• apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    iOS 5, iCloud Becomes Available – Hurry Up and Wait (Updated)

    October 12, 2011 /

    In addition to releasing Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2, Apple also released iOS 5.0 for current model iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices and opened the virtual doors to the iCloud service.

    At the present time, the iOS 5.0 upgrade for my 16GB iPhone 3GS is taking about 45 minutes to download the 668.8MB update.  I’ve been waiting a good 30 minutes now for the account verification email so I can start using the iCloud service.

    Updates

    10/13/11 12:20am – I just started the iOS 5 package download for the 4th Generation iPod touch.  iTunes is reporting that the software update is pulling down in about 6 – 10 minutes.  I think I’ll actually run the upgrade tomorrow night.

    10/13/11 12:05am – My iOS 5 upgrade on my iPad and data restoration is finally done and it’s ready for me to test; which is code for “play with all the cool new features.”

    10/12/11 11:40pm – The iOS 5 upgrade completed some time ago on my iPad, but the data restore is taking forever.  The bad news here is that iTunes is busy with the restore so I really can’t work until the restore process has completed.

    10/12/11 10:50pm – I figured I could short-circuit the upgrade process on my daughter’s iPod touch 4th Generation by connecting it to my MacBook Pro while the iOS upgrade was running on my iPad; no such luck.  Only one iOS device upgrade at a time – even if the only thing I wanted to do was get a jump on the iOS download package for the “iTouch”.

    10/12/11 10:25pm – Still another 25 minutes for the iOS 5 packaged for the iPad to be downloaded and installed.

    10/12/11 9:52pm – The iOS 5 upgrade on my iPhone 3GS is complete.  Next up, my iPad.

    10/12/11 9:08pm – The iOS 5 update package for my iPhone 3GS has finally completed downloading.  I’m about to start the software upgrade now.

    10/12/11 8:37pm – My iCloud account verification email has arrived.  It took about 30 minutes for the request to be processed.  The email contains the directions for activating your iCloud account from an iOS 5 device or Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2.

    10/12/11 8:30pm – The iOS 5 update package for my iPhone 3GS is still downloading.  About 50% of the update is down, and iTunes is showing that another 53 minutes remains for the download before the update can be applied.  It’s going to be a long night.  Again.

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  • apple,  case,  ipad

    KHOMO Waterproof Cover for Apple iPad, iPad2

    August 7, 2011 /

    I still have a few weeks to go before I get to take my summer vacation, during which time, I will be forced to sit on a beach in direct sunlight.

    While looking for accessories to protect my gear, I came across the KHOMO Waterproof Case Cover for iPad 2.  As far as I can tell, this kit is compatible with the original iPad also.  The kit comes with what looks like a giant zip bag with a velcro secured flap.  The bag also features a plastic loop that connects to a carry strap.  The bundle I found over on Amazon also includes a 6-foot black sync cable and sells for $12.99 plus tax and shipping.

    There are other waterproof options available, all of which cost more than this bundle.  If your iPad spend a lot of time near water, you might want to spring for a more expensive solution. Since I only go to the beach, if I’m lucky, twice a year, I might consider other options.  Since I’m most worried about keeping sand and drink spills away from my iPad while I”m traveling, this looks like the perfect balance between protection and cost.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    iCloud.com Beta Goes Online

    August 1, 2011 /

    I saw that iCloud.com has gone live today and I was able to log in using my existing Apple ID.  Aside from being able to look around, I’m not sure that there is much more we can do until we get iOS 5 installed on our iDevices or a update to Mac OS X that replaces the MobileMe control panel with the iCloud control panel (I’m assuming that there will be a new control panel or other software integration with the Mac OS X or Windows PC).

    If you are registered as a paying Apple software developer, you will be able to download some additional API tools for building into your applications.

    I was able to login to iCloud.com from my MacBook only.  When I hit iCloud.com from my iPad, I was greeted by a beta page.

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

    Apple Releases iOS 4.3.5 Software Update

    July 27, 2011 /

    Yesterday afternoon, Apple released the iOS 4.3.5 software update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

    The software update addresses an issue with how security certificates are validated and does not add any new features.

    The software update is for the GSM iPhone 4, the GSM iPhone 3GS, both editions of the iPad, and the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch.

    The CDMA iPhone 4 for Verizon updates to iOS 4.2.10, addressing the same problem.

    The latest software updates are available now via iTunes when you connect your iDevice to sync it.

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  • 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.

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  • 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

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  • games,  ipad,  iphone,  lifestyle,  touch

    Firemint Real Racing, Real Racing 2 On Sale This Weekend

    June 18, 2011 /

    Firemint, recently acquired by Electronic Arts, has put their popular Real Racing series of games on sale for Father’s Day weekend!

    The “Manly-Man” sale reduces the prices for Real Racing, Real Racing HD, Real Racing 2, and Real Racing 2 HD.  Use the links below to get your race on!

    Real Racing $0.99
    Real Racing 2 $4.99
    Real Racing HD $1.99
    Real Racing 2 HD $6.99

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  • 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.

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  • att,  ios,  ipad

    Wait, what? What?! iPad 2 Can Be Used As a Wi-Fi Hotspot?

    May 29, 2011 /

    My wife booked us on a low key, no tech summer vacation.  What? No Internet access for a week?  Clearly, she is trying to kill me for the insurance money.

    Ok, that was probably was a little bit over the top, but a week without Internet access for me is like serving a prison sentence of life without parole.

    So I started looking at Mi-Fi hot spot access points.  I wanted to buy a cheap one and then slap enough data service on it to last me the week.  While I was looking at the AT&T offerings, I came across a note that suggests that the iPad 2, just like the AT&T iPhone 4, can be used as a Wi-Fi hot spot.

    “AT&T offers several convenient billing options, none of which require a long-term contract.  Customers can choose between AT&T’s prepaid billing options, which are charged to a credit card account, or recently announced postpaid plans that can be added to customers’ existing monthly wireless statements.

    Customers may choose from the following options.

    Monthly statements:  $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB.  Customers who exceed their monthly data allotment will be billed $14.99 for another 250MB on the $14.99 plan or $10 per 1 GB of overage on the 2 GB plan.

    Credit card billing:  $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB.  Customers who exceed their monthly data allotment may choose to purchase another 250 MB on the $14.99 plan or purchase an additional 2 GB for $25 on the 2 GB plan.

    Both options are month-to-month and do not require a long-term commitment.

    The Personal Hotspot feature being introduced with iOS 4.3 is also available to customers who choose the $25 plan plus a $20 tethering option that provides an extra 2 GB of data.”

    So it looks like you can use an iPad 2 as a Mi-Fi hot spot if you have the $25/month 2GB data plan and then pay an additional $20 for another 2GB data block for a total combined monthly data limit of 4GB.

    Unlike a Mi-Fi puck, I know I ‘d be using the iPad 2 all the time and I like the idea of being able to go month-to-month with the iPad 2 service plan and still be able to add the Wi-Fi hot spot connection when I need to.

    You can read the full AT&T Wireless press release on the AT&T website.

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