• apple,  att,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  touch,  verizon

    Briefly Noted: iOS 4.3.4 Security Update Relesed

    July 20, 2011 /

    Just in case you may have missed it, last weekend Apple released a security update to iOS brining the mobile operating system to version 4.3.4.

    The latest security update is largely intended to plug a security hole in how an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch handles malicious .pdf files to allow hackers to by pass safeguards in the operating system.  This same security hole was a means to allow people to install applications from Cydia, a third-party application source other than the iTunes App Store.  This process is commonly referred to as “jailbreaking.”

    iOS 4.3.4 was simultaneously released for the iPhone 4 (GSM edition), iPhone 3GS, the iPad 2, the iPad, and third and fourth generation iPod touch devices. iOS 4.2.9 was released specifically for the iPhone 4 (CDMA edition) on Verizon’s network.

    Read More
  • apple,  mac,  macbook pro

    Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update

    June 24, 2011 /

    Mac OS X 10.6.8 is available now for all Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users.  Aside from the usual bug fixes and enhancements, Mac OS X 10.6.8 is a requirement for upgrading to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month.

    Use the Mac OS X Software Update control panel to download the update now.

    Read More
  • android,  apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  nook,  web os

    Rovio Releases Angry Birds Seasons – Summer Pignic

    June 22, 2011 /

    Just in time for the 4th of July holiday, Rovio arms us with another “eggciting” bird flinging adventure: Summer Pignic!

    Summer Pignic is the next installment for the popular Angry Birds Seasons game available now for iOS devices.  Rovio will also be releasing updates for Android, webOS, and the nook.

    Angry Birds Seasons – $0.99
    Angry Birds Seasons HD – $1.99

    Read More
  • apple,  iphone,  rumors

    Rumor: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 – We Don’t Care, Just Give It To Us

    June 22, 2011 /

    Boy Genius Report is claiming to have received word that the next iPhone — the 4S or 5 — will be a major update to the current iPhone 4 models.

    “While Apple has indeed been giving some developers access to a device known as the iPhone 4S — an iPhone 4 with upgraded internals — BGR has independently confirmed that the next-generation iPhone will not merely be an upgraded iPhone 4 as had been previously rumored. We have been told by a reliable source to expect a radical new case design for the upcoming iPhone, though we have not been given any additional details surrounding the design of the new iPhone case. What about a release, then? The consensus is that Apple is going to announce the next-generation iPhone at the company’s annual September event, traditionally focused on iPods, but we have heard it’s quite possible Apple will break tradition. According to our source, Apple may hold an event in the beginning or middle of August to announce the new iPhone, with availability to follow in the last week of August. We’re not sure if that means the iPod event will be moved up slightly, or if this will be an iPhone-specific event. Thisismynext reported earlier that the upcoming iPhone 5 would feature a new teardrop-shaped case design.”

    At this point, I don’t care what Apple is going to call the new iPhone; I just want it to be released so I can purchase one.  My Palm Pre is looking forward to retirement and I’m looking for a phone that isn’t an underdog.

    [Via BGR.com…]

    Read More
  • apple,  iphone,  rumors,  sprint

    Rumor: Sprint iPhone Being Tested

    June 10, 2011 /

    From 9to5Mac.com:

    “Sources tell 9to5Mac that a version of the iPhone for Sprint’s network is currently in advanced testing. The physical design of this device is akin to the iPhone 4 of today, so this might be the iPhone 4S device with support for all carriers that we have been dreaming up and hearing whispers about. Apple is said to have ordered Sprint-compatible cell towers for use on their campus – for testing – in late 2010. Apple similarly tested the Verizon iPhone against Verizon cell towers on their campus months before the product’s release.”

    Keep reading…

    [Via 9to5Mac.com…]

    Read More
  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  mac,  mac os x,  windows

    Apple Releases iTunes 10.3 with iCloud Beta Support

    June 8, 2011 /

    iTunes 10.3, available now for Mac OS X and Windows PC, brings some of the new features unveiled yesterday at WWDC to you now – no waiting until the “fall.”

    iTunes 10.3 adds Automatic Downloads, Download Previous Purchases, the ability to browse and purchase books for iBooks from iTunes, and our first taste of Apple’s new iCloud service which seamlessly syncs music purchases to all of your devices regardless of which device purchased the music.

    I’m interested in playing with the iCloud sync feature on my iPad, MacBook Pro, and Windows 7 PCs (one at home and one at work).  I also want to play around with the Download Previous Purchases feature because somewhere along the way, I upgraded Documents To Go on my iPhone 2G, and since it is running iOS 3.1.2 (yes, it’s jailbroken/unlocked so I can use it as an iPod touch) I can’t install the current release on it.  I’d like to install the older, compatible version again if possible because I did not manually make a backup of the old software.

    The new features of iCloud, iOS 5, and Mac OS X look really cool, and I can’t wait until September to have all of this cool software.  At least we can get Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month.

    Read More
  • apple,  ios,  mac os x,  mobileme

    No New MobileMe Accounts Being Accepted

    June 7, 2011 /

    While I haven’t gotten to the part of today’s WWDC keynote introducing iCloud yet, after seeing that there is a new Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod touch app out today, I went looking for what services are being offered.

    Looks like we can forget MobileMe becoming a free service.  She’s done for in her current form and iCloud will completely replace it.  I’m going to have to watch the stream on this one and decide if I’m interested in using the new iCloud service.  I would have gone in on MobileMe if it was free or cheaper than $99/year, but I’m not really one for streaming content if I have the option to download it to a Mac or PC on my home network.

    Existing MobileMe customers can still access their accounts from the MobileMe.com website.

    Read More
  • app store,  apple,  mac,  mac os x,  macbook pro

    Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Impressions

    June 7, 2011 /

    Apple is packing 250 new features into the next version of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, and most prominent among them are muli-touch gestures.

    With iOS, we have been taught how to interact with a computer through touch.  With Mac OS X Lion, Apple is bringing all of the same core concepts to our MacBooks, and desktop Macs via the Magic Mouse and Magic TrackPad.

    Interestingly, Apple reporting that well over 60% of their Mac sales are MacBooks, so if you feel that all this muti-touch stuff favors the notebook family — I’d have to agree with you.  I’m not sure how how well these new features will play out, say with a Magic Mouse which looks to have about half of the surface area as the track pad on my 17-inch MacBook Pro.

    Regardless, of how you interact with your Mac, I’m less worried that Apple is trying to “dumb down” Mac OS X to work more like the iPhone.  I think today’s announcement of new Mac OS X features are impressive and that I’d most of them.

    In addition to Multi-Touch, Apple demoed nine other tent pole features, including: Full-Screen Apps, Misson Control, the new Mac App Store,  Launchpad, Resume, Auto Save, Versions, AirDrop, and a redesigned Mail application.  Mac OS X 10.7 Lion will go on sale in July for $29.99 and will be sold exclusively via the Mac App Store.  Once you purchase Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, you will be able to install it on any Mac that you own and have setup your Apple ID account on.  Additionally, for those people who need it, Mac OS X Server is now a separate applications bundle you buy from the Mac App Store.  The server bundle is expected to cost about $50 and it is no longer a separate operating system that you have to purchase.

    Read More