| | | By Zenith | 6:00 PM March 12th 2010 |
Witeshark noted Apple's release of Safari 4.0.5 fixing issues related to the browser, WebKit, ColorSync, ImageIO and more. The top sites got a performance tweak, and over all stability was improved, especially that of the 3rd-party plug-ins. Also noted is better performance with Flash and youtube, as well as better HTML 5 video playback. More information can be found here. You can download from Software Update or from Apple. It is recommended that you repair permissions after installing. |
| | | By Zenith | 11:13 AM March 11th 2010 |
Intel previewed the up coming six-core 32nm Core i7-980X processor named "Gulftown" Rumors suggest that this chip could find its way into new Mac Pros. Details can be found below: |
| | | By Zenith | 10:35 AM March 9th 2010 |
Apple ran a surprise iPad commercial during the Oscars Sunday night. Apparently Apple feels that movie fans will have a special interest in the iPad, no surprisingly so since the large screen makes for arguably the world's greatest mobile movie player. The ad is a quick demo that shows several apps in action including Calendar, Mail, Photos, iBooks, and Maps. If you didn't catch the ad you can watch it here. |
| | | By Zenith | 2:02 PM March 5th 2010 |
Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 Apple filed a lawsuit against smartphone maker HTC over several infringements across 20 patents. The phones involved include those running the Android and Windows Mobile Operating Systems. The complaint even goes as far as to specifically distinguish between Android and non-Android handsets, suggesting Google's mobile operating system plays a part in the alleged patent infringement. While Android-based phones are labeled "Accused HTC Android Products" in the suit, phones that run on Windows Mobile are given the label "Accused HTC DSP products," referring to the digital signal processing hardware decoders found in those devices |
| | | By Zenith | 1:55 PM March 5th 2010 |
Apple is taking pre-orders for the iPad beginning March 12. Both the iPad Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available for pre-order. iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. |
| | | By Zenith | 3:23 PM March 4th 2010 |
According to Quantcast Apple's iPhone is losing its market share to other smart phones, primarily the Android. Note that Quantcast analyses web traffic and these data are generated from mobile web traffic. |
| | | By Zenith | 12:35 PM March 1st 2010 |
The availability of Apple's new iPad may be limited initially, to about 300,000 units, due to unspecified production problems. Analysts suspect that snags at the Hon Hai Precision plant where the iPads are manufactured are causing a bottleneck in production. Given the potential constraints, Misek believes Apple will sell 550,000 units in its third financial quarter of 2010, which ends in June. The lower numbers do not reflect lesser demand, but are simply due to the prospect of a production delay.
Misek believes that Apple will sell 1.2 million iPad units in its 2010 fiscal year after all production issues are alleviated. He has forecast sales of 3.5 million iPads in the company's 2011 fiscal year. Those predictions fall in the middle of Wall Street's expectations of between 1 million and 5 million iPad sales in the first calendar year. |
| | | By Zenith | 3:34 PM February 27th 2010 |
Apple is considering creating a new, explicit category for the App Store. A tab appeared in the developers menu this week but has been removed. Apple commented that it is considering creating a category for those 18 or older, but isn't planning on doing it anytime soon.
This comes a week after apple removed some 5,000 overtly sexual apps that were assumed to be too sexual to comply with Apple's current policy. Ironically some of the more well known adult media apps were allowed to remain after being given "special consideration." |
| | | By Zenith | 7:43 PM February 24th 2010 |
The new iPad won't have a camera, but it is shown that they were atleast considering the idea of one, perphaps in later releases. The PLCameraController.h frameworks in iPhone OS 3.2 SDK Beta 3 shows reference to a camera zoom, flash and a front-facing camera for conferencing. Adding to the already-strong evidence that Apple toyed with the idea of a forward facing camera in the iPad, references to video conferencing, as well as camera flash and zoom, have been discovered in the latest beta of the iPad software development kit.
While the first version of the iPad, set to launch in March, will not ship with a camera, it's possible that all of the new functionality, including camera flash and video chat, could be included in the new iPhone, expected to debut this summer. Last month, AppleInsider reported that Apple moved to purchase significant quantities of LED camera flash components. |
| | | By Zenith | 10:06 PM February 22nd 2010 |
Apple reportedly investing one billion dollars in technology to develop the iPad A4 chip. Apple bypassed Intel, the industry leader, to develop its own ARM-based processor and is likely going to launch a new generation of "chip wars." Apple, Nvidia and Qualcomm are designing their own takes on ARM-based mobile chips that will be made by the contract foundries," the report said. "Even without the direct investment of a factory, it can cost these companies about $1 billion to create a smartphone chip from scratch." The iPad's processor contains both a CPU and graphics processing unit based on the Cortex-A9 MPCore this chip is even faster than the one that is in the current iPhone 3GS. Apple had first launched itself into the industry of chip making when it purchased PA Semi for $278 million back in April 2008. |
| | | By Zenith | 2:08 PM February 17th 2010 |
Apple released support for iLife version 9.0.4 in a 25Mb download available in software update. Provides system software resources that are shared by iLife and other applications. This update improves overall stability for the Media Browser and iPhoto slideshows. It also provides compatibility between Aperture 3 and the Media Browser. The update is recommended for all users of iLife ’09, iWork ’09, and Aperture. |
| | | By Zenith | 4:16 PM February 13th 2010 |
Microsoft released a new version of office for mac with features including web apps, coauthoring tools, and a new interface with ribbon design. No price has yet be announced. "Together with your team -- officemates, family or classmates -- you are part of the community that helps shape each version of Office for Mac," said Eric Wilfrid, MacBU general manager at Microsoft Corp. "You’ve told us that working together across platforms is a priority to you and that’s why we are making Office for Mac 2011 the best, most compatible productivity suite on the Mac."
The classic menu and standard toolbar gives mac users the best of both worlds "Together these tools make it easy to find and discover new and frequently used commands," the company's press release said. "In fact, more than 80 percent of the most used features live in the default view of our new user experience so you don't have to waste time finding the tool you need." |
| | | By Zenith | 9:31 PM February 10th 2010 |
The Financial Times suggests that Apple may be releasing $1 TV shows for the new iPad. The test, expected to coincide with the April consumer debut of the iPad, will offer some shows at the lower price as a way to test whether reducing the cost of video programming will ignite sales, people familiar with the discussions said. |
| | | By Zenith | 9:43 AM February 9th 2010 |
The professional photo editing and management software, Aperture 3, has been released for $199 or $99 for an upgrade. Apple expanded the Face, Places and Brushes feature that it added in previous versions, in addition to over 200 other features. Faces uses face detection to recognize friends and families in your photos. A new feature speeds up the identification process by listing unnamed faces. Places allows you to link your photos to maps, GPS data, or other tracking devices. Brushes allows professional editing with complexed functions including Dodge, Burn, Polarize, Blur, and more. "Millions of people love using iPhoto to organize, edit and share their digital photos," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Aperture 3 is designed for both professionals who edit and manage massive libraries of photos and iPhoto users who want to take their photos further with easy-to-use tools such as Brushes and Adjustment Presets." |
| | | By Zenith | 2:59 PM February 8th 2010 |
Apple executives say that they are willing to lower the price of the new iPad if the market does not catch on to it. Currently the iPad is to be priced between $499 and $829. It is yet unclear exactly how customers will respond to the new iPad, especially since it is already priced well below the $1000 that analysts predicted. Back in 2007 Apple cut prices on the iPhone just months after its release from $599 to $399, so it isn't entirely unreasonable to think that Apple may do this again with the iPad. |
| | | By Zenith | 9:48 AM February 6th 2010 |
Apple seeded an issue free build of 10.6.3 to developers yesterday, which indicates that it should be released soon. Some of the improvements that were made in the latest build include network reliability, security, 64-bit logic performance, QuickTime X and Mail app reliability, and issues with AirPort, Graphics Drivers, iCal and printing. |
| | | By Zenith | 4:11 PM February 5th 2010 |
Apple is issuing a 15 percent refund for some 27-inch iMac users with flickering screens. According to an Apple customer support discussion with one of our readers, the 15% bonus refund is officially for "tax and shipping"—it's a flat base rate to cover your return no matter the area you are in. So if you have an 8% sales tax, you may only be pocketing 7% (and even less after shipping if you don't have an Apple Store near). |
| | | By Zenith | 12:24 PM February 3rd 2010 |
Apple released iTunes 9.0.3 with some important bug fixes, and an improved look and feel. The update is a massive 98.3 MB and available via software update or here. Some of the important bugs include: - iTunes no longer ignores your "Remember password for purchases" setting.
- Addresses problems with syncing some Smart Playlists and Podcasts with iPod.
- Resolves a problem recognizing when iPod is connected.
- Addresses issues that affect stability and performance.
Other updates are: - iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.
- iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more — available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.
- Home Sharing helps you manage your family's iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.
- Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.
- iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.
- iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.
- Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009).
- iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.
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| | | By Zenith | 9:04 PM February 1st 2010 |
Apple released the second firmware update for the 27-inch iMac today to address potential screen flickering. The download is available via software update or here. It is important to not disturb or turn off your iMac while the update is installing. |
| | | By Zenith | 3:09 PM February 1st 2010 |
Shipment of the 27-inch iMac is still delayed for three weeks, allegedly due to hardware issues. Supplies have been restricted as reports of screen flickering have not yet been resolved. Apple has not made any statement about the validity of these rumors. Production is expected to not resume until a reliable and definitive fix to the display issues has been solved. |
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