The written musings of a long-time Apple //e and Macintosh tech nerd. Opinions are my own.
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.
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…]
With kids both big and small gearing up for tonight’s candy extravaganza, parents looking to let this kids spread their wings a little bit and roam the neighborhood with their friends might want to pick up one of the many GPS tracking applications for Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS.
During today’s Back To Mac event, Apple released a beta version of their FaceTime client for Mac OS X.
FaceTime was initially released earlier this year with the iPhone 4 running iOS 4. My junior blogger, Meghan and I called my father, who has an iPhone 4, and I have to say that FaceTime is a super cool, easy to use video chat application.
To use FaceTime, you need to download the Mac OS X beta application from the Apple website. Once you install the app, you sign-in to Apple’s system using your Apple ID. Apple IDs are free, and if you are purchasing content from the iTunes Store, you already have an Apple ID. You also have the option of adding a different email account as your “phone number” to make calls from your Mac.
To make a call with FaceTime on your Mac, you start the app, and then click a name in the right window pane which contact the contacts you have in your Mac OS X Address Book application.
For more information on FaceTime for Mac OS X, check out the Apple FaceTime website.
It has been a busy day for Apple fanatics customers today.
New iPods, Apple TV
At today’s annual September media event, Apple took the wraps off a new iPod nano and iPod touch. The iPod shuffle got it’s click-wheel back. Apple TV received an extreme makeover, and we were told that iOS 4.1 will arrive next week (9/8/10) to fix the proximity sensor and Bluetooth issues on iPhone 4 and performance issues on the iPhone 3GS. Owners of current iPod touch models will also be getting the iOS 4.1 treatment next week. iPad owners, like me, will have to wait until November for the iOS 4.2 update to be released. Ugh!
The good news for those of us not eager to shell out a few hundred more dollars for the latest shinny Apple gizmo is that we can get our hands on iTunes 10 today.
Once you get past the hoopla over the redesigned logo, Apple dumped the CD to focus on the music note, you’ll see the new features that have been added to the popular jukebox software. Click the read link for the new iTunes 10 features and more photos of Apple’s latest gear.
What’s new in iTunes 10
•Introducing Ping. Use Ping to follow your favorite artists and friends or connect with the world’s most passionate music fans. Discover the music everyone is talking about, listening to, and downloading.
• Rent HD TV episodes for just 99¢ each. Watch them on your Mac or PC, on-the-go with iPhone or iPod touch, or in your living room with the all new Apple TV.
• Play your favorites on the all new iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, and Apple TV.
• Play music wirelessly with AirPlay on AirPlay-enabled speakers, home theater receivers, and iPod accessories.
• Explore many look-and-feel improvements throughout iTunes.
• Enjoy performance improvements which make iTunes faster and more responsive.
• Additional voice support with VoiceOver Kit for iPod.
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.
[Editor’s Note: At the time we posted this article, iTunes 10 was only available as a download from the Apple website. It was not appearing in the Software Update control panel on our Mac OS X and Windows 7 boxes.]
Earlier this week, Apple updated iWork ’09 Pages and added support for creating documents comptible with iBooks on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
After updating Pages ’09 on your Mac to version 9.0.4, you will be able to export your Pages documents in the ePub format. Then, drag and drop the ePub document into iTunes’ Books section and sync your iDevice. Simple.
iWork ’09 owners, grab your update by clicking the Software Update icon in the System Preferences application.
September is almost upon us and that means it’s time for Apple to send out invitations to the media-only fall event.
According to the Tech Trader Daily blog, Eric Savitz writes:
“There’s zero information in the invitation on the nature of the event, and the only hint is the photo of the guitar with the Apple-logo shaped cut out that I’ve included with this post.”
My invitation seems to have gotten lost in the mail.
Apple’s fall events have been the showcase for the new iPod touch and music related products for the holiday season. This year is expected to be no different with rumors flying around of an iPod touch refresh that will feature iOS 4.1, dual cameras and support for FaceTime, and a the same high resolution Retina display that has been used on the iPhone 4.
There are also near daily rumors that Apple will release a new version of the Apple TV, possible called “iTV”, that runs iOS and replaces the hard drive with a smaller flash drive. Content would be streamed to the device rather than store it locally on a hard drive as the current Apple TV model does. The new Apple TV is also rumored to go on sale with pricing as low as $99 and TV show rentals for $0.99.
[Via Tech Trader Daily blog…]
The Facebook app for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad was updated again to address login issues.
Make sure that you hit up the App Store icon on your iDevice to download the update or check for software updates in iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC.
Along side the Facebook website upgrade, the iPhone and BlackBerry mobile Facebook applications have also been upgraded to versions 3.2 and 1.8.0.49, respectively.
Use the App Store and BlackBerry App World to install or upgrade your software now.
If you don’t want to use Facebook Places, or you want to keep your friends from checking you into Places, be sure to update your Facebook privacy settings.
UPDATE:
The iOS edition of Facebook has been updated again. This time to version 3.2.1. This latest updates includes “bug fixes” and limited the Places feature to iDevices here in the United States for the time being.
Apple has released minor iOS updates for iPad (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G) and iPhone (4, 3GS, and 3G) and iPod touch (second and third edition) to address a Safari PDF security flaw.
Hackers were able to use the Safari exploit to “jailbreak” iOS devices to run applications that had not been approved by Apple. However, that same exploit could be used to allow an attacker to gain control of your iDevice remotely.
If you are running a stock iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, connect your device to your Mac or PC running iTunes and hit the Update button on the Summary tab for your device.
The update weighs in at about 457MB for my Wi-Fi edition iPad. The package size might be smaller for the iPhone and iPod touch.
If you are on of the folks that doesn’t like to be told how to use your device by Apple, and have gone ahead and jailbroken your device, you will want to wait until there is a new “adjective”sn0w update that allows you to patch your device and exploit a different vulnerability to load unauthorized applications on your iDevice. Proceed with caution. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.