac Geek Gab episodes, and added Auto Sync support, too.
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05:47
Apple Stock Watch: Apple Q2 2013 Earnings Conference...
Apple will host its 2013 second fiscal quarter earnings conference call on Tuesday, April 23. The call will start after the market closes at about 5PM eastern time, or 2PM pacific time, and will be the first earnings report since the company announced it has moved to what it called a more accurate system for reporting revenue and expenses.
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Monday April 1
17:36
News: Court Rules Users Can’t Resell Digital Music...
U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan issued a judgement on Monday that effectively says that customers can not re-sell digital music files. In other words, unlike a CD, which customers do have a legal right to re-sell, once you've bought a song via download services like iTunes, it's yours.
The Mac Observer Spin:
It would seem that we are still in the process of figuring out digital rights in an era when laws lag behind to the days of analog recordings (among other things). What happens to our collections when we die, or if we want to give our collections away, or if we want to sell them, are all issues we have only begun to wrestle with.
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17:09
Analysis: Apple Takes Chinese Approach &...
Apple has taken a Chinese approach in handling criticism from the Chinese government over the company's warranty policies by apologizing. In a statement posted to Apple.cn, Apple not only apologized for its warranties, the company apologized for doing a bad job of communicating with consumers and the public and promised change. Bryan Chaffin says that Apple took a Chinese approach to its Chinese problem.
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16:00
Court rules iTunes songs can’t be resold
A federal court has ruled that startup ReDigi can’t resell iTunes songs, as it has claimed it could. U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan granted a partial summary judgment in favor of Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records, as Universal sued ReDigi for copyright violation. Sullivan ruled that users can’t resell digital…
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14:18
Analysis: LOL@CES HAHAHAHA!!!
Earlier today, IDG announced that Macworld/iWorld will take place in March next year, at the end of March at that. My first thought was, man oh man, thank goodness. A later date will make Macworld easier to cover and more relevant as a trade show. My second thought was LOL@CES HAHAHAHA!!!
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13:46
Report: Next two iPhones done, ‘preceded Tim Cook’
According to a report in the San Francisco Examiner, an Apple official told San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón that the next two generations of iPhones have already been developed, and that “they preceded Tim Cook.” Gascón reportedly spoke with Apple government liaison Michael Foulkes in an effort to…
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12:18
Cool Stuff Found: Elroy - Earbuds with a Bluetooth...
Elroy is a magnetic Bluetooth docking station for earbuds. What exactly does that mean? It means you can have earbuds with a cord that's 1/3 the length of a normal pair of earbuds because they connect to your device via Bluetooth. You can also look at it as marrying the sound quality of an earbud with the convenience of Bluetooth, all without being a Bluetool™. Elroy is currently a Kickstarter project that blew by its initial funding goal of $30,000 and is closing in on $100,000.
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11:46
Weekly Sponsorship: Sponsor: MacPaw’s CleanMyMac 2
I'm happy to welcome MacPaw to TMO as our sponsor this week. MacPaw are the makers of many great Mac utilities, including CleanMyMac 2, our focus for this week's sponsorship. CleanMyMac 2 is a suite of Mac cleanup tools, some of which have analogs elsewhere, but many of which are only available here or have features that are otherwise unavailable without lots of time and Terminal knowledge.
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11:00
Quick Look Review: ZooGue’s Genius Case For iPad...
Those waiting for ZooGue to release a version of its Genius iPad case for the iPad mini can relax, because it is here and the wait was worth it. Hand-made from genuine leather, it features a magnetic closure for sleep/wake, a microfiber interior and a full-range of tilt angles using Velcro.
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10:20
John Martellaro's Blog: The Day my Wife’s Car...
My wife pulled into the garage and turned off the car. As she was geting the groceries out of the back seat, the car started talking to her. She was taken aback, confused. What was going on? Don't believe anything you read today. Except this.
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09:48
Cook makes apology, warranty changes for Chinese...
Apple CEO Tim Cook published a new letter (translated link) on Apple’s Chinese website announcing changes to the company’s warranty policies, as well as apologies for misunderstandings or concerns. The letter follows high-profile criticisms of Apple by Chinese media and various Chinese citizens, which were suspected to have been…
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09:21
Soundfreaq debuts Boom Freaq wireless speaker
Soundfreaq has announced Boom Freaq ($350), a special edition of its Sound Stack speaker. Boom Freaq is a Bluetooth wireless speaker that can dock either Dock Connector or Lightning devices — a 30-pin dock is built-in, and a Lightning adapter is now also included. Like other iterations of…
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08:38
News: Macworld/iWorld 2014 Moves to March
It's time to update your Macworld/iWorld 2014 calendar because the event is moving from the beginning of February to March 27 through March 29. The new dates also come with a venue change to San Francisco's Moscone North from Moscone West where the event has been held for the past few years.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Moving Macworld/iWorld to late March is great news. The new dates will be easier on vendors, media, instructors and attendees, and getting away from Super Bowl Sunday is a smart move, too.
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07:46
Cool Stuff Found: Doctor Who: 50 Year Timeline
With the new Doctor Who season back in full swing and the show's 50th anniversary coming up in November, it's a good time to bone up on your Who history, and The Guardian has a great timeline to help you do just that. The graphic timeline includes every episode covering all 11 incarnations of the Doctor from the classic series and the reboot, plus every companion and villan, along with some show trivia, too. It's cool, easy to read, and waiting for you to download.
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07:45
Apple denied trademark for iPad mini
The US Patent and Trademark Office has denied Apple’s request to trademark the term “iPad mini,” according to a report. In a letter to Apple, the USPTO describes the term as “merely descriptive of a feature or characteristic of the goods,” therefore, the trademark registration was refused. The examiner’s…
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06:50
Analysis: Apple Denied iPad mini Trademark
Considering the date, you'd think news that Apple was denied a trademark for "iPad mini" was an April Fools Day joke, but it isn't. The US Patent and Trademark Office refused to grant Apple the trademark calling the name "merely descriptive," implying it doesn't identify a specific product.
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05:43
Cool Stuff Found: Google’s New Search System: Smell
Not sure what something smells like, or need to make sure something smells right? Google's new beta search feature, Google Nose, can handle that. The new Internet search system includes over 15 million scentibytes of aroma data that can be searched and sampled by your nose, and it supports SafeSearch in case you're worried about what smells you might encounter. This is just one of the several announcements Google unveiled for April 1st -- also known as April Fools Day. Google also used the day to jab us with Google Treasure Maps, Gmail Blue, and YouTube shutting down.
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Sunday March 31
12:48
TMO Appearances: Bryan Chaffin Chats $AAPL, Taxes, T...
Bryan Chaffin spent some time with Gene Steinberg on The Tech Night Owl. They talked about T-Mobile, $AAPL, taxes, and the politics surrounding Apple's cash hoard. Joe Wilson from BetaNews was also a guest in the same episode, so check it out.
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08:48
Mac Geek Gab Podcast: MGG 443: Don’t Jack Up my...
Join Dave and John on this world-famous podcast recorded on the world-famous Backup Day to hear not only about backups but about LOTS of things, including answering your questions and sharing tips with you to make your life with your Mac and iOS devices better and better. Have a question for the geeks? Send it in and they'll get you straightened out! Download the show today, it's free!
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Saturday March 30
07:30
How-To: How to Exploit the Stickies App in OS X
The Stickies app. Yet another gem that comes pre-installed on every Mac. Don't malign it if you haven't played with it for a while, because Sandro Cuccia shows you how Stickies can be used to enhance your workflow.
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Friday March 29
18:50
News: Apple Hiring 7 “Maps Ground Truth Managers”...
Apple is currently advertising for seven "Maps Ground Truth Manager" positions around the world. The company wants a "manager for the team responsible for regional map quality and ground truth" for Apple Maps, the company's mobile mapping service for iOS.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Other mapping companies have similar positions, and we're delighted to see Apple commit more resources to the quality.
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14:32
Apple pushes for summer iRadio streaming launch
Apple is “pushing hard” for a summertime launch of its anticipated streaming music service, according to a new report. The company has allegedly made “significant progress” in talks with two of the top record labels: Universal and Warner. A source is claimed to have said, “iRadio is coming. There’s no…
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14:31
Free on iTunes: Get Going With 3 Fabulous Free iOS...
If you are feeling restless and looking for something to shake out the cobwebs and get a fresh perspective on things, then check out these three free apps Vern Seward offers in this week's Free on iTunes. Localscope, Airbnb, Takes.
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13:45
Particle Debris: Apple’s Data Services Are Showing...
In this week's Particle Debris, John Martellaro looks at two very critical articles about Apple's data services. These are substantive articles that highlight what we've been suspecting all along. The good news is that this may be a giant opportunity for Tim Cook lay down the gauntlet and make his mark on Apple.
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