Home / tuaw.com rss archive / September-28-2007


A look at Leopard's iTunes visualizers
Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends, iTunes, LeopardMac Rumors has posted screenshots of three new iTunes visualizers coming in Leopard (or sooner, if they're included in the upcoming update). They're called Lathe, Jelly, and Stix-- Lathe is a couple of particle fountains that "pulsate" to the bass notes, Jelly a kalediscope of little colored lights, and Stix (above) is a beam of light that shoots around on what looks like a reflective disco floor.Seeing just screenshots of these doesn't do it, of course-- the whole thing depends on how well it moves with the music. And I have to say-- I hardly ever use the visualization functions on any mp3 player I've ever had. Sometimes during a party I'll turn it on, but even then eventually people turn it off and start browsing my iTunes collection anyway.Still, every piece of news about Leopard means we're one step closer to release. New visualizers may just be visualizers, but at least they're new! Just a month left!Read&nbsp...

Growl 1.1.1 available now
Filed under: OS, Software, Cool toolsThe latest version of Growl, the all-in-one notification app, has been released. 1.1.1 is available for download right now over on the site.New to this version, you'll find speedier notifications, an improved Music Video style (which was one of the main complaints with the last release), improved iTunes notifications, and a few other bugfixes and improvements. Not a huge release by any means, but considering how much Growl pops up on my screen, even the little stuff matters.Thanks, Peter!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AOL Desktop for Mac Beta 1
Filed under: SoftwareAOL, the parent company of Weblogs, Inc of which TUAW is a part (translation: AOL is our loving corporate overlord), has done something it hasn't done in 5 years: release some new Mac code. AOL Desktop for Mac Beta 1 is out and about, and ready for business.What's new in this version, you ask? Well, it launches quickly, it uses tabs, you can check a number of different email accounts (in addition to your AOL account), AIM is built right in, and it is customizable. It has that unmistakable AOL look to it (which is either a good thing, or a bad thing depending on who ask) and it was fairly snappy on my iMac. I wasn't able to test out all the features because I don't actually have an AOL account myself, but it is in beta and that means there are bugs to be encountered.I'm sure a small number of Mac users are happy to see this release, but I'm more anxious for an updated version of AIM. Mac users are a full 2 versions behind our PC friends on that front (though...

New QuickBooks for Mac coming in 2008
Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, LeopardQuickBooks 2008 apparently was released this week by Inuit-- unfortunately, this makes the release of the Windows client only. Macworld, however, is reporting that if QuickBooks is your thing, you've only got a few more months to wait. Intuit is still planning to release a version of QB 2008 for Mac... in 2008 itself.The quote comes from the Intuit FAQ for Mac, which says basically that they're waiting for Leopard to reveal itself before they release their own software. Not a bad reason for delay, I guess, but I really wonder what extra features Inuit might include in their software that would require Leopard to work. Will QuickBooks really be using any of the Core Image stuff to beef up their presentations and spreadsheets? Doubtful, but it would be awesome if they did.At any rate, Intuit says that if you need QuickBooks right now, there's always the 2007 version, and to stay tuned for everything else, including a release date for...

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store: 2 quick notes
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, iPhoneMy pristine, non-hacked iPhone (I can just sense Erica rolling her eyes at the lack of cool stuff on my iPhone) updated to the 1.1.1 firmware without a hitch. Much like our very own Dave Caolo I quickly purchased an album using the iTunes Wi-Fi Store (this album, for those curious) and I found the experience to be quite pleasant indeed (I wonder when Amazon will have an iPhone version of Amazon MP3? Probably not any time soon, sadly).Here are two quick notes that will answer a few questions folks have asked me: You can buy iTunes Plus tracks via the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, though iTunes Plus has to be turned on in your iTunes account. If you have iTunes credits (from a gift card, or iTunes card) they will be applied to your purchase, but the iTunes Wi-Fi Store UI doesn't reflect that (I had 5 bucks left on the $25 iTunes card I bought with a portion of my $100 credit. The Wi-Fi store showed the full cost of the album I bought,...

Beta Beat: Packrat developer seeks beta users
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Cool tools, Productivity, Beta BeatRod over at Infinite NIL is looking to test the latest version of Packrat (the offline client for Backpack, 37 Signals' online organization software), and if you turn out to be a "useful" tester, there could be a free license in it for you.The new version will synch right up with the latest build of Backpack, and Rod says that it will now display your data from Backpack in the same order inside Packrat, a feature much called-for by its users. There's no release date on the new version, obviously, yet, but if you jump in as a beta tester and get issues noticed and fixed, we could be looking at it sooner than later.Rod's email is over on the site. Drop him a line and be as helpful as you can-- he's offering free license to folks who help him even out the seams in the new software.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

JamanTV for Apple TV
Filed under: Hacks, Apple TVA little while back we mentioned the Navizon "virtual GPS" application for the iPhone, which was one of the first commercial third-party applications for the iPhone which depended on the iPhone hacks. Of course, Navizon is now presumably broken along with the rest of the iPhone hacks. It seems that the online international and indie movie rental company Jaman is tempting fate with a forthcoming plugin for the Apple TV that will similarly depend on a hack to be installed. The guys over at Apple TV Hacks got an interesting sneak peak at the JamanTV player. The Jaman system requires the user to install the Jaman software on their computer (which functions something like iTunes), and then install the JamanTV plugin onto the Apple TV via a patchstick (this is a USB flash drive that patches the Apple TV without requiring you to open the box). The JamanTV player then syncs to the Jaman software on the Mac (or PC). So basically you rent the movies from your...

NY Daily News declares iPod Public Enemy #1
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, FeaturesThe NY Daily News is a sober organ, not given to rank hyperbole or overstatement like that other NYC tabloid on the right. (I'm kidding -- the News and the Post are equally nutty.) That said, it's troubling to find a note of hysteria in two stories today about the violent side of iPod ownership.New York City was the scene of the tragic 2005 murder of a Brooklyn teenager in an iPod robbery, but since then the NYPD and transit officials have begun to crack down on iPod theft and it seemed that matters were improving. Not so, says the News. "New FBI stats indicate the teenage obsession with [iPods] has triggered a jump in robberies, including some resulting in murder," reads the story, headlined "Apple's iPod blamed for nationwide crime rise." That's not incendiary at all!Continue reading NY Daily News declares iPod Public Enemy #1Read | Read | Permalink | Email this |&a...

Wherefore art thou, Final Cut Server?
Filed under: Software, Video, AppleA casual glance at the calendar shows that autumn has once again arrived for the Northern Hemisphere, and as the leaves begin to turn and the weather turns colder, it feels like something's missing. Kids back to school? Check. Days getting shorter? Check. Final Cut Server shipped? Uh...Yes, the product formerly known as artbox (Apple acquired developer Proximity at the end of 2006) was supposed to be shipping to customers "this summer" according to the NAB announcement that eagle-eyed reader Alex pointed out to us. Ain't no summer no more, no how, so for those of us eagerly waiting for a Mac-friendly, fully integrated Final Cut DAM solution at a reasonable price, now begins the period of teeth-grinding frustration.Is FCS suffering from Leoparditis? Is it just taking longer than expected to bring the artbox code up to Apple standards? Either way, if you're waiting for FCS or have found something else to take its spot, let us know.Thanks AlexRead&...

The Cloud offers UK iPod touch users low cost Wi-Fi access
Filed under: iPod Family, iPhoneThe Cloud, which is an awesomely named independent Wi-Fi network in Europe, today announced a special plan made just for iPod touches. The Cloud Unlimited Music gives iPod touch users unlimited access to the Clouds extensive network of Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK for £3.99 per month.You might wonder why this is exclusive to the iPod touch, why not let iPhone users in on the fun? That's because the iPhone contract with O2 in the UK includes access to the Cloud (which is very cool indeed, why can't AT&T include something like this in the iPhone data plan?).Visit this website on Monday to register your iPod touch for the Cloud Unlimited Music plan (which includes internet access in addition to access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wired's Easy-Peasy iPhone Lockdown Checklist
Filed under: Bad Apple, Developer, iPhoneApple's hardly been on the charm offensive recently, what with the hard-hitting press release, clarifications from Phill Schiller, and the lockdown of the iPhone 1.1.1 update. So if you're wondering what on earth all the fuss is within the iPhone hacking community, then the folks at Wired have put together a brilliant at-a-glance checklist (based on an original feature list at 9to5mac.com) of all the 'improvements' iPhone software v1.1.1 offers over hacked version v1.0.2 and why folks are up in arms.Of course, the punchline is too good to spoil, so you'll need to click 'Read' below to view the check-list.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BusySync for iCal
Filed under: Software, Leopard, DeveloperWhen it comes to calendar sharing, we're certainly not short of options on the Mac. Do you use the (very excellent) Spanning Sync and use Google Calendar, or look for something a little more industrial and wait for iCal Server to ship with Leopard Server? Whilst both options may be tempting, for users on the same Local Area Network (LAN) there's BusySync, a new product that via the power of Apple's Bonjour technology makes it even easier to share calendars with read / write control.According to the BusyMac website "BusySync lets you share iCal calendars with family and coworkers on a local area network without a dedicated server and with full read/write access". BusySync has just entered Public Beta, with no word on pricing - and as someone who has Bonjour-loving LANs at home and at the office, this is something I'm going to almost certainly be playing with in the coming weeks.[Via Gus Mueller]Read | Permalink |&...

90 Days Later
Filed under: iPhoneWith images of unlocked iPhones dancing in my head, today I gave AT&T a call. I confirmed that I now had had my iPhone account for 90 days in good standing and requested a subsidy unlock for overseas travel. They transfered me to the technical support department, where I chatted with Michael G. a support representative. Michael told me that there were no unlock codes available for the iPhone due to the exclusive agreement between Apple and AT&T. This includes countries like the UK and Germany, where the iPhone would soon be on sale. "We simply do not have unlock codes for them," he confirmed. I would have to use International roaming. He recommended using a cheap disposable phone instead. With my account over 90 days old and in good standing, I was entitled to unlock a phone--even if not the iPhone. He provided an unlock code for my little Motorola disposable. So where does that leave us? Michael suggested that customers send their complaints...

Apple Fan "thrown out" of Glasgow Apple Store
Filed under: Retail, Cult of Mac, Bad Apple, AppleThe anonymous Tartan Podcaster of his eponymous blog writes that he was asked to leave the Glasgow Apple Store after taking pictures of iPods and MacBook Pros. An Apple Store employee informed him that it was illegal to take pictures of Apple products and post them online and indicated that he should leave the store.I doubt the employee had any authority to suggest that take-down notices would soon target Flickr accounts. Regardless, the photos are beautiful. This image of the curving staircase is my absolute favorite.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DIY iFlash for the iPhone
Filed under: Hardware, Hacks, How-tos, ModsReader Joe, he of the Ringtonator program we've posted about before, has sent word of a crazy cool hack-- using LCDs and a broken iPod car charger, he's created what he has dubbed the iFlash-- an external flash device for the iPhone's camera.And it actually works really well. Apparently he used a tact switch, so there's no super coding necessary-- you just hit the button to turn the light on, and then take the picture. But he did hook it up so it's powered by the dock connection, which means all you have to do is keep it in your pocket until you need it, then plug it in and shoot away. Over on his forums, he's posted an entire how-to of the whole thing, from the dissection of the dock connector to the wiring of the LCDs. Pretty slick-- looks like maybe an afternoon's work, and it presents about as good a flash as the iPhone's camera is.Thanks, Joe!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone/iPod touch Remote Control
Filed under: Accessories, Reviews, iPhoneSay what you will about scroll wheels versus touch screens but you can't effectively operate a touch screen from your pocket. Fortunately the iPhone provides decent, and the iPod touch excellent, compatibility with standard iPod accessories like this $6.30 Borgvik remote control from Kai Domain (formerly Fifth Unit). It's labeled as a nano device but works well with both touch and iPhone.Using a remote allows you to operate your iPhone or iPod touch without physically touching the screen. As you can see in the picture here, this remote allows you to to adjust playback volume, play and pauses and navigate between tracks.Of course, if you're using the iPhone earbuds, a remote control isn't particularly necessary. The squeeze control located on the headset wires allows you to pause/play (single squeeze) and skip to the next track (double squeeze). If you prefer to use your own earphones (as I do) or play back through the iPhone speakers...

New iTunes coming, with battery indicator for iPhone
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTunes, Apple, iPhoneWhat's this picture, sent to us by reader Mike, and found on Apple's website? Why, it's a screengrab from iTunes, with a nifty little battery icon right there next to the iPhone listing.Yes, but Mike, I hear you saying, what does that mean? It means, my friends, that a new iTunes update is right around the corner. 7.4.2 doesn't have this icon, and so it's very likely that within the next day or two, we'll see a brand new version of iTunes, complete with this nifty battery icon, and who knows what else.Why Mike, I hear you saying again (I have great hearing), that's terrific! Could this, you say, have anything to do with the recent 1.1.1 iPhone update? Will this coming iTunes update affect, perhaps, my homemade ringtones, or my jailbroken iPhone?To those questions, I don't have solid answers-- the update is probably due out fast, so we'll know soon. But I do, like many of you, have a Magic 8-Ball. I've consulted it, and in...

Free iTunes song for UK SMS users
Filed under: iTS, Tips and tricks, Apple, DealsAlan dropped a quick note about a chance for our UK readers to get a free iTunes song. Those of you overseas may have been complaining that Apple treats you like second class citizens, but Britons, worry not, because they're bribing you with a song. Send an SMS with the words "ROCK," "POP," "LIVE," or "ITUNES" to 85100, and Apple will send you back a code for a free song on the iTunes UK store.The promotion ends on September 30th, so you've got to get it done quick, and this is definitely a YMMV situation. It won't work outside of the UK, and I even tried to send the code using iChat, but no dice -- apparently it has to come from a phone number there. It's not exactly free, either -- as you may have figured out, it's actually the cost of sending and receiving an SMS. If that's more than £0.99, it's not worth it.But if you're in the UK and have an itchy SMS finger, send it along and see what happens.Read | Per...

Secure Your Mac: Untrusted networks and how to deal with them
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Tips and tricks, Airport, SecurityTo tell the unvarnished truth, I have to admit that I'm pretty lax on security for my computers. I don't do anything crazy like open email attachments from people I don't know, and I always double check the address bar of websites before I punch my password in. Even so, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say I put about an effort of 5 into keeping my computers secured. There's a lot more I could do.And so I found Albert Lee's short guide on surfing on untrusted networks very helpful. I've got a web server set up that runs my own website, but I never had any idea how to get all my network traffic running through there. Albert's guide makes that super easy-- this Lifehacker piece explains the basics of surfing with a proxy, and Albert's guide tells you exactly how to do everything on your Mac, and even how to automate the whole process using Applescript. Eventually, you can have it set up so that one double-click will...

Geek immortality is bestowed on one of our own
Filed under: Humor, TUAW BusinessTrue geek heroes are made, not born. Well, the truth is, they're drawn -- by Nitrozac, in the perennial fan favorite Joy of Tech webcomic. The tech luminaries that have cartoon avatars include Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates... and now, disguised as a young Carrie Fisher, our own iPhone-hacking Rebel Alliance undercover leader Erica Sadun. You have to see the full version to really appreciate it. (Might as well play the theme while you read.)I'm not sure where this ranks on Erica's list of life achievements (after all, she was quoted by the Associated Press this week), but it's a nice tribute to her hard work and dedicated efforts on behalf of iPhone users everywhere. From all of us at TUAW, thank you Erica and way to go, Joy of Tech!Thanks David & everyone who sent this in.Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhones still selling like hotcakes?
Despite the notable backlash at some of Apple's questionably-nefarious corporate agendas recently, Blackfriars' Marketing blog notes that iPhones are still selling rather well - and that stock is low in a dozen or so stores. GigaOM is also reporting people are causing noticeable queues at silly hours of the day at the twenty-four hour Fifth Avenue store, just to buy handsets.Of course, the mass-buying could be purely down to people buying plenty of handsets to hack, brick, and re-lock to try and score a feature on Joy of Tech, but the reasons from Blackfriars seem to be slightly more business-orientated. Demand for the iPhone elsewhere in the world - particularly Europe, despite the fact there's now a launch date and pricing for at least some European territories - is clearly a tempting proposition for people looking to make a tidy profit from sending iPhones abroad, and plenty seem to be doing so.Thanks, Mike.Read | Permalink | Email this&nbs...

More "New Newton" rumors
Filed under: Humor, RumorsWhat's more annoying than Chocolate Rain and the pointless Kid Nation uproar? The incessant "Apple is coming out with a new Newton" rumors.Here's one from 2003:"...There's good reason to believe that a jazzy new Newton II will be forthcoming, perhaps in January" (Yup, that's our good friend John Dvorak).Another from 2004:"...[A US company] 'approached Apple willing to buy [the] Newton and relaunch it. They are in ... negotiations with Apple...'"I think we all remember - and would like to forget - the iWalk.Today, AppleInsider is beating this decrepit, old horse. According to their "well-respected sources," a team has been very busy at Apple building a multi-touch handheld successor to the Newton. Sure. In other news, everyone who paid $7500 for a Twentieth Anniversary Mac will receive $100 Apple Store credit, OJ Simpson is Steve Job's personal hitman and the next AppleTV will play Pippin games. Read | Permalink | Email...

New NBC shows are in iTunes Store (sort of)
Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS, iTunesUpdate: As our commenters have pointed out, the two premieres now appearing in the iTunes store -- although broadcast by NBC in the US -- are actually produced by other studios such as Fox and Warner Brothers. Since the online distribution rights are separate from the broadcast rights, it would seem that the content owners are more than happy to have their shows sold in iTunes. Unfortunately for fans of Heroes, Law & Order, The Office and 30 Rock, all those shows are produced by NBC/Universal and they are, as expected, not updating with the current season's content.Original post: When NBC announced their intention to pull their content from the US iTunes Store by December, Apple promised to make that happen much sooner:"Apple has decided to not offer NBC TV shows for the upcoming television season beginning in September."A few hours later, NBC stated that their new shows will be available in the US iTunes Store. Today, I found...

iLife Support 8.1
Filed under: Software Update, AppleiLife '08 users, there is an update awaiting your attention. iLife Support 8.1 'supports system software components shared by all iLife '08 applications, improves overall stability, addresses a number of other minor issues, and supports general compatibility issues.'Sounds like a good deal to me. Update away!Thanks to everyone who sent this in.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ask TUAW: CUPS, Leopard Boot Camp, iPhone visual voicemail and more
Filed under: Features, Tips and tricks, Troubleshooting, Ask TUAWRecovering somewhat from our two separate editions of Ask TUAW last week this week we tackle a number of questions we've covered before, as well as new questions on CUPS, Boot Camp in Leopard, changing the default application associated with a file type, disappearing visual voicemail, and much more.As always your suggestions are most welcome, and questions for next week should be left in the comments. And now on to the show!Continue reading Ask TUAW: CUPS, Leopard Boot Camp, iPhone visual voicemail and moreRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple Store redesigns
Filed under: Accessories, Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Apple, Apple TVAs the good Doc Mac points out very adeptly with the picture above, the reason for the Apple Store's outage Wednesday morning must have been a redesign-- it's come back with a splash of blue.I like the new look. I think the slight gradient in the background makes it, but the rounded corners, blue bars, and especially the arrows give the whole store a definite iTunes feel. There's been a reorganization as well-- Mac, iPod, and iPhone are all top level product lines now (the Apple TV is filed under the iPod, which is close enough, I guess), and those three fit the buttons on the top of Apple's site as well. Apple's gone Amazon as well-- there are "New to the Store" and "Top Sellers" boxes that will, we'd assume, change as the facts do. No idea, however, why the Mac Top Sellers goes to 8, the iPod to 9, and the iPhone only to 5.Looks good, though. A welcome refresh to a store that was starting to look a little...

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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 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

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

5 things you need to know about the iPhone 1.1.1 update
Filed under: iPod Family, Software Update, iPhoneBefore you hit that 'Upgrade' button, here are a few items of community interest to consider.1. It's a one-way street. You cannot downgrade the firmware back to 1.0.2, not even using the alt-Restore trick that lets you pick an ipsw file to restore from.2. That sucker is locked down tighter than a WWE Half Nelson. If you somehow managed to upgrade while keeping your iPhone apps intact -- I have yet to hear a confirmation of this happening, and I kinda doubt it can happen -- congratulations. Everyone else is out of luck. Don't expect a jailbreak anytime soon.3. You can buy songs at the iTunes WiFi music store and transfer them back to your computer. iTunes creates a custom playlist with your purchases.4. The Home-button and double-space tricks are cool. Not sure whether they're cool enough to make it worth cutting off your access to third party apps, though.5. My media folder disk access utilities still work. So if you want to store...