News - page 2208

At least one car in this year’s NYC to Las Vegas Bullrun Rally — an invitation-only rally (which the organizers claim differs from a race in that speeding is not allowed…uh, sure) in which 100 supercars race (sorry, rally) across the U.S. Cannonball-Run style —  is packing Apple tech.

Defending champs Team Wu is packing a dash-mounted iPad running Trapster’s iPad app in their officially named “Trapster Cop Car” (because it resembles a cop car) — in an effort to keep law enforcement off their backs while rallying at-or-below the speed limit in their Vortec supercharger-equipped 2010 Dodge Charger.

Of course, Trapster should also alert them to road hazards; but that’s probably not the reason the team has called Trapster their “secrat weapon.” Good luck, guys.

[via Trapster’s blog]

Does your small- or medium-sized business run on Macs? Are you a Mac IT-manager?

If so, we’ve got a new weekly feature for you: Macs at Work. Every week, we’ll answer your business-related questions, from setting up servers to running iPads in the enterprise. Macs at Work is brought to by Macuity, a Mac-focused IT consulting group located in Boston, MA.

This week, we have a question about Snow Leopard server for group calendar and contact sharing.

Possibly the aftermath of the Foxconn headache, Apple has reportedly decided to broaden its base of factories manufacturing Apple desktop computers. Taiwan-based Pegatron Technologies has received orders to supply Cupertino, according to Digitimes.

Pegatron, which spun-off from Asustek Computer, sees Apple’s decision as boosting flagging revenue, as well as another step in regaining MacBook manufacturing.

In May, the publication also reported Apple gave Pegatron the nod to manufacture a CDMA version of its iconic iPhone which may ship in late 2011. That handset could either be headed to Verizon Wireless, thus giving U.S. consumers a choice of iPhone carriers, or the Asian market.

Until recently, Apple was Foxconn’s largest customer. However, following a spate of worker suicides and the many attempts to quiet the storm of controversy, the Cupertino, Calif. company may be looking to broaden its manufacturing base.

[9to5Mac]

A federal judge greenlighted a monopoly abuse case against Apple and AT&T Inc.’s mobile phone unit, it can now move forward as a class action suit.

The June 2008 complaint took aim at locking-in iPhones for use on the  AT&T network and its control over what iPhone users can install and use on the devices.

The lawsuit also says Apple secretly made AT&T its exclusive iPhone partner in the U.S. for five years. Consumers agreed to two-year contracts but found themselves bound to a half-decade relationship with AT&T, the lawsuit argued.

Judge James Ware of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said parts of the lawsuit that deal with violations to antitrust law can continue as a class action, according to court documents filed July 8.
Anyone who bought an iPhone with a two-year AT&T agreement since the device first went on sale in June 2007 can join the class suit.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to keep Apple from selling locked iPhones in the U.S. and from determining what iPhone programs people can install. It also seeks damages to cover legal fees and other costs.

Will you join this class action suit or not?

Via AP

Noise-canceling ear buds deliver impressively clear sound, but at the expense of the added bulk of the in-line noise canceling unit. Blackbox’s latest i10 Noise Canceling Earphones get rid of the bulk, though, by getting rid of the usual bulk-adding battery housed in the noise-canceling unit. They’ve accomplished this by also ditching the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack; instead, the i10s use an Apple 30 pin dock connector which allows these earbuds to draw power directly from your iPhone or iPod.

That makes these $125 earbuds something of a gamble, since they’ll only work with Apple’s audio players…and even then, only as long as Apple sticks with its current 30-pin connector format.

Apple released four new television ads Sunday starring the iPhone 4’s FaceTime video-chat feature. The well-produced commercials were enough to melt the hardened-hearts of tech bloggers. But will they help Cupertino compete with the Mountain View mauler, Google?

Long known for its memorable commercials, ranging from its initial 1984 spot introducing the Macintosh, to its long-running and recently-ended “Get a Mac” series that poked gentle fun at Microsoft, Apple has been a master at commercials. The first, “Meet Her,” shows a grandfather being introduced to his grandchild via FaceTime. Another helps a child show off a new braces-filled smile, while a third uses the iPhone 4 video-chat feature to reassure a girl about a new haircut. The fourth uses FaceTime to break the news of a long-desired pregnancy.

Kirk to Enterprise: iPhoneSavior brings us news today that CBS Mobile has sanctioned and rereleased a previously banned Star Trek Communicator app for the iPhone, with classic lines and sound effects:

The newly reimagined Star Trek Original Series Communicator ($2.99) for iPhone is packed full of the kind of classic fodder Star Trek fans are certain to drool over. In addition to a hidden, functional dialing pad that accesses the iPhone’s address book to make calls, the app includes several sound bites featuring Captain Kirk, one says; “Two to beam up Scotty.”

I just beamed this onto my iPhone, definitely a hoot.  Now if they can only get the transporter working…

UPDATE: The app price has been lowered to US$1.99

Research in Motion has long been rumored to be working on their own BlackBerry-powered tablet, often christened the BlackTab, but a new report by Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar is now dusting off that rumor in a new report.

What are we looking at, according to Kumar? Something more akin to Dell’s recent tablet offerings in the Streak than the iPad: expect a 7-inch touchscreen, a Marvell processor and 3G baseband, as well as front and back-facing cameras for videoconferencing.

The most interesting detail of Kumar’s report, though, might be in the dating: although earlier rumors about the BlackTab pegged it for an early 2011 release, Kumar says that RIM is straining to get it out there by the end of the year.

Courtesy of Brian Freeland of Freeland Studios comes this steampunk update of his original iRetrofone, the iRetrofone Steampunk Copper Edition.

It’s admittedly a more attractive dock than the original, although in this case, “Steampunk Copper” seems to mean “brown with lots of functionless plastic molded gears.” I’d rather see what the likes of Jake von Slatt could do with the concept of a steampunk iPhone dock than spend $450 on this one, but your taste might well vary.

The first draft of this post was composed jointly by an excitement-inspired cerebral aneurysm and my own paroxysmal face smashed repeatedly against the keyboard.

The second draft will be more succinct: PopCap games have just sent out an email featuring the Plants vs. Zombies rotting hand logo clutching a sign that says “Save the Date: August 2, 2010.”

The obvious assumption? Plants vs. Zombies 2. After all, the original has sold like gangbusters on every platform it’s been released for. A sequel is just money in the bank for Pop Cap.

Twisting my fingers to the point of splintering here. I’ve warded off over 50 waves of Super Garguantua Zombies with my endless survival gloom shroom setup in the first game. I’m ready for some new zombies on my lawn.

Got a Time Capsule that’s giving you problems? According to a new Apple Knowledge Base article, Time Capsules with a serial number conforming to XX807XXXXXX – XX814XXXXXX are now eligible for a trade-in.

According to the article, “Some Time Capsules sold between approximately February 2008 and June 2008 may not power on or may shut down unexpectedly after starting up.”

I actually have a 500GB Time Capsule with that serial number, but it’s still working like a champ for me… despite the fact that the average Time Capsule sold during that time apparently dies every 19 months and 20 days. Anyone with an ailing Time Capsule going to take Apple up on their exchange offer here?

Last we heard, it seemed likely that the next iPod Touch would be camera-equipped with, at the bare minimum, a forward facing, video-only FaceTime camera… but due to space constraints, it didn’t look like the Touch would also gain the iPhone 4’s 5MP camera.

Today, MacRumors is following up last week’s speculation with the idea that while the 5MP camera won’t fit into the iPod Touch’s chassis, 3.2MP camera could conceivably fit… if Apple made the iPod Touch’s thickness uniform across all capacities.

Keep it secret! Keep it safe. Given Apple’s once impeccable track record of keeping their future products under wraps up until the very moment that Steve Jobs held them aloft on stage, the product-leaking Smeagol lurking around the underdark of their supply chain is really doing Cupertino a bad turn.

The latest supply-chain leak, spotted by Apple.pro, shows a tiny 1.18″ square, 3cm x 3cm touchscreen, complete with an Apple copyright branded upon the connector cable. The obvious assumption? A touchscreen iPod Shuffle, possibly as early as September.

ARSoccer from Laan Labs is the first soccer game in the App Store to use augmented reality, along with your iPhone’s camera, to juggle a virtual ball with your feet.

There are two game modes; Free Play, which pretty much explains itself, allowing you to practice at will and perfect your skills; and Arcade Mode in which you try to keep the ball from dropping to the floor and get as many “hits” as you can for your highest score.

The best way to see how this game works is to check out the video here.

It’s a fantastic concept and it’s a great way to get involved in a game. I wouldn’t advise you play at the bus stop, however – you may get some funny looks.

At just $0.99, ARSoccer is a bargain! Get it in the App Store here.

Wow I heard rumors this was going to happen, but I thought we would end up with a web app. Instead we’ve got a new free iPhone 4 app (iTunes Link) that kind of resembles the famous Chatroulette website. Sorry, but it doesn’t work on other iPhones since it uses the new front facing camera to set you up with a random chat between users.

Early today in Fring’s 3G Videochat App Is Must-Have for iPhone 4 we reported that the popular Fring app for iPhone was updated to include video chat over 3G (Apple’s FaceTime only works over Wi-Fi).

The immediate popularity of the app and how it interfaces to Skype video and voice calls has resulted in the removal of Skype support from the app. Fring wants to concentrate on Fring-to-Fring video calling so Skype support is being temporarily reduced until some system capacity issues can be addressed.

Fring’s official statement can be found on their website.

If you haven’t updated your Fring app on your iPhone 4 or in iTunes yet you should refrain from doing so. You may still be able to access Skype using the older version. The new version without Skype support is 3.3.0.9. If retaining the old version of Fring  still works with Skype for you please leave us a comment.

I’ve already given you the run down on my experience about being bummed when I found out that some of my iPhone accessories would not work with Apple’s Bumper case. That was Part 1 and now here is Part 2: the Apple Bumper case crash test performed by iFixYouri.com. I’ll let the video speak for itself.

With outstanding 3D visuals and impressive gameplay, Glu’s best-selling Deer Hunter 3D is recognized as the greatest hunting game available for the iPhone & iPod Touch. Now Deer Hunter 3D for iPad has hit the App Store and gives fans the opportunity to enjoy this highly popular game on the iPad’s high-resolution screen.

Popular multi-IM and voice-chat service Fring has just been updated to bring 2-way video calling on iPhone 4 over 3G (Apple’s FaceTime is Wi-Fi only), as well as voice and text chat.

We’ve tested it out; while it has a few minor issues, Fring has freed videochat from Wi-Fi. If you like to videochat on your new iPhone 4, it’s a must-have app.

Here’s a new, strange little app; Gyro Draw lets users draw with the iPhone 4’s gyroscope, by sliding a piece of virtual paper (responding to inputs from the gyroscope) under a stationary virtual pencil. Don’t have a 4? It also works with the older iPhone’s accelerometer, only in this mode it’s the pencil that moves. Also works on the iPad.

Not sure this app’ll produce anything prettier than the etch-a-sketch masterpieces I made when I was five, but it’s free right now for a limited time, so it might be cool for a quick impress-your-gyroscopeless-friends session.

Emboldened by a $612.5 million settlement from Research in Motion, a company claiming to have invented wireless e-mail, Friday sued Apple, Google, Microsoft and three other handset makers. NTP Incorporated alleges the companies are violating eight patents on wireless e-mail.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eastern Virginia, is aimed at getting Apple and others to pay licensing fees. In a news release, NTP said the defendants all make hardware or software to deliver e-mail via wireless communications.

DropCopy is a free (for personal use on three machines) utility for transferring files between computers.

Once installed, it puts an unobtrusive circular “black hole” on your desktop. To move files around, drag them on to the black hole and wait for a list of destinations to appear, then drop on the one you want to send to.

Like magic, your file will instantly be sent to that computer. DropCopy is great for any local network where files get moved around. At home, you might simply be moving music files between your laptop and desktop. In the office, you might want to share stuff with colleagues. Either way, DropCopy provides an easy alternative to shared folders and networked storage drives.

It does some really neat stuff, like allow you to grab the clipboard contents of another computer or device, then save that to your own. There’s also a built-in messaging feature.

These days there’s also a version for iPhone and iPod touch that allows you to do pretty much all the same tricks between mobile devices, no intermediary computer required.

Of course, you can share files and send messages for free using other means; particularly Dropbox. But if you’d rather keep your files away from the internet, DropCopy is a great alternative. It’s useful in all sorts of ways, and at just $25 for the non-personal version, a bargain for small business teams.

(You’re reading the 12th post in our series, 50 Essential Mac Applications: a list of the great Mac apps the team at Cult of Mac value most. Read more.)

Although there are five names on the list of smartphone makers, most eyes are on just two: Apple and Google. While Apple retains its second-place position with 25.4 percent of the market, the Cupertino, Calif. company’s share fell 1 percent between February and May, according to comScore. Meanwhile, Android-based handsets grew from 9 percent of the smartphone market to 13 percent over the same period, a 45 percent jump, the analysts said.

Most of Android’s growth is coming at the expense of other smartphone brands, such as RIM, Microsoft and Palm, all reporting negative growth. Microsoft’s share slipped as partners await an expected fall introduction of the Windows 7 platform. Palm also fell amid its acquisition by HP.

Apple and Google have battled back and forth with competing product releases. Apple announced selling 1.7 million iPhone 4s in the first three days of availability in June. Meanwhile, Google announced last month 160,000 Droid x handsets were activated daily, compared to 100,000 per day in May.

Although Google hopes to grab a few more RIM users by upcoming Blackberry-like products from Samsung and Motorola, the Mountain View, Calif. company still has a long hill to climb. The market-leading RIM has 41.7 percent of the smartphone market, according to comScore.

[Fortune and comScore]

Apple CEO Steve Jobs was named “Smartest CEO in Tech” by Fortune Magazine. Jobs bested Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos in a list of the 50 smartest people in technology. Jobs was described as a “visionary, micromanager, and a showman who creates such anticipation around new products that there releases are veritable holidays,” according to the publication.

Also named were Dendreon’s Mitch Gold, Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Demand Media’s Richard Rosenblatt.

Globe-trotting IT executive Steve Shantz wrote a short post comparing the battery life of his Windows 7-running Dell XT2 tablet with that of his colleague’s 3G iPad.

Flying from Chicago to Singapore on business, Steve’s Dell battery gives out on him after just 2.5 hours of work. There are many more hours to go. His iPad-toting colleague, meanwhile, lands in Hong Kong and still has plenty of juice left.

Again, in the conference the two of them attend, Steve is left running around looking for power points, while his friend happily cruises through the day without them.