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tuaw.com rss archive / September-27-2007
Apple Geniuses are reportedly unbricking iPhones
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Bad Apple, iPhoneApple continues posting warning signs around their stores, cautioning customers that unlocked and modded iPhones fall outside their warranty. And at the same time, Apple Geniuses around the country quietly are reportedly accepting bricked iphones, slipping into the back and returning with functioning units.We're not sure whether they're doing a low-level reflash or just swapping units out. We have reports of at least four customers who walked in with iBricks and walked out with iPhones. It is unclear at this time whether these customers unlocked their iPhones or not--we're also receiving reports of iBricks from people who never unlocked or modded their units.Thanks to Ronald Ishak and "Martyn".Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
iWeb 2.0.2 is available
Filed under: iLife, Internet ToolsThe folks at Apple have had a busy day. iWeb 2.0.2 is now available, with the following changes:"This update to iWeb addresses issues with upgrading iWeb 1.x websites, and fixes some common publishing problems, and supports general compatibility issues."I haven't experienced any issues with iWeb. If you have - and if this update provides the fix - let us know.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Keynote, Pages and Numbers updates available
Filed under: Software, iWorkApple keeps the updates coming with new versions of Keynote (version 4.0.1), Pages (version 3.0.1) and Numbers (1.0.1). The description of each is typically cryptic. According to Apple... The Keynote update primarily addresses issues with builds and performance. The Pages update update primarily addresses issues with change tracking and performance. The Numbers update primarily addresses issues with tables and performance.Sound good? If you've purchased iWork '08, launch software update.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Apple posts video about iPhone 1.1.1
Filed under: Video, Apple, iPhoneJust in case you don't have an iPhone, or have one of those naughty unlocked iPhones, and want to see what all the fuss is about the iPhone 1.1.1 firmware update Apple has posted a video tour that highlights all the new features. The video even features the same dude as the original iPhone video tour.I am all for Apple releasing all these cool video tours, and I hope this is just a taste of what we'll see with feature Apple releases (Leopard anyone?).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
EFI Firmware Update for Mac Pro, Core Duo 2 Macs
Filed under: iMac, Software Update, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBook, Mac ProApple is pumping out lots of firmware updates today. Here are the latest for Macs: iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.2 Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2 MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.1 MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.4 Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.0Most of the firmwares are targeted at improving performance with Intel Core 2 Duo processors (and Xeon procs in the case of the Xserve) as well as fixing issues with Bootcamp. The Mac Pro update also addresses some issues with the fans.Thanks to everyone who sent these in.Permalink | Email this | Comments
TUAW Talkcast #8: The week in review
Filed under: PodcastsOur regular Sunday night talkcast featured bloggers Mat Lu and Mike Schramm, along with special guest Kai Cherry, covering the week's most popular stories (including the iPhone unlock) and bringing up a few overlooked gems. We've changed production tech for this show, going with Audio Hijack and Skype prior to bridging into the live TalkShoe session, so I hope the final product reflects the new approach. The show clocks in at 28 MB and 41 minutes; you can download it directly here, or pick it up in our RSS & iTunes feeds (the show is also streamable over at Talkshoe).The fine folks who joined us live got a bonus 20 minute aftershow, including more tips and tricks plus a selection of 80s hit songs. One correction to make: I misattributed CNET's walkthrough of the tvrss.net/Miro combination for television downloads to Wired (not to mention that I said tvrss.com instead of .net... sorry!). If you hear other gaffes please let me know.We'll have a guest...
iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store for iPhone
Filed under: iTS, iPhoneOur weeks of obsessively checking for iPhone updates were rewarded today with software version 1.1.1. There are several changes, like a new Calculator icon (it now matches that of the iPod touch) and additional text message alert sounds.The big news for iPhone users, however (those that survived the update, that is), is the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Here are my impressions after spending a few minutes with it.Look and FeelUpon first launch, you're brought to the main screen. I had an excellent Wi-Fi connection and the store came up very quickly. Across the top are three buttons: "New Releases," "What's Hot" and "Genres." Below that are two banner ads and a scroll-able list of top releases. Flipping through the list was snappy, though it did take a second or two to draw album art towards the bottom of the list.At the very bottom of the screen are four icons: "Featured," "Top Tens," "Search" and "Downloads."It feels much snappier than I expected. The album...
