Speaking at an Interop keynote last week, Paypal chief information security officer Michael Barrett hinted that PINs and passwords may be going away when it comes to account security on smartphones. According to a post on CIO's website, Barrett serves as the president of the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance, an industry group looking for ways to replace the 52-year-old password technology with stronger authentication methods. FIDO combines hardware, software and Internet services to provide that higher level of authentication. That hardware can include a fingerprint scanner, a voice reader or something else. Barrett noted in his keynote that FIDO-enabled devices should begin appearing later this year, and he'd love to see Apple and other smartphone manufacturers leading the way to making FIDO mainstream: "It's widely rumored that a large technology provider in Cupertino, Calif., will come out with a phone later this year that has a fingerprint reader on it," he said. "There is going to be a fingerprint enabled phone on the market later this year. Not just one, multiple." Apple, of course, bought fingerprint security firm AuthenTec last year. Whether or not the company plans to incorporate AuthenTec's technology in a phone debuting this year is pure conjecture at this point, but comments by Barrett and other information security executives seem to indicate that FIDO technology will be part of standard smartphone gear sooner than we expect. [via MacRumors] Paypal security chief wants more fingerprints, fewer passwords in future iPhones originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Reuters reports that France, in an effort to generate money to help fund cultural initiatives, is considering implementing a special tax on smartphones and tablets. The proposal falls under France's "cultural exception" policy, enacted to ensure that the arts in France can continue to thrive in the face of competition and other market forces. As it stands now, TV and radio broadcasters, along with Internet service providers, are already subject to a tax to promote the arts in France. A report commissioned by the French government, however, points out that a tax on hardware manufacturers like Apple and Amazon would be even more helpful given that folks are now spending more on hardware than they are on content. "Companies that make these tablets must, in a minor way, be made to contribute part of the revenue from their sales to help creators," Culture Minister Aurelie Filipetti told journalists. French President Francois Hollande will reportedly decide by the end of July whether or not the proposed tax will go into effect. If Hollande gives it the green light, the plan, which Filipetti describes as "minimal", will be submitted as part of the budget in November. Lastly, the Associated Press notes that the proposed tax plan would yield the French government about 86 million euros per year, or approximately $111 million. France mulls 'culture tax' on devices like the iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Since the release of the first iPhone in 2007, there's one feature that has been steadily improving -- the built-in camera. Lisa Bettany of Camera+ fame provides a visual comparison of the quality of the iPhone camera over the generations in six sets of images covering the range from the original iPhone to the iPhone 5. As Bettany points out, "It's clear from the detail shots that the iPhone 5 produces sharper photos with more accurate white balance, contrast, and saturation." She took photos in three different situations -- a well lit macro setting to test detail and quality, a skyline shot to test sharpness and saturation, and a candle list low light macro photo to test noise. The results are amazing. I was surprised by how much of a jump in quality the camera received in the iPhone 3GS from the previous two generations, and how the iPhone 5 camera seems to have resolved some discrepancies in white balance that existed with the iPhone 4 and 4S. I can't wait to see what the next-generation iPhone will provide for iPhoneographers. [via Ultralinx]iPhone camera evolution over the years captured by Camera+ originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Over the past few years, 4G LTE wireless networks that can handle download and upload speeds of up to 75 megabits per second (Mbps) have become increasingly more commonplace. Still, it takes a long time to download movies, and streaming video can be a challenge on today's handsets. Yonhap News reported yesterday that Apple's arch-rival Samsung has achieved success in the lab with 5G speeds in the range of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), and expects that the technology could eventually provide speeds in the tens of gigabits per second. With wireless data speeds in that range, a full HD movie could be downloaded in seconds. Samsung used 64 antenna elements and operated in the 28 GHz frequency band to accomplish the fast feat, and the technology could be commercially viable by 2020 -- a scant seven years away. Both China and the European Commission want to have 5G technology in place by 2020, so the research being done today points to a very speedy future. Samsung isn't the only company that has played with 5G technology. In February, Japan's NTT DoCoMo announced that it had successfully tested 10 Gbps cellular data speeds last year using an 11 GHz frequency band. The technological advances show that the higher data rates are entirely achievable; now it's up to consumers to help carriers pay for the 4G networks that are still rolling out to make the 5G networks viable in the future. [via AppleInsider]A glimpse of the future: 5G wireless technology in the labs now originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Groupon has launched a new iPad app called Groupon POS (perhaps not the best name) in an attempt to enter the iPad mobile payments arena and take on current leader Square. As of the time of this writing, Groupon has not made an official anouncement, but the app is now live in the App Store. Here are the deets from the app's description: A beautiful and simple way to manage your business and accept payments at the lowest rates available today. Set up your offerings in seconds, quickly check out customers and view real-time analytics. Start running your business more effectively. Groupon POS works also works with an optional cash drawer and printer to automate and simplify your point of sale. Groupon POS works for a wide variety of merchants from cafes and delis, to salons, spas and florists. 9to5Mac points out that Groupon POS appears to be a scaled-down version of the Breadcrumb POS app Groupon acquired last year. Groupon already offers another mobile payments app called Groupon Merchants for the iPhone.Groupon launches mobile payments iPad app to challenge Square originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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When my iPad 3 was acting funny -- and by that I mean a sleep/wake button that would only work on every third press -- I made an appointment at the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store. Fifteen minutes later I walked out with a brand new replacement iPad. Many readers who have owned a faulty iPhone, iPod, or iPad will have had experiences similar to my own: broken iDevice, go to Apple store, get new one. But now that's all set to change. According to reports from AppleInsider, Apple vice president Tara Bunch announced to employees last week that AppleCare will be changing in the US, with international markets to follow. Soon iDevices with faulty hardware won't necessarily be replaced with new units. The roll and capabilities of Geniuses in Apple stores will soon be expanded to allow them to fix the faulty parts, instead of having to issue completely new hardware. As AppleInisder explains: Currently, Apple Stores have the tools to replace speakers, receivers, home buttons, the vibrator motor and battery. Come June, capabilities will be expanded to display replacement, and by July cameras, sleep/wake buttons and logic boards will be dealt with in-store. In addition, employees will have access to advanced diagnostics tools that can remotely assess hardware issues and relay the data directly to technicians, allowing for quicker turnaround times. The move is expected to save Apple a whopping US$1 billion a year in replacement costs. As to how the move will affect customers' perception of AppleCare remains to be seen. AI also reported on other potential changes to AppleCare, including a switch from per-device coverage to per-user coverage. Under the new model, all of a user's devices would be covered under an AppleCare subscription-based model. Revamped AppleCare means changes for Genius Bar employees originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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I use my iPhone 5 so much throughout the day that its battery is often nearly drained by 4:00 PM. That's why I'm constantly carrying around and trying out new external battery packs to keep my iPhone charged. The latest battery pack I've tried is the Phonesuit Flex Pocket Charger. I've reviewed Phonesuit's products in the past (and the one I reviewed is now my external battery pack of choice), so I was excited to try out their new Lightning connector battery pack. The Phonesuit Flex Pocket Charger is slightly thicker and longer than 2AA batteries in size, to give you an idea about how big it is. It fits easily into a jeans pocket but it's just a bit wider than my iPhone 5. When plugged into the phone, the Flex overruns the length of it on either end. Still, just given how small the Flex Pocket is in the first place, the fact that it's just slightly wider than the iPhone 5 can be forgiven -- especially considering when my iPhone is running out of battery, the last thing I care about is how good my battery pack looks. Inside the Flex Pocket you'll find a 2600 mAh battery that gives you iPhone an extra 125% charge. Externally, the Flex Pocket offers a built-in Lightning port and plugs directly into you iPhone 5. There are no cables to attach. When you plug the Flex Pocket into your iPhone, tap the electrostatic power button on the side to turn it on. To recharge your Flex Pocket, simply connect it to any computer via the included USB cable. The Phonesuit Flex Pocket Charger is US$69 in a choice of colors: metallic red, blue or black. It works on the iPhone 5, the 5th generation iPod touch, and the 7th generation iPod nano.Review: Phonesuit's Flex Pocket Lightning Charger originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Last night Bill Gates was interviewed by Charlie Rose on 60 Minitues. Though the interview covered a many subjects, it inevitably turned to Bill's relationship with Steve Jobs. In the part of the interviewed that aired, Gates understandibly teared up when he talked about the last time he saw Jobs, at his home in May of 2011. When Rose asked Gates what they talked about, Gates replied, "...what we'd learned, families... anything." Gates also elaborated on their relationship over the years in unaired footage of the interview that is available to watch online.Bill Gates talks about the last time he saw Steve Jobs originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Several of this week's rumors strongly suggest that a main fixture in any analyst's office is a dartboard with months listed on it instead of numbers. "Apple will launch its next iPhone in..." *throws dart* "...September. Of course! Quickly, Robin: to the B.S.mobile!" Analyst: Apple to release Retina display iPad mini models in Q3 and early 2014 [u] (AppleInsider) Some analyst makes claims about upcoming Apple product launches. He offers precisely zero proof. The rumor blogs breathlessly "report" his musings anyway. Stop me if any of this is sounding depressingly familiar. As its shares rebound, Apple seen as ready to 'change the narrative' (AppleInsider) One analyst has broken away from the "Apple is DOOMED" crowd and instead expects the company to recover some stock value on the strength of new product announcements. I would agree with him if Apple's stock price were in any way logically connected to the reality of the company's financial performance... but that hasn't been true for a long time. When it comes to Apple's share price, the inmates are running the asylum, and they have been since late last year. Foxconn looks to lessen reliance on iPhone, positions for potential Apple television (AppleInsider) It turns out Foxconn makes products for companies other than Apple, and it's interested in continuing to do so in the future. Who could ever have guessed? Meanwhile, Foxconn's interest in televisions obviously points to a future Apple HDTV, because it's not like Foxconn makes products for companies other than Apple. Wait, I'm confused. Is Foxconn diversifying away from Apple's existing products or doubling down on Apple products that don't exist yet and may never see the light of day? Well, no matter which way it goes down it doesn't matter, because Apple is obviously DOOMED either way. Mass Production of Retina Displays for iPad Mini Expected to Start in June or July (MacRumors) Or August, or September, or October, or... Sharp to reportedly start 'iPhone 5S' LCD production in June (AppleInsider) Or July, or August, or September, or... Morgan Stanley: Apple on track to build multiple new iPhone models in June-July (AppleInsider) Or August, or September, or October, or... Surge in Apple's iOS 7 Usage Revealed in Web Traffic Stats (MacRumors) BREAKING: Widely-expected Apple operating system shows up in web traffic logs shortly before its debut at WWDC [note to editor: change article's dates from 2012 to 2013] Rumors of low-cost iPhone rekindled as Pegatron said to hire additional 40K workers (AppleInsider) Like Foxconn, electronics manufacturer Pegatron apparently doesn't make devices for anyone except Apple, and the only possible explanation for Pegatron hiring more workers is that it somehow relates to manufacturing unreleased and long-rumored Apple products. Purported next-gen iPhone motherboard part may reveal tweaked camera design (AppleInsider) Remember when Tim Cook said Apple was "doubling down on secrecy," and we all laughed at him? Yet this story is typical of what parts leaks have looked like in 2013: very minor parts divorced from the overall device context and forcing rumor blogs to get all CSI on them. "Zoom. Enhance. Enhance. There. You see? The slightly different shape of the pin connectors suggests -- hey, are you falling asleep? Wake up!" Pegatron CEO says Bloomberg reporter made up report of 'falling iPad mini demand' (9to5 Mac) I for one am absolutely shocked that Bloomberg would misrepresent information in an attempt to gin up some more "Apple is DOOMED" nonsense. That's just not like them at all. /sarcasm This seems like a good time to remind everyone that you can't spell "controversy" without "con." New Nexus 7 to be highlight of Google I/O as 'iPad mini 2' faces delay, analyst says (AppleInsider) Some analyst claims Google's new tablet is positioned to take advantage of the new-model iPad mini's "delay." Let's make one thing clear, "analysts": an unannounced product cannot, by definition, be "delayed." Just because the product wasn't announced by your first out-of-thin-air, B.S. guesstimate date doesn't mean it's been "delayed." It means Apple releases products according to its own internal scheduling, not according to whatever you throw into your "note to investors" after chugging the water in your Magic 8 Ball. Big changes coming to AppleCare this fall: warranty subscriptions, in-store iOS device repairs, more (AppleInsider) Honestly, it's so refreshing to see a rumor with a source other than some so-called "analyst" that I'm prepared to believe this story whether it turns out to be true or not.Rumor Roundup: Delayed until whenever originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Ahead of ABC's spring upfront this coming Tuesday, May 14 ("upfronts" are the glitzy network presentations to get advertisers revved up about the coming season's programming), the New York Times' Brian Stelter found a scoop that has more to do with how we watch TV than which programs we watch. Disney's ABC network plans to revise its iPad/iPhone app lineup by Tuesday to include free live streaming of ABC channels for viewers in two Northeast cities. The live streaming feature, which will appear as a "live" button in a new Watch ABC app (akin to ABC-owned ESPN's Watch ESPN app) set to replace the the existing ABC Player app, will be available to customers in New York and Philadelphia who can verify that they have access to ABC via a cable or satellite subscription. GigaOm says that the service's requirement for pay TV subscription will kick in after a six-week introductory period, where it will be open to all comers. According to that post, the ABC live encoding will be powered by the same upLynk hybrid local/cloud streaming technology that's currently at work behind the company's Watch Disney app. Stelter notes that ABC's programming currently appearing on ABC.com and Hulu Plus may be curtailed in the future, with longer delays before free-to-stream episodes appear; the most current content would be reserved for pay TV subscribers. This would undoubtedly drive cord-cutters somewhat batty. The streaming feature will be iOS-only for now, and limited to those two markets (where the affiliate stations are owned by the parent company) while the network negotiates with affiliates in other cities. The first affiliate deal, with Hearst Television, will soon add live streaming to 13 additional cities like Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Honolulu. Having NYC be one of the first launch markets means that ABC must be rooting for the New York Knicks (currently down 2-1 in a playoff series with Indiana) to go deep into the NBA playoffs, which the network is carrying this year. This isn't the first device-centric live television play, by any means. Most US cable, satellite and fiber providers offer some flavor of live channel streaming, with varying marquee features and limitations. Some, like Time Warner Cable and Xfinity, restrict all-you-can-stream access to the subscriber's home WiFi network and offer a more limited channel lineup on the move. Verizon's FiOS app streams plenty of popular pay-TV channels but no network content. In the case of ABC's live channel stream, the branding for the network can move completely out from under the program provider's umbrella; that way, there are fewer distractions to lure eyeballs away from ABC's live and library content. Customers with Dish Anywhere and the sleek Dish Explorer programming discovery app from the satellite TV provider may have the most flexibility: the company's Sling technology actually restreams anything the Dish receiver can show, including live TV on any channel or recorded DVR programming. (Most DVR recordings can even be transferred from the Dish Hopper receiver onto the iPad for later viewing, which would require an EyeTV or other approach with most providers.) But this approach does require plenty of home bandwidth, and can tie up your receiver; ABC's stream doesn't have those drawbacks. If over the air TV is your thing, there are several iPad options out there. EyeTV's EyeTV Mobile adapter, for $99, adds an antenna to your tablet and delivers programming via the Dyle digital broadcast system. The MCV consortium behind Dyle includes NBC, Fox and Telemundo (but not ABC), so those networks are generally represented and available on the system. The legally challenged but still eagerly expanding startup Aereo doesn't share those channel limits; anything an antenna can see in the NYC metro area, Aereo will gladly deliver to your iPad or desktop browser for a monthly $8 fee. Aereo's one-antenna-per-user model is being contested by the networks, but so far they've not been able to put together a compelling legal case to stop the company from providing its service; in fact, it's expanding to Boston this month. In many ways, ABC's move (which the network says was shifted up from a planned 2014 rollout; "We watch how people are behaving with their devices, and we really felt that we needed to move faster," said Disney/ABC Television Group co-chair Anne Sweeney) is of a piece with these other new-world-order programming options. Consumers are getting their television content via all sorts of pathways, and fewer and fewer of them are tied to a traditional primetime lineup at the network's convenience. Even this circumscribed step away from the default delivery of TV, with its leash of a pay subscription, says a lot about ABC's willingness to ride the wave forward rather than fighting to keep a hold on the status quo. [Although the Steven P. Jobs Trust, led by the Apple co-founder's widow Laurene Powell Jobs, owns some 7.7 percent of Disney/ABC's outstanding shares, regulatory filings noted by Bloomberg suggest that the trust has no intention to influence Disney/ABC operations. -Ed.]ABC to add live streaming to iPad app this week, for a few and with a catch originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 12 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Tonight's the night for another edition of everybody's favorite live podcast (next to TUAW TV Live, of course), the TUAW Talkcast. As we go live tonight Mother's Day 2013 will be winding down, so we may talk for a minute about Moms and computers. Architect and Apple aficionado Neal Pann should be joining for his perspective on software licenses, and The Mac Observer's Jeff Gamet will be sharing his bacon bread recipe opinion on everything else. Since it's really all about you, the community, do see if you can join us, won't you? To participate live, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for +5 Interactivity, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (Viva free weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free X-Lite or other SIP clients (aside from Skype or Google Voice), basic instructions are here. Talk to you tonight!Talkcast tonight, 7pm PT/10pm ET: Moms and computers, Creative Cloud, and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 12 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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You thought you were going to get through another weekend without that TUAW classic Caturday? Well, you're wrong. Today's feline geek is Max, a six-month-old Singapura who loves to help his human, Sumner Paine, work on his 27" iMac. According to Sumner, "He helps me type on the keyboard, he helps me swipe on the Magic Trackpad, and he defends against those pesky mouse pointers by pawing and pouncing at them every chance he gets. On those occasional lazy days when he's in the mood to rest, he enjoys napping on the Time Machine under the desk." If you've got a Caturday nominee to share, let us know via our feedback page. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Thanks, Sumner! Caturday (late): Max and his Magic Trackpad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 12 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Have a need to attach more monitors to your USB 3.0-equipped Mac, but don't want to use a Thunderbolt, Mini DisplayPort, or HDMI port? Kensington may have just the thing for you -- the Universal Multi-Display Adapter (US$79.99 MSRP), AKA the USB 3.0 Multi-Display Adapter. Previously this device was available only for PCs, but new drivers available from DisplayLink make the adapter compatible with any Mac running OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion. Essentially what the adapter does is makes one of your USB 3.0 ports available to drive a monitor or projector. It's a small (2" x 3.5" x .68") black box with a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 input on one end and a female DVI connector on the other end. That's a bit unfortunate, since many monitors are also equipped with a female DVI connector so you'll need to buy another adapter. LIkewise, the included DVI to VGA adapter is relatively useless -- although it plugs right into the Multi-Display Adapter, it has a female connector on the open end, once again requiring a male to male adapter cable to connect to many VGA ports. Since the Mac software is relatively new, you need to download and install it prior to running the device. It takes up only about 16 MB of storage, and requires a reboot. After installing the software, I was able to find a male-to-male VGA cable, so I plugged one end into the 17-inch ViewSonic monitor I use with my MacBook Pro with Retina display, the other into the DVI to VGA adapter, and then plugged that into the Multi-Display Adapter. Next, the USB cable was plugged into the MacBook Pro, and the screen came right up at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (also known as 1080p). The adapter will support resolutions on an external device of up to 2048 x 1152. As you'd expect, the Adapter is bus-powered and requires no external power. I previously had some issues when testing a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter when connecting a MacBook Air to a PC projector, so I thought I'd try the projector with this adapter (in most cases, I'll actually just use an HDMI cable to go straight from the MBP to the projector). Once again, the adapter worked like a champ, allowing me to drive the projector flawlessly from the MacBook Pro. Considering the variety of video output modes that are available on most modern Macs -- HDMI, Thunderbolt, and Mini DisplayPort -- you might not need to have a USB 3.0-based adapter to add a monitor to your setup. However, it's nice to know that the option exists, and that the price tag on this adapter isn't too bad -- it was selling on Amazon today for $20 off the MSRP. Conclusion If you're looking for a way to hook up a DVI or VGA monitor to a Mac through USB 3.0, the Kensington Universal Multi-Display Adapter is a bus-powered alternative that may fit your needs. Pros Provides a way to connect a monitor, projector, or other display to your USB 3.0-equipped Mac without using a Thunderbolt, Mini DIsplay Port, or HDMI port Can also be used with Windows PCs DVI / VGA out works with a lot of monitors and projectors Price isn't too high at retail, although generic adapters (Monoprice, etc...) might be less available for less Cons Female out on both adapter and the DVI/VGA adapter is annoying; need to use a male by male cable (not included) to plug into most monitors and projectors Who is it for? Anyone with a Mac with USB 3.0 who needs to keep other ports empty or in use with other devices but who wants to drive another monitor or projector Giveaway We're giving away our review device. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before May 15, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Kensington Universal USB 3.0 Multi-Display Adapter valued at $79.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...Kensington USB 3.0 Multi-Display Adapter originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 11 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The other day Echofon 1.7.0 mysteriously appeared on the OS X App Store, upgraded to support the 1.1 Twitter API. We contacted the developers to find out if this was a courtesy update or if Echofon was back in development. We're delighted to relate that a spokesperson has confirmed: Sorry for the delayed response and thanks for your inquiry. We brought Echofon Mac back due to the overwhelming user demand for it. We intend to continue to keep our users happy and satisfied with the product. Speaking as a long time user, I'm very pleased with this news. Original developer Satoshi Nakagawa agrees. He tweets, "Echofon for Mac 1.7.0 works beautifully :)".It's back. It's on the Mac. Echofon aficionados rejoice! originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 11 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Amazon today released a new app called Cloud Drive Photos. The free app allows you to upload all your iPhone or iPod touch photos to the cloud. The images can be accessed from your iOS device, from your Mac, or from any web browser. You can also upload photos from a laptop or desktop computer with a free Amazon app for OS X, and see or download them to your iPhone or other iOS device. Photos can also be shared via Facebook, Twitter or email. Amazon requires you have an Amazon account, and will provide 5 GB of free storage, about enough room for 2000 photos. Amazon also provides both Mac and Windows apps to handle file transfers and display the photos. Additional storage space costs US$10.00 a year for 20 gigabytes, or 100 gigabytes of storage for $50.00. When you first open the app, Amazon asks for access to your camera roll. Then the app will start uploading as long as the app is open. If you're on a limited data plan, you can set the app to only upload when you are on WiFi. This service competes with Apple's Photo Stream service, and of course there are services like Flickr and Dropbox that provide similar functionality. You can choose to back up specific photos or your entire camera roll. Amazon offers more free storage than Apple, and Apple will only store up to 1000 of your photos for 30 days compared to about 2000 photos with no expiration from Amazon. With Apple, after 30 days you must sync to your main computer. I see the Amazon service as a nice extra backup to what Apple offers. Gallery: Amazon Cloud Drive Photo Apple is being challenged in several areas by competitors offering equal or better solutions. Of course Google has Google Maps, and even Yahoo has a free weather app that for many people is a better solution than the rather stale Apple iOS weather app. Amazon has also offered Cloud Drive File Sync for OS X, which gives users a free 5 gigabytes of storage, more than double the free storage offered by Dropbox. Of course only Apple can deeply integrate its apps into iOS, so the company has that advantage. Whether that integration overcomes some of the advantages of these new services will be up to you when considering what cloud solution to use. Also, be aware that if you are already using other Amazon Cloud services the free storage you get is 5 gigabytes total, not 5 for music, 5 for photos, 5 for files etc.. Amazon releases Amazon Cloud Drive Photos to compete with Apple Photo Stream originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Just in time for the weekend, here's a few apps that have dropped their (already cheap) prices even lower, meaning that you've got plenty to play here for just a few bucks' worth. The PC classic turned iOS port Carmageddon has gone completely free for today only. The Incident is on sale for 99 cents. The Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders flight simulation title has dropped down to just a buck. Just a few weeks after release, Sega's dropped The House of the Dead: Overkill to just $2.99. The game's not fantastic, but it does have a really innovative shooting mechanic built for iOS. Crazy Taxi is also on sale for 99 cents. Zach Gage's Halcyon is currently completely free to download. Chillingo has dropped Tiny Troopers 2: Special Ops down to free as well. Velocispider is on sale for 99 cents. NetherRealm's impressive Batman: Arkham City Lockdown is just under a dollar, too. Excellent price to try that one out at if you haven't. Cavern is a roguelike RPG with some good buzz that's on sale for $1.99. Big Fish Games' cute and polished point-and-click adventure title Fetch is only $2.99. That's just a buck off the usual price, but the game's well worth it. Finally, the retro arcade space shooter Plasma Sky is also available for free right now. Personally, I'm still enjoying Firaxis' free Haunted Hollow, but I'm loading up a few of these on my iPad as well. Enjoy!Carmageddon free, The Incident and more on sale originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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There are quite a few "sandbox" games available on iOS, including the uber popular Minecraft, and Majic Jungle's great Blockheads. But my favorite so far is Junk Jack, a 2D sandbox title put together by Pixbits. It's excellent -- its little square tiles are perfect for the iPhone's interface, and almost everything you can craft in the game is useful and interesting. There has been murmuring that Pixbits was going to create a "Junk Jack 2" release soon, but instead, the company has announced a game called Junk Jack X, a brand new installment of the series with multiplayer, character customization, worlds support, a deeper crafting system, and of course upgraded graphics. You can see what the game looks like in the announcement post, and it's definitely very impressive. Liquids will now flow through the game realistically, you can equip and upgrade various items in a few different slots, and the game will also have other planets (!) and themes to explore. Junk Jack is a great game, and Junk Jack X looks like it improves on almost every features. Pixbits says work is going well, but given the vast scope of the title, we probably won't see it on the App Store until Q3 or Q4 of this year. We'll be waiting.Pixbits announces Junk Jack X, coming later this year originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Tweetwall is a company that provides Twitter displays for events, allowing companies to show guests the live Twitter chatter about their events. Their clients have included CNN, Yahoo, Intel, PayPal, Microsoft, eBay, the Obama campaign, and the Webby Awards. Now Tweetwall has launched a rebuilt version of its service, including a redesign and a new iPad app offering AirPlay support. The iPad app is currently free to download and works with AirPlay or the digital AV adapter to display your feed on a screen. Tweetwall is offering two variations on pricing for their service, a $49 a day self-service model where your wall is built from templates and a $500 per event customizable option. Loading times and stability have been improved, and the service allows filtering to keep your event wall from being spammed with profanity or other keywords.Tweetwall rebuilt, new iPad app available originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple recently introduced two-step verification for your Apple ID in certain countries, and the process is now being expanded to the rest of the world. The feature, which requires two different codes for verifying your Apple ID (if you want to be extra safe) was initially only available in the US, UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. But Apple has now included Canada in on the feature, as well as users in Argentina, Pakistan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal. In other words, two-step authentication is now rolling out to a more or less worldwide release. The authentication process is still optional -- if you don't think you need it, you can still stick with just your Apple ID password as a login. The process does help security, though it's still not a perfect solution. Apple only implemented this procedure earlier this year due to some security concerns on behalf of users. But it will help against some attacks, and it should work as another step to keep unwanted invaders out of your Apple ID account.Apple's two-step ID now rolling out to a worldwide release originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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In case you haven't launched Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 in the past few days, there's an update for the office suite that became available on May 7. The 14.3.4 update of Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 is considered to be a "critical" update, and includes a number of fixes. Most of the fixes appear to be for Outlook for Mac and PowerPoint for Mac, although there is one issue with saving files to SkyDrive and SharePoint in Microsoft Word for Mac that has been fixed as well. Microsoft also took the opportunity to let those who read the knowledge base article about the update know that Office for Mac 2011 is now available as a subscription offering as part of Office 365. Owners of Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 can either wait for the update to show up and annoy them when they're trying to get some work done, or can download the update package directly.Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 Update 14.3.4 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSSDaily Update for May 10, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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A few weeks ago, Apple filed a motion alleging that Google's efforts to respond to Apple's discovery requests -- with respect to its ongoing suit against Samsung -- were lacking. Specifically, Apple claimed that the search terms Google employed in response to Apple's document production requests weren't sufficiently inclusive and consequently left out documents that would have otherwise been responsive. Apple's brief stated in part: Apple believes Google purposely uses suboptimal search terms. For example, Apple claims to know that Google uses a different term internally for what Apple calls "slide to unlock". As a result, searches for "slide to unlock" wouldn't deliver too many documents in which Google employees discussed this patented technology. As a result, Apple's motion sought to compel Google to provide its list of "search terms and custodians" as to ensure that its search methodology was comprehensive. Google balked, arguing that doing so would constitute an "undue burden." Now, FOSS Patents is reporting that Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal has granted Apple's motion to compel Google to turn over its search terms and its list of custodians. Point blank, the court doesn't buy into Google's assertion that producing a list of search terms and relevant custodians amounts to an undue burden, noting that Google failed to provide even one shred of evidence to suggest that doing so "would be oppressive or burdensome." Somewhat comically, a footnote in the ruling reads: The court cannot help but note the irony that Google, a pioneer in searching the Internet, is arguing that it would be unduly burdened by producing a list of how it searched its own files. Google, meanwhile, previously argued that Apple, instead of asking for search terms and lists of custodians, could have simply told Google which documents it believed to be missing or even offer Google a list of suggested search terms that might produce more responsive hits. Notably, Apple refused both of these requests when Google offered them up. In framing his ruling, Judge Grewal wrote that transparency and collaboration is "essential to meaningful, cost-effective discovery." That said, Google's position as a third-party does not remove its burden to be transparent with respect to its own discovery methods. Google's attempt to stand outside of these tenets because of its thirdparty status is unpersuasive. Although it should not be required to subsidize litigation to which it is not a party, it confuses undue burden with its obligations, once subject to a subpoena, to participate in transparent and collaborative discovery. Third-party status does not confer a right to obfuscation or obstinacy. So Apple is effectively getting what it wants here, though it didn't escape the ruling entirely unscathed. Grewal writes that Apple should have requested search terms from Google at the very beginning, instead of waiting until it began suspecting that Google's search methodology was flawed. Grewal also writes that Apple could have taken up Google on its offer to discuss which documents in particular Apple felt were missing from production. Nonetheless, the court's ruling reads: The court finds that production of Google's search terms and custodians to Apple will aid in uncovering the sufficiency of Google's production and serves greater purposes of transparency in discovery. Google shall produce the search terms and custodians no later than 48 hours from this order. Once those terms and custodians are provided, no later than 48 hours from the tender, the parties shall meet and confer in person to discuss the lists and to attempt to resolve any remaining disputes regrading Google's production. Court rules Google must disclose search terms to Apple originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The decryption on your iPhone is apparently secure enough that law enforcement agencies are waiting in line to have Apple "crack" the lock and provide data to be used as evidence. According to a report by CNET, Apple has the ability to decrypt seized iPhones and has created a waiting list to handle requests. At one point last summer, the wait was over 7 weeks long and one ATF agent reported that it took his request at least four months to be processed. The ATF had tried to decrypt the iPhone 4S of a Kentucky man accused of distributing crack cocaine and became so frustrated that it contacted Apple for assistance. That's where the wait started... For those who are concerned about how secure their personal information is on an iOS device, the fact that the devices can't be cracked by Federal agents is good news. No one is sure exactly how Apple can decrypt the information for police, whether there's a backdoor that only Apple knows about, has custom hardware for decryption, or just has better-trained cryptologists. The CNET article notes that Elcomsoft sells an iOS Forensic Toolkit, which claims to crack a four-digit iOS 4 or iOS 5 passcode in less than 40 minutes. It's when someone uses a PIN or password with more characters that the decryption time takes a much longer time. The post cites Simson Garfinkel from the US Naval Postgraduate School, who estimates that cracking a 10-digit PIN could take as long as 25 years using common brute-force methods. The bottom line? For normal law-abiding citizens, a longer passphrase or PIN can keep your iOS data protected. For criminals, however, Apple knows how to free your data for law enforcement and will do so. [via TechCrunch]Apple receives iPhone unlock requests from law enforcement originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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While Microsoft has invited Apple to produce a Windows 8 iTunes app, Cupertino's response has essentially been "don't hold your breath." Speaking to CNNMoney, Microsoft's chief financial officer Tami Reller said, "The welcome mat has been laid out [for Apple]. It's not for a lack of trying." Note that Windows 8 customers can use iTunes, but only on the desktop. That's a less-than-optimal experience, and poor Surface RT users are without iTunes altogether, as the device wont' run non-Microsoft desktop software. As CNNMoney points out, Apple's position is understandable. With the best-selling tablet in the market, why would it rush to make Microsoft's offering more competitive? Still, Reller believes that the Windows app store will feature all of the most popular apps from Apple's App Store by the holiday season. "That's not just our goal, but it'll be realistic to achieve that. We're almost there."Microsoft: Apple reluctant to build a "Metro" iTunes for Windows 8 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Have a Mac equipped with Thunderbolt? Then head on over to your friendly neighborhood Mac App Store this morning, click on Updates and get yourself a nice firmware update. Firmware update v1.2 for Thunderbolt "provides stability fixes for Thunderbolt and Target Disk Mode" and requires a machine restart. If the update hasn't made it to the Mac App Store yet, you can also download it from the Apple Support Pages.Apple issues stability fix firmware update v1.2 for Thunderbolt originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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