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

    Mac App Store Arrives Tomorrow

    January 6, 2011 /

    Apple is set to fling open the virtual doors of their new Mac App Store tomorrow if reports around the web are accurate.

    The Mac App Store will bring the iOS App Store experience to Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.  Mac users will be able to browse the Apple hosted selection of Apple and third-partyy developers applications for Mac OS X, and with one click, purchase, download, and install the software on their computers.

    Apple will list free and paid apps, and developers will be given the same 70/30 revenue split currently in effect in the iOS App Store.

    The Mac App Store will go live tomorrow, Jan 6, at 12 noon eastern, 9am pacific.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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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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  • 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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  • facetime,  ios,  iphone,  mac os x,  macbook pro,  touch

    Apple Releases FaceTime for Mac OS X

    October 20, 2010 /

    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.

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  • apple,  mac,  mac os x

    Apple Sends Out Invites to Back To Mac Event

    October 15, 2010 /

    Looks like Apple hasn’t forgotten it’s roots and will be holding a special invitation only media event on October 20 to talk about the Macintosh and Mac OS X.

    I’m looking forward to getting a look at Mac OS X 10.7.  I’m also wondering if you buy iLife ’11 if that will include the iOS versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote or if you will have to buy them separately.

    We’ll keep you posted.  Cool graphic, by the way.

    [Via BoyGeniusReport.com…]

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

    Apple Launches iTunes 10, Unveils New iPods, AppleTV, iOS 4.1 Update

    September 2, 2010 /

    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.]

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  iwork,  mac os x,  pages,  touch

    Apple Updates iWork Pages, Adds Support for ePub Books

    August 28, 2010 /

    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.

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

    Apple Releases iOS 3.2.2, 4.0.2 Updates

    August 12, 2010 /

    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.

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  • android,  apple,  google,  ipad,  mac os x,  macbook pro,  mobileme,  rumors

    Rumor: Apple To Give Mobile Me Subscriptions Away

    May 11, 2010 /

    File this under “Crazy Ass Rumor of the Week”, but if Electronista.com and MacDailyNews.com are right, Apple might be feeling some pressure from Google’s free cloud services.

    “A tentative new rumor asserts that Apple may turn MobileMe into a free service. The plan would drop the $99 annual fee and let anyone with an iPad, iPod, iPhone or Mac get the online sync service for free.”

    “Free MobileMe access would likely be a shot across the bow of Google, for whom online sync has been an inherent feature in most of its software. Android users can sync accounts and contacts for free through Google’s existing services. Apple handheld owners can already sync Google features to some extent but don’t have the live updating of more unless they use Exchange or MobileMe.”

    Personally, the only reason why I don’t have a MobileMe.com account is that I really don’t feel like paying Apple another $69-99 a year for an email account – all be it a really handy email account. If the service was made available to me for free since I own two iPods, an iPad, a MacBook, and my recently purchased 17-inch MacBook Pro, hell ya, I’d jump on MobileMe in a second. Google who?

    Until we get some more details, however, I’m going to stick with my Google Gmail and Calendar accounts.

    [Via Electronista.com…]

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