Home / tuaw.com rss archive / September-06-2007


Pro Application Support 4.0.2
Filed under: Software, Video, Software Update, AppleAttention Final Cut Studio users, Apple has just released Pro Application Support 4.0.2 which, 'addresses issues with keyboard interface reliability for Apple's professional applications and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio.'Keyboard shortcuts are very important for the video types out there, so I am guess this is a must have update.Thanks, macbadger.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why did Apple drop the price?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, Deals, iPhone I think there's no question by now what the biggest announcement yesterday was. The iPod Touch is cool, and the new CoverFlow interface will definitely make some music listeners happy this holiday, but since the end of the announcement, the biggest splash has come from the iPhone's price drop.Why would Apple drop the price of something that was already hitting all the marks they expected to hit? The analysts have already started their breakdown, and if stock prices are any indication, it seems investors are sure Apple is worried (not about competitors obviously, but about expectations), and wants an extra boost. Of course, us Apple fans will disagree-- Apple really does want the iPhone to be "more affordable," and a lower price is icing on an already sweet cake. A lower price doesn't mean desperation-- it's Apple doing what Apple does: breaking the mold and making things better for consumers.Except that if any other company...

iTunes 7.4 breaks iPhone hacks
Filed under: iTunes, Software Update, iPhone The iTunes 7.4 upgrade came as bad news to some iPhone hackers. It "broke" many existing hacks, including jailbreak applications and ringtone installers. But the news is far from bad as developers are quickly working to adapt to the change. Nullriver's AppTapp Installer.app has already been updated and is working with 7.4, according to its developer "lg". Programmers for Breezy and iBrickr are also working on their updates at this time. 7.4 apparently changed several functions that were used to access the iPhone file system but it doesn't appear to be a backlash from Apple or any intentional thwarting of hacker activity.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

POP Takeout lays out social news in MobileSafari
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Odds and ends, Internet Tools, iPhoneSometimes you want a list of what's hot on the social news sites at a quick glance-- an easy-to-access look at the Zeitgeist, if you will. And for those times, there's POP Takeout, a site Wade M put together and sent to us that offers up a quick list of social news headlines from Digg, Reddit, Del.icio.us, Tailrank, and Newsvine, all listed in a site that's easy to browse and right on your iPhone (or iPod Touch-- I guess we should just start saying "in MobileSafari").The only complaint I'd have is that each link goes to the social news site's page for the story, and not the actual link for the story itself. I'd use something like POP Takeout because I don't want to visit Digg or Tailrank, and hitting the link and making me click through causes me to do that anyway.On the other hand, if I worked for Digg, I'd have a serious problem with someone listing my articles and not providing a link through to the site--...

Found Footage: 1, 2, 3, 4 and many more new Nanos
Filed under: iPod Family, Multimedia, Video, Found FootageHere's the ad for the new iPod Nano, (also available in QuickTime on Apple.com) which I still think doesn't look that great (the Nano, not the ad). I mean yeah, it's super cute and tiny, and it is extremely awesome to have a screen like that (with its 204ppi) playing video on a Nano. But it's just so... stubby and squished.Still, Apple makes up for it by using the best song off of Feist's latest album, and the video that goes with it. Not quite as iconic (or out-there) as Orba Squara, but it is a great tune.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Meridian Iris HD upscaling iPod Dock
Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family, VideoPlaylist is reporting that specialty audio equipment maker Meridian is planning to release the Iris universal iPod Dock with a built-in HD video upscaler. Using Marvell's Qdeo digital processing engine the device will upscale iPod video to 1080p (HDMI) or 720p (component) as well as feature digital (optical) and analog audio. Considering that the iPod's TV out resolution is limited to VGA (640x480) this could be a major improvement. On the other hand, upscalers can only do so much--there's just not that much data there to begin with--so it's still going to be a far cry from true HDTV. Personally I'd be quite curious to see what its output looks like when he device ships in November.The Iris iPod Dock will sell for $379 when it's released in November.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia and Apple both target price drop searchers
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhoneIn among all of the furor about the big iPhone price drop yesterday, there is, of course, marketers trying to ply both sides. Nokia was first with the Google ad you see above, in the results page for "iphone price drop"-- they called out early adopters and tried to lure them to something called Mosh, apparently some kind of social network. I really doubt any iPhone users would join a Nokia social network, even if they were unhappy about the price drop, but nice try Nokia.And then Apple came up with a little plan of their own. As you can see on the right, they wrote their own "late adopter" Google ad, cheering on folks who purposely waited for an iPhone price drop (like yours truly-- OK, it was so much on purpose as it was being cheap, but still).Now, most of the tipsters who let us know about this (thanks everyone!) were pretty unhappy that Apple so clearly targeted folks who waited, but that whole $100 rebate thing probably eases...

VisualHub updated to support new iPods
Filed under: iPod Family, Software, VideoRegular readers know that we're big fans of VisualHub here at TUAW. It's generally the easiest and quickest way to convert video from one format to another, particularly for playing on our favorite Apple hardware. Techspansion is really on the ball and today released version 1.27 adding video support for the new iPod nanos and classics. The new release adds presets for the new iPods, and also includes a "universal preset designed to be compatible with all Apple video devices at the highest quality possible."This is a free update for registered users. For everyone else, VisualHub remains $23.32 and a demo is available [via Macworld]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iLounge posts iPod Classic, iPod nano unboxing pictures
Filed under: iPod Family, Cult of Mac, AppleOur good friends at iLounge have gotten their hands on some brand new iPod Classics (both colors) and iPod nanos (all 5 colors) and did what any self respecting member of the Mac web would do: posted a bunch of unboxing pictures on Flickr.The iPod Classic comes in a box very much like the one the iPhone comes in (economies of scale I imagine) while the nano comes in a clear container to show off the nifty colors.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0 Beta 2
Filed under: Software, Internet ToolsAfter months of waiting Yahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0 Beta 2 is now available for download. New in this version of the beta are: Tabbed conversations, as pictured above Access to Yahoo! Chat rooms More emoticons (to combat those times when there isn't an emoticon available to express how you're feeling) Better Webcam and file transfer performance Message archivingYahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0 Beta 2 requires OS X 10.4, but it is free. I had the pleasure of meeting with the Yahoo! Messenger team a few times, and I know they are Mac users and are very receptive to user input. If there is anything you want to see in Messenger sound off in the comments.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ModMyiPhone posts native iPhone app list
Filed under: iPod Family, Software, iPhoneWebsite ModmyiPhone recently posted an exhaustive list of native iPhone Applications. Each listing offer both a features and screen shot page plus a link to the developer site. If you'd like to discover what applications are available for iPhone and what those applications do, the ModMyiPhone list is an excellent jumping off point.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple giving early iPhone buyers $100 credit
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhoneYou were not happy, and Steve Jobs listened. Apple has posted an Open Letter from Steve (yet another blog post, Steve? When are you going to make it official? You know, we are looking for bloggers... I'm just saying) in which Steve acknowledges that the iPhone price reduction was the right thing to do, but that Apple needs to think about those who bought an iPhone early on and not just those who will buy one during the holiday season.Apple will be offering a $100 credit to the Apple Store (both online and physical stores) for anyone who purchased an iPhone before the break reduction and who hasn't received any other kinds of credit (i.e. if you get a refund from Apple or AT&T already you won't get another sawbuck). While I still think the reaction to the price reduction was way overblown, this is a great example of Apple listening to their customers and trying to make the situation right.Details are still being worked out,...

Big Bang releases web-based iPhone Sudoku
Filed under: Gaming, Freeware, iPhoneGallery: SudokuA few weeks ago, PopCap released Bejeweled for iPhone. Today, Freeverse follows their lead, releasing iPhone Sudoku. The game brings the same great Big Bang interface you've come to expect and love. Sol is this game's host, with all his fire-filled glory. The game is relatively easy to play, although I find the buttons a little small in portrait mode and the screen needs continual scrolling in landscape mode. That aside, a big thank you to Freeverse/Big Bang for this nice gift.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Amex mulls iPhone purchase rebate policy
Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPod Family, iPhoneReaders report that calls to the American Express Return Protection line (1-800-297-8019) are being met with mixed results. Some readers say they are now accepting claims concerning the $200 dollar iPhone price drop, others have had less luck When I called, I was told that customers would be sent to a claims examiner to determine whether the difference in purchase price would be covered.I placed a call to Molly Faust, the American Express Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for U.S. Consumer Card and Customer Service Delivery. She told me that she was already looking into this matter and promised to get back to me.According to one TUAW reader, a protection-line operator said "the number of calls we've received about this is utterly insane."More as this develops.Permalink | Email this | Comments

SoundSource updated to 1.3, Mac Pro gets headphone autoswitch
Filed under: Cool tools, Freeware, Mac ProOver at the Rogue Amoeba blog there's a post announcing the release of SoundSource 1.3, an update to the handy menubar sound settings utility. I didn't know this, but the new Mac Pros apparently do not automatically switch to the headphone port when you plug in a pair of cans. SoundSource 1.3 brings this feature to the Mac Pro. For those of us not lucky enough to be running a Pro there's not a lot new (besides the icon), but SoundSource remains an essential tool for anyone with a number of different audio inputs and/or outputs.SoundSource remains a free download from Rogue Amoeba.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iTunes 7.4: A First Look
Filed under: iTS, iTunesGallery: iTunes 7.4There's surprisingly little to report about the iTunes 7.4 update. Some has appeared but so far the store does not yet support Ringtone purchase or editing (that's still coming soon). I sorted through the iTunes string files to put together this collection of strings related to the new Ringtone functions.Some readers have reported that iTunes 7.4 installation reset their preferences. You may want to check your Shopping Cart/1-Click purchase options to make sure they haven't been overwritten. Mine were fine.Notice any other changes to iTunes? Let us know in the comments.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Found Footage: Quicksilver Google Tech Talk
Filed under: Software, Found Footage We here at TUAW are big fans of Quicksilver, the inscrutable OS X utility that you really have to use to understand (and even then some folks still don't get it). The developer of Quicksilver, Nicholas Jitkoff, recently gave a Tech Talk at his employer (some search company or another) in which he explains Quicksilver and the thought process behind its development.[via 43Folders]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coffee Table Mac?
Filed under: Hardware, Odds and endsRemember the Microsoft Surface? It was a prototype device bringing an iPhone-like touch interface to a full sized table computer. The specialty home automation vendor Savant Systems has announced the "Apple-based" "ROSIE Coffee Table Touchpanel Controller." Apparently it duplicates the functionality of the company's in-wall touch-screen controllers, but in a 40" display mounted into the top of a coffee table. They don't specify in what way it's "Apple-based," but I would guess this thing probably integrates a Mac mini and one of the main selling points is its iTunes integration. They also don't say anything about it being multi-touch, so I suspect it's just a really big touchscreen. At the moment this thing is still vapor-ware, and of course there's no pricing info, but I wouldn't expect something like this to come cheap.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jobs on iPhone price drop: "That's technology."
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Steve Jobs, Apple, iPhoneMany TUAW readers are a little upset with Apple for dropping the price of the iPhone by $200 after only two months on the market. I would like to say that Steve Jobs feels your pain, but according to this interview with USA Today it is clear that he doesn't. When asked about the price drop and what he would say to customers who bought the iPhone at the original price he replied, 'That's technology. If they bought it this morning, they should go back to where they bought it and talk to them. If they bought it a month ago, well, that's what happens in technology.'As someone who bought an iPhone not too long ago, I actually agree with Steve. We all knew that the price of the iPhone would be coming down sooner or later, so I am not upset in the least. I am sure the price of the iPhone will continue to go down, much as it has for the iPod, and I'm ok with that.The interview also covers whether or not the Beatles...

Push-to-Talk developer pack
Filed under: Internet Tools, iPhoneThe barriers to iPhone-to-iPhone communication are quickly dropping away. Yesterday I put together a push-to-talk developer pack in the spirit of "just add water", or in this case, "just add point-to-point data transfer". It includes a sample app and code for recording and playing back audio as well as a record-time limiter that will override any push behavior if a message goes on for too long.What it needs is the inter-iPhone technology. I throw this kit into the wild. Let's see what comes back.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mac BU slowly releasing Office 2008 details
Filed under: SoftwareMicrosoft Office: no matter what your feelings are about Microsoft as an entity there is no denying that their eponymous office suite is an important application for the Mac. Sadly, the newest version, Office 2008 for the Mac, has hit some bumps along the development path and has been delayed until January 2008 (one assumes Macworld 2008 will be its coming out party). There is a limited beta going on, but few have been invited to participate and the only glimpse into the next version of Office that most Mac users have had has been right here on TUAW with our gallery of screenshots from Macworld 2007 (which, I should point out, Microsoft was nice enough to provide to us).Now comes word that the Mac BU (that's the Microsoft Mac Business Unit, which is responsible for most Mac software that comes from Microsoft) has started to post some new tidbits about Office 2008 for the Mac on the Mac Mojo Blog. They'll be sharing more and more info as the ship date gets...

iTunes 7.4 is available
Filed under: iTS, Software, iTunesAfter a brief delay, iTunes 7.4 is finally available for download. We knew this version would include ringtones, but here's the official word from Apple:"With iTunes 7.4, sync your favorite music and more with the new iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod touch, plus create custom ringtones exclusively for iPhone with many of your favorite songs purchased from the iTunes Store. You can now also play purchased videos with closed captioning (when available), easily rate your favorite albums from one to five stars, and watch videos at a larger size inside the iTunes window."Go and get it, music fans!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top Chef challenge winner gets MacBook Pro
Filed under: Odds and endsIf you're a fan of Bravo's Top Chef and you haven't watched last night's episode yet, I won't spoil it by telling you who won the challenge and who got eliminated. I will tell you, however, that the elimination winner received a MacBook Pro 17" as the award for the best performance in the challenge. Not too shabby.Considering the consistently high level of product placement on Bravo's shows, it's not all that surprising to see a Mac in the mix -- style maven Tim Gunn even sports a MacBook Pro on the host desk for his new show. What I wasn't expecting was the high level of enthusiasm the winner showed for the prize -- jumping up and down with glee, and the other chefs writhing in disappointment. Very nice.Thanks, Heidi.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments