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MacTech News

Feb 03
Apple 'un-pull's iOS devices in Germany in never-ending legal...

Apple, which has spent the past day pulling older models of the iPhone and iPad inventory from the shelves of its online store in Germany, is now restoring them.

Apple has pulled several iPad and iPhone models from its German online store after Motorola Mobility enforced a patent injunction against its rival, reports the "BBC" (http://macte.ch/7GmXq). Now in a statement given to "AllThingsD" (http://macte.ch/TVRgM), Apple confirmed that the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and 3G/UMTS-based iPads should be returning to the shelves of its German online store in a matter of hours.

"All iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple’s online store in Germany shortly," an Apple spokeswoman told AllThingsD. "Apple appealed this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite...

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Feb 03
Forensics firm cracks Apple's FileVault

Apple's FileVault disk encryption can be circumvented in less than an hour, according to a computer forensics firm, reports "The Register" (http://macte.ch/pGMcM). Technology from Passware can purportedly capture the content of a Mac machine's memory, via Firewire interfaces, before extracting encryption keys.

Passware claims the latest version of its toolkit (Passware Kit Forensic 11.3) can recover hashed passwords with rainbow tables and extracting passwords from encrypted Mac keychain files as well as building a password list for its dictionary attack (based on the words detected in a computer memory). It can also reportedly unlock volumes encrypted using TrueCrypt, a disk encryption software that ranks alongside PGP as the choice of privacy-conscious computer users, human rights activists and others, according to "The Register."

Mac OS X 10.7.x ("Lion") includes a new version (2) of FileVault, which...

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Feb 03
Apple pulls iOS devices in Germany in ongoing legal dispute

Apple has pulled several iPad and iPhone models from its German online store after Motorola Mobility enforced a patent injunction against its rival, reports the "BBC" (http://macte.ch/7GmXq).

The move follows a December ruling that Apple had failed to license one of Motorola's wireless intellectual properties. iPhone users in Germany may also face the loss of their push email iCloud service after a separate patent victory by Motorola, notes the "BBC." Apple has said it will appeal.

This is part of an ongoing battle. Earlier this month the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Motorola's Droid smartphones don't violate three Apple patents. The ruling is preliminary and needs to be approved by the ITC's full six-member commission.

Apple has previously alleged that Motorola infringes 24 of its patents (21 of them with Android-based phones, the remaining three with set-top boxes and...

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Feb 03
Australia: Apple widens its legal claims against Samsung

Apple has widened its claims against Samsung in its ongoing patent battle with the company it was revealed in the NSW Federal Court in Australia, reports "The Australian IT" (http://macte.ch/0XsKN).

Samsung lead barrister Neil Young SC said Apple had "enormously" expanded its patent bid which initially involved three patents of features in the Korean company's Galaxy Tab 10.1, the article adds. The lawsuit now encompasses 278 claims across 22 patents that cover 10 Samsung devices.

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Feb 03
Avid releases video editing app for the iPad

Avid has released its first video editing application for the iPad -- Avid Studio, available immediately at the Apple App Store. The company says it's the first iPad app for video editing to offer frame-by-frame editing accuracy and access to all kinds of media.

As a special launch promotion, Avid Studio for iPad is being offered for US$4.99.
It allows users to begin editing by offering access to any videos, photos and audio already in their iPad library, or media that can be imported from iTunes, cameras and more. Users can then arrange clips in the Storyboard, make edits using the Timeline, and enhance their movie creations with transitions, effects and a soundtrack.

They can then share movies directly to YouTube, Facebook and more -- or export projects to Avid Studio software, where they can continue editing with even more advanced tools on their PC. A how-to guide is included with the app. For more info go to...

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Feb 03
iBooks Author templates available at the Mac App Store

Jumsoft has introduced Book Pallete 1.0, a themes application developed specifically for iBooks Author on the Mac. It requires Mac OS X 10.7.2 or later, costs US$2.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Graphics & Design category.

Book Palette app contains 10 templates that bring plenty of options to Mac users who wish to publish their own e-books. All templates contain the full range of standard section and page layouts provided in the iBooks Author app, including covers, chapter pages, text pages, tables of contents, glossary pages, and more.

The first version of Book Palette provides templates for various e-book styles -- from slick business publications to a traditional cookbook. Most elements in Book Palette can be recolored, moved, or removed. Users can type or paste in their own text, add and remove text boxes, and change the fonts.

Stock images can be replaced with users' own photos or pictures. Gallery, video,...

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Feb 03
RAGE: Campaign Edition comes to the Mac

Bethesda Softworks, in partnership with Aspyr Media, says RAGE: Campaign Edition is now available for the Mac worldwide.

This new shooter from id Software has been published for the Mac by Aspyr.. The game can be digitally downloaded in English, French or German now via Apple's Mac App Store, Aspyr's own digital store GameAgent.com, and through other supporting Mac digital retailers.

Here's how the game is described: "In RAGE: Campaign Edition you will take on bandit gangs and hordes of mutants with an arsenal of exotic weapons and special items, such as Wingsticks, personal turrets, sentry bots, and remote-controlled bomb cars as you play through the game’s full unaltered single-player campaign.

"The Mac version will also include bonus equipment formerly exclusive to the RAGE Anarchy Edition, including a Double Barrel Shotgun, the Rat Rod Buggy, Fists of RAGE and Crimson Elite Armor. You’ll also have access to the Wasteland Sewers Missions which feature...

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Feb 03
Tunewear releases Security Locker for the iPad 2

Tunewear has released the US$99.95 Security Locker for iPad 2. The iPad 2 can be worn around the neck for in-store, or for back-office applications.

The Security Locker can be secured to desk or table to prevent the iPad 2 from disappearing when used for in-store demos, trade show booth presentations and even school exhibits. The clear polycarbonate hard case is designed with a security lock and wire features. It's built to both prevent theft of iPad 2 and protect it from dirt and scratches.

Tunewear also provides custom logo printing. The Security Locker is now available on Amazon or the Tunewear eStore (http://www.tunewearllc.com/servlet/the-100/tablet-iPad-security%2C-anti-...).

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Feb 03
Jewel Quest The Sapphire Dragon released for the Mac

Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com) has released Jewel Quest: The Sapphire Dragon Collector's Edition, the sixth game in the Jewel Quest series by iWin. It costs US$13.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Here's how the game is described; "Jewel Quest: The Sapphire Dragon Collector's Edition leads you through 200 brand new jewel boards as you unearth ancient wonders and discover the secret behind the elusive Sapphire Dragon. While piloting his Cessna in a Himalayan snowstorm, Raj crash-lands on a frozen mountain, thus kicking off the adventure.

"While piloting his Cessna in a Himalayan snowstorm, Raj crash-lands on a frozen mountain, thus kicking off the adventure in Jewel Quest 6: The Sapphire Dragon. Raj's crash has led him to a chance discovery of the Temple of Wishes, an ancient complex thought to be only legend! Raj assembles a team to explore the temple, but plans change...

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Feb 03
Umotion 2D is new Mac compatible, 2D animation tool

NuOxygen Game Publishing has released Umotion 2D (http://macte.ch/ZFHth), a new 2D animation tool for Macintosh and Windows systems. A demo version is available.

Using this tool you can create 2D animations and export them directly into Unity, Umotion 2D comes with tutorial videos and a short user guide.

You only need to work with the separate elements from your texture Atlas and not the whole animation sequence. Furthermore, you can use Umotion to resize complex 2D games with bigger 2D animations with Unity for iPhone and iPad. The final result is similar to what you get when creating animations with a 3D software like Maya or 3DMax, only you are working into a 2D environment.

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Feb 03
Tech Transitions released exclusively for FCP X

Noise Industries has added Idustrial Revolution's XEffects Tech Transitions to its repertoire of products for FxFactory 3. The new visual effects package, made exclusively for Final Cut Pro X, lets editors add transitions to projects without layers, key framing, or complex mattes.

Tech Transitions offers 28 transition effects, all with adjustable settings. Effects can be slipped, lengthened, shortened and cut and pasted like any other transition.

Almost all transitions include freeze versions, which holds the last frame of the outgoing media and the first frame of the incoming media, performing the transition between the two stills. Effects harness the power of GPU processing within FCP X for fast previews and renderings.

Offered at US$49, users can download a free trial version of XEffects Tech Transitions (http://www....

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Feb 03
PDF Nomad for Lion adds watermarks feature

SintraWorks has updated PDF Nomad, a PDF editor for Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"), to version 1.2. The upgrade adds features such as watermarks and "exploding" into chapters.

PDF Nomad is available as a single-user license for the introductory price of US$19.99 from both the Mac App Store and from the SintraWorks website (http://macte.ch/uiF4v). A demo is available from the latter.

PDF Nomad's features include simple text search and extraction, file merging, page splitting, form creation, markup and annotation, booklet/magazine creation and more. You can create and fill out PDF forms, mark-up text and annotate pages with rectangles, ovals, arrows, lines and more.


With PDF Nomad, you can resize whole documents to a different page size with a single command, or resize individual pages with drag and drop, shifting page contents as needed. You can export individual pages as bitmaps (jpg, png etc.) or...

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Feb 03
CameraBag 2 released for the Mac, PC

Nevercenter has released CameraBag 2 for Mac and PC. It's an update of the desktop photo app.

Redesigned from the ground up, CameraBag 2's new Analog Engine pairs a full suite of photographic tools with the filters and vintage simulations of previous versions. According to Nevercenter President Tom Plewe, the key innovation in version 2 is a straightforward approach to layering, rearranging, and tweaking all of these effects in realtime. CameraBag 2 ships with 100-plus, adjustable filters and 25-plus professional controls

With CameraBag 2, you don’t have to know what look you want to get started, Plewe says. It lets you see all the possibilities at once: old-school instant film or modern high-contrast portrait, subtle color adjustment or complete artistic overhaul. You can choose from side-by-side comparisons with the fullscreen Quicklooks, or get large, instant previews on mouseover.

Once you’ve chosen a filter, its components are all in the tray to tweak...

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Feb 03
Avadon: The Black Fortress updated to version 1.0.4

Spiderweb Software has updated Avadon: The Black Fortress (http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/avadon/index.html), an indie fantasy role-playing game for Mac OS X, to version 1.0.4. The upgrade fixes bugs and typos and improves performance with the Magic Trackpad.

Avadon: The Black Fortress requires Mac OS X10.5 or later and costs US$19.99, though version 1.0.4 is a free upgrade for registered users. You can download the game from the Mac App Store or the Spiderweb Software website.
Here's how the game is described: "Avadon is in epic adventure in a strange and dangerous world. You are a spy and warