• apple,  ios,  mac os x

    AppleSeed: Apple’s Customer Software Testing Program

    May 20, 2012 /

    Earlier today, I learned of “AppleSeed,” Apple’s customer software testing program from 9To5Mac.com.

    AppleSeed is an invitation only program where customers are selected by Apple to participate in voluntary testing of new software.  So, no, you can’t register or submit your name into a pool of applicants.  (I’ve checked the FAQs just to be sure.)

    “Apple Software Customer Seeding is a program where customers are invited to test pre-release software products in order to provide Apple Software Engineering with real-world quality and usability feedback.”

    Once you have been accepted into the software testing program, you are “strongly [urged] to test the software and [we] require your feedback. A variety of reporting tools are offered providing engineering with functional data. Failure to actively participate may disqualify you from future seeding programs.”  In other words, Apple expects you to work hard for your exclusive access to software that is still under development.

    Back in the heady days of Palm, in all of it’s variations, I was a vocal advocate in both public and private forms to urge Palm to setup such a program as a means to help squash software bugs in the Palm OS, and later, webOS software.  I’m glad to see that Apple has setup a program like AppleSeed, even if I’m not contributing to it.

    To learn more about AppleSeed, check out the Apple website.

    [Via 9To5Mac.com…]

    Read More
  • apple,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Surprise! Apple Releases iOS 5.1.1!

    May 8, 2012 /

    I was completely unprepared for what I will call today’s surprise arrival of iOS 5.1.1.

    Available for the iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, iPod touch 4th and 3rd generation, and all three generations of the insanely popular iPad, iOS 5.1.1 addresses the following five areas:

    • Improves the reliability of HDR photos taken from the Lock Screen shortcut
    • Addresses a bug with the new iPad (3rd generation) switching between 2G and 3G networks
    • Corrects bugs in AirPlay
    • Improves the reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List items
    • Resolves an issue where an “Unable to purchase” alert is displayed after a successful purchase

    You can install the update in one of two ways: directly from your iOS 5.x device or by syncing your iDevice with a Mac or PC running the latest version of iTunes.

    To perform the quicker “delta” update over the air right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, do the following:

    1. Tap the Settings icon.
    2. Tap General.
    3. Tap Software Update.
    4. Tap Download and Install.
    5. Follow the on screen directions.

    Read More