• apple,  ipad,  iphone,  macbook pro,  mobileme

    MobileMe: Paid, Free, or Somewhere in the Middle?

    March 29, 2011 /

    MobileMe is an online service provided by Apple that provides you access to a “me” email account, online storage for documents, music, and photos, plus, Mac specific features to keep all your Mac settings in sync across multiple Mac OS X computers.

    In 2011, many people are hoping for a major revamp of the service, thanks to a brief email from Apple CEO Steve Jobs that said MobileMe will, “get a lot better in 2011.”

    Mr. Jobs’ statement touched off the rumor mill that MobileMe would get new services, become free to compete with other offerings from Google, DropBox, and the like, or get a new mix of “free-mium” options.

    With the introduction of iOS 4.2.1, Apple chose to make the Find My iPhone service free to their iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch customers.  It is a great feature for any iOS device owners, specifically for iPhone owners.  Again, this change to MobileMe, which allowed anyone with an iOS device and an Apple ID account could now use the service which typically required a $99 annual subscription to use.

    Most recently, Apple stopped shipping boxed “copies” of MobileMe to their retail stores and authorized resellers.  Many people, myself included, thought that this change signaled the impending switch to a free service or some other free or build your own package service offering for MobileMe.

    Today, TUAW.com has a report up that Apple could be changing the way you pay for MobileMe, which sounds like MobileMe isn’t going to be a completely free service.

    Up until now, I haven’t feel a need to have a MobileMe account, a side from the Find My iPad app.  Having already made the decision to switch from my Palm Pre to an iPhone 5 this year, I am revisiting my decision to subscribe to MobileMe or not.  With two MacBooks, and iPad, and a new iPhone 5 in the cards for this year, albeit maybe later than I planned, a MobileMe subscription looks to be a good way to keep all of my Apple gear in sync.

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  • apple,  ios,  iphone,  mac,  mac os x,  macbook pro

    Apple WWDC To Be Held June 6 – 10

    March 29, 2011 /

     Today Apple announced that their annual developer’s conference, World Wide Developer Conference, will be held June 6 – 10 in San Francisco this year.

    Tickets to the iOS and Mac OS X developer conference sold out in less than 12 hours.

    For fans, however, today’s announcement might disappoint.  Apple is clearly sending us a signal to set our expectations as we head into the summer event: this year’s WWDC will not feature any new hardware announcements.  The tag line for this year’s event is, “Join us for a preview of iOS and Mac OS X.”

    No new Macs.  No new iPhones.  Nada.

    This year’s event will feature Mac OS X and iOS.  Some rumors circulating around the Internet say that Apple may expand on their future plans for iOS 5 and the revamp for MobileMe which could include new streaming options for iTunes and a digital document “locker” for Mac OS X and your iTunes purchases.

    Those of us who were expecting to buy a new iPhone 5 this June or July, should reset their expectations for new iPhone hardware between late September and the end of the year.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  touch

    Apple Releases iOS 4.3.1 Update

    March 27, 2011 /

    On Friday evening, Apple released a minor update to iOS, 4.3.1.  The update address the following issues:

    • Fixes an occasional graphics glitch on iPod touch (4th generation)
    • Resolves bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks
    • Fixes image flicker when using Apple Digital AV Adapter with some TVs
    • Resolves an issue authenticating with some enterprise web services

    Notably, the CDMA iPhone 4 for Verizon and the iPad 2 did not receive the update.

    I have been using iOS 4.3.1 since Friday evening when it was released and I have not noticed any changes for better or worse.  Some people have claimed that the battery life on their iPhone 4 was decreased after applying the iOS 4.3 update on March 9.

    The update is also rumored to address a security flaw uncovered during the security and hacking event Pwn2Own, which too place earlier this month.

    The software update is available now for most current model iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models.   

    To upgrade your iDevice, make sure that you are running the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC, and then connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and follow the on screen directions.

    Need Help Upgrading to iOS 4.3.1?  Check out our iOS upgrade directions!

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  • apple,  disney

    Photo of Apple CEO Steve Jobs – With a Collar?!

    March 24, 2011 /

     We all get it – Apple isn’t about pinstripe suits, and Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs wears a black turtleneck shirt and jeans.  He wears it to work, during keynote speeches, and when meeting with government officials.

    I found the above photo on 9To5Mac.com, which shows Disney CEO Bob Iger talking to Apple CEO Steve Jobs – wearing a black shirt with a collar!

    You can read the article over at 9To5Mac.com.

    [Via 9To5Mac.com…]

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  • apple,  iphone,  rumors,  sprint

    Ya, I Wish!

    March 22, 2011 /

    Unfortunately, Sprint isn’t working with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Now Network; at least that we know of.  For now, this modified photo of the iPhone will have to do.

    And while we’re waiting, check out some of the Sprint buy out/merger ideas that 9To5Mac.com has up on their site today.

    [Via 9To5Mac.com…]

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  • apple,  mac,  mac os x,  macbook pro

    Apple Posts Mac OS X 10.6.7 Update

    March 22, 2011 /

    Today, Apple has released Mac OS X 10.6.7, the latest service pack update for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

    In addition to numerous minor bug fixes, Mac OS X 10.6.7 also improves the reliability of the Back to My Mac feature (requires a MobileMe account, $99/year and rumored to be going free later this year), corrects an issues with transferring files to Windows PCs and Servers using the SMB protocol, and lastly, corrects some Mac App Store  bugs.

    Mac OS X 10.6.7 is available now by running the Software Update control panel in the Settings application.

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  • apple,  google,  microsoft,  rumors

    Apple Continues to Offer Support to Employees in Japan

    March 18, 2011 /

    Following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and with the seemingly imminent threat of an unimaginable nuclear disaster, only one technology company is brave enough to stand up an offer the kind of help their employee need.

    Today, a reported email from Apple CEO Steve Jobs was sent to the company’s employees in Japan offering to help them in their time of national crisis.

    “To Our Team in Japan,

    We have all been following the unfolding disaster in Japan. Our hearts go out to you and your families, as well as all of your countrymen who have been touched by this tragedy.

    If you need time or resources to visit or care for your families, please see HR and we will help you. If you are aware of any supplies that are needed, please also tell HR and we will do what we can to arrange delivery.

    Again, our hearts go out to you during this unimaginable crisis.

    Please stay safe.

    Steve and the entire Executive Team”

    While still unauthenticated, this really seems like the kind of thing that Apple would do for their employees and their families in Japan.

    I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m an Apple fanboy, but I have to ask, where are Microsoft and Google?  Surely they can offer to do the same for their employees?

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  • android,  droid,  facebook,  google

    Facebook for Android Get Updated to 1.5.2

    March 16, 2011 /

    The Facebook client for smartphones running Google’s Android operating system got pushed up to version 1.5.2 today.

    New photo features have been included in the latest build allowing you to upload photos to your friend’s walls and groups.  Improvements to landscape mode and security are always welcome.

    Ready to update your Droid?  Tap the Android Market icon on your device to get the update, which is available now.

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  • hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    HP: Still No webOS 2 Update for Sprint Pre Customers

    March 13, 2011 /

    It has been almost four months since HP/Palm introduced the world to webOS 2, and there is still no love for Sprint Pre customers.

    Anyone who has purchased a Sprint Pre, either on launch day or afterword, was told by HP, then still Palm, that webOS 2 would be coming to all current webOS devices; the Pre 2 and earlier, which, we believed to also include the Pixi line of smartphones.

    After HP’s acquision of Palm was completed, things changed a bit, and HP told Sprint Pre customers that a webOS 2 update was not coming as an OTA update and that in the coming weeks “alternate plans” would be made.  No details have been shared yet.  No updates have been released yet.  No new webOS phones have been announced with availability on Sprint.

    Winning!

    To check your eligibility for a webOS 2 update or for details on HP’s “alternate plans” for you, check out the HP webOS info page.

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