Wednesday August 7
15:05
comScore: Apple remains top US OEM with 40% market...
Image: wallsfeed.com
comScore has released their June 2013 stats for the US smartphone market showing Apple remaining at the top of the OEM list with 39.9% market share, up from 39.0% in March. The stats pertain to current US mobile subscribers rather than sales or shipments.
Samsung, at #2, grew from 21.7% to 23.7%. HTC, Motorola and LG all lost market share during the period.
While Apple remains as the #1 OEM, iOS is still #2 behind Android for operating system marketshare. Yet, iOS took market share from BlackBerry and Symbian while Android remained at the same exact 52%. iOS stands at 39.9% of smartphone subscribers.
Android and...
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15:00
9to5Toys Last Call: $6.50 Macworld 1 yr....
From 9to5Toys.com:
A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.
Today’s Featured deals...
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14:55
TUAW TV Live: Technical Difficulties Episode
What's the most annoying technical glitch you've ever run into? Have you ever found yourself cursing loudly at your "favorite" Internet Service Provider? Are you tired of apps that suddenly crash for no reason after they've been working just fine for months? Today on TUAW TV Live, I will dish on the crashes, bombs and flat-out customer service screwups that make me furious. Co-host Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd is busy remaking "Joe Versus the Volcano" (don't ask...).
To join in to watch the live feed and participate in the chat, just click here or click that image you see at the top of this post. You'll join us on the AOL On Network. If you can't watch the entire show today, come back to this page within 24 hours to see the video below or visit http://tuaw.com/...
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14:53
Microsoft rehashes old arguments in latest anti-iPad...
Microsoft continued to bash the iPad in its latest Surface RT commercial, this time digging up and re-airing old arguments against the Apple tablet, like a lack of keyboard and higher price point. ...
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14:45
Briefly: Hawaiki Color, SkinTone, released for Final...
Hawaiki Color has released its plugin software for Final Cut Pro X. Created by Noise Industries, the color grading tool possesses three color wheels, and four sets of sliders that adjust the temperature, exposure, saturation and basic controls (such as hue and sharpness). Detailed parameters for a selected category are available to make minute changes, and scopes visually demonstrate colour intensity levels for accurate adjustment. Hawaiki Color is available online for $50, with a free trial available through FxFactory.... ...
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14:34
Apple seeds new betas of OS X Mavericks and Mountain...
Apple is seeding updated betas of OS X Mavericks and the next version of Mountain Lion, 10.8.5. Mavericks has reached Developer Preview 5, which registered developers can download via the Mac App Store. Any further additions to the OS have yet to be documented; the completed version of the software should ship sometime this fall.... ...
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14:22
Review: WaterField CitySlicker MacBook Air case
The 800 pound gorilla in the room with notebook case design is the care, or lack thereof, taken in striking the right balance between portability and protection. An attempt at striking a harmonious balance is more than evident with WaterField's CitySlicker case for the MacBook Air. The CitySlicker shows just how hard it is, though, to really hit the right form factor for protecting an ultraportable, a reality we explore in our review of the accessory.... ...
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14:21
Falling in Love With Your Operating System: Her
The trailer for the movie "Her" is out. The movie tells the story of a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) who "develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased, (artificially intelligent) operating system (Scarlett Johansson) that's designed to meet his every need." Along the way, the developing relationship with the computer appears to open the door to real relationships. The movie has it all: computers, sexy smartphones (literally) a lonely writer and glamorous female leads, including Amy Adams. What's not to like? Due for release in November.
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14:00
Efexio adds Hollywood style visual effects to your...
Efexio is a free universal app (with many in-app purchase options) that lets you add professional visual effects to videos you shoot on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. The app comes with free dinosaur and dragon effects, and you can purchase more from within the app. The extra effects are US$1.99 each.
Efexio excels with the control of the effects. You can rotate them, change the lighting position, add haze, and even adjust the color cast to smoothy integrate the effects into your videos. The objects cast shadows, which makes them all the more realistic.
You can take a video from within the app, or use one you have already taken. Effects are easier to add if the camera is held very steady or on a tripod. Once a video is created, you can share it to YouTube, Facebook, or email it. Movies are not rendered at full resolution; you can choose 640x360 or 960x540. The Pro Version of the various effects,...
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13:44
Latest OS X Mavericks Preview showcases iBooks for...
Apple’s latest OS X Mavericks Developer Preview includes iBooks for Mac, according to tips from developers who have installed the new beta. The new iBooks app looks in line with what Apple showcased at WWDC earlier this year.
When you launch the app, your iBooks content from iTunes will be migrated over. Users are also given the option to login to their Apple ID to sync their iBooks collection from/with iCloud.
iBooks for Mac includes the same Collections, PDF reading, and other books functionality from the iOS version (except for the wooden bookshelf design). More screenshots and a video below:
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13:37
Instagram 4.1 adds video imports, Android 4.0 support
Facebook-owned Instagram has issued an important update to its iOS and Android apps, v4.1. Both apps can now upload videos from a phone's library, instead of forcing users to record new clips. Once imported, library clips can be trimmed down to the right section, with adjustable square cropping so the right part of the image appears.... ...
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13:33
iBooks for Mac debuts in Apple's OS X Mavericks...
Apple on Wednesday released the latest beta versions of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, allowing developers for the first time to test its iBooks software for Mac. ...
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13:30
Polar polls shows high user acceptance of iOS 7 UI...
13:21
Amazon, Kobo and Sony are against accessibility
Amazon, Kobo and Sony are petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to permanently exempt e-readers from certain federal accessibility laws for the disabled, arguing that e-readers are barebones devices designed for a single purpose: reading text.
The petition is interesting because it argues that e-readers’ value lies in the fact that they are inherently limited devices and that any non-reading functions they include, like experimental web browsers, are “rudimentary” and not very useful. Amazon, Kobo and Sony say that if they were forced to comply with FCC regulations and make e-readers fully accessible to people with disabilities, the essential nature of the devices would change, making them more like tablets, more expensive and, overall, less useful for their express purpose.
Okay, admittedly your products suck balls, but to go against implementing accessibility is wrong.
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13:05
Apple releases OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 5,...
13:00
Clean your iPhone 5's camera from the inside
The iPhone 5, though surprisingly light, is rather sturdily built. And in typical Apple style, the device is completely closed off. Nonetheless, the iPhone 5, over time, can begin accumulating dirt and other unwelcome particles underneath the glass. While this may not ordinarily be a problem, it becomes a huge nuisance when said particles begin affecting the quality of your photographs. Fortunately there are people who can fix such problems, or show you how to "do it yourself".
To that end, the following video demonstrates how one can clean the iPhone 5 camera from the inside. Of course, taking apart your iPhone 5 requires specialized tools that may not be easy to find at your local hardware shop. On top of that, we wouldn't recommend that anyone undertake the procedure below without first understanding the risks -- namely that you may actually make things worse!
But if...
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12:54
Appeals court kicks back ITC decision in Apple case...
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has given Apple new life in its patent claims against Google-owned Motorola Mobility.
The court on Wednesday partially vacated a March 2012 U.S. International Trade Commission decision that Motorola did not infringe three touchscreen-related patents held by Apple. The court has ordered the USITC to reexamine its decision in two of the three patents, patent No. 7,663,607 on a multipoint touchscreen, and...
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12:50
15 Reasons for Apple’s New Product Drought - Tim...
One could think of many reasons for Apple's early 2013 new product drought. In fact, John Martellaro has thought of 15 of them. Why must Tim Cook's theorized incompetence be the most popular? Is it perhaps because an off-the-cuff assessment of a CEO's character is easier than penetrating Apple's shroud of secrecy? Here's John's list of other reasons for the drought.
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12:48
Apple outages affect App Store, iTunes &...
Lingering issues with Apple's Internet-based services caused its company's digital storefronts and FaceTime video chat to be unavailable for some users for hours on Wednesday. ...
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12:44
Secret message in Lincoln’s pocketwatch
‘In 2009 the Smithsonian found a “secret” message engraved in Abraham Lincoln’s watch by a watchmaker who was repairing it in 1861 when news of the attack on Fort Sumter reached Washington, D.C.
∞ Read this on The Loop
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12:40
Brief outage hits iCloud, iTunes, App Stores,...
Several Apple online services encountered outages earlier today, according to the company's system status page. Between 11:23AM and 1:54PM Eastern, people may have been "unable to make purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, Mac App Store, or iBookstore," the page states. "Users may also have been unable to download previously-purchased content, use iTunes Match, or successfully restore Apps and Music from an iCloud backup."... ...
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12:36
Android on 80% of smartphones shipped in Q2, while...
Google's Android operating system continues to dominate the smartphone segment in terms of shipped devices, with an 80 percent share in the latest quarter according to new data, while Apple's iPhone accounts for less and less of shipments in a growing market. ...
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12:30
iPhone thief gets his own blog, courtesy of his...
Having a pricey gadget stolen is never a pleasant experience, and while the victim rarely ever sees the thief's face, modern smartphones make it possible to both track and document the path your stolen device takes once it leaves your possession. As Mashable reports, one unfortunate iPhone owner had her handset yanked while vacationing in Spain, and although she hasn't been reunited with her device, she's learned an awful lot about the person who now possesses it.
His name is Hafid; he's from Dubai; and he likes standing next to cars, posing in tanktops and taking photos of his food. You see, unlike the smarter iPhone thieves out there, Hafid didn't wipe the device after stealing it, and the former owner's automatic Dropbox photo upload feature is still grabbing new snapshots and adding them to her account, painting a detailed picture of the life of the perpetrator....
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12:14
Apple wins appeal in case against Motorola; ITC...
Apple has won an appeal in a patent lawsuit against Motorola Mobility, mostly overturning the International Trade Commission's dismissal ruling. The patent-infringement dispute is headed back to the ITC for another round of deliberation, though Apple declined to appeal its claims regarding on one of the three patents included in the initial suit, according to a report by patent analyst Florian Mueller.... ...
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12:10
IDC on Smartphones: Android Gains Share, Apple Loses...
The June quarter saw some changes in the battle for smartphone share, according to new numbers from research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). In that quarter, Android gained share, while Apple lost share. The biggest surprise, however, may be the sharp uptick in Windows Phone sales that saw Microsoft pass BlackBerry to take over as the #3 platform.
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12:09
Appeals Court Revives Apple's Multitouch Patent...
Apple’s good fortunes with the International Trade Commission continued this week as a federal appeals court revived a lawsuit that the company had brought against Google’s Motorola over the use of multitouch interfaces.
The appeals court overturned the ITC’s move to dismiss the suit entirely, saying some of Apple’s claims should be heard and the definition of certain patents should be construed differently. It wasn’t a total victory for Apple, but the move does mean there will be further consideration of the case.
Legal geeks should feel free to read the entire 37-page ruling, embedded below for your convenience.
This ruling follows a weekend move by the Obama administration to stop an ITC import ban against some iPhones and iPads that the commission had ordered in a case involving Apple and...
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12:00
iPhone 4 resale value has grown since April
AppleInsider highlights a new research report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster which found that the resale value for Apple's iPhone 4 has risen since April.
Specifically, Munster and his team found that the average resale value for the iPhone on eBay increased by 10.31% over the past few month. In contrast, the resale values for both the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5 both dropped a bit on the popular auction site.
Clearly, there's still a significant number of people who want the iPhone 4, which is rather remarkable given that the device is more than three years old at this point. Indeed, Tim Cook has stated on more than one occasion that Apple has been surprised by the consistent interest in the iPhone 4.
As for the drop in resale value for the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5, that can also be interpreted as a good sign. If...
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11:35
Podcast: Talking about Mac Gems
You don’t need to look at the weather report to know when it’s summer. Just go to Macworld.com: If you see daily reviews of low-cost, high-quality Mac software, you’ll know we’re smack dab in the middle of the Summer of Mac Gems.
Our annual search for worthwhile free and low-cost Mac software is underway—actually, GemFest 2013 began last month. I’m joined on this Macworld Podcast episode by two of the editors responsible for rounding up all these software gems, Dan Frakes and Roman Loyola. They’ll talk about what you can expect from GemFest between now and when it wraps up by the end of September.
Download Episode #367
Show Notes
You can find every Mac Gem we’ve reviewed as part of GemFest in this ...
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11:30
Amazon opens Mac-friendly download store in UK
11:23
iTunes Store outage affecting ‘some users’
An outage with Apple’s iTunes Store is preventing some users from making purchases, as well as completing transactions that were underway at the time of the outage. The issue has continued for nearly two hours as of this writing, according to Apple’s System Status page. iLounge editors have experienced…
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11:21
Briefly: XBMC for Android gains AirPlay, Vodafone...
XBMC on Android has been updated to include support for Zeroconf, effectively allowing it to be used for AirPlay. The update to the media player software also includes the ability to rip CD audio directly to the music library, ripping support for WMA and AAC encoding, the option to lock settings on a profile, and new descriptions for the settings menus.... ...
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11:21
Samsung gaining ground as Apple display supplier
Despite legal battles between the two companies, Samsung is actually gaining ground as a display supplier for Apple, says NPD DisplaySearch. Samsung shipped more 9.7-inch iPad panels in April and June than Apple's other major display partner, LG Display. NPD notes moreover that Apple been increasing its orders since January; whereas it picked up 2.3 million panels from Samsung in the first quarter, shipments rose to over 4.1 million in Q2.... ...
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11:14
50% off ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD screen protectors for...
11:05
Instagram 4.1 arrives with video importing, photo...
Hitting the App Store soon, Instagram just announced on their company blog that version 4.1 will bring some nice improvements and features:
A little over a month ago we launched Video on Instagram, and today we’re happy to bring you our next major app update. We’ve included a few of the most requested features and added something special as well. Here’s what you’ll find in Instagram 4.1:
Import Video from Library
Starting today you can upload videos from your phone’s media library and share those moments to Instagram regardless of when they were captured. Once you select the video clip you’d like to import, you can trim it down to the exact part you like best. We’ve also made it so that you can choose how you square-crop your clip so you can keep the action front and...
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11:03
Appeals Court Revives Apple Multitouch Patent in...
The Android community as a whole, but especially Motorola Mobility, suffered a harsh blow on Wednesday when the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned an International Trade Commission ruling that Motorola Mobility's wasn't infringing on Apple's multitouch display patent. The original ITC ruling came over a year ago, which Apple ultimately appealed. With the Federal Court now saying Apple's multitouch patent is valid, Motorola Mobility faces the possibility of product import bans, and other Android-based smartphone makers may have to find ways to change their smartphone interfaces or end up in court, too.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Overturning the ITC's ruling is a huge win for Apple, and a sharp blow for Google and Android device makers. If they can't rely on multitouch technology for their devices, much of the key functionality they offer could be lost, and a smartphone interface that offers little more than single tap controls for everything doesn't sound...
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11:00
iTunes Store tops ForeSee survey for video streaming...
Analytics firm ForeSee's recent Mobile Satisfaction Index: Media and Entertainment Edition has a nice plum for Apple: the firm's survey of customers found that iTunes scored the highest in terms of satisfaction, beating out HBO GO, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Plus.
As ForeSee points out, iTunes uses a "slightly different model than its streaming counterparts," actually requiring iTunes customers to download the content prior to viewing. The survey notes that this eliminates the performance issues seen with competing services, which are often plagued with error messages or playback problems, particularly when streaming on public Wi-Fi systems.
iTunes managed a satisfaction score of 80, with HBO GO and Netflix close behind at 79. The average of all of the services surveyed was 78, meaning that for the most part consumers are fairly happy with streaming media...
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10:38
Google under fire for Chrome browser's password...
Google is drawing criticism from security commentators and tech media observers for what is being called a flaw in its Chrome browser that allows anyone with access to a user's computer to see all of that user's passwords. ...
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10:29
DoJ Proposed Remedies in Ebook Price-Fixing Suit...
The Department of Justice has filed a Proposed Final Judgment in the Apple ebook price-fixing lawsuit, and Apple has responded angrily with its own filing, pointing out that the publishers’ settlements have already addressed the antitrust concerns.
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.
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10:15
Daily Deals for August 7, 2013
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own hand-picked iOS and OS X selections.
TUAW Deals
Koala Wall Mount from Dockem [On sale for $15, down from $30]
The Koala Wall Mount from Dockem is the perfect combination of aesthetics, functionality, and affordability in a iPad wall mounting system. It attaches to the wall with Large Command adhesive strips - they have been extensively tested and will provide an exceptional hold.
Save 50% off the Koala Wall Mount from Dockem at TUAW Deals. US Only (free shipping). Available in 3 colors: black, chrome, or white.
Deals from...
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10:10
iTunes Store unavailable for some users
You have money. You want to give that money to Apple, in exchange for digital goods at the iTunes Store. The problem: Right now, you can’t.
Apple’s System Status webpage states that “some users” may be unable to make iTunes purchases at the moment. The issues began cropping up around 11:30a.m. ET, according to the website.
Indeed, a quick Twitter search shows that a number of people are encountering issues not only making purchases, but connecting to the iTunes Store at all from iOS devices. (It's not clear if the issue also affects iTunes under Mac OS X or Windows. The Store is working normally, on all platforms, for several Macworld editors who tested it.)
Generally speaking, these are the...
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10:07
Android Keeps Obliterating Smartphone Market;...
While Google’s Android operating system continues to distance itself from the competition in the world-wide smartphone market, one-time market leader BlackBerry is reaching new lows.
Android’s market share jumped to 79.3 percent in the second quarter, from 69.1 percent a year earlier helped in large part to a rush of new phones from Chinese handset makers.
Read the rest of this post on the original site »
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10:06
AppleCare to get 24/7 online chat support,...
Apple is planning to make key changes to AppleCare support during the next few weeks, sources say. One change is 24/7 online chat support, expected to take effect as soon as August 12th, although the sources caution that the date is merely a target and could shift. The company once tested 24/7 chat more than eight years ago, but is now thought prepared to make the service standard. The sources add that if extended chat is successful, Apple could consider 24/7 phone support as well.... ...
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10:00
Ashton Kutcher explains to Quora how he prepared for...
09:39
iTunes/App/iBooks Stores, some iCloud services...
Update: Apple has updated its status page to reflect outages for multiple services including the App Store, Mac App Store, iBook Store, and a few iCloud services:
Many users (and Apple’s own iCloud Status Page) are reporting the inability to make purchases from the iTunes Store on both iOS and the OS X iTunes Store. Some users are also noting difficulty with downloading apps from the App Store, but Apple does not say that the App Store is officially seeing issues. However, the App Store and iTunes Store are seemingly all part of the same system, so perhaps issues from the iTunes Store could affect app downloading as well.
Update 2: Apple now says everything is back online:
Update 3: Now FaceTime is down for some.
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09:38
Apple wins appeal reinstating ITC case against...
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Apple on Wednesday, reinstating the company's complaint against Google-owned Motorola Mobility. ...
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09:30
AppleCare to intro 24/7 chat support, new website
Apple will soon make major changes to its AppleCare support service, including making online chat support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, according to a report. Around-the-clock chat support could go live as soon as Aug. 12, with the online chat “likely” to support users of both…
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09:26
Polls find users prefer iOS 7 design to iOS 6,...
An online poll conducted by Polar compares key user-interface elements from iOS 7 to the iOS 6 counterparts. Despite the outpour of criticism from some of iOS 7, these results show that an overwhelming amount of poll responders prefer the design of iOS 7 to iOS 6 and other previous iOS versions…
Provided to 9to5Mac by Polar
The polls compared critical interface elements such as: the on/off switches, date picker, alerts, status bar, sliders, keyboard, icon set, sharing, the Lock screen, and Notification Center.
Results in favor of iOS 7 were present for each comparison in the poll. Above is a chart detailing the results. The left side of the chart...
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09:00
Five fact-filled apps for Shark Week
It's Shark Week -- that time of the year when sharks take center stage on the Discovery Channel and beyond. This year's shows have been marred by the Megalodon controversy, but that doesn't mean you still can't enjoy learning about the shark species. Below you will find five shark-related apps to supplement your knowledge of the finned fish.
Discovery Kids Sharks [iPad; Category: Education; $4.99]
A fact-filled app from Discovery that teaches children about sharks. The app also includes interactive games and digital trading cards.
Expedition White Shark for iPad [iPad; Category: Education; $3.99]
Expedition White Shark allows you to receive near real time Great White...
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08:57
WhatsApp to get single-tap voice messaging feature
The iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Nokia versions of WhatsApp Messenger will be getting a single-tap voice messaging feature, their developer says. CEO Jan Koum comments that the company has been working on the technology for about six months. Although voice messaging in itself isn't unique, WhatsApp says it hopes to make its implementation simpler than the alternatives.... ...
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08:35
Samsung seeks 'Galaxy Gear' smart watch...
Samsung's forthcoming smart watch accessory may be dubbed the "Galaxy Gear," based on new trademark filings by the company in its home country of South Korea, as well as in the U.S. ...
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08:30
Misfit’s Shine: Wearable Fitness Tracking gets Classy
Misfit has a different take on the wearable fitness tracking trend: Make the device look sleek and classy instead of like tech on your wrist. That's the Shine. The aluminum disk tracks your daily activity and sleep patters, much like other fitness trackers on the market, but with a very different look. Shine's body is all aluminum -- even the LED-lit face -- and fits into wristbands, necklaces, and pocket clips. It syncs with your iPhone via Bluetooth, includes a replaceable battery that lasts for about four months, can be worn swimming, and will even survive runs through the wash. Shine is priced at US$99.95 and is available at the Misfit website and Apple retail stores. Misfit also has ties of sorts to Apple: The company name is a tribute to Steve Jobs, and one of the co-founders os former Apple CEO John Sculley.
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08:28
IDC: Android reaches 80% of smartphone market in Q2...
Following a report last week from IDC on smartphone market share by vendor, the research firm is out today with its report covering market share by operating system. Much like Apple’s growth had slowed on the hardware front with its second-lowest year-over-year growth rate for the iPhone in nearly four years, IDC reports that Apple is losing share to Android and Windows Phone when looking at the market by operating system.
During Q2 2013, IDC says that Apple posted a year-over-year decline dropping from 16.6% with 26 million iPhones shipped in Q2 of last year, to 13.2% of the market with 31.2 million iPhones shipped in Q1 of this year. The loss in market share is of course attributed to the lack of new product launches during the three month period, as was the case with...
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08:15
AppleCare chat support to soon go 24/7, new iOS-like...
In the coming weeks, Apple will be making significant enhancements and changes to its AppleCare support service, according to sources. Planned to go live as soon as Monday, August 12th is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week AppleCare support via online chat. Sources did warn that August 12th is a “target date” that could be pushed back.
Users who have support questions and issues at anytime of the day will now be able to have their concerns answered. Apple tested such a service over eight years ago, but next week’s scheduled rollout appears to be a major event for AppleCare that will go beyond just a pilot phase.
The 24/7 chat support will likely be applicable for both Mac and iOS Device users. As Apple’s iPad and iPhone hardware competition increases from companies such as Samsung, Apple will need to...
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08:00
WhatsApp introduces major new audio features
WhatsApp is the uber-popular messaging app available on all major smart phone platforms, including iOS. With over 300 million users, it's possible that it has one of the largest followings ever. Intent on growing even bigger by adding new features, the company has introduced several audio enhancements to its app.
As AllThingsD reports, WhatsApp is launching a push-to-talk voice messaging feature that will allow people to send voice messages with a tap:
"[WhatsApp CEO Jan] Koum's contention is that WhatApp's innovation is in how simple it makes sending a voice message. He pulled out the Facebook Messenger app to show that it takes three taps to make a voice recording. With the updated WhatsApp, a user pushes to record a message rather than type one. When she lets go, the message...
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07:56
Apple releases fifth iOS 7 beta to developer...
The fifth iOS 7 beta is out and the new operating system is coming that much closer to fruition.
Per 9to5Mac, a little over a week after iOS 7 beta 4, Apple has seeded iOS 7 beta 5 to developers via and over-the-air Software Update. The previous beta brought several minor interface and performance tweaks to the operating system and beta 5 will likely continue doing that.
The new beta adds the following fixes and changes:
- All Settings icons redesigned (left is new).
- More Yahoo presence....
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07:56
iPhone 5S camera module may use separate LED flash
A newly-leaked camera module -- claimed to be for the iPhone 5S -- uses a separated LED flash, a report says. French site Nowhereelse.fr notes that the module for the iPhone 5, by contrast, keeps its LED flash attached via a ribbon cable. A module similar to the new one was seen in an earlier leak, but at the time it was believed to be associated with the upcoming low-cost iPhone.... ...
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07:48
SecondConf
I’ll be speaking at SecondConf this year, closing out the conference on the last day. If you’re attending, bring your instrument because we’ll be having a jam session too.
∞ Read this on The Loop
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07:42
Philips Adds Bloom, LightStrips to Hue LED Light...
Philips is expanding its iPhone-controlled Hue LED light offerings with the LivingColors Bloom and LightStrips, both of which can display over 16 million colors, just like the company's original programmable lights. LivingColors Bloom is a 120 lumen desktop lamp and LightStrips are exactly what they sound like: LED strips with an adhesive backing so you can attach them to a wide range of surfaces. LivingColors Bloom is priced at US$79.95 and the 6.6-foot long LightStrips cost $89.95. Both require the US$199 Philips Hue starter package and will be available in Apple's retail stores before the end of the week.
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07:39
Adobe releases Lightroom 5.2 release candidate beta
You can’t argue with a good release candidate.
Adobe on Monday announced the availability of the latest version of its prosumer photo editing software, Lightroom 5.2. The new version, a 467.2 megabyte download via MacUpdate, offers the following fixes and changes:
New features:
- A Smoothness adjustment slider has been added to the Detail Panel under Color Noise.
- Reduction. This helps...
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07:36
iTunes just pips Netflix and HBO Go in streaming...
A Foresee survey of consumer satisfaction with streaming video services found that iTunes got the top slot, just one point ahead of runners-up HBO Go and Netflix. Close behind were Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and Hulu Plus.
The average score across all streaming video services was 77 – ten points up on the previous year. Though looking at ‘mobile’ devices, 52 percent of all streaming on tablets and phones was actually done from home.
Source: Electronista
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07:27
Heckler Design debuts WindFall C iPad point-of-sale...
Heckler Design has released WindFall C ($129), a secure iPad point-of-sale iPad stand that works with a number of compatible card readers. A second-, third- or fourth-generation iPad can be mounted to the steel-and-polypropylene stand. The stand, which is angled at 45 degrees, can be placed on a swivel…
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07:08
∞ Godsmack: Come Together
What a great version of this classic song.
