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Apple filed for patents last September that suggest the company may be working on biometric security technology together with optical and voice recognition software to enhance traditional password security for its devices.

According to a report published for the first time this week, the patent filing describes methods for embedding sensors beneath touchscreens and trackpads to recognize fingerprints and vein patterns; device cameras and microphones would authenticate retinal patterns or facial features and recognize a user’s distinctive voice. There is even a suggestion of collecting DNA samples to recognize a user’s genetic sequence. Biometrics could also be context-sensitive and detect the shape of a user’s ear before allowing a call to go through, for example.

Makes that neural interface revolution seem a little more likely, doesn’t it?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS6G-HvnkU

A series of Microsoft ads are aimed at budget consumers worried about price tags, further perpetuating the pricey Mac myth.

Associated Press reports the ads were shot by recruited unwitting subjects by posing as a market research firm studying laptop purchasing decisions.

It picked 10 people who answered a call for volunteers on Craigslist and other websites and sent them out with a camera crew and budgets ranging from $US700 to $US 2,000. If they found a computer that fit their criteria, they could keep it.

In the first 60-second ad, a red-haired recent college grad named Lauren is on the hunt for a speedy laptop with a 17-inch screen and a “comfortable” keyboard, all for less than $1000. She strides into an Apple store; then, the scene jumps to her walking out empty-handed, telling the camera that the only laptop in her price range has a 13-inch screen.

Back in the car, she sighs and says, “I’m just not cool enough to be a Mac person.”

Lauren heads to Best Buy next and buys a Windows notebook made by Hewlett-Packard Co. for $US699. And she wasn’t alone. While some might have been able to find an Apple computer that fit the budget, Microsoft said none of the people they filmed picked a Mac.

Via The Age

Edith Zimmerman, whose blog demonstrates that she never quite bought the concept that food shouldn’t be played with, made an iPod out of bread.

It looks like the track playing is “(B)ready or Not” by the Fugees. Wonder if she’s going to be sent to bed without dessert…

Via Walyou

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNhBwA7BLho
If you had any doubts about it being a very Bollywood moment — after Slumdog Millionaire won 10 Academy Awards and even the Pussycat Dolls got a themed “global goddess” makeover and pop song — this faux iTunes ad uploaded on youtube by Bollywood Hipster is the tipping point.

The mix of ancient and modern Indian dance styles is set to the themes song from movie Bachna Ae Haseeno.

Namaste to CoM reader Tina Singh for the tip.

Via om malik

Grab your parka, hat and gloves and book your tickets early for WWDC 2009, June 8 – 12 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center West.

Apple announced the dates Thursday via its Developers Connection website for the annual conference that provides developers and IT professionals with in-depth technical information and hands-on learning about iPhone OS and Mac OS X technologies from over 1000 Apple engineers who created them.

Easily one of the most eagerly anticipated Geek festivals on the calendar, this year’s conference should draw even more interest than usual due to the impending arrival of iPhone 3.0 and Mac OS X 10.6, known as Snow Leopard.

Early-bird registration for the conference is $1,295 until April 24th, after which the entrance fee goes up $300. Current ADC Student Members and student Team Members in the iPhone Developer University Program can apply for a WWDC Student Scholarship for free admission to the conference.

From the Euclid Sun Journal police blotter for the greater Cleveland Area:

FOUND PROPERTY, VOELKER AVENUE: A man found an Apple computer at 7 p.m. March 16 on the street at Babbitt Road. He believed the computer may have been mistakenly left atop someone’s car roof when the car was driven away.

What are the chances it’s still working?

Image used with a cc license, thanks to dv0rsky

This is a vanilla cupcake meant to look like it’s topped with a handmade fondant iPhone for a senior management meeting at Air Canada.

Apple must have the sweetest distribution deal in the entire retail universe, if a report published Wednesday at TechCrunch is to be believed.

The AppStore refund policy allows purchasers a full refund up to 90 days from the date of download of any application purchased in the iTunes AppStore. Which seems questionable enough in the light of, say, the Android Market’s 24 hour return policy.

But a clause in the developer’s contract all iPhone developers must sign in order to have their apps sold in the AppStore indicates that in addition to a three month return policy, “Apple will have the right to retain its commission on the sale of that Licensed Application, notwithstanding the refund of the price to the end user.”

In effect this means Apple will charge 100% of the sale price to a developer for every refund given, even though the developer only got 70% of the price of the sale in the first place.

Many iPhone app developers are on the record as having no problem with Apple’s 30% sales commission for applications sold through the iTunes AppStore. The thinking goes that independent developers gain access to many more potential customers by having their products in the widely visited venue, save tons of money on marketing and transaction costs and generally benefit from being associated with the legitimacy of the Apple brand.

When consumers get wind of this policy, which may be a new development, according to the TechCrunch report, developers of some widely purchased though basically useless apps could be in for a rude awakening.

UPDATE: No developer is likely to go bankrupt in the real world, according to a level-headed explanation posted Thursday by Erica Sadun, a developer/blogger for ArsTechnica.

The reason, which makes perfect sense when you think about it, is that Apple never gives refunds, except in extreme circumstances and then, only after causing the customer many headaches.

All the Fart app people can rest easy now.

Apple released a firmware update Wednesday for owners of 2009 unibody 17″ MacBook Pros meant to resolve issues with Nvidia graphics processors that have been causing display anomalies for some users.

Reports on March 6 described complaints related to the Nvidia GeForce 9600 graphics processor in new 17″ MacBook Pros that were causing lines to appear all over some users’ notebook displays, as reported in Apple support threads and in comments to Cult of Mac’s original post.

The firmware update released Wednesday applies only to 2009 model 17″ MacBook Pros. Users wishing to apply the firmware fix should consult Apple documentation for information on how to apply the update.

Let us know in comments whether the firmware solves the problem.

Apple was granted a recent patent, no. 7,508,662, for a handle arrangement with integrated heat pipe.

Here’s how it’s summed up in the patent application: “As portable electronic device designs become more compact, managing thermal loads in integrated circuits (e.g. processing units) becomes more challenging.

One reason for this challenge is that high powered portable devices can generate significant amounts of waste heat energy over a relatively compact area. As such, damage due to heat cycling may cause collateral damage to components in close proximity to heat generators. In conventional solutions, fans may be utilized in coordination with a heat sink to dissipate generated waste heat. In some examples, where fans are utilized to cool components, battery life may be significantly lowered.

“Although conventional methods as illustrated may be effective, as noted above, power requirements for fan usage may, in some instances significantly reduce battery life making such a solution somewhat undesirable. Furthermore, use of a fan may, in some examples, contribute to an undesirable increase in noise level. Therefore, handle arrangements with an integrated heat pipe are presented herein.”

The  iBook G3 Clamshell had a handle (removed on later models),  a quick search turned up third-party handles for newer models, too, though at about $45 you might be better off with a case.

Have you bought handles? Would you like to see them on your next laptop?

via macsimum news

Spotted this yesterday in Milan: a small stool with a faux-Apple logo, missing the bite and a few colors but unmistakably inspired by the iconic rainbow.

Wonder who, for about $17 (€12.90), would want to sit on it, PC people?

Nearly 900 people RSVPd for the boxee meetup Tuesday at Webster Hall in NYC, where the “bleeding edge” media center platform is announcing brand new partnerships with Pandora, Radio Time and PBS, as well as a more robust API and a new XUL-based framework for the boxee browser that will enable easier interaction with any web-based video (translation: Hulu web pages).

Live video of the meetup and a chat session are accessible on the Mogulus boxee meetup channel.

With the new Pandora station, boxee users can listen to their personal quickmix and favorite stations, as well as create new stations, making music in the living room more accessible than ever.

BoxeeHQ is also releasing a new PBS app today, and the company promises its new API will allow developers to build apps using XML pages and Python scripts, giving them control over everything they want from a UI perspective.

They offer as an example the new implementation of Radio Time, an application built using the new API that will allow users to stream over 100k terrestrial radio stations from around the world.

By adding new access to more music and continuing to add to and refine access to video content, boxee is definitely pressing its case as a force to be reckoned with in the breaking down of barriers between internet and traditional media content.

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to jailbreak your iPhone due to trepidation over wading into deep geek water, Ripdev’s release of InstallerApp might be just the tipping point you’ve been waiting for.

It’s an application for Mac (soon to be available for Windows PCs as well) that allows you to download iPhone apps on your computer and transfer them to your device in a friendly iTunes-like interface, without “jailbreaking” your phone.

InstallerApp comes with software, called “Pusher”, that RipDev says can install Installer.app on your iPhone without “jailbreaking” it, so you can use Apple’s approved AppStore and InstallerApp simultaneously. The app supports Cydia, a popular installer for jailbroken iPhones, but does so, according to Ripdev, without making a mess of your iPhone’s file system or replacing any system libraries as Cydia does.

You’ll need a Mac with Intel processor running OS X 10.5 Leopard or higher. InstallerApp supports first generation iPhone and iPhone 3G, though not iPod touch as yet.

One $7 license lets you sync up to three iPhones and gives you access to free updates and email tech support for one year. The free version is fully functional and lets you browse the app’s repository of thousands of non-AppStore software titles, and use it to install the Installer app on your iPhone, but you won’t be able to install other apps on your iPhone. That sort of defeats the purpose, but at least you can get a look and feel for free.

Clearly, the jailbreaking community is hitting its stride in providing competitive alternatives to Apple’s walled garden of iPhone apps. Ripdev is even promising to support iPhone 3.0 shortly after the new software is released and jailbroken.

UPDATE: InstallerApp may not be living up to its developers claims, according to some comments to this post and to a report at Engadget. Has anyone had success making InstallerApp perform as advertised? Let us know in comments and we’ll post again as information warrants.

[Macworld]

Actor Ashton Kutcher gets a lot of mileage out of his iPhone —  filming intruding paps and taking candid cam pics of his wife Demi Moore.

Image via San Jose Mercury News

UPDATE: Woz has made it through to round three without even having to be part of a dance-off! He wasn’t in the group of the worst two dance couples! Can you smell what the Woz is cookin’?

Quote: “That was the most incredible surprise. I was setting myself up to be so happy doing my dance again. When that came, my world turned in an instant”¦I was crying. I still have tears a little.”

We’re back! Woz is going on, and he pulled a hamstring! This is going to be good!

9:22 p.m. Woz, sporting a fauxhawk, is attempting a samba. He can barely walk.

9:23 p.m. As my wife notes, this is the only time he hasn’t had a feather boa.

9:24 p.m. Um. Woz just did the worm. Yeah, that worm. That was amazing.

9:24 p.m. The female judge is dissing on his worm. “You’re so cute, but the novelty is wearing thin.” Also: “You’re like the uncle at the party!”

9:25 p.m. Cranky old British man: “You’re meant to be killing the dance, but the dance is killing you.”

9:26 p.m. Bruno: “Steve, this was the worst samba I have seen in my whole life!”

9:26 p.m. Wozdom: “One thing I learned is that if you mix a samba with a little Smirnoff, you’ll end up in the hospital!” Smirnoff is the last name of his partner.

9:27 p.m. Woz got 10 points. That’s the lowest he’s gotten ever. Ouch. Woz remains committed to bringing his brand of entertainment to America.

9:30 p.m. And we’re outta here!

Image by shapeshift, used under CreativeCommons license

Next-generation iPhones could enjoy up to twice as fast 3G connectivity and faster WiFi as well, according to rumors being pondered Friday at Silicon Valley Insider and Mac Rumors.

The speculation centers around AT&T’s stated intention to upgrade its 3G network to support 7.2 Mbps speeds, up from the 3.6 Mbps speed of the current network. The cellular provider maintains that that many of its cell towers can be upgraded through software rather than by new equipment, but current iPhone hardware limits connectivity to 3.6 Mbps, so users of Apple’s mobile devices will need a new generation of phone to enjoy faster 3G connectivity.

Additional speculation concerns the possibility of faster WiFi connectivity through a new Broadcom 802.11 chipset that would provide real Wi-Fi speeds of up to 50Mbps (versus 25Mbps for typical 802.11g) in addition to Bluetooth with support for wireless stereo audio.

While none of the speculation has been confirmed at this point, it is only logical to assume that as faster, more powerful chips become available, Apple and its service provider partners will enable devices that take advantage of them.

Perhaps the battery industry will join the advancing technology party in a meaningful way as well.

No matter how many times, nor by how many ways it’s disproved, the canard that Macs are more expensive than Windows machines will just not die.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer yammered on about Apple’s price premium Thursday, speaking to BusinessWeek editor Stephen Adler at The McGraw-Hill Companies’ 2009 Media Summit. Citing February sales data indicating a pull-back in the momentum of Mac sales, Ballmer pronounced Apple’s run at market share in the PC universe all but doomed in the currrent economy.

“The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment — same piece of hardware — paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that’s a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be.”

Anyone who bothers to think beyond the superficialities, however, knows the higher cost of Macs to be a myth, debunked at least as far back as the earliest years of this decade, and regularly disproved since.

On top of that, three quarters of companies in a recent survey indicated an intention to increase their Mac purchases in the coming year, citing increased productivity and lower cost of ownership as reasons underlying their purchase planning.

So when are people gong to stop paying attention to blowhards such as Ballmer, a guy who won’t even let his wife or kids have an iPod?

Apple has added HD movies to the US iTunes store, including action flicks “Transporter 3,” “Bangkok Dangerous” and “The Spirit.”   HD versions cost five dollars more to buy ($14.99 regular, $19.99 HD) but rentals cost the same as regular flicks, $3.99. HD purchases also come with an iPod/iPhone compatible standard def version for viewing on smaller screens.

Upcoming titles available for pre-order on iTunes include “Quantum of Solace” and “Twilight.”

UPDATE: This post corrects a post written and originally published on 4/18 that contained incorrectly attributed information.

The single most talked about and demonstrated feature of iPhone 3.0 software at Tuesday’s launch event — push notification — remains absent from the beta release distributed to developers, with no indication thus far forthcoming from Apple when it will become available.

Scott Forstall, Apple’s Senior VP for iPhone software spent over half an hour Tuesday extolling the virtues of push notification and explaining why — although promised by the company over a year ago — it has taken so long to roll out. Developer “demand we didn’t anticipate” caused Apple to “completely re-architect the server infrastructure for push notification,” he said.

Developer representatives from a half dozen companies were trotted out for a dog and pony show to demonstrate how amazing push notification is going to be in the next version of iPhone software, and yet, despite distributing documentation of how the service is intended to work, Apple has yet to provide developers a method for implementing and testing push notification in their apps.

Forstall spoke plainly in his presentation Tuesday (see 26:45 into the video) “It is now really scalable, and we’re ready to go.”

Apparently not.

Calls to Apple for explanation were not returned as of press time, but we’ll be sure to keep readers apprised as this story develops.

Psystar Corp., the Florida company fighting with Apple in federal court over selling computers that run Mac OS X, launched a new, slimmer clone.

The $600 Open(3) computer, sold exclusively on the company’s website,  has an Intel 2.8-GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive and an Nvidia GeForce 8400GS graphics card with 256MB of RAM in its standard configuration.

FireWire, Bluetooth and wireless hardware cost extra, however, as does a keyboard, mouse and monitor, none of which is bundled with the box, putting it up for competition with the base model Mac Mini, which also retails for $599, without monitor, keyboard or mouse.

Psystar started selling Intel-based computers with Mac OS X preinstalled last April.  In July 2008,  Apple filed a lawsuit accusing the company of copyright and software licensing violations.

A month later, Psystar filed a countersuit, which was tossed out in November 2008.

Psystar, however, refused to back down.  In February it won a round after a judge ruled that it could amend its countersuit to charge Apple with abusing copyright laws by tying Mac OS X to its own hardware.

