• apple,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  touch

    Apple Schedules an iTunes Media Event Tomorrow, 11/16/10, 10:00 EST

    November 15, 2010 /

    Well, well, well…what do we have here?  Anyone visiting the Apple website today was greeted by the above splash page.

    Apple’s legendary secrecy is clearly alive and well as we heard all sorts of rumors around the release of Mac OS X 10.6.5, iTunes 10.1 for Mac OS X and Windows PC, and we even had gotten word of not one, but two possible release dates for the iOS 4.2 update.

    But this, my dear readers, was completely off the radar.  If I had to guess what might be going on tomorrow morning at 10:00am, I will only speculate that whatever it is, will likely have to do with Apple’s new massive data center in North Carolina.

    Back on October 25, AppleInsider.com reported that “According to a Data Center Knowledge report published Sunday, the data center is “fully operational,” with Apple beginning to “ramp up production” at the server farm. The Cupertino, Calif., company could be planning to build a second facility on the site, the report notes.”

    Below is an aerial photo of Apple’s new data center.

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  • astraware,  hp,  pixi,  pre,  web os

    Astraware Releases Tradewinds 2 for HP webOS

    November 13, 2010 /
    Whether you are new to gaming on your smartphone or have been around for a long time, you owe it to yourself to check out the games that Astraware releases.  These guys make some of  the best mobile games around.

    Staffordshire, UK – November 11, 2010 – Astraware® and Sandlot Games® are excited to announce they are bringing the highly-acclaimed adventure trading game, Tradewinds® 2, to Palm® Pre™ and Pre Plus smartphones.

    Astraware has recently released its first games for webOS™, and is delighted to work with long-term partner Sandlot Games to add to the range of quality games on the App Catalog by bringing one of its most popular franchises to the platform.
    “Astraware continues to be a fantastic partner on a variety of platforms, bringing the best of our franchises to new users worldwide,” said Daniel Bernstein, CEO of Sandlot Games. “We look forward to the success of Tradewinds 2 on the webOS platform.”
    Based on the PC game of the same name, Tradewinds 2 is an adventure trading game set in the Caribbean. Players are invited to navigate a fascinating new world and discover uncharted ports teeming with friends and foes alike. They can be a master commander, defeating pirates and plundering their vast hordes of booty, or they can play it safe by trading exotic island goods, gradually amassing untold wealth, power and influence.
    “We’re delighted to work with Sandlot to bring Tradewinds 2 to webOS smartphones,” said Howard Tomlinson, CEO of Astraware. “Many long-time Palm users will know and love the Tradewinds games and we’re sure they’ll love the hours of in-depth game play, trading in goods, battling pirates and completing missions”.
    Tradewinds 2 is available now for Palm Pre and Pre Plus running webOS 1.4.5 from the App Catalog on device. For more information about the game, visit http://www.astraware.com/webos/tradewinds2.
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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  touch

    iOS 4.2 Still “Coming Soon”

    November 13, 2010 /

    Did a last minute Wi-Fi bug end up aborting yesterday’s rumored launch for Apple’s iOS 4.2 update for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad?

    There certainly seems to be enough evidence of that.  Apple had released the golden master, or “GM” developer release of iOS 4.2 a few days ago.  The GM release of software is usually identical to the shipping version.  Many speculated that this past Friday, 11/12/10, was suppose to be the launch date for iOS 4.2.  November 24, 2010 is the new rumored launch date for iOS 4.2.

    Rather than getting a final software release of iOS 4.2 yesterday, we saw Apple release a second GM release of the software.  The release of a second GM version of the software leads me to believe that the reports of a late discovered bug was to blame for the iOS no-show.

    Software usually goes through several iterations before getting int consumer’s hands.  Alpha, beta, release candidate, golden master, and then release/retail.  It’s normal to see several release candidates, or RCs, but you usually only get one GM.

    The way I see it, during the September iPod event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised that iOS 4.2 would be available in November, and there is still plenty of time to make good on that promise.  I’d rather have working software than almost working software.

    That said, I still want access to the cool features that iPhone 4 and late generation iPod touch users have had for the last few months already.

    In the mean time, if you haven’t already done so, you can upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6.5 and iTunes 10.1 (iTunes 10.1 is available now for both Mac OS X and Windows PC).  Both software updates lay the ground work to support iOS 4.2 devices.  Use the Apple Software Update control panel to upgrade your Mac OS X or Windows PC.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  mac os x,  touch,  windows

    Apple Releases iTunes 10.1, Paves Way for iOS 4.2 Update

    November 12, 2010 /

    Earlier today, Apple released the iTunes 10.1 update that paves the way for a release of iOS 4.2.

    With the iTunes 10.1 release, Apple has included support for iOS 4.2 running on current generation iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices and the new AirPlay feature.

    The update is currently available for Mac OS X and Windows PC users.  To get the update, use the Apple Software Update control panel.

