The first interesting tidbit to surface from the iOS 4.2 GM firmware release today is the fact that there is a new multitasking bar on the iPad.
The new version sports both brightness and volume controls for quick access to these settings. In addition to the regular audio controls and screen orientation lock Apple has added a new AirPlay button just to the left of the volume control.
[via deanostetto at Macrumors forums]
BGR is reporting that as of October 28, 2010 all AppleCare Protection Plans now have a 30-day window within which they are transferable to new products. The ability to transfer these plans was previously available only on AppleCare for the iPhone.
Apple hasn’t formally announced this change to the public as far as I know, but it appears that this rule will apply to purchases within the same product family. For example, if you purchase a MacBook Pro with AppleCare and then change to a MacBook Air within 30-days the theory is that you would simply transfer the AppleCare to the MacBook Air.
[Via BGR]
Earlier today, Apple released the Gold Master version of iOS 4.2 and the corresponding SDK to developers, bringing the current version of both to 4.2 GM (builds 8C134 and 10M2423 respectively). The update follows the release of the previous beta by about three weeks.
In addition to those updates Apple also has a beta 2 version of iTunes 10.1. However, iTunes hasn’t gone to Gold Master status and there is no indication that this will happen soon.
I never personally cared for the Genius sidebar in iTunes, but I know that a lot of people used it as a way to branch out into new bands and albums and who were therefore distressed when Apple decided to replace it with the Ping sidebar in iTunes 10.0.1.
Good news, though: early on Saturday, Apple decided to do an about face and bring the Genius features back to the sidebar, albeit with a slight rename: it’s now called the iTunes Sidebar and integrates both Genius and Ping data in one easy-to-access place.
The best multi-IM client on the Mac got a meaty update over the weekend and now at version 1.4, Adium is quacking louder and prouder than ever before.
The biggest new feature in Adium 1.4 is Twitter support. I have to say, having played around with it, it’s not about to replace YoruFokurou as my go-to Twitter client. Like IRC support for it before it, Adium’s trying to shoehorn functionality in that doesn’t really fit. Adium’s Twitter implementation simply crams your timeline of Tweets into an always-open IM window, like a big group chat. That might work for some with more manageable Twitter contact lists, but for me, I quickly turned off Adium’s Twitter support.
There’s more to the new Adium than Twitter support too. It also gains full IRC support, improved group chat, bookmarks for persistent chats and many other tweaks and fixes. You’ll need OS X 10.5.8 or greater, and the new version is roughly a 25MB download.
A 24-year-old woman spotted an iPad left behind in an emergency waiting room and let her fingers do the walking.
At around 8:45 p.m., Jessica L. Andrews noticed Apple’s magical device sitting all alone in the waiting room of Hunterdon Medical Center in New Jersey after its owner went in for ER treatment. Andrews quickly slotted the handy tablet computer into her purse and left.
However, even if you need serious medical attention, you’re unlikely to forget your iPad altogether.
Christmas came a bit early this year for two Apple executives who cashed in some of their high-flying Apple stock options for a combined $55 million payday in October. Retail head Ron Johnson came away with more than $44 million while Mac hardware chief Bob Mansfield raked in $10 million, according to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Johnson, a former Target executive Apple brought in in 2000 to lead its then minor retail business, is known for developing 317 retail locations and pushing the idea of a “Genius Bar” at Apple Stores. He exercised 150,000 $11.73 options, selling them for $306.07 per share for $44.151 million before taxes. Almost three years ago, Johnson exercised 700,000 options at $23.72 each, selling them at $185 to $185.21 per share for $113 million. Additionally, earlier this year, Johnson sold 200,000 options for about $46 million.
We’ve received a tip about an unexpected application for the NFC chip Apple is expected to build into the iPhone 5.
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless connection technology that would turn the iPhone into an electronic wallet or security passkey.
NFC is already in use in Asia and is expected to explode here in the next three to five years, especially if Apple adopts the technology. NFC has been rumored for the iPhone 5, and Apple appears to be gearing up for a NFC revolution. It has made a lot of NFC hires, including a a leading NFC expert and has patented a lot of NFC technology.
If the iPhone 5 does have NFC, applications like an eWallet are a no-brainer. But we’ve been told that Apple is also researching NFC for remote computing.
Two analyst houses are out Monday morning reporting similar findings: Android is more popular in the U.S. than Apple, and both are squeezing RIM out of the market. Android is on 44 percent of American phones – up 11 points since the previous quarter. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS has relatively flat growth – up 1 point to 23 percent, according to consumer research firm NPD.
RIM, despite its Curve 8500 being the second most popular phone behind the iPhone 4, lost 6 points in the third quarter.
Now here’s a story that wins on many fronts: after a two year courtship, Frank proposed to his girlfriend Kasey on a bridge in New York City’s Central Park. What makes this particular proposal notable – besides its success – is that the Big Moment was assisted and captured by their friends using four synchronized iPhones, and managed by an ‘event director’ using a MacBook Pro.
VLC Media Player is now available on the iPhone as a universal app, and firmly puts itself in to our must-have apps list for this week. Allowing you to play an impressively wide range of video codecs on your device, it’s very simple to use and it’s free!
Another must-have app this week is Task Pad. Available for both the iPhone and iPad, Task Pad is a powerful organizer and to-do list that syncs with your Mac or PC, helping you to remain productive and on top of your tasks.
Amazon’s Windowshop also makes our list this week – a new way to shop Amazon’s millions of items – with a simple and intuitive interface that makes online shopping a pleasure on the iPad.
See our full list of must-have iOS app after the break!
Some early Macbook Air adopters have reported seeing video anomalies and kernel panics on the new 11-inch and 13-inch models of the Macbook Air which may be related to sleep/wake issues.
Additional reports about the video problem have been posted to Apple’s discussion forums and for the people reporting it the symptoms can vary. I’ve even encountered the problem myself on my 13-inch MacBook Air.
The problem with kernel panics has been experienced by Cult of Mac staff that purchased 11-inch or 13-inch models. Users on Apple forums haven’t complained about this specifically yet, but they have been complaining about their new MacBook Airs crashing.
It was brought to my attention that the ability to make calendars in iPhoto ’11 has gone missing. I missed it too since that isn’t a feature that I’ve spent a lot of time with. I’m still buying my calendars at online or at a local store.
Apple is aware of this and in summary had this to say about it: “Ordering calendars with iPhoto ’11 is not currently available. ”
They then took it upon themselves to answer your questions in advance about this issue, which you can read by clicking the link below.
Apple has given themselves a deadline of “as soon as possible” so I’m unable to tell you to mark your calendars about when calendar creation will reappear in iPhoto ’11. So keep your eyes on Software Update.
Celebrate this Halloween weekend by grabbing some of the greatest iOS games available for your iPhone & iPad with some awesome reductions.
Developers have gone crazy, with some reducing their games by over 50%, like Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, and R-Type for just $0.99! But with so many games in the App Store, it’s not always easy to discover the best reductions out there.
Many will shoot to the top of the ‘Top Paid’ chart as iOS gamers snap them up quickly while they’re reduced, and this makes them a little easier to find. But to help us find the best deals, AppAdvice have compiled a list to highlight the unmissable.
Full list after the break!
Halloween isn’t very far off — it’s tomorrow. So here’s a last-minute Halloween themed iOS app that runs on the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. It can turn your next scary party into a real spooktacular or you can use it to enhance the fun while passing out loads of candy to all the little ghosts and goblins that visit.
The app offers 50 sounds that you can use to startle just about anyone on Halloween or realistically anytime you feel like it. All you have to do is plug your iOS device into your stereo or some other amplified speakers, turn up the volume (important for the best scare), and start playing with the buttons on the apps sound board.
The apps sounds can be played manually, via auto-play, or just give your iOS device a good shake and you’ll hear some pretty scary stuff right away.
The iPad version of this app costs only $1.99 (iTunes link) and the iPhone and iPod touch version is free (iTunes link).
I recently reviewed the 13-inch MacBook Air and I noted that many of you were curious to know how well the new MacBook Air would work emulating other operating systems running Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac or VMWare Fusion.
I’m happy to report to you that I spent some time with both of these applications and I have some good news — they not only work, but in my opinion they work pretty damn good if you ask me.
Remember that issue with Skype for Mac 2.8.x that prevented you from logging on to your new MacBook Air? Seems like that issue actually applied to all new Skype for Mac installs, but not to worry: a very insistent member of Skype’s PR team has just sent us an email, clarifying that Skupe for Mac 2.8.0.863 fixes the issue once and for all. You can download it here. All is well in the world.
Even when it debuted at the time, the iPad was conspicuous for its lack of forward-facing camera. Apple had obviously considered it: the iPad’s frame actually contains a hollow in which a standard iSight camera fits perfectly. Why didn’t they pull the trigger? Hindsight being 20/20, it’s pretty obvious now that Apple did not choose to install a camera in the first iPad because they hadn’t yet readied their FaceTime video chat standard: it would be stupid to supply hardware in the iPad that only Apple’s competitors were ready, at the time, to capitalize upon.
Now that FaceTime is out for the iPhone, iPod Touch and Mac, the iPad is obviously the next in line. Now a new report suggests that existing iPhone camera supplier Omnivision will also be tasked with creating the iPad’s camera.
I always thought the original Nintendo Famicom controller lost its allure when it made its way to the United States in 1986 as the joypad for the NES, so I’m glad to see the Famicom controller’s classic design live again, this time as a polycarbonate case for the iPhone 4. Gorgeous.
[via Technabob]
If you’re expecting an imminent refresh of Apple’s MacBook, Mac Pro and iMac lines supporting the blistering fast USB 3.0 standard, don’t hold your breath: Steve Jobs says they don’t care about USB 3.0 right now.
Apple has released an updated version of iPhoto ’11 version 9.0.1. The update, which is currently available within Software Update on your Mac, will fix data loss issues that users have been reporting after updating from iPhoto ’09 or earlier. According to Apple:
This update addresses issues that, in extremely rare cases, could result in data loss when upgrading a library from an earlier version of iPhoto.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website:https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4431
By now, everyone that wants a white iPhone 4 knows that you aren’t going to get one any time soon. So in the meantime, while you are waiting for the white iPhone 5, check out the banned white iPhone 4 video (warning: NSFW) by clicking the read link below.
Time Sink is a new tool from Many Tricks, who also make cool things like Butler and Witch.
Time Sink monitors how you use your Mac – which applications you use, and how long you use them for. It collates and aggregates this data over time, displaying it an attractive chart.
The screenshot above was just taken from the iPhone page of the Apple Online Store. Notice something missing? The elusive white iPhone that Apple keeps promising us has now been removed, fuelling rumors that the device has been canceled entirely.
The white iPhone was delayed for the third time earlier this week, with its released date being pushed back until next spring. The exact reason we’re yet to get our hands on the white device is still yet to be confirmed from Cupertino, with the company simply explaining it’s “more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected.”
Several reasons have been speculated, however, including a color mismatch between the device’s glass and home button, light leakage out of the iPhone, and – as Cult of Mac discovered – light leakage in to the device that causes problems when taking pictures.
So, has the time come for Apple to finally throw in the towel and admit that its white iPhone 4 will never hit the shelves? Are there even customers still waiting for the device, or have they just given up and just purchased its black counterpart?
We’d be interested to know if you’ve been holding out for the white iPhone 4, and how you’d feel about Apple cancelling the device – let us know it the comments!
[via Touch Reviews]
This little lot (22 Macs, 2 PCs) belongs to London-based 21-year-old student Brent (who declined to give us his surname). It’s one of the latest pics in his Mactastic Flickr stream which is jam packed with Macs, iPods and iPads. Only some of them are pictured in use as doorstops.
Brent says: “You can put it down to just not having time to sell the older models every time I upgrade. As a result of this, I’ve gained a collection.”
His current working machines are a 27″ iMac and a MacBook Pro. He’s not got one of the new Airs yet but I’m pretty sure he’ll have one soon…