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07:00
FireCore releases Infuse 1.3 with Wi-Fi file...
Our launch video review of Infuse
FireCore has released an update for Infuse, the popular video app for iPhone and iPad. The new update boasts new features such as the ability to transfer videos to your iOS device through a web browser, fullscreen TV-out support, new sharing options, and more.
Infuse 1.3 is a free update for existing owners. New owners can get the app for $4.99...
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07:00
Apple Stores offer deals on accessories through...
This week Apple will begin offering some good deals on accessories at its retail stores, reports 9to5Mac. Two deals have a ready started, which include 10% off of select Beats by Dre headphones and speakers (end August 10th) and US$50 off of the Jawbone Big JamBox speaker (ends August 31st). The third deal begins this Sunday, offering 10% off the Bose QuietComfort 3 and Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones. That deal runs until September 14th.
There's no word why Apple is running these deals, but obvious theories include the back-to-school shopping season. However, these sales could pull people into Apple Stores as the company reportedly works to increase iPhone sales in-store versus at third-party retailers.
Apple Stores offer deals on accessories through August...
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07:00
Facebook Messenger for iPhone adds Instagram sharing
Facebook has updated its Facebook Messenger app for iPhone. The biggest new feature is deeper Instagram integration. Now users can attach photos to messages from Instagram right within the Messenger app. Facebook bought Instagram last year for US$1 billion, and it's nice to see the company put the photo sharing service to use.
Another improvement in this update is a small paper clip icon that users can tap to share Instagram photos and emoji icons. Here's the full release notes:
What's New in Version 2.6
Now it's easier to send photos and emoji:
- Just tap the paper clip from any message
- Choose photos from Instagram and any other album on your phone
Don't forget about stickers: Tap the smiley to see what's new in the sticker store.
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06:23
It’s the Tablet’s World Now and Microsoft Wasn’t...
Apple is the single largest PC maker, according to data from Canalys, topping companies such as Lenovo, HP, and Samsung. To find the single largest PC maker, Canalys combined desktop and laptop figures with tablets and those tablets are about to start outselling other computers, and that's a big problem for Microsoft.
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06:13
Twelve South launches HiRise stand for iPhone 5,...
Apple boutique accessory maker Twelve South has taken the wraps off its new HiRise adjustable desktop stand for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. The stand is designed to work with a user's Lightning cable and is compatible with most iPhone and iPad mini cases, unlike many other docks that only work with iPhones and iPads without a case. The HiRise is able to adjust the position of the Lightning connector according to each case and a sliding stand at the rear can also be positioned for optimal support, as the video embedded below highlights.... ...
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06:00
easyJet expands Passbook support to 75 airports
In May, popular European discount airline easyJet announced that it was testing Passbook ticketing support at six airports in Europe, with support to come from more airports if the trial was found successful. And judging by today's easyJet app update, it looks like that's the case. Now the company is offering Passbook ticketing support at a whopping 75 airports in Europe.
This is significant because easyJet is one of the most popular discount airlines. Passbook-supported apps have been slow to catch on outside of the US (and even inside the US).
But Passbook support isn't the only thing new in the latest easyJet update. Check out the other goodies and the release notes below:
What's New in Version 2.3.0
- More airports enabled for mobile boarding passes. Now live at over 75 airports across Europe
- New options to book a hotel or car - via...
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05:56
Resale value of Apple's iPhone 4 increased 10%...
The resale value of iPhone 4 in the U.S. has actually grown by more than 10 percent since April, a new survey has found, while Samsung's smartphone lineup can't command the same used prices as Apple. ...
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05:47
Amazon opens Mac, Windows software download store in...
Amazon has opened up its software downloads store in the United Kingdom. The new store, providing downloads for both PC and Mac, expands the original software store it launched in the United States a few years ago, and strongly suggests that the online retailer will be providing similar purchase options for software in other countries in the future.... ...
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05:30
iCloud: Sharing Reminder Lists
Sharing an electronic list with your friends or family is handy. Planning a party? Put everything on the list, and whoever buys an item can check it off. Want to remind your wife to get coffee when she's at the store? Easy-peasy. In this article, we'll discuss how to set up a shared iCloud Reminders list and all of the related goodness.
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05:30
Purported 'iPhone 5S' camera module has...
In an alleged internal design change, the camera for Apple's next-generation iPhone may have its LED flash component completely independent from the lens. ...
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05:27
XBMC for Android gets Airplay support in pre-release...
If you’re a mixed platform kind of person, with both iDevices and an Android media server, you can now use the popular XBMC media player to stream audio and video from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to your TV without any third-party hacks.
Engadget reports that Zeroconf support (aka Airplay compatibility) has been added to the latest pre-release Android version of XBMC, Gotham.
Full details and download from the XBMC site. The usual cautions about pre-release software apply.
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05:08
SimCity Mac grand opening: August 29
Will it really happen? Will the latest version of SimCity finally make its debut for the Mac? Possibly—Electronic Arts announced through the SimCity Twitter account that the Mac version of the city simulation game will ship on August 29.
You can’t blame Mac gamers for taking the announcement with a grain of salt. When the game started shipping for the PC, Mac gamers eventually heard that the Mac version would be available in June. Then in June, the ship date was pushed to August. At this point, I’m taking a “believe it when I see it” approach.
SimCity for Mac includes the SimCity Launch Park, an area that was made available to early adopters of SimCity for PC in update 4.0.
You can...
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05:00
Apple Faces Hurdles Attracting First-Time Smartphone...
While Apple does extremely well in the global and domestic smartphone markets, they aren’t doing as well among first-time smartphone buyers as one might think.
A new study paints an interesting picture of the first-time phone buyer as well as the devices they are choosing.
“Previous smartphone owners buy Apple iPhones much more than first-time owners,” according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. “Almost 50 percent of previous owners buy an iPhone, while under one-third of first-time owners buy an iPhone.”
Samsung does roughly equally well among new and repeat smartphone buyers, while Korean rival LG tends to do far better among first-timers, likely do to its lower prices and strong representation in the prepaid arena.
Those late to the smartphone game tend to be more price conscious and also tend to keep their devices longer than longer-term...
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05:00
Desperately Seeking Innovation
Apple may have won the battle, but it is in danger of losing the war. The battle was last Saturday's veto by the Obama administration of the International Trade Commission's decision to ban certain Apple products that it found to have infringed Samsung's patents. As for the war, that would be Apple's long struggle to preserve its reputation for delivering startling innovation. Let me be clear about a few points first: Patents in the mobile space are a multibillion dollar asset class, and Apple would be doing a disservice to its shareholders if it did not protect its IP.
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04:56
Security flaw in Chrome browser reveals plain-text...
Image: thehayden.org
The Guardian reports that a security flaw in Chrome allows anyone with access to a computer to view all of the saved logins without requiring any form of authentication.
A serious flaw in the security of Google’s Chrome browser lets anyone with access to a user’s computer see all the passwords stored for email, social media and other sites, directly from the settings panel. No password is needed to view them.
Besides personal accounts, sensitive company login details would be compromised if someone who used Chrome left their computer unattended with the screen active.
Passwords are accessed by clicking...
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03:55
Whatsapp adds easy to use push-to-talk voice...
Popular chat app whatsapp now allows iPhone users to exchange voice messages with a push-to-talk style function. The feature is also being pushed out simultaneously on the app’s other platforms: Android, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows Phone.
We spend a lot of time at WhatsApp thinking how we can make keeping in touch easier, and we know there’s no substitute for hearing the sound of a friend or family member’s voice. So today we are introducing a new feature we are truly excited about: Voice Messages
While there are other push-to-talk apps out there, whatsapp has introduced a number of features which it says makes the functionality particularly easy to use … ...
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02:15
Apple relying more heavily on Samsung for iPad...
While Apple is making moves to distance itself from rival Samsung, one report says the Korean company is actually gaining ground on iPad LCD supplier LG Display, a trend that may continue with the expected next-generation iPad mini. ...
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01:20
Apple, Inc. gets its fingerprints on advanced touch...
In a market saturated with smartphones that all increasingly look the same, Apple wants its next iPhone to stand out and be difficult for cloners to duplicate. ...
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01:00
Canalys: Apple top PC+tablet maker, growing but...
New numbers from market analyst Canalys -- using shipment data rather than actual sales to end users -- show that Apple continues to dominate as the world's leading PC maker when one includes tablets (as, some argue, should always be the case -- since they are generally used as "light" PC duty replacements). Shipments for the June quarter show Apple moving 18.6 million non-smartphone computers, with Lenovo moving into second place ahead of HP. Even as Apple's growth rate cools off at the end of its product cycle, it is still outselling rivals -- though many are playing catch-up.... ...
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Tuesday August 6
23:30
Apple Stores begin program of special discounts on...
Apple Stores have begun a significant sale on audio accessories during August, with two offers already underway and a third one coming later. Currently, the stores are offering 10 percent off on select Beats by Dre headphones and speakers, along with a $50 discount on the price of the Jawbone Big Jambox Bluetooth speaker, the latter offering being matched by Jawbone through its own site and resellers. A reader has alerted Electronista that the stores will also be offering two Bose QuietComfort headphones for 10 percent off beginning on Sunday.... ...
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21:47
Review: Newer Tech NuGuard KX iPhone case
Phone cases generally follow the "pick two" maxim, with the three axes being protection, style, and cost. The NuGuard KX case by Newer Tech is no exception to this, but it does at least attempt to pick two and a half out of three. Boasting mil-spec protection, the case aims to protect the iPhone 4 series and iPhone 5 with at least a modicum of style at an affordable price point. How well does the phone protector hit (or protect!) its target? We've been living with the case for a few months now: read our review to find out how well the NuGuard KX case has handled the test of time.... ...
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21:04
Apple still leads worldwide PC market with combined...
With its iPad, Apple continued to enjoy a commanding lead over the worldwide PC market in units shipped during the second quarter of 2013, but second place Lenovo gained some ground on strong tablet shipment growth. ...
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20:26
Apple offering discounts on some accessories in...
20:18
Zoom ships multi-microphone H6 Handy Recorder
Zoom North America has announced the immediate retail availability of the all-new H6 Handy Recorder. The H6 is the most advanced portable recorder ever introduced by Zoom, offering six tracks of simultaneous recording and a system of interchangeable microphone and input capsules.... ...
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20:00
Reviews: NuGuard KX iPhone 5 Mil-Spec case
Phone cases generally follow the "pick two" maxim, with the three axes being protection, style, and cost. The NuGuard KX case by Newer Tech is no exception to this, but it does attempt to pick two and a half out of three, at least. Boasting mil-spec protection, the case aims to protect the iPhone 4 series and iPhone 5 with at least a modicum of style ...... ...