Via Computer World

Charlie Miller, principal security analyst at Independent Security Evaluators, used a security exploit in Safari 4 to hack into a MacBook in about 10 seconds Wednesday, winning the Pwn2own contest at the CanSecWest security conference for the second year in a row.

The security hole, which Miller said he discovered last year, allows a remote attacker to gain control of a machine by getting the computer user to click on a malicious URL, as Miller demonstrated.

“It’s not easy, but this worked with one click” from the Safari browser, he said.

The contest is sponsored by TippingPoint, which shares details on the exploit with Apple and develops a patch for it. TippingPoint offers $5,000 for each new exploit demonstrated in the major browsers and $10,000 for each successful exploit in the major smartphones.

Miller also discovered an exploit in the mobile version of Safari shortly after the iPhone was launched in 2007. In addition to the $5000 prize for his efforts Wednesday, he gets to keep the MacBook he used to win the contest.

[CNet]

Newber, the FreedomVoice Systems app that sought to bring innovative calling functionality to the iPhone, has thrown in the towel after having had its app submission ignored by Apple for five months, according to an open letter (pdf) published Wednesday by FreedomVoice CEO, Eric Thomas.

We reported in January that Apple was dragging its feet on the Newber app, which would let users route every phone call made to them though a single number (their “Newber”) and, using GPS location awareness, let them take a call on any phone that happened to be nearby.

Thomas claims Newber followed Apple’s submission guidelines, yet never received any information from the company as to why the application was not reviewed. FreedomVoice records claim to show no one at Apple ever even tried the app.

A simple rejection, although not a welcome development, would have provided an opportunity to rework the app or scrap the project before wasting money on promotions, according to Thomas, but Apple left Newber in limbo.

After spending over $500K for R&D, architectural changes, patent applications, and marketing, the company finally saw no way forward.

“I don’t think you can do that to companies and expect others to continue to invest in your platform,” Thomas said.

[MacNN]

Switcheasy has released a very cool, tiny microphone for Apple’s iPod Nano 4G and Touch 2G devices. Available in red, white and black, the little mini-mic connects to the iPod’s 3.5mm headphone jack and delivers what Switcheasy says is “outstanding” recordings from “the best quality micro-microphone in its category.”

$13 + $3 shipping and handling from the website, ThumbTacks have a gold plated, non-corrosive plug and work with third-party apps. Switcheasy recommends upgrading the iPod to latest firmware before using the ThumbTack.

AT&T is set to begin offering existing customers iPhone 3G on March 26 without requiring on-site activation or the 2 year service contract new and upgrade customers must agree to in order to buy a phone at reduced pricing, according to a report at Boy Genius.

Claiming to be based on internal AT&T training slides describing the new policies, the report indicates existing AT&T customers will be able to purchase a limit of one device per phone line at $599 (8GB) and $699 (16GB) without committing to the usual 2 year contract required of new customers wishing to purchase an iPhone.

New AT&T customers will still be required to sign a 2 year service contract in order to activate iPhones on the AT&T network and all phones activated for AT&T service will still be required to carry an iPhone data plan.

Apple has confirmed the existence of a proprietary chip in the on-cord controller of the company’s headsets that began shipping with the new iPod Shuffle announced last week, but the chip itself serves no “authentication” function and will not prevent third party headset manufacturers from producing headsets that work with Apple’s music player, according to company spokespersons.

The chip will be required for headsets wishing to bear the “Made for iPod” licensing certification for accessories that work with iPods, however. Apple has thus created a new revenue stream and extended “Made for iPod” certification to headphones/remotes, accessories that were not previously required to be certified as “Made for iPod”.

So while there is no DRM in the chips themselves, third-party headset manufacturers who want their products to be sold in Apple Stores and / or to be regarded as competitive, are likely to feel pressure to pay for the chips and obtain the “Made for iPod” certification.

The proprietary chips will cost manufacturers less than $1, bundled with a $2 microphone, according to one report.