While speaking at the PTTOW! summit last May, legendary ad executive and TBWA Global Director and Chairman Lee Clow reminisced fondly about his 30-year journey "looking into the future" with Steve Jobs. He was 25 years old, when I met Steve. And he was already this passionate, intense. He and Wozniak invented this thing called the personal computer. Wozniak was just kind of into it for the hobby kind deal. Steve looked at it and said, "This is going to change everything." Clow touched on a number of topics, but his story regarding Jobs' love of branding is particularly interesting. Clow said that Jobs loved brands, having grown up admiring both Sony and Polaroid not only for furnishing cool products, but also because they represented the type of branding he admired. Clow explains that in calling the company "Apple", Jobs may have been influenced by Sony which in 1958 changed the company name from Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo to Sony because it was a "charming, kind of fun, sunny, nice name." Another theory, not mentioned by Clow, is that Sony was chosen because it was easy to pronounce in any language. Drawing a parallel between that and Jobs' decision to name his company Apple, Clow explained: I think, even though I'm sure he didn't think it through, that his intuition told him that he'd introduce the world to technology that was going to change everyone's life and do special things, but at the same time, it was going to be new, it was going to be scary, and people weren't going to know what to do with a computer, or if they even needed one. So he thought - Apple. Maybe if it's named something non-threatening, something likeable, something you could trust, I think he intuitively understood that that was gonna be a more graceful way for people to come to this technology that he believed would be so amazing and change our lives. Also interesting, and clearly a principle that seeps into every aspect of Apple's products, was Jobs' belief that everything a brand does is a de facto advertisement. "Steve figured out," Clow said, "that every way a brand touches you is a message, and it's either a positive message or it's a message that kind of contradicts what you thought about the brand." That said, Clow relayed how Jobs and Apple from the very beginning left no detail to chance. Clow explained that his company even helped write the manuals for the original Mac because Jobs wanted it to be accessible to the masses, not written in technical jargon that would inevitably alienate and confuse consumers. That attention to detail, Clow continued, is also evident in Apple's unique approach to packaging, and of course, Apple's retail stores which Clow once told Jobs were the best ads Apple ever did. There are a lot more interesting nuggets in the full video below. It's well worth watching. Legendary ad man Lee Clow talks about Steve Jobs' love of branding and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The iPad has had a big impact on aviation. iPads are holding charts and other vital information for professional pilots eliminating thousands of printed pages that used to be pushed into heavy black flight bags. Now, a pilot has written an app called the Aviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator to assist pilots operating under Part 135 (commuter and on-demand flight operations) that does a lot of the calculations that are laborious and time consuming. The app helps pilots compute things like Departure Gradients, Climb Performance, Approach Planning, keeping track of flight time and more. Pilots operating under FAA part 91 (general aviation) and Part 121 (commercial pilots) will also find many of the features built into the app helpful. The Aviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator is a reasonable US $4.99 and is a universal app that is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6.1 or later. This app is not for the casual flyer, but if you make a living in the air it is an invaluable time saving tool. Gallery: AviationPilot Duty and Performance CalculatorAviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator app is for serious flyers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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All-new dial-in experience! See below -- do not call into Talkshoe, we won't be there. Our experiment last week using Fuze Meeting for our call-in process worked well enough to merit a second shift. Just as before, the text chat will be in this very post when the show begins... which will be two hours earlier than usual, given a few timezone conundrums and a few hosts out celebrating various celebrations. So, tonight at 8pm ET, 5 pm PT, join us for our final WWDC preview countdown. This week, we'll review some of the external expectations put on Apple, in the context of Rich's assessment of true innovation coming from Cupertino. Just like last week, we're trying a new way to connect on the Talkcast. With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're going to be leveraging a Fuze meeting room to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. Here's how it goes: You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 8 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience, but browser-only will work fine. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 775-996-3562 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show will appear in this very post at 8 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time. This is an experiment, of course, so your patience and forbearance is appreciated in advance. For the time being, the podcast feed of the show will continue to originate from Talkshoe and should be there within 24-36 hours. See you tonight!Talkcast tonight, special time -- 8pm ET/5pm PT! WWDC countdown originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Does your dad -- or do you -- have a fascination with the weather? Is he always checking his iPad for local weather conditions, sending precipitation reports to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or obsessively watching storm chaser videos on the Weather Channel app? If that's the case, or if you'd just like to win something really cool for Father's Day, then we have the giveaway for you. TUAW and Netatmo are giving away a Netatmo Weather Station valued at $179. As featured in our review from last year, the Netatmo Weather Station includes both outdoor and indoor air quality sensors and also tracks temperature, humidity, and noise levels, all of which is available with a glance at your iPhone or iPad. Your information is stored for future reference, and the company recently introduced a web app to make looking at long-term trends much easier (see image below). So, here's your chance to win one of these in time for Father's Day on June 16, 2013. 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 June 11, 2013 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Netatmo Weather Station valued at $179.00 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...Win a Netatmo weather station for Father's Day originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Waterfield Designs makes some of the nicest computer, tablet, and smartphone accessories out there, and by nice I mean customizable, good-looking, and durable. I've had a Waterfield Designs iPad Travel Express bag for about three years now, dragged it all over the world, and it still looks like it did when it was brand new. Well, that same durable design is now showing up in your pocket with the delightful Finn Wallet (US$29), which can be used either as a wallet (duh!) or to house a naked iPhone. Let's take a look! Design The Finn Wallet actually comes in two different sizes: Size 25, which is intended to be a "wallet wallet", and Size 27, to clothe your iPhone 5. As for the lovely leather exterior (no, it's not Corinthian Leather), it comes in black, camel, grey, red, forest green, and cowboy brown, and is "naturally tanned to feel like a deer (but it's not from a deer)." On the outside walls of the Finn are a pair of matched pockets. Gary Waterfield, in the video below, says that he puts credit cards and business cards on opposite sides, cash in the middle. For me, I'd put an iPhone 5 in the middle, credit cards on one side, ID cards on the other. Waterfield Designs says that the Size 25 will hold more than 20 credit cards and a "nice wad of dollars" while the Size 27 holds your iPhone, about 15 credit cards and a "nice stash of bills." I think I need to get to know these guys better, since I never have cash on hand... The zipper locks shut, keeping the Finn Wallet from spilling its contents, and the bottom and inside of the wallet are made out of the same durable ballistic nylon material used on other Waterfield cases. Gallery: Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet Functionality For my test, I took my unusually thick wallet and tried to transfer it and my iPhone 5 to the Finn Wallet Size 27 (see the gallery above). Surprisingly, it worked. Instead of having a wallet, my keys, and my iPhone all piled up in my pockets, now it's down to keys in one pocket, everything else in the Finn Wallet in the other pocket. The nicest thing about the Finn Wallet is that it slides easily in and out of your pocket -- which is why I added a pocket chain for travel security. The leather exterior is just going to get a nice weathered look on it and will become better looking with age. I'm not worried about the iPhone 5, either -- it's got plenty of padding on both sides thanks to the leather exterior and those pockets full of credit cards. Conclusion Does your Dad need a new wallet for Father's Day on June 16? If the old man totes an iPhone as well, get him a Finn Wallet (Size 27) -- if he's not a fan of those newfangled devices, the Size 25 ought to keep him happy. Pros Beautifully made from leather in six different finishes Durable interior and bottom construction using ballistic nylon, locking zipper Very reasonable price That wonderful leather smell! Surprising capacity for turning a George Costanza wallet into a thing of beauty Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who carries a wallet. If you carry an iPhone (up to the size of an iPhone 5), like the feel and look of leather, and want something that truly organizes your life, you're going to love the Finn Wallet. Just in time for Father's Day: Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Chinese environmental activist Ma Jun recently said that Apple has made major strides towards becoming more environmentally friendly and transparent with respect to the company's operations in China. While speaking at the Fortune Global Forum in Chengdu, China, Ma explained that Apple has recently transfromed from a company that was completely closed off about its environmental practices in China to one of the more environmentally progressive tech companies in the country. Adam Lashinsky of Fortune reports: Ma is a well-known former journalist who has devoted considerable energy to water issues in China. His group collects pollution data on Chinese companies and shares it with Western companies to help them better understand the ramifications of their supply chain partners. He said Apple not only has begun cooperating with his organization, it has become a positive force on the overall supply chain ecosystem in China. "They have gone the furthest in motivating key suppliers," Jun explained. Since taking over CEO duties at Apple, Tim Cook has been outspoken about Apple's responsibility to uphold high standards with respect to both environmental and labor conditions abroad. For instance, following the series of Pulitzer Prize-winning hit pieces about Apple's operations in China, Cook penned a letter to Apple employees highlighting all that Apple does to create satisfactory working conditions while also promising that Apple will never "stand still or turn a blind eye to problems in our supply chain." Indeed, earlier this week covered how Cook, while speaking at Duke University this past April, explained that he views environmental responsibility as a key part of his framework of ethical leadership. When I think of ethics, I think of leaving things better than you found them, and to me that goes from the environment to how you work with suppliers with labor questions to the carbon footprint of your products to the things you choose to support to the way you treat your employees. Your whole persona fits under that umbrella... Fortune adds: Apple typically maintains that its environmental and labor-rights records have always been good. Yet the Chinese group's report makes clear that if nothing else, Apple's attitude toward discussing its record and opening itself up to criticism have changed. The report notes that there was a noticeable change in Apple's policies in China once Tim Cook assumed control of the company. Lastly, and perhaps an indication of Apple's increased efforts to have a positive impact on the environment, Tim Cook revealed during this year's All Things D conference that Apple had recently hired former EPA chief Lisa Jackson to coordinate Apple's environmental practices.Apple praised in China for environmental policies originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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From Puk's human companion, Wanda Rijkenberg: This is Puk. Ever since she moved in with us she loves to nap in our home studio. We like to think because she's love us and that's where we often sit, but it's probably also to do with the studio equipment heating up the room. As a kitten (below) she'd squeeze between the power amp and a small mixer lit by a warm light. Now, years later, Puk grew a bit and so did the studio, leaving no place for a slightly overweight cat to squeeze into. But in winter the trees in front of the house can't stop the sun from entering the room. And every time it does Puk knows exactly when and where to find that one free spot to nap in those rare rays of winter sun: just before the afternoon, on the pen tablet in front of the computer. 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, Wanda! Caturday: A place in the sun originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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An awful lot has been written recently about whether Apple is has lost its spark. "Does Apple have an innovation problem?" asks the Washington Post. Forbes claims to lay out "Apple's innovation problem", although that piece is so muddled and lacking in specific details I came away more confused than illuminated. "Apple hasn't created an innovative product in years", claims inc.com. "Has Apple's innovation engine stalled?" asks USA Today. Fox News tells us "Why Apple is ailing." The Telegraph reports that "three in four investors [say Apple is] losing [its] innovative edge." There are hundreds, if not thousands, of posts like this, and many of them come from the mainstream media -- so it's possible that this is becoming, or is already, the view of the man in the street. It seems Apple has been stung by some of this criticism; Tim Cook took the time to reassure investors that "we're unrivalled in innovation", as reported by ZDNet. Phil Schiller slammed Android in an interview with the WSJ just hours before Samsung launched the Galaxy S4. And the "Why iPhone?" page added to apple.com has a tinge of defensiveness to it, at least to my eyes. Other people agree; Apple was named "most innovative company" in a wide-ranging poll late last year, for example. John Gruber wrote about how strong narratives can displace the facts. I think this is particularly true in tech reporting, which (let's be honest) isn't all that dramatic a lot of the time. As the sublime @NextTechBlog put it: "REVIEW: New Telephone Is A Black Rectangle That Provides Phone Calls, Text Messages, The Internet, And Other Applications, Plus A Camera" and "I'm Replacing My Old, Black Rectangle With This Brand New, Black Rectangle Because This One Is New". That's a pretty neat meta-story for almost every smartphone launch ever. You and I like to obsess over the details, sure; but most people don't care that much. People like you and I read tech blogs. To hook those other people in, though, the mainstream media needs a little drama, and if it doesn't have much to work with; well, it has to sex up whatever it can lay its hands on. Hence, Gruber suggests, the virulence of the "Samsung steals Apple's crown" meme. I think there's a related meme afoot also, though. It comes in two parts. Firstly, the idea that Apple under Jobs was an innovating powerhouse, constantly turning markets upside down or creating them from whole cloth with unexpected new gadgets. And secondly, that those days ended with Jobs's passing, and that Apple's innovating days are over. I think this is pretty risible, but to explain why I'm going to have to dig a bit deeper into what innovation, exactly. For Apple's critics, such as those writing the articles I linked to above, "innovation" seems to be defined mostly as "entering or creating new markets" and Apple's innovation showreel is the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. Consider the Fox News piece, which seems to be pretty typical to me: Since October the price of Apple shares have fallen from $700 to about $425. No one should be surprised -- the company has been misstepping for a long time. Without the genius of Steve Jobs for neat, wholly-new products, it is going to take tougher management, and a change in the company's core business strategy to match its past record of profitability. Apple's remarkable success was premised on being first and better with a succession of new products, dating back to the earliest computers to smartphones and tablets. It was greatly aided by a superior operating system, which provided a more elegant and user friendly experience than rival Microsoft offerings, and the fact Apple both wrote the software and designed its products. This thinking leads to people pondering "what fields could Apple enter next" and in turns leads to people calling for Apple to prove its innovation credentials by releasing a smartwatch or a television, to name but two of the Rumours That Will Not Die. However, I strongly believe this view of 'innovation' is reductionist -- I think concentrating on innovation at the product level glosses over too many details. If we're really going to seriously look at whether Apple has become less innovative we're going to have to be a bit more clear about exactly what we're discussing. Defining innovation Let's start by considering what we mean by innovation in the first place. The concept of innovation is a bit like art: everyone knows it when they see it, but ask five people to define it precisely and you'll get a dozen different answers. The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines innovation as "the introduction of something new; or a new idea, method, or device" and defines innovate as "to introduce as or as if new". Merely defining it as "making changes", however, is rather shallow and overly broad. When Apple released speed-bumped MacBook Pros in February, for example it had certainly changed something old into something new; but few would put that in the same sort of class as the release of the iPad mini. It seems to me that if we're to debate the merits of innovations then we're going to need a framework to weigh up the qualities and quantities of very different kinds of changes. When I first started drafting this post, the Wikipedia page quoted a set of multi-faceted definitions I liked; they've been removed now by some capricious editor so I'll summarise them here instead: Innovation as novelty: Most people would agree that for something to innovative it has to be new in some way, either in and of itself or the application of an old idea in a new way or a new context. Innovation as change: The most potent innovations provoke changes, perhaps opening new doors for the user to work with. In the best cases, they might change whole industries, creating new product sectors or new ways of thinking that entirely replace the old. Or to put it another way: these are the changes that a company will be remembered for in fifty years. Innovation as advantage: Assuming anyone actually wants the innovation, then it seems reasonable to conclude that it'll convince people to buy the innovating product. Hence the company will sell more stuff than it would have done so otherwise. The most significant innovations, I claim, will be those that score highly on all three of these fronts. Bubbling under: candidates that didn't make the cut There were a number of possible things I considered for inclusion in this post but ruled out for various reasons. I dismissed the iPhone, iPod, and so forth because I believe it's more interesting to say "no whole products". To say "the iPhone is innovative" is, to my mind, reductionist and frankly not that interesting. I want to dig into which specific bits of it are innovative, and why. So I ruled out entire products and instead chose to focus more closely on the individual features of products. I ruled out the graphical user interfaces, something which certainly caused industry change and Apple certainly played a crucial role in the history of. As with entire products, I think it's perhaps a little sweeping to count "GUIs" as one innovation -- I think it would be more interesting to dig deeper into individual elements. However, I must confess that most of the real cutting edge early stuff predates me; my involvement in computing only goes back to the mid '80s and I don't want to overreach by claiming I'm familiar enough to be a good judge of what is "most innovative" from that era. If your memory is longer than mine, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments on what you think might be the biggest innovations from Apple of that era. I'm going to confine the scope of my article to the last fifteen years or so. I've also ruled out iOS itself (or, as we called it when it first arrived, "iPhone OS"). Like Harry McCracken, I also think the first iPhone owes a significant debt to Palm OS: the full-screen apps and app launcher comprised of a regular grid of icons are both very similar concepts, and notably different to how Apple designed the Newton. To my mind, the greatest innovation iOS offered was how it brought a large number of features together and made them work in a brilliantly accessible way; but I think that accomplishment, as significant as it was, is eclipsed by the things I list below. So here's what I did come up with, after some hard thought and bouncing ideas around in the TUAW newsroom. Third place: HiDPI displays Apple introduced the "Retina display" with the iPhone 4 in June 2010, since when it's rolled it out across various iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. Defining "retina" as "a screen where the pixels are too small to be individually perceptible at typical usage distance" (which is a claim that stands up to scientific scrutiny), these screens were immediately very popular, offering a degree of visual fidelity that few had seen before. Now it must be noted that this was not the first HiDPI display in the world. I remember salivating over the IBM T220, a 21" monitor from 2001 with a breathtaking 3840×2400 screen and a $22,000 price tag. At 200 pixels-per-inch, at a distance of 17" it was a true "retina" display, with a pixel density only slightly below today's MacBook Pro with Retina display. It's resolution even tops the cutting-edge 4K format. It required three DVI cables to drive it to an even remotely sensible refresh rate of 41 Hz, because of the sheer data rate necessary to keep this monstrous screen fed. It was sold to a handful of customers, mostly for use in medical imaging, physics labs, and other specialised applications. Still, this behemoth is (clearly!) in quite a different category to a smartphone retailing for under $1000. The Retina display's innovation was not just skin deep, either. Quadrupling the number of pixels on the display means you also need four times the graphics memory and four times the bandwidth, just to maintain performance parity; then you also need a correspondingly more powerful graphics chip, and you have to do all that without compromising battery life, or weight, or making a device you can't sell for a reasonable price tag. This is why many of Apple's devices like the space-compromised iPad mini don't yet have retina displays. Apple was the first to climb this technological mountain -- but far from the last. Since the iPhone 4's release in 2010, no high-end smartphone has dared to arrive without a similar pixelicious screen. As Apple has spread HiDPI screens beyond smartphones and into tablets and laptops, so other manufacturers have followed also, with devices like the Chromebook Pixel arriving rMBP-class screens. So, to sum up: novel? Certainly in terms of consumer level devices. Change? A big fat check. Advantage? Difficult to gauge -- sales of Retina equipped devices are high, for sure, but then the iPhone and iPad were already wildly successful before they were introduced. I think it's hard to imagine that retina displays didn't help, however. Second place: capacitative multitouch I think the iPhone was a good deal less innovative than many people believe. You might have seen this snarky image by Josh Helfferich doing the rounds on forums and Twitter, purporting to show how the iPhone changed the phone market. The inconvenient truth it glosses over is that the iPhone's basic design -- a black touchscreen slab -- was far from unheard of at the time. To name just one example, consider the HTC TyTN, which was the smartphone I had before my first iPhone, and predates the latter by six months. But there was one piece missing, one thing no-one else had, and it was key to massively increasing the appeal of this design with consumers. The clue is in the two elements of that HTC that are radically different from the iPhone: it has a stylus, and it has a physical keyboard. It needed both of those because it lacked a screen that worked when you touched it with a fingertip. It's resistive touchscreen worked only on pressure, and needed the precision of the device's stylus to function. To my mind, the capacitative multitouch screen was by far the most innovative feature Apple brought to the market with the first iPhone, enabling an intuitive UX built around touch, swipe, and natural gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. There were compromises though. Fingers splodge over a much larger screen area than a tiny stylus tip, so on-screen buttons had to get bigger to compensate. That meant screen size had to increase too, by quite a lot. iPhone early adopters will probably remember friends asking how we carried phones that were "so damned big", a puzzling attitude now in this world of 5.5 inch smarphones -- but it made sense in the context of a time when for many years the fashion was for ever-smaller phones. (An aside. A common meme in the Appleverse is that the original iPhone 3.5" screen size was some sort of platonic ideal for one-handed use, as proposed by Dustin Curtis. I think this is bunk, if only because it only works for people with fairly large hands and quite flexible thumb joints, which can only be some small proportion of Apple's desired target audience for the device. I think it's much more likely that the way Apple designed the screen was as follows: (1) work out the minimum width that can hold a QWERTY keyboard and still have the keys wide enough to be typeable on (2) multiply width by 1.5, desired screen aspect ratio, to calculate height (3) There is no step three. Look at an iPhone keyboard some time -- it's hard to imagine typing on it if those keys were even just a few pixels narrower. Just a personal theory. Any Apple engineers reading this are quite welcome to let me know off-the-record if I'm correct.) Novel? I've never encountered any prior devices that used capacitative touch, so if anything did exist I'm pretty sure it was very obscure. Change? This is where Hefferich's picture does have a point -- although all-screen smartphones were not unheard of before the iPhone, they were rare. Now there's very few models that aren't cut from that cloth. So yes. Advantage? Arguably, this was the iPhone's biggest unique selling point -- and Apple has sold nearly half a billion of them now, plus the iPad. I think that's a yes too. First place: microtransactions Now for the big one. For decades, e-commerce experts were crying out for some feasible way to charge consumers for small amounts ($1-2 or so) without being eaten alive by the credit card fees in the process. What new forms of commerce could be enabled, they would wonder, if this was achievable? We could unbundle albums, and sell consumers individual songs. We could sell them individual TV show episodes instead of box sets. We could unlock all sorts of interesting economic models that simply cannot exist with microtransactions. Then Apple quietly built exactly that for music, turning that industry on its head in the process, and then changed everything again by rolling it out for apps. Think of the impact that this has had. Without microtransactions, the App Store would be far less vibrant; with no middle ground between free and (say) $10, there would be orders of magnitude less developer interest. That bracket between free and how much apps used to cost before the App Store is where almost all of the interesting stuff is. And that's before we talk about the revolution in the music industry, now shifting to an almost entirely digital model, powered by microtransactions, and other digital content distribution channels, undergoing the same seismic shift. Novel? I think so -- I cannot find any substantial adoption of microtransaction before iTunes, with the arguable exception of e-cash systems which skirt the issue of card fees by loading a smart card with some sort of alternate currency. Not really the same thing, in my opinion. Change? Without a doubt. Microtransactions has created the app market, which everyone has copied, and dramatically changed how we can buy other kinds of digital content. Advantage? Content lock-in to the vibrant App Store ecosystem is probably Apple's greatest asset in terms of encouraging customer loyalty at phone contract re-up time. I'd say for sure this is a compelling advantage. So why does Apple bore people now? Wall Street seems to define Apple's innovation according to a simple narrative: Apple enters an existing product category (portable music players, smartphones, tablet PCs), turns it upside down, redefines it, and a few years later, ends up owning it. So all Wall Street wants to see is Apple doing that again and again, to new categories: televisions, smart watches, who knows what else. But when we examine Apple's track record in more granular terms, I think we come to the conclusion that genuine, feature-level innovation is very hard and consequently very rare. I don't think there's any evidence at all that Apple has become less innovative. Sure, Apple hasn't produced anything breathtaking new for a little while now, but when we look back over the last fifteen or so years, it's always a few years between the real big-hitting innovations anyway. So something's probably on its way -- many of you said as much in our recent TUAW poll. But! These are only my opinions, and this is a highly subjective topic. Perhaps you disagree entirely with how I've defined innovation, or perhaps you agree with my framework but think I'm an idiot for overlooking Feature X. Comments are open. Have at it!On the eve of WWDC: What are Apple's three greatest innovations? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The PRISM project is hitting the news just now, with the Director of National Intelligence issuing statements, and people talking about what privacy means in a free society. This morning, our backchannel discussion about PRISM drifted to the topic of user privacy in apps. Specifically, we've noticed a recent trend -- our apps are starting to contact us by email. Here's an example of a real email generated by an iOS app: Hello, Thank you for trying [redacted] out! I noticed that you've used the app a couple of times over the past few weeks but are no longer using it. We trying to make the calendar a better experience and in doing so I'd really appreciate if you could take a moment and tell me why [redacted] isn't working for you. If you have any other thoughts you'd like to share with the team, please feel free to send it our way! That's a pretty startling email to receive, especially when we never contacted the company in question or opted into monitoring. In fact, the app in question offers a lengthly privacy statement, which states, "we may use other Anonymous Information to analyze usage patterns". Clearly that data is not so anonymous that it wasn't able to hijack the Gmail credentials used within the app. There's a saying that basically goes, "if the app is free, then you are the product." It's become commonplace to reap device and usage statistics for analytics. Developers may forget that there remains a real privacy line between a user's personal data and how they use the app. With Apple's support of developer- and app-specific tracking identifiers, you shouldn't lose sight of how that data is supposed to be used. In February, the FTC issued recommendations for mobile privacy disclosure. Among these, the FTC suggested that apps offer affirmative express consent for access to sensitive information, along with an access "dashboard" that would allow users to review in-app privacy settings. At the time, Verne Kopytoff wrote at Bloomberg Businessweek about the motivation behind app privacy policies, "Privacy advocates like to call mobile phones by a more menacing name: tracking devices. Mobile apps log the pages people browse, the products they buy, and the videos they watch. Many apps also note their users' locations and, over time, glean their daily routines." As mild as email feedback outreach efforts are, they cross a critical line when leveraging account information meant for in-app use only. A user who buys an app intending to manage his calendar, isn't expressly trying to build a product feedback relationship with the developer. Repurposing Gmail account credentials for further contact breaks an important trust. DevJuice: Is your app watching you? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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If there's one promise I hope I can make to TUAW readers, it's that this will be the last iPad keyboard case review you'll read for a while. We've had quite a few over the past few months, but the subject of this review - the CruxSKUNK (US$179 introductory pricing, $210 regular MSRP) -- has been touted as a contender for the top iPad keyboard case. Let's see how it does compared to the ClamCase Pro, the current recipient of the TUAW iPad keyboard case review crown. Design The CruxSKUNK was funded by a popular Kickstarter project; the project team was requesting $90,000 and the final backing was almost $250,000. What got the backers so excited about YAIKC (yet another iPad keyboard case)? Well, compared to most other cases, it's built like a tank - or more like a MacBook Air. Machined out of aluminum, it's only 19 mm thick. A MacBook Air, by comparison, is 17 mm thick at its widest, and the nearest competing iPad keyboard case - the ClamCase Pro is a bit chunkier than both at 21.6 mm. While the ClamCase Pro uses aluminum only stiffen the keyboard, the entire CruxSKUNK - except for a few pads, the keys, and some inserts - is made of aluminum. The CruxSKUNK case weighs in at 1 lb. 11.6 ounces (.782 kg), while the ClamCase Pro weighs 1 lb. 9 ounces (.709 kg). Those who are looking for a lighter weight case/iPad combo are going to prefer the ClamCase Pro. Gallery: CruxSKUNK iPad Keyboard Case Unlike the ClamCase Pro, the back of the iPad is unprotected. This is a plus if you want to display the back of your iPad to everyone, a minus if you want to protect your device from possible scratches. Like the ClamCase Pro, the CruxSKUNK has a hinge that allows the iPad to be flipped through a full 360 degrees. The CruxSKUNK has four "bumps" surrounding the keyboard that keeps it from pressing against a table when when the flipped underneath the iPad so it can be used as a tablet. This works great on a hard surface, but you should still consider turning the keyboard off when you flip it underneath the iPad. As for the keyboard itself, the CruxSKUNK uses a traditional layout with just a few variations. First, there's a "keyboard" key next to the leftmost control key that brings up the iPad's virtual keyboard. Next, the top row (above the numbers) consists of keys that control many of the iPad built-in functions without the need to press a "fn" key. From left to right, those keys bring up the iPad homepage, the iPad search page, start the slideshow, allow toggling through different keyboards, a lock key (which is odd, because it looks like a small monitor but acts the same as the lock key I'll mention in a moment), copy and paste keys, play/pause/fast forward/fast reverse keys, volume control/mute keys, and the lock key - which didn't actually function as a lock key when I pressed it (it did nothing). There is a set of arrow keys in the lower right hand side of the keyboard to round out the keys. Going to the controls specific to the CruxSKUNK, there's a recessed power button that glows blue when depressed for a few moments to let you know that the keyboard has been turned on or off. There's also a button that's next to a Bluetooth LED that is used to force pairing with the keyboard. No buttons are located on the sides of the device. The iPad itself - generation 2 through 4 - is held into an aluminum frame with the combination of an aluminum bar at the top fo the screen and a pair of small swivels at the bottom. Since these swivels might not be adjusted properly for your iPad, Crux includes a set of small hex wrenches to adjust them properly, as well as a few extras in case they fall out and are lost. Functionality The CruxSKUNK is certainly sturdy, and if that's what you're looking for in an iPad keyboard case, you've got it. However, I didn't particularly care for the fit and finish of the device compared to the ClamCase Pro. For example, as I type right now I can see through small gaps on the sides of the iPad. With the ClamCase Pro, there are no gaps as the iPad fits tightly into a plastic shell. In addition, I found the edges of the aluminum frame to be uncomfortable when carrying -- which might be the reason that Crux included a free zippered case with the CruxSKUNK. The feel of the keyboad is very good, and all of the keys are exactly where you'd expect them. For a writer, the CruxSKUNK is an excellent keyboard and fast touch-typists are going to love the feel and spacing of the keys. I wasn't particularly happy with the mechanism used to hold the iPad in place in the CruxSKUNK. With the ClamCase Pro, I simply popped the iPad into the plastic shell and went to work. Here, I had to loosen the two small swivels, move them into place, and then tighten them again with the included hex wrenches. During my review, one of the swivels came loose and had to be tightened again. That's an annoyance that CruxSKUNK owners should have to put up with. The hinge mechanism of the CruxSKUNK is much looser than that on the ClamCase Pro, which is both good and bad. It means that it's easier to move the screen around to "tablet mode", but it also means that a slight bump or jolt of the keyboard can knock the iPad out of position. I also found that the top of the case never quite closed all the way -- with many other iPad cases, there's a positive click that gives you feedback the the case is closed. With the CruxSKUNK I just never felt that sure that the case was closed and that my iPad was shut off. Pairing with the CruxSKUNK was quite simple, requiring only that a 4-digit code be entered once to confirm the pairing. Pairing the ClamCase Pro was even easier and didn't require the numeric entry. There were several times during my testing that I wanted to shut the keyboard off so that I could use the iPad in "tablet mode." To do this, I pressed the power button for a short amount of time until the Bluetooth indicator disappeared. Bringing the keyboard back on line required the same little press-and-hold movement. While this works, I found the plainly marked "on-off" switch on the left side of the ClamCase Pro to be a much better indicator of whether the keyboard was on or off. One thing I really liked about the CruxSKUNK was that when it was in a typing position, there's a full-width rubber strip on the front bottom of the keyboard that keeps the entire setup from moving across a slick table. In terms of the looks of the CruxSKUNK, I'm not impressed. Having the back open and surrounded by the aluminum frame gives it a kind of "unfinished" look. Sure, I can see the Apple logo on the bottom of my iPad, but the back of the CruxSKUNK just looks odd. That open back also leaves the iPad open to bumps and scratches, which is probably yet another reason why Crux includes a zippered bag with the CruxSKUNK. Conclusion While the CruxSKUNK offers a good typing feel, excellent battery life, and sturdy metal construction, there were several points that kept me from putting it at the top of my personal list of iPad keyboard case favorites. The CruxSKUNK is a bit more expensive than its nearest competitor (the ClamCase Pro), and its open back, while exposing the Apple logo on the back of the iPad, also leaves it open to possible damage. The lock key didn't seem to have any function, not working as it should on an iPad keyboard. In terms of looks (which are definitely a subjective review factor), I just prefer the smoother looks of the ClamCase Pro to the CruxSKUNK - your mileage, and opinons, may vary. Pros Definitely a typist's keyboard, with a good feel, properly spaced and positioned keys, and positive feedback Hinge mechanism makes it easy to move the iPad "display" into any position, although it's somewhat looser than on competing keyboard cases The aluminum structure will put up with a lot of wear and tear It's the thinnest iPad keyboard case out there, only a hair thicker than a MacBook Air Cons The manufacturer doesn't provide any numbers on battery life, leading me to wonder how it compares to competing products that do provide exact durations The open back design leaves the iPad open to possible damage The "swivels" used to lock the iPad into place at the bottom of the "screen" of the CruxSKUNK tend to loosen during use and require tightening with a tool. The company provides extra swivels, which makes me believe that they expect users to lose several during the life of the case While competing keyboard cases provide a very positive indication of closure, I was never quite sure that the CruxSKUNK was "closed" and that my iPad had turned off Price is higher than competing keyboard cases Who is it for? Fans of Jony Ive's favorite material, "aluminium", who need an iPad keyboard case Review: CruxSKUNK iPad keyboard case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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BMW has announced that all of its 2014 models will be getting an update bringing the Siri "Eyes Free" mode to it ConnectedDrive internet service. The mode will allow users to talk to Siri via their iPhone without having to actually look at their phone. With the latest update to BMW iDrive, both Apple Siri and Samsung SVoice can be accessed through the vehicle's voice command controls. With a paired device, pressing and holding the steering wheel voice command button will engage the device's voice access. Pressing the steering wheel voice button without holding it will continue to access the vehicle's voice command functions. The BMW voice command system itself has been enhanced to now include visual voice command suggestions. Once activated a banner across the top of the display offers prompts for when to speak and provides suggestions for what to say. The suggestions are tailored to the individual menu or function that the driver wishes to access. Honda started offering Siri Eyes Free on select models earlier this year.BMW: Siri Eyes Free in all 2014 models originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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We've mentioned Kingdom Rush Frontiers here a few times before, so odds are you might know a little something about it already. But the long-awaited sequel/expansion to one of the best tower defense games on the App Store has now gone live, for $2.99 on iPhone and $4.99 on iPad, and you can now download it and defend towers to your heart's content. Kingdom Rush has been on the App Store for a while (it originally began life as a Flash game), and Frontiers takes the winning formula of unit-based tower defense, and adds a whole lot of new content and extras. In addition to a whole new map and story to play through, there's a new upgrade tree to unlock as you go, which will buff up your towers in various ways. And there's now a "hero room," as you can hire and upgrade heroes to fight for you. There are new enemies to face in combat, all themed to fit the new environments. And finally, there are new powers to play with as well, which add even more strategy and excitement to the fights. In other words, Kingdom Rush Frontiers takes a great game, and makes it a real classic. If you like tower defense at all, this one shouldn't be missed, and even if you just want to see one of the best games in the genre, you should give this one a look. Kingdom Rush Frontiers is available on the App Store now.Daily iPhone App: Kingdom Rush Frontiers makes great TD better originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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It has been a busy few weeks in the App Store with a bunch of app updates landing on iOS and OS X. Grab a cup of joe and check out our list of notable updates from the past few weeks! You can also follow them on a rolling basis on our website. Updated iOS Apps Runtastic PRO GPS Running, Walking & Fitness Tracker [iPhone; Category: Health & Fitness; $4.99] Runtastic PRO uses GPS to map your sport and fitness activities, such as: running, jogging, or walking. Version 2.1.1 includes: Colored traces (pace, speed, elevation, grade, heart rate) Support of OpenStreetMap New mode: Choose your map orientation (true north or the direction you are heading) Japanese voice feedback Numerous small improvements & minor bug fixes Boxer * Your inbox for Gmail, Exchange, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL & more [iPhone; Category: Productivity; Free] Boxer is the first mobile email app to combine the best of your favorite mail features with some major improvements to help you get things done on the go. Version 3.0.4 includes: 3.0 Boxer Release PicsPlay Pro [iOS Universal; Category: Photography & Video; $1.99] PicsPlay Pro is a universal photo editor with optimized user interfaces for both iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch devices. Version 2.0 includes: Main preview in original Duplicate stamps Improved stamps UX Changed effects in FX Studio Text 2.0 upgrade Halftone 2 [iPad; Category: Photography & Video; Free] Halftone 2 re-imagines what it means to turn your photos into professionally-themed comic book pages on a touch device. Version 1.0.1 includes: New "experimental" 3D anaglyph feature preview * yes, comics in 3D! New square layout for use with Instagram in free version (user request) New 3-panel layout in free version Additional "electric balloon" caption style in free version (user request) New arrow and exclamation point stamps in free version (user requests) Additional stamps now in free version (user request) Additional paper texture in free version (user request) Improved multi-page PDF and CBZ export stability Corrected ability to send images to Instagram app Added "do not backup" to appropriate files (user request) Fixed bugs and improved performance Over [iOS Universal; Category: Photography & Video; $0.99] Add beautiful text and artwork to your photos and share them on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr & Instagram. Version 2.0.1 includes: ADD ARTWORK THE MARKETPLACE INSTALL YOUR OWN FONTS PRECISION TEXT EDITING BETTER, FASTER, FRIENDLIER INTERFACE UPLOAD TO PINTEREST YoWindow [iOS Universal; Category: Weather; Free] YoWindow is a unique new weather app showing a living landscape that reflects your actual weather. Version 1.1 includes: iPad and iPad retina! Astronomy: Sunrise, Sunset, Moon phase, day length Dock mode * keep display on Japanese iPhone 3GS: pixel perfect text Tapestry [iOS Universal; Category: Entertainment; Free] Tapestry stories are beautiful short stories that move forward through simple taps. Version 2.0 includes: Explore stories by categories and tags Subscribe to your favorite Tapestry authors Search the entire Tapestry library! Save stories in app or on web to read later App and web reading history saved to read later Notifications when authors and friends publish new stories Other hidden gems just for you Kona Mobile [iOS Universal; Category: Productivity; Free] Kona is an online space for any group to privately connect, organize, discuss, and get things done together. Version 2.1.0 includes: You can now invite people to spaces New global notifications for Kona activities Ability to accept space invitations New pull down options bar for tasks and events View tasks by task list Improvements to the synch experience when coming out of sleep mode Various bug fixes Amplitube [iPhone; Category: Music; $19.99] Turn your iPhone(R)/iPod touch(R) into the ultimate mobile guitar-and-bass multi-FX processor and DAW recording studio with AmpliTube. iPad version also updated. Version 3.0 and 3.0.1 includes: Fixed an issue that caused Amplitube to freeze at startup Fixed a compatibility issue for projects saved with versions prior to v2.9 Global improvements to the STUDIO feature Studio section* (available via in-app purchase) offers DAW features such as cut/copy paste, normalize, fade in/out, punch in/out recording and much more AutoFreeze feature allows for full effects chain on every recorder track iRig HD owners are entitled to four special gear models which are not available anywhere else for iOS: Metal W (amp), Metal 150 (amp), Wharmonator (fx), X-Flanger (fx) Minecraft Pocket Edition [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $6.99] Minecraft is about placing blocks to build things and going on adventures. Version 0.7.1 includes: Fixed bugs with Furnace Armor Buckets Food Fire Relams Echofon for Twitter [iOS Universal; Category: Social Networking; $4.99] Echofon is the fastest, most powerful Twitter app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and the ONLY free app with Push Notifications and Inline Photo Previews. Version 6.2 includes: New themes for iPad! New unread tweets icon in timelines. Tweet layout improvements :) Resolves auto-scrolling issue when using streaming. Resolves auto-scrolling issue when searching. Improved TMI usage. Improves layout for larger fonts. 2 common crash fixes. Other fixes and tweaks. Updated OS X Apps Magic Window [OS X; Category: Entertainment; $4.99] Watch as time and light slowly paint the skies beautiful colors and the cities transform from day to night and back again. Version 1.5 includes: New scenes from Paris, Amsterdam, Scotland, Iceland, New York City, and more! 17 new scenes (93 total!) Fully refreshed user interface Many scenes remastered (including Mt. Shasta) Scene description on desktop (see Preferences) Keyboard shortcuts (see Preferences) Redesigned menu bar navigation Faster load time especially on older devices Fixed bug causing blank thumbnails on 10.6 Various bug fixes BBEdit [OS X; Category: Developer Tools; $49.99] BBEdit is the leading professional text, code, and markup editor for the Macintosh. Version 10.5.4 includes: Contains fixes for customer-reported issues. Analog [OS X; Category: Photography & Video; $4.99] Analog makes it easy to improve your photos with a stunning selection of filters and borders. Version 1.3 includes: Adds 8 stunning new filters from Analog Camera for iPhone & iPod touch LaunchBar [OS X; Category: Productivity; $35] Whatever you want to get done on your Mac - with LaunchBar it's only a few keystrokes away. Version 5.5 includes: LaunchBar 5.5 adds a new feature called "Snippets" App updates you don't want to miss -- June 7, 2013 edition originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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BlueStacks' GamePop is an exciting concept that draws attention to just how much mobile gaming has changed the video game landscape in a few short years. GamePop is a console that plays mobile phone games like Jetpack Joyride on your home TV. When it was first announced, the system was limited to simply Android games, but today BlueStacks has announced that iOS-only games will also be available to play on console. Using a new technology called "Looking Glass," the system is able to convert iOS games to play on non-iOS hardware. Subatomic Studios, makers of the Fieldrunners series, has signed up to have its games included in the system's catalog. According to CNET, BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma says their "Looking Glass" technology isn't emulation. Looking Glass works at the API-level. It's not emulating. It embraces all aspects of running the [game] app and using the [GamePop] app as the controller. This may seem like a small idea now, but six years ago we never thought we'd have next-generation quality gaming on our phones. Who knows where this technology will be in three years? Here's a video from GamePop explaining the console. GamePop console puts iOS games on your TV originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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YoWindow (free, universal) is a cute and effective weather app for the iPhone and now, the iPad. When we reviewed the app a few weeks ago, it was only available for the iPhone. The most recent release, version 1.1, is universal and adds support for Apple's Retina display. Other changes you'll find in this update is a new docking feature that keeps the display illuminated while the app is running. That's pretty useful. Dock your iPad for a instant weather station. Also, the iPad version really emphasizes the animations that make YoWindow so charming. There are several themes to choose from, and each reflects the live weather outside your window. Those looking for extensive weather information will want to look elsewhere, but if you simply need an answer to, "What's the weather today?" in a cute package, YoWindow is for you.YoWindow update is ready for iPad, Retina originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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A wave-themed banner goes up at Moscone West. It joins the iOS 7 banner revealed earlier today. Beautiful? Or a horrifying glimpse of art over usability? You tell us. View Poll As for us, we're all about the thin. Here's our new TUAW banner, chock full of Ivedesign. (just kidding)Weekend Poll: Thinsperational or Ugly? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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ifoAppleStore published a number of photos today showing construction of the new Stanford 2 Apple Store in northern California. The store uses a new "glass box and floating roof design" that allows passersby to get a great view of the interior of the store. This same design is allegedly being used for two other Apple Stores, one in downtown Portland, Oregon and the other in the city center of Aix En Provence, France. The Stanford 2 store is progressing well for an opening later this year, and demolition has begun at the sites for the other two stores. As ifoAppleStore notes, this design is completely faced with glass that actually supports the floating roof structure. Behind the glass box is a "stone-faced box" that encloses the back-of-house operations and other retail space. The images were provided by an ifoAppleStore "tipster" who took photos from inside the construction fencing. A complete gallery of photos is available on the ifoAppleStore site.Construction continues on Stanford 2 Apple Store, revealing new design originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:00:00 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 RSS IDaily Update for June 7, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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In the music industry, there are three major labels: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music. According to Peter Kafka at All Things D, Apple has now signed agreements with all three labels, opening the way to a possible Apple announcement of the iRadio streaming service during the WWDC 2013 Keynote on Monday. "iRadio" may not be the actual name of the service, but has caught on as speculation has grown about Apple's music streaming plans. Apple still has to sign up Sony/ATV, the music publishing part of Sony, but is apparently quite close in negotiations. Kafka expects that Apple won't actually launch iRadio on Monday, but will tell developers -- and the rest of us -- about the service. The service is expected to be free and supported by audio iAds, providing more control over what songs you wish to listen to than standard Web radio stations. If it's announced on Monday, iRadio -- or whatever it's going to be called -- will be a win-win for Apple fans and the major record labels.AllThingsD: All three music labels on board for Apple originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Comedy Central on Thursday released a brand new iOS app that's sure to leave you laughing. The app is called CC:Stand-up, and as the name implies, it enables users to watch a plethora of great stand-up comics. The CC:Stand-Up app is finally here, giving you free access to Comedy Central's massive library of stand-up from your favorite comedians. Enjoy the best bits from the likes of Kevin Hart, Louis C.K., Gabriel Iglesias, Daniel Tosh, Amy Schumer, John Mulaney, Pete Holmes, Aziz Ansari and hundreds more. The best part? No cover charge, no two-drink minimum. Those are some big name comedians there, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I was personally excited to see hilarious clips from Hannibal Burres, a Chicago-based comedian who formerly wrote for 30 Rock and now for SNL, and Neal Brennan who you might know as the co-creator of the classic Chappele Show. Again, given that the app is free, there's no reason not to check it out if you're partial to stand-up comedy. What's particularly clever is that the app, if you want it to, handles most of the work if you're not quite sure what you're interested in seeing. For example, there's a "Featured" mode that will create a stand-up playlist for you based on a particular topic, or if you want, a selection of "best of" clips from the station's archives. What's more, there's also a "Discover" mode where users can find comedians similar to ones they already like based on varying criteria. Most impressive, however, is the sheer breadth of content the app makes available to users. Finally the app gives you the ability to SEARCH our stockpile of over 700 comedians and 6,000 videos -- just type in a comic's name or the title of a specific clip. Our library has everything you're looking for, except a librarian. (We are working on this for future builds.) Note that users must be at least 17 years old to download the app. Comedy Central's Stand-Up app puts comics on your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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TV junkies should be rejoicing this morning -- Hulu Plus for iPad, the go-to app for streaming current TV shows, has been updated to version 3.0, bringing along a pile of new features. The Hulu app page in the App Store says that there have been "hundreds of internal optimizations," but the entire app has also been redesigned from the ground up to ease discovery of new shows. Some of the improvements include: Videos can now be minimized during playback by tapping the minimize icon or using the pinch gesture. When minimized, the video continues to play while you browse through the rest of the app. To see what an episode, show or season is all about, just tap on its image to view the new discovery panel. Double-tapping an image lets you begin watching a show immediately. Hulu Plus for iPad now includes curated collections of shows, clips and movies Short-form content and clips can be watch inline with just a tap As with the previous versions, users need a Hulu Plus paid subscription to take advantage of the app.Hulu Plus for iPad gets a major overhaul originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring a handy list from Dealnews and our own hand-picked selections that include some sweet deals on iOS and OS X software (all prices are USD). Prices are subject to change. Deals from Dealnews eBay: [Battery Chargers & Accessories] 12,000mAh USB External Battery Pack for $11 + $1 s&h MacUpdate Promo: [Mac Software] Email Archiver 2 for Mac downloads for $12 eBay: [iPhone Accessories] 60x Digital Microscope Lens w/ LED Light for iPhone 4/4S for $4 + free shipping Ben's Outlet: [Keyboards] Inductive Charger for Apple Keyboard, Trackpad for $13 + free shipping MacGameStore.com: [Mac Games] Sid Meier's Pirates! for Mac downloads for $10, Railroads for $15 MegaMacs: [23-Inch LCDs] Refurb Apple 23" Aluminum Cinema LCD Display for $230 + $17 s&h Paydeals.com: [iPhone Accessories] Apple iPhone 5 3-Foot Lightning to USB Cable for $9 + free shipping MegaMacs: [MacBook] Refurbished Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 13" Laptop for $330 + $17 s&h Rakuten Shopping: [Networkable Hard Drives (NAS)] Iomega 2TB Media & Backup Center Gigabit NAS for $80 + free shipping MegaMacs: [iMac] Used iMac G3 500mhz 15" All-in-One Desktop for $40 + $18 s&h Other World Computing: [Media Receivers] NewerTech NuStand Alloy Display Stands from $16 + $4 s&h Other World Computing: [Notebook Accessories] Matias Portable Office for $29 + free shipping iOS Software PicsPlay Pro [iOS Universal; Category: Photography & Video; On sale for $1.99, down from $3.99] PicsPlay Pro contains 200 presets and all editing features which allow you to express the best moment of your life. Cosmic Conquest [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $1.99] Cosmic Conquest is a fast paced, real-time strategy game, designed from the ground-up for iOS and touch-screen. Percepto [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $0.99] Help him find his way to the door by rotating the room and compressing to a new point of view. Once you've mastered the basics of rotating the room, you'll encounter new puzzle elements that will force you to think in 3D, but move in 2D. Atlas by Collins [iOS Universal; Category: Reference; Now free, down from $6.99] See the world in context with Atlas by Collins[TM] through nine themed globes. Table Top Racing [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $1.99] Table Top Racing is a fast and furious combat racing game featuring console quality graphics and gameplay. myCal PRO: Calendar & Event Organizer [iOS Universal; Category: Utilities; Now free, down from $1.99] myCal PRO displays what you need to see, your events. InstaText - add text captions to photos or pictures for Instagram [iOS Universal; Category: Photography & Video; Now free, down from $0.99] Add text, filter and frames to your photos and share them on Instagram，Twitter and Facebook. Star Scales Pro For Guitar [iPhone; Category: Music; Now free, down from $1.99] The Star Scales Pro app is here for you, to help you acquire proficiency and confidence in playing your guitar. FACEinHOLE HD [iPad; Category: Photography & Video; Now free, down from $2.99] Turn yourself into a movie star, a supermodel, a rock band member, ... Fireflies! [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $0.99] Light up the night catching fireflies through six magical forests. DrumKick[iOS Universal; Category: Music; Now free, down from $2.99] DrumKick is the live-performance drum app that you can play with your foot, using two iOS devices connected via Bluetooth. DrumKick for iPhone [iPhone; Category: Music; Now free, down from $0.99] DrumKick is the live-performance drum app that you can play with your foot, using two iOS devices connected via Bluetooth. Caylus [iOS Universal; Category: Games; On sale for $2.99, down from $4.99] Around the building site, a city is slowly rising up...The players embody master builders. By building the King's castle and developing the city around it, they earn prestige points and gain the King's favour. Clear [iPhone; Category: Productivity; On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] Keep it together with Clear, an amazing new app for list-keeping that is unbelievably simple, quick and satisfying to use. Summary Pro [iPad; Category: Productivity; Now free, down from $6.99] Summary turns your iPAD into a Unique Study and Research Tool. Neuroshima Hex [iOS Universal; Category: Games; On sale for $2.99, down from $4.99] Neuroshima Hex is a fast paced, tactical board game where up to 4 players (human or AI) lead their troops to victory. Pocket Lists - To-do List & Checklist [iOS Universal; Category: Productivity; Now free, down from $1.99] Pocket Lists is an amazing universal app for managing to-do lists, focusing on important to-dos, and collaborating on to-do lists with your friends. Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy [iPad; Category: Games; On sale for $4.99, down from $6.99] A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals. Critter Panic! [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $1.99] Pit your brain against your thumbs in a battle of wits. Towelfight 2: The Monocle of Destiny [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $0.99] Settle a dispute between gods by shooting animals out of your face. MiniatureCam - TiltShift Generator HD [iPad; Category: Photography & Video; Now free, down from $0.99] MiniatureCam allow you record Tiltshift Video in realtime. TodoMovies [iPhone; Category: Entertainment; On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] TodoMovies is the easiest and best way to manage movies you want to watch. Bird Zapper! [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Now free, down from $0.99] Pesky birds have hijacked the power lines! Help Skippy the Squirrel by zapping the birds when they are lined up, down or all around, just by swiping them with your finger. Apple's app of the week. OS X Software Colorstrokes [OS X; Category: Photography & Video; Now free, down from $3.99] ColorStrokes lets you play and mix the tones on photos in any possible way. Free version is available only on MacPhun's website. Bluenote [OS X; Category: Productivity; Now free, down from $4.99] Keep your notes, tasks and passwords in one app. Civilization V: Campaign Edition [OS X; Category: Games; On sale for $9.99, down from $39.99] Wage war, conduct diplomacy, discover new technologies, go head-to-head with some of history's greatest leaders and build the most powerful empire the world has ever known. Sid Meier's Railroads! [OS X; Category: Games; On sale for $14.99, down from $29.99] Build a railroad empire and shape a nation. AppyFridays [OS X; Category: Various; Up to 75 percent off] AppyFridays is offering three OS X apps for up to 75 percent off. Titles include Sketcher, Quick PDF Editor and Hello Tips & Tricks. Tokens for Mac [OS X; Category: Developer Tools; On sale for $19, down from $29] Tokens makes it remarkably easy to generate, share, and track promo codes for your iOS and Mac apps. JSRef [OS X; Category: Developer Tools; Now free, down from $1.99] JSRef is the missing quick offline reference for the web- and webapp-developer. It contains the current CSS3, ECMA (JavaScript Language Specification), DOM and Canvas API documentation. Gemini: The Duplicate Finder [OS X; Category: Utilities; On sale for $6.99, down from $9.99] Gemini will quickly find duplicates on your Mac and help you remove them. Analog [OS X; Category: Photography & Video; On sale for $4.99, down from $9.99] Analog makes it easy to improve your photos with a stunning selection of filters and borders. Worml [OS X; Category: Productivity; Now free, down from $4.99] Worml is the fastest way to transfer files and websites to your peers. Daily Deals for June 7, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Fun with Chess is an iOS app that is a nice match for kids wanting to learn how to play one of the world's greatest games. It is not a typical chess experience, because it adds in factors of luck which limits your piece's moves with a roll of the dice. The game keeps score, so you can play another person and decide a winner at any time. You can play the computer, another person face-to-face or remotely. There is a built-in chess tutorial, and a linked video with more information. To make Fun with Chess more appealing to beginners, games are limited to six pieces and six applicable rules. I suppose one could complain that this is a chess variant, rather than a standard game, but I think it is less intimidating to someone just starting out, and a good way to learn the rules. Gallery: Fun with Chess I played the game against the computer a few times, and while it is not playing at grand master level, it gave me a pretty good run. I did not try remote play. Fun with Chess is free for a limited time, so grab it if you are interested before that changes. There are separate iPhone and iPad versions. I tested the iPad app. Another option for beginning chess players is Chess Prime HD which is also free. It shows legal moves and has other support for novices. It is a more traditional chess game, and allows play against the computer and a human opponent.Fun with Chess should appeal to kids and other chess beginners originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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It's always busy in the App Store with a never ending flood of new apps landing on iOS and OS X. Take a few minutes and check out our list of standout titles from the past few weeks! New iOS Apps HeartPhys [iPad; Category: Medical; $4.99] Learn physiology through interactive diagrams Total Domination - Reborn [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Free] The best MMO strategy game is now available for iOS. PGA Tour Caddie [iOS Universal; Category: Sports; Free] TOURCaddie is a comprehensive GPS-based, course management, scoring and golf instruction app. CC: Stand-Up[iOS Universal; Category: Entertainment; Free] The CC:Stand-Up app is finally here, giving you free access to Comedy Central's massive library of stand-up from your favorite comedians. Adobe Kuler [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; Free] Adobe(R) Kuler lets you capture color inspiration anywhere you find it. Mextures [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; $0.99] Mextures is the best app for applying film grain, textures, light leaks and beautiful gradients to your images in seconds. Musyc [iOS Universal; Category: Music; Free] Musyc is a fun and innovative music application where touch turns into music. Stilly: One Button Gif Camera For Tumblr and Messages [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; $1.99] Create animated photos with the push of a button for Messages (iMessage or SMS) and Tumblr. WWDC [iOS Universal; Category: Reference; Free] Make the most of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference with the WWDC app. Felix for App.net iPad edition [iPad; Category: Social Networking; $4.99] One of the most popular App.net apps for iPhone is now available for the iPad.Crisp, elegant and feature-rich, Felix is the best way to chat with your friends - and meet new ones! - on ADN. Dispatch: Action-Based Email [iPhone; Category: Business; $2.99] Dispatch makes it easy to act on mails even when you're on the move. Camera Noir - B+W Photography [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; $1.99] Take stunning black and white photographs with Camera Noir, a new app from Pacific Helm. Quick Drafts for iPad - Notes, To-Do, Errands and Shopping List [iPad; Category: Productivity; $2.99] Capture and share your ideas with Quick Drafts for iPad. Easy, fast and reliable. Vesper [iPhone; Category: Productivity; $4.99] Vesper is a simple and elegant tool for collecting notes, ideas, things to do - anything you want to remember. VSCO Cam [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; Free] Utilizing our innovative processing technology, VSCO Cam yields elegant results for your mobile photos. Analog Camera [iPhone; Category: Photography & Video; $0.99] Analog Camera - the fastest and easiest way to take, process and share photos. World War Z [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $4.99] Get dropped into the middle of the World War Z chaos. Word Shift [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $2.99] Word Shift is a tile-swapping word game. Sparkle 2 [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $2.99] Challenge the darkness with your swift orb matching skills, mighty magical enchantments and earthshaking powerups. Bridgy Jones [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $0.99] Use your bridge building abilities to help Bridgy Jones and his mangy mutt Bonner drive their locomotive safely across ravines, chasms, rivers and gorges. Scurvy Scallywags [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $0.99] A musical match-3 RPG brimming with pirates, ships, loot, and more gold than you can shake your rusty hook at. 9th Dawn [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $2.99] We are proud to present 9th Dawn, a game that's a blend of modern and traditional design and gameplay and sports the largest open world experience available today in a mobile RPG. Cubemen2 [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $1.99] Cubemen 2 is a fast paced, action packed, original 3D Strategy game where you use your little Cubemen units to defend and attack enemies in a range of awesome game modes. Kingdom Rush Frontiers [iPhone; Category: Games; $2.99] Bigger and badder than ever before, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a whole new level of the furiously fast, enchantingly charming gameplay that made the original title an award-winning hit. Kingdom Rush Frontiers HD [iPad; Category: Games; $4.99] Bigger and badder than ever before, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a whole new level of the furiously fast, enchantingly charming gameplay that made the original title an award-winning hit. Defense Technica [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $0.99] Experience a new kind of Defense game with Defense Technica, featuring stunning 3D graphics and ground-breaking new features like path rotation, tower construction, tower upgrades, and card collection and combination. Little Luca [iOS Universal; Category: Games; ;$0.99] Little Luca is a simple and addictively fun physics-based puzzle game with retro inspired graphics and an original 8-bit inspired soundtrack. SlamBots [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $1.99] SLAM your way through swarms of evil robots in this action packed arena battle game. Starship Battles [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $1.99] Take control of formidable warships to defend the galaxy against an infinite force of relentless aliens. Chock A Block [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $0.99] Chock A Block is a sliding block, colour matching puzzle game with an added twist. Incredible Jack [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $0.99] Set out on an incredible journey in this classic game full of old school platform action. Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright Trilogy HD [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Free] Defend the innocent and save the day. New OS X Apps Mischief [OS X; Category: Graphics & Design; $129 ] Mischief -- drawing with a computer that is as fun and powerful as drawing with pencil and paper. InstaReel for Instagram [OS X; Category: Social Networking; $6.99] InstaReel is a beautifully crafted app that makes it easy to browse your Instagram photo feed, like/comment on images and discover amazing new content through its powerful search. Airmail [OS X; Category: Productivity; $1.99] Introducing Airmail - the powerful mail client with a minimal design and intuitive interaction. CamioCam [OS X; Category: Utilities; Free] Turn your Mac into a free security camera that alerts you anywhere. DocWallet [OS X; Category: Productivity; Free] DocWallet is your personal document lock box on the Mac, iPad and PC. Pixel Mate [OS X; Category: Graphics & Design; $4.99] Pixel mate is a strong and functional pixel editor.It offers you a highly accurate representation of how a design will show on the Web and the computer. Vitamin-R 2 [OS X; Category: Business; $29.99] Vitamin-R creates optimal conditions for your brain by structuring your work into short bursts of distraction-free, highly-focused activity alternating with opportunities for renewal, reflection and intuition. PutOn [OS X; Category: Utilities; Free] PutOn is a file transfer app such as photos, texts, or contacts between iPhone and Mac. New and notable apps for iOS and OS X - June 7, 2013 edition originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The Rumor Roundup comes early this week in anticipation of Apple's forthcoming WWDC keynote, AKA Christmas in June for Apple geeks, AKA the cue for thousands of idiot pundits to hit "publish" on their pre-drafted "Apple is DOOMED" drivel. Before I tear into this week's typically dumb rumors, let's do a brief mini-roundup of what's expected at WWDC. What we will see iOS 7 A preview of the next version of Apple's mobile device OS is a guarantee. It's widely expected that the user interface and design elements will have received an overhaul after designer Jonathan Ive took over responsibility for them. What exactly that overhaul entails has been the subject of months worth of breathless (and pointless) speculation, including hundreds of mockups from bored graphic designers who probably would have been better off updating their portfolios and résumés instead. Aside from a new coat of paint, what else can we expect to see in iOS 7? Well... no one outside of Apple really knows. There are lots of guesses, but that's all they really are. OS X 10.9 The next version of OS X will likely debut at WWDC as well. Even less concrete information is available about the OS update for Macs. A few rumors have suggested the Finder will get an overhaul, but that's been rumored before every major OS X update. About the only thing I can state with confidence is the five-year-old MacBook Pro I'm typing this post on is most likely not going to be able to run 10.9. New Macs This is the only hardware bone Apple is likely to toss us at WWDC. Few reliable details are available regarding what's supposedly on offer, but minor updates to the MacBook Pro with Retina Display seem likely, as do faster MacBook Airs. It's anyone's guess whether any of Apple's desktop Macs will get updated or not. What we may see iRadio For years, rumors have persisted that Apple will introduce a streaming music service. Something always seems to happen at the last minute to stop it from launching -- usually the post mortem rests the blame on music labels making crazy demands, which isn't terribly difficult to believe. iRadio may or may not make an appearance at WWDC. I won't be surprised in either case. What we won't see New iPads or iPhones No credible rumors suggest any possibility that new iOS hardware will debut alongside the software preview. You can expect many, many writers to claim their "disappointment" in WWDC anyway for this very reason. Collate a list of any writers who do so, because they are hacks and not worthy of your further attention. iWatch Not a chance. Apple HDTV No. Sorry, Mr. Munster. Now, on with the show. Back panel claimed to be for Apple's low-cost iPhone shows curved design, Lightning port (AppleInsider) This was hilarious. "Leaked" shots from China supposedly depicted the long-rumored low-cost iPhone. Small problem: extremely basic photographic analysis later showed it was an iPhone 5 in a case. Thanks for playing, rumor blogs. We have some nice parting gifts for you (not really). Cheaper iPhone could, paradoxically, increase Apple's margins (9to5 Mac) Some analyst plays fast and loose with mathematics (or with economics, which is almost the same thing except somebody eventually ends up losing their house). This analyst decided that a cheap iPhone would make Apple tons of money, because lots of people would buy it. Which is somehow different from the current situation, where tons of people are buying significantly more expensive iPhones that already exist rather than some mythical lower-cost model. Someone actually pays analysts to write this stuff. If you were dropped on your head as a child -- repeatedly -- then maybe you should send your résumé in to Topeka Capital Markets or Morgan Stanley or any of these other firms hiring people to say whatever comes off the top of their head when it comes to Apple. Supposed Apple 'iPhone 5S' components again hint at new gold color option (AppleInsider) More photos of a SIM tray "leaked," which means it's time to overanalyze them to death yet again. AppleInsider takes the lead this time, suggesting that the iPhone 5S will have gold, silver, and bronze options. Someone's aiming for a platinum medal in "standup philosophy." Leaked SKUs likely point to MacBook refresh at WWDC as inventory tightens (9to5 Mac) 9to5 Mac usually gets these leaked SKUs soon before an Apple event, and although there have been some misses in past years, more often than not they turn out to be correct. Image of 'Flat' Redesign From Early iOS 7 Build Reportedly Leaks (MacRumors) This supposed "spy shot" of iOS 7 is one of the worst blurrycam fakes I've ever seen. Seriously, the icons don't even line up properly with the edge of the phone's screen. Worst Photoshop ever. Apple reportedly shifting iAd focus away from apps to rumored 'iRadio' (AppleInsider) If this is true, and iRadio is infested with advertising, it's one more reason I'll never use it. (Other reasons include limited bandwidth capacity in my home country and stubbornly clinging to the delusion that I "own" the music I pay for.) iPad Mini Update to Trail Next Full-Size iPad Launch by Several Months? (MacRumors) "A new report from Digitimes claims" -- BZZT. Note that this new report more than likely contradicts seven previous Digitimes reports claiming that the Retina Display iPad mini would launch in January, February, March, April, May, June, or July. This is what iOS 7 looks like (BGR) That's a bold headline, BGR. What's your proof? Oh, you're using the just-released WWDC app and claiming its UI is going to be the system-wide UI for iOS 7. That's... an interesting claim. Especialy since the side-by-side shots show last year's WWDC app, and iOS 6's UI wasn't overhauled to match that. Homework assignment, BGR: Google the Latin term "non sequitur" and write its definition on a blackboard 1000 times. Today's amusing analyst rumors ... the iRing is back, and Apple going patent-crazy over iOS 7 (9to5 Mac) 9to5 Mac takes a respite from straight reporting of analyst rumors and decides to go a different route: reporting two analyst rumors and promptly poking fun at them. I wonder where they got their inspiration for that tactic. Apple's developer portal begins displaying square app icons days before iOS 7 unveiling (AppleInsider) True story: the morning after this story hit, I woke up to a Twitter timeline chock full of people making fun of it, and these were people who actually know what they're talking about when it comes to iOS development. Long story short: no, iOS 7 app icons won't be squares. WWDC 2013: Expectations said to be low, big Apple news coming this fall (BGR) Some analyst read the same dumb rumors as the rest of us and decided to essentially reblog them. And BGR reblogged him. And now here we are... BREAKING EXCLUSIVE Russian newspaper claims Apple has applied for 'iWatch' trademark in the country (9to5 Mac) A Russian newspaper could report that the sun is hot, and I'd feel compelled to seek a second opinion on the matter. Report claims Apple's iRadio will include both audio ads and traditional iAds (9to5 Mac) Apparently iRadio will be ads piled on top of ads. It's ads all the way down. Gee, this service is sounding more and more attractive all the time, isn't it? Apple Planning 'Something Really Different' for New Mac Pro (MacRumors) You know what would be really different? Actually updating the damned thing. Seriously, Apple. MacBook Air refresh looks set for WWDC, potentially with faster Wi-Fi (9to5 Mac) More rumors from "a source" suggest the MacBook Air is due for an imminent update. Nothing was mentioned about Retina Displays; if the MacBook Air refresh doesn't have them, expect blogs to erupt with a crazy bout of nerd rage soon afterward. Case Maker Bets on Unlikely iPad 5 Launch at WWDC (MacRumors) "Hey, marketing intern! How can we get some free advertising? ...Great idea! And you say the only downside is we'll look like complete toolbags, eh? Get on it!" OS X 10.9 Build Number Suggests Extensive Internal Development (MacRumors) Apple apparently tests its OS releases internally before releasing beta builds to developers. More on this late-breaking story as it develops. Rumor Roundup: Pre-WWDC jitters originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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