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19:02
Review: HighPoint RocketStor 5122B dual-channel USB...
We've spoken about the convenience of drive docks in the past. If a user has any significant quantity of data to back up, optical media just won't do -- magnetic high-density media, like hard drives, are the way to go. Docks are a logical and flexible device to procure to eliminate the need for costly cases for multiple drives. We reviewed the SATA-3 version of the 5122B dual-channel drive dock, but is the ubiquity of the USB 3.0 port a benefit, or a hindrance to the device? Read on to find out!... ...
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19:00
Study: Apple tops in content streaming, beating...
A study done by customer experience research firm ForeSee has surveyed customers of mobile media and entertainment sites and found that generally, customers are more satisfied with such services than they were a year ago: the average score was 77 out of 100, compared to 67 a year ago. In the streaming TV and movies category, Apple's iTunes squeaked out a surprise win over competitors such as Netflix and HBO Go, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and Hulu Plus. The study also found that customers were much more satisfied with home Internet service than cellular data.... ...
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18:37
New 'Jobs' trailer reveals a few new...
A new trailer for the Steve Jobs biopic "Jobs" was released on Tuesday, showing a bit more of the movie slated to hit theaters on Aug. 29. ...
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18:00
Daily iPhone App: You'll definitely want to...
The iPhone -- even going back to it's original iteration -- has always been capable of visually impressive mobile games, and some of the latest titles for the iPhone 5 can rival console-quality visuals. But as any gamer will tell you, great graphics don't make a great game, and A Ride Into The Mountains is undeniable proof that a lot can be done with a comparatively small number of pixels.
The very first thing you'll notice about the game is that it looks like a cross between an early Nintendo title and something from the Atari days. There are no jaw-dropping graphics and not a single polygon to be found, but the washed-out look of the ultra-basic visuals fits the zen-minded nature of the game perfectly.
You play as Zu, a man living a solitary existence guarding a mysterious relic tucked away in the mountains. When a strange object falls out of the sky and dulls the relic's glow...
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18:00
Reviews: HighPoint RocketStor 5122B dual USB 3.0...
We've spoken about the convenience of drive docks in the past. If a user has any significant quantity of data to back up, optical media just won't do -- magnetic high-density media, like hard drives, are the way to go. Docks are a logical and flexible device to procure to eliminate the need for costly c ...... ...
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18:00
Reviews: HighPoint RocketStor 5122B dual USB 3.0 dock
We've spoken about the convenience of drive docks in the past. If a user has any significant quantity of data to back up, optical media just won't do -- magnetic high-density media, like hard drives, are the way to go. Docks are a logical and flexible device to procure to eliminate the need for costly c ...... ...
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17:30
New trailer for 'Jobs' launched; Kutcher,...
A new trailer for the independent biopic Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher in the title role, is now available in wide distribution. The ad itself, dubbed the "American Legend" trailer, features a number of previously-unseen clips from the film, which will be the first major movie about the Apple co-founder to reach the big screens apart from a limited run of a "lost interview" documentary featuring Jobs that appeared briefly last year. In addition to debuting the new trailer, stars Kutcher and Josh Gad will also be hosting a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) discussion on August 8.... ...
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17:00
Joyful Executions gets death penalty from the App...
Apple runs the App Store with an incredibly strict set of guidelines. No pornographic, explicit, crude or otherwise objectionable content is allowed. Apparently that includes satire. In keeping with the company's move this past January rejecting Endgame: Syria Apple has blocked a new game called Joyful Executions from sale in the App Store. Both games were blocked under guideline 16.1:
Apps that present excessively objectionable or crude content will be rejected.
So where did it all go wrong? Probably from its moment of conception. Developed by 8-Bit Underpants, Joyful Executions is a turn-based strategy game where the player controls commissar Kim Bok Kyong and his four-man firing squad. Racing against the clock, you must manage your ammunition supplies and modify your tactics to ensure each wave of executions go... well smoothly...
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17:00
Mobile iTunes Store video service edges out Netflix...
The results of a consumer survey released on Tuesday show that iTunes' video store is at the top of a 22-company list that includes U.S. content delivery heavyweights like HBO, Netflix and Amazon. ...
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16:55
Facebook Messenger iPhone app adds support for...
Facebook updated its Messenger iOS app today making it easier to send photos and emoji with a few new features. Facebook is deeper integrating Instagram into Messenger, allowing users to attach photos from Instagram albums (in addition to any other album on their iPhone) right in the app. Version 2.6 of the app also makes it easier to send photos and emoji with a new paper clip icon that users can tap from any message.
What’s New in Version 2.6
Now it’s easier to send photos and emoji:
- Just tap the paper clip from any message
- Choose photos from Instagram and any other album on your phone
Don’t forget about stickers: Tap the smiley to see what’s new in the...
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16:51
Review: iTwin Pro USB low configuration VPN dongle
With all the hullabaloo about law enforcement monitoring and collecting data on users, technologies like virtual private networking and encryption have popped up for more than the tin-foil hat crowd. The iTwin Pro is a hardware solution -- a cross-platform, two-factor authentication providing, dual-headed USB dongle that connects to a server computer, generally in the user's home or office, with the other end connected to a computer in a remote location enabling encrypted file transfer, keeping sensitive files safely on a home computer, rather than in a cloud server. Does the device keep its p... ...
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