The written musings of a long-time Apple //e and Macintosh tech nerd. Opinions are my own.
Yesterday, Apple rolled out iOS 6.1.2. This updated is intended to address the Microsoft Exchange bug that has been well documented.
Unlike previous iOS 6.1.x updates, iOS 6.1.2 is available for current model iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, and iPod touch models.
I’ve read conflicting reports on whether or not iOS 6.1.2 addresses the lock screen bypass bug. I’ll have to test to see if the issue was resolved after applying iOS 6.1.2.
iDownloadBlog asks:
“What if iWatch isn’t actually an Apple smart watch, but an aptly named TV?”
Interesting theory. Checkout the story on iDownloadBlog.
[Via iDownloadBlog.com…]
Just saw this over on AppleInsider:
“[A story run by Australia’s News.com.au] outlined a recent policy shift at the Google Play online software and media store run for Android users, which now forwards developers the personal information of buyers, including their neighborhood and email address. The sharing of customers’ data is not outlined in either Google Play’s Terms of Service or in the company’s privacy statement.”
Um, it’s stories like this that make me glad I don’t use a Google Android phone as my day-to-day device.
[Via AppleInsider.com…]
Now that Microsoft has rolled out Office 365 Home Premium the free beta trial period is over. (You still get the first month free.)
Unlike previous retail versions of Office, Office 365 is a subscription service. You pay a monthly or annual fee to use Office and you can install Office 365 on up to any combination of five Windows PCs or Macs.
One of the new features of Office 365 is that you can “stream” the applications you subscribe to using a feature called “Office on Demand.” Office on Demand works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Publisher and works with any PC that allows you to login to your Microsoft account that has a persistent Internet connection.
The video below gives you all the details to get started.
For more information, head over to the Microsoft website.
Apple has been scrambling to address issues with iOS 6. The next security and maintenance release for iDevices is reportedly scheduled for release next week.
From MacRumors.com:
“German site iPhone-Ticker reports [Google translation] that Apple is planning to release iOS 6.1.2 early next week to address both the Exchange bug and lock screen passcode issue affecting iOS 6.1 users. According to the report, iOS 6.1.2 is likely to arrive before Wednesday, February 20.”
Apple has been trying to squash bugs related to battery performance on with the iPhone 4S, recurring meeting invitations being sent from users of Microsoft Exchange Server, and a particularly worrisome lock screen bypass bug.
[Via MacRumors.com…]
One step forward, two steps back might be how some iOS 6 users feel right now. In addition to the previously reported bugs in iOS 6 effecting battery life and Microsoft’s Exchange Server, add lock screen by pass ‘trick’ to the list of Apple headaches.
“Reached for comment, Apple said it is hard at work on a fix. “Apple takes user security very seriously” spokeswoman Trudy Muller told AllThingsD. “We are aware of this issue, and will deliver a fix in a future software update.””
Apple is working developing a fix for the by pass bug (which has happened before with iOS 4.1) as well as the bug with recurring meeting invitations sent from users of Microsoft’s Exchange Server.
[Via AllThingsD.com…]
Google has launched a wireless, inductive charger for the Nexus 4 smartphone.
“Charge your Nexus 4 wirelessly with this Qi inductive charger. Its angled surface provides easy visibility of your phone while charging. This elegant device was designed specifically for your Nexus 4 — no clunky add-ons or accessories needed.”
The Nexus 4 Wireless Charger can be purchased now, directly from Google at the Play Store. As indicated by the name, the charger will only work with the Nexus 4 smartphone, which can also be purchased directly from the Google Play store. The 8GB Nexus 4 will cost you $299, while the 16GB version goes for $349. Neither phone requires a new service contract.
I’m glad to see Google releasing this charger for the Nexus 4. It was one of my favorite features of my Palm Pre back in 2009 and one of the features I long for as a built in option on my Apple iPhone.
Available in black, the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger looks very similar to Palm’s Touchstone charger for the Palm Pre an other webOS smartphones.
[Via BGR.com…]
Software developer BlueStacks has created an “app player” for Windows and Mac OS X that allows you to run Android phone apps on your Microsoft Surface, Windows PC (beta) and Mac OS X (beta) computers.
“Over 5 million people around the world use top apps like Angry Birds Space, Kik Messenger, Where’s My Water and more on their laptops with BlueStacks. It took 10 engineers two years to build the complex “LayerCake” technology that enables this to happen – but you get to experience it free while in beta. You can download App Player now at BlueStacks.com.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbE5Vz2QiCY]
Download App Player from BlueStacks.com.
Surprise! Earlier today, Apple released iOS 6.1.1 specifically targeted at the iPhone 4S.
Over the weekend and as late as this afternoon, I was blogging about the first developer release of iOS 6.1.1 with regard to improving Apple’s Maps app, addressing an Exchange Server bug bedeviling corporate customers, and poor battery performance.
This evening, Apple rolled out a very narrowly targeted version of iOS 6.1.1 specifically to address that last problem – poor battery performance with the iPhone 4S.
“This update fixes an issue that could impact cellular performance and reliability for the iPhone 4S.”
The 23MB over-the-air (OTA) update was available on my Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S handsets.
There is no word on whether or not Apple will release an iOS 6.1.1 for all other current model iDevices or if Apple will just move on to the next version number such as 6.1.2 or 6.2. We also don’t know when we might expect a fix to the bug in Microsoft’s Exchange Server messaging platform that causes devices running iOS 6.1 to get stuck in a loop when trying to accept an invitation to recurring meetings.
There was no word on when an update to Apple’s Maps application would be made available either.
The iOS 6.1.1 OTA update took about 15-20 minutes start to finish on my iPhone 4S units. The update is also available as a wired update via iTunes for Mac OS X and Windows PCs.