PowerPC-based Macs have long been considered dead and buried by Apple, but the company just put a few more nails in the coffin to prevent any corpse risings. With the release of iTunes 10.7 this week the ubiquitous media control center becomes Intel-only, requiring at least a Core Solo processor and Mac OS X 10.6.8.

In a related one-two punch, Apple has also stopped providing online Software Updates for Mac OS X versions 10.0 through 10.3, as well as Mac OS 9. These items are now available only by direct download from Apple’s support website.

With the 30-pin dock connector on the brink of extinction, you’re probably wandering how you’re going to hook your iOS devices up to your TV without the help of an Apple TV. Your old HDMI and VGA adapters won’t work, and Apple didn’t announce any new ones at its iPhone 5 event. So does that mean AirPlay is the only option?

Thankfully, it does not. Apple has confirmed that Lightning-compatible HDMI and VGA adapters will be arriving for your new iOS devices “in the coming months.”

Upset that after almost a decade, Apple is finally changing the Dock Connector with the new, smaller Lightning Standard? Redditor Ima13X puts it in perspective.

The image makes a great point: Samsung’s had a million proprietary connectors for its devices over the last decade, while Apple’s only had two. However, it’s worth noting that it’s this very consistency in proprietary connectors that allowed Apple to build up a massive third-party “Made for iPhone”, “Made for iPad” and “Made for iPod” licensing business… a business that Samsung’s never managed at all.

So changing the 30-Pin Dock Connector to Lightning is a big deal. The ramnifications on Apple’s accessory ecosystem are huge. As long as Apple doesn’t get in the habit of changing this connector frivolously, though, and has built Lightning to be as future proof (or more so) than the 30-Pin Dock Connector, this changes means fresh billions earned, not just for Apple, but its accessory partners.

Source: Reddit

With the new Lightning Dock, Apple has ruthlessly ditched a lot of the cruft of the 30-pin past, leaving a lot of existing accessories less functional than they were. Although you’ll still be able to use audio-out and charging functionality in your iPhone 5 using older iPhone accessories using the Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter, Apple’s ditched video out and iPod out this generation.

But the new Lightning Adapter, while closing some doors, also opens some new possibilities. A new report says that Lightning gives USB host abilities to the iPhone 5.

If you woke up late and missed your chance to pre-order the iPhone 5 from Apple before shipping estimates slipped, then don’t worry; there’s still a chance you’ll be able to get a handset delivered to your door on launch day. At things stand, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint are still promising iPhone 5 delivery on September 21, but you’ll have to be quick.

Sony has launched a whole new range of cameras at the Photokina camera trade show, including the new full-frame A99 SLR with 24MP sensor and a translucent mirror, the NEX 6, with 16MP sensor and Wi-Fi, a 35mm camcorder with interchangeable lenses (the VG900) and several others.

But we're not going to talk about them, interesting as they are (nice launch strategy Sony — burying your own products). We're going to look at the RX-1, the high-end, full-frame mirrorless camera. Why? Because I want one, that's why.

So, you’re a longtime Growl user, and now you get some alerts from Growl, and a bunch of other ones from Notification Center, and your inner OCD-child just wishes it could all come through Notification Center? I mean, Growl 2 will send stuff right to Notification Center, anyway, so why not get a head start on the process?

With the help of a third-party app called MountainGrowl, you’ll be fashionably ahead of the curve once again, you hipster, you.

When you pre-ordered your iPhone 5 this morning, and you decided to pick up a Lightning to 30-pin adapter for all your old accessories, you may have noticed that Apple’s website promised you a free adapter with your purchase. As it turns out, Apple made a mistake, and it will not be sending you a free adapter after all.

The iPhone 5 is set to become Apple’s best-selling product ever released, and so we’re hardly surprised that just an hour after the company started accepting pre-orders, shipping estimates have already slipped. For those in the United States who haven’t yet pre-ordered, you can now expect a two-week delay before your iPhone 5 is dispatched, while some territories are now being quoted “2-3 weeks.”

I just got back from the friendly Apple Store at Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia, and I'm the proud owner of Spain's first set of EarPods. The Apple Store service was — as ever — spectacular, and the salesman, Manel, told me I had bought the first pair of EarPods sold in Spain. But how did he know?

It’s the middle of the night and we want to get back to bed, so we’ll make this quick: you can now pre-order the iPhone 5.

Well, it’s a little more confusing than that. As of writing, if you’re doing it through the web, the Apple Store is still down. However, you can complete your preorder quickly using the Apple Store app, and we were able to preorder our iPhone 5 directly from Verizon’s website a few minutes before the slated time with no trouble. Doubtlessly the Apple.com preorder page will go live soon.

Update: iPhone 5 preorder page on Apple.com is now up for us. Hurrah!

We got the 64GB Verizon iPhone 5 in white. What did you get?

For the first time in history, retail giant Walmart is accepting preorders for Apple’s newest iPhone alongside Apple, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Not only that, but Walmart is offering a $10 discount for the iPhone 5, meaning that customers can buy the 16GB version for $189.97 instead of the normal $199 charged by Apple.

While Apple and the carriers will start accepting preorders around midnight PST/ 3 A.M. EST on September 14th, Walmart’s preorders won’t start until 8 A.M local time. The $189.97 price tag of course comes with a two-year contract on a carrier like AT&T or Verizon.

Pricing and availability details have surfaced regarding the unlocked flavor of the iPhone 5. Like previous generations, the base 16GB iPhone 5 starts at $649 unlocked, with 32GB costing $749 and 64GB costing $849.

What about getting to pre-order an unlocked iPhone 5? Looks like you won’t be able to do so on the web this weekend. Your best bet is visiting an Apple retail store on launch day next week.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I was making this up, but unfortunately I’m not. Apple’s patent crusade has taken a new low. They’ve actually filed a lawsuit against an online Polish grocery site, claiming they are trying to confuse customers with their trademarked A.pl. The companies full name is A.PL CompanyInternet SA and the .pl is actually Poland’s country-wide domain. However, Apple believes this site-to-door grocery delivery site is simply trying to profit off of their almighty reputation.

Today, IK Multimedia announced new, lower prices for all of its professional-level Mac music software and plug-in software. The prices have been lowered on Amplitube, T-Racks, and Sample Tank, as well as updates and price drops on Total Workstation and Total Studio bundles.

The company also updated Amplitube, its popular iOS guitar app, adding new effects models to coincide with the release of its new compatible guitar pedal, the iRig Stomp.

Looks like iCloud.com, Apple’s website for its cloud-based computing service, is no longer a beta. In addition to adding the Reminders and Notes apps that sync with iCloud to your iPhone and iPad, iCloud.com has made some improvements to the Find my iPhone app and added VIP mail to the Mail app.

Update: Well, actually, the Lighting to 30-pin adapter does, in fact, carry an audio signal. It also has an analog to digital converter to make that happen. Thanks to the fine journalist Mike Rose at TUAW, we now can put this “controversy” to rest. The ‘iPod Out’ function is actually a feature that lets remote screens in cars or other devices share song info and other graphic displays from the iOS device. If you own a car with this functionality, you’ll still be able to listen to music via the Lightning to 30-Pin adapter, but you won’t get the same graphic display as before.

The source at CNN, below, was incorrect in their assumption, and I erroneously passed that along to you – my apologies.

Don’t have time to watch the full iPhone 5 keynote? Don’t worry! We’ve done the work for you and chopped down everything you need to see into just 90 seconds of fast paced product announcements. Check out the video right after the break.

Earlier today we told you that the Verizon iPhone 5 was the best choice to buy, but this news may change your mind. The Verizon and Sprint (CDMA) iPhone 5 will not be able to talk and surf the web at the same time, while the AT&T (GSM) iPhone 5 will. It’s been that way since the iPhone 4 debuted on Verizon back in 2010, but nothing has been officially said about the iPhone 5’s ability to talk and surf until now.

Verizon has confirmed that you won’t be able to use 3G or 4G LTE data while talking on the iPhone 5. Due to the fact that Verizon and Sprint both run on the CDMA network standard, this limitation assumedly extends to the iPhone 5 on Sprint as well.

As we told you would happen two days ago, Subatomic Studios has officially released Fieldrunners 2 HD in the App Store. The highly-anticpated iPad version of the game features new weapons, features, and full support for the iPad’s Retina display.

You probably already know whether or not you’re going to buy the iPhone 5 by now, but how are you going to buy it? John Brownlee published his excellent guide on how to pre-order the iPhone 5 the right way, but is pre-ordering the best way to go? Yes, it’s the surest bet. If you pre-order early, you’re guaranteed to get your iPhone 5 on September 21st.

Here’s my dilemma though; my FedEx guy never shows up till 6pm, and during the iPad 3 launch there weren’t any lines at the Apple Store after 11am, so I just walked in and bought the new iPad and was out of the store in five minutes. I’m thinking that might be the case this year with the iPhone 5 too, but demand for the iPhone 5 is going to be higher than it was for the iPad 3. Do you think the lines at stores are going to be lower this year because everyone will pre-order? Which would you choose?

Click here to go to the Cult of Mac Forums and tell us whether you think it’s better to buy from the Apple Store or pre-order.

Preorders for the iPhone 5 start tomorrow, so it’s time to consider which model you’re going to drop your hard-earned cash on.

There are several things to consider when purchasing a new iPhone. The iPhone 5 you buy depends on your carrier preference, storage requirements, and most importantly, how much you’re willing to spend.

Still, at the end of the day, for most iPhone 5 buyers, there’s one clear winner, and that’s the 16GB Verizon iPhone 5 in Black. Here’s why:

While this tip may be moot once iOS 6 happens, it’s still available to you right now.

When you’re in a big city trying to drive somewhere, the route you may choose will vary depending on traffic conditions. There are a ton of third-party apps out there that can help figure out traffic, but why not just use one that’s already on your iPhone? Maps will do the job, and all it takes is a little tap.

Why is it that all Apple Store burglars have to have the intellectual capacity of a six year-old hyped up on Mountain Dew? Our latest Apple thief, Equonne R. Howard, decided it’d be a great idea to ram his BMW X-5 through the front glass of the Temecula Apple Store and steal a bunch of Apple products.

What Howard didn’t count on happening, was getting two flat tires in the process, and the drop gate for the store closing. He reversed full speed into the drop gate a couple times and eventually got out, but the dummy’s license plate fell off and he got caught when he went back later to retrieve it. Brilliant! Watch the video below to see his car crashing through the glass:

For a brief moment during yesterday’s keynote, Apple mentioned that along with some new LTE and battery wizardry, they were able to add support for “wideband audio” phone calls. Some tech people are calling it HD Voice, because it’s really just higher quality voicecalls.

The iPhone 5 supports HD Voice, but you’re never going to be able to use it in the U.S. right now, and you probably never will. Why? Well, there are a lot of messy technical details behind it, but here’s the simplest explanation.