Moment of Truth: iPhone Software 1.1.1 is out
Filed under: Software Update, iPhoneEarlier in the week, Apple's press release about how future software updates might well brick SIM-unlocked iPhones lit something of a fire - especially as the release stated "Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update, containing many new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, later this week."It's now later in the week, and the moment of truth for those who chose to unlock their SIMs, as the 152MB v1.1.1 update is now available via the iTunes Auto-Update. If you were one of the adventurous ones, the general consensus is to hold off from upgrading as the iPhone Dev Team have promised a re-locking tool within a week that should prevent your iPhone becoming an overpriced paperweight and allow you to enjoy the new iTunes Wi-Fi Store (and more) on your iPhone.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!Permalink | Email this | Comments
After the storm: iPhone & the U.K.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, AppleSeptember 18th was perhaps one of the most hotly-anticipated days for us Apple-loving Brits. The iPhone, arguably one of the most hyped and hotly anticipated mobile phone handsets, was rumoured to be coming to our fair isle. Our resident iPhone code-guru Erica posted after the event on the most disappointing aspect of the announcement - the lack of 3G despite its prevalence this side of the pond, the contract pricing, and the 30% coverage of O2 EDGE services in the U.K. Let's take a look at these concerns, and see whether they are unfounded.Continue reading After the storm: iPhone & the U.K.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Widget Watch: Refurb Store
Filed under: Retail, Widget Watch, DealsI've always maintained that a good Dashboard widget should be simple with a well-defined, useful purpose that requires it to be close at hand. The Refurb Store widget meets my desiderata perfectly. All it does is display the latest deals from the US Apple Store Special Deals section on refurbished equipment. Having the deals in the Dashboard is a great way to keep on top of new stuff so you can jump right on them when they appear. I've always had good luck with refurbished stuff from Apple, all of which carries Apple's normal warranty.The Refurb Store widget is a free download from Widgetinfo.Thanks Simo!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Possible Solution to the notMac Challenge
Filed under: Software, Internet ToolsLate last year we mentioned the notMac Challenge. Basically they were offering a largish sum of money (now upwards of 8 grand) for anyone who could duplicate the functionality of .mac for free. Now finally Ben Spink of CrushFTP has stepped to the plate with a possible solution, and they're calling for testers. The initial reports (including from one of our tipsters) seem promising, but more real-world testing is needed to assure that Ben has met the challenge conditions (with slight modification). So if you need .mac functionality, but balk at the price, this may very well be worth checking out.The file for testing is available (dmg link) from Ben's server. Be sure to check out the discussion thread first, however.Just for the record, Mark/Space offers a similar commercial product SyncTogether, but it sells for $49.95.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Secure your Mac: SecuriKey USB dongle
Filed under: Peripherals, SecurityAs we recently mentioned with regards to the newly available Mac support for the Eikon USB fingerprint scanner, hardware security peripherals on the Mac have been rather thin on the ground. But coming on the heels of the Eikon, GT Security has announced an update to their SecuriKey USB security dongle for Mac which adds encrypted Volume support. Basically the SecuriKey software creates a virtual secure Volume protected by AES 128-bit encryption on which you keep your sensitive data. To access that Volume all you have to do is plug in the USB dongle (which they call a "token"). If you remove the dongle the Mac will reset to the login screen. It's a lot like Knox but locked via a hardware key instead of a password.The SecuriKey Professional Edition is $129.99; there's a software only upgrade for $50 if you should already have one of the dongles.[via MacNN]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Target sells a pink Shuffle for Breast Cancer Foundation
Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family, Retail, Odds and endsEngadget points out that Target is now selling a hot pink iPod shuffle, branded as a Special Edition with a free $15 iTunes gift card, and a portion of the proceeds going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Pretty good deal, considering the price is the same as all the other shuffles, just $79.Engadget says the offer is in stores only, and sure enough, while Target's web site has a hot pink shuffle, it doesn't look at all like the same one, and nothing is mentioned about the Foundation. If you've been planning on grabbing a new shuffle, here's the one you want.Thanks, Chris!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Path Finder 4.8 to bring per-folder settings
Filed under: SoftwareOver at the Cocoatech blog they've announced that the forthcoming version 4.8 of Path Finder will finally have one of the most long-requested features: per-folder settings. Basically what this means is that Path Finder will remember particular view settings (e.g. icon, list, column, etc.) for different folders. So you could keep your ~/Pictures folder in icon view, your ~/Documents folder in list view, and your ~/Music folder in column view and it would automatically remember your preferred view whenever you navigate to that folder in Path Finder. All of these preferences are stored in Core Data and thus Path Finder does not leave annoying hidden files (like the Finder's .DS_Store) in the file system.In addition, the 4.8 upgrade will bring interface improvements to move closer to the Unified style that is becoming de rigueur for new Mac applications. The 4.8 update is supposed to be available "very soon" and will be free to registered users of Path Finder...