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  • att,  blackberry,  blackberry os,  blackberry tablet os,  rim,  torch

    AT&T Slashes Price of RIM BlackBerry Torch, PlayBook Priced Below iPad

    November 11, 2010 /

    Oh, really?  What’s going on with RIMM and AT&T?  This morning Barron’s Tech Trader Daily blog noted that AT&T has cut the price of the new BlackBerry Torch to $99.99 down from $199.99.  A 2-year service agreement is required.  The BlackBerry Torch was introduced back on August 3.

    The Torch, you will recall, looks like a second cousin for HP’s Palm Pre smartphone that was released back in mid-2009.  Those interested in the Torch, and yes, it is available in red, should head over to the AT&T Wireless website.

    Research in Motion Co-CEO Jim Balsillie also has been reported as saying that the Berry-themed tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook will go on sale at Target and Best Buy retail locations and that the device, when it does become available in early 2011, will sell for less than $500.  The cheapest non-3G, Wi-Fi only Apple iPad starts at $499.

    The price cut on the Torch, while unexpected by me, isn’t too surprising.  Interest in the new slider BlackBerry hasn’t exactly lit the fire that RIM was hoping for.  As for pricing the PlayBook below the Wi-Fi Apple iPad’s $499 price tag, well, I think that anyone releasing a table in the next 12 months is looking for something, anything, that might resonate with consumers and get them to purchase their product verses and iPad.

    [Via Tech Trader Daily…]

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  • android,  apple,  google,  ios,  iphone,  jailbreak

    Who Needs iOS 4.2? Run Android 2.2 On Your iPhone 2G, 3G Now

    November 11, 2010 /

    I saw this over on Engadget and couldn’t resist commenting on it.

    It seems that iPhone hacks have way too much time on their hands, because with an application called Bootlace 2.1 for jailbroken iPhone 2G (the original iPhone) and iPhone 3G, the job of getting Android 2.2 installed is even easier.

    So who cares if Apple is stopped releasing iOS updates for the original iPhone?  Now we can run Google Android 2.2 and we don’t even need to sync to a computer to load it up.

    You can find the installation directions over on FSM.com.

    [Via Engadget.com…]

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  • apple,  mac,  mac os x,  macbook pro

    Apple Posts Mac OS X 10.6.5 Update

    November 11, 2010 /

     Earlier today, Apple has released the fifth update to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.  Some of the enhancements that have been baked into Mac OS X 10.6.5 include:

    • Improves reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers
    • Addresses performance of some image-processing operations in iPhoto and Aperture
    • Addresses stability and performance of graphics applications and games
    • Resolves a delay between print jobs
    • Addresses a printing issue for some HP printers connected to an AirPort Extreme
    • Resolves an issue when dragging contacts from Address Book to iCal
    • Addresses an issue in which dragging an item from a stack causes the Dock to not automatically hide
    • Improves Bluetooth pairing with Magic Trackpad
    • Add SSL support for transferring files with iDisk
    • Resolves an issue syncing Address Book with Google
    • Improves reliability of Ethernet connections

    However, the real reason you will want to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6.5 is to plug the holes in Adobe’s Flash Player.  If you follow the security breadcrumbs, you will end up at the Security Update 2010-007 page which reads:

    Flash Player plug-in

    Impact: Multiple vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player plug-in

    Description: Multiple issues exist in the Adobe Flash Player plug-in, the most serious of which may lead to arbitrary code execution. The issues are addressed by updating the Flash Player plug-in to version 10.1.102.64. Further information is available via the Adobe web site at http://www.adobe.com/support/security/

    To be fair to Adobe, Apple also plugged nine holes in their QuickTime software.

    The 517MB update is available now via the Software Update control panel.  You can read the full list of fixes and enhancements in Mac OS X 10.6.5 on the Apple Support website.

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  • apple,  ipad,  iphone,  sprint,  tmobile,  verizon

    T-Mobile To Sell Black iPhone/iPod/iPad Cable

    November 6, 2010 /

    Despite all the shenanigans caused by a recent post at TMoNews.com about T-Mobile selling Apple’s iPhone 4G, does anyone else think that a black Apple sync/charge cable is cool?  A white cable looks good with a white iPod or with the mythical white iPhone 4G.  But a white cable with a black iPod Classic, iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad just doesn’t seem right.

    The T-Mobile cable is intended for European T-Mobile customers who are traveling State side and is expected to sell for $14.99.  (In Germany, T-Mobile is a non-exclusive carrier of the iPhone.)  I can’t say that if I happened pass a T-Mobile store that has this cable that I won’t pick one up.

    The bottom line: So far, AT&T is still the only game in town for an iPhone.  Verizon has all but been confirmed to start selling the iPhone 4G in early 2011.  No word at this time if T-Mobile or Sprint will ever end up ironing out a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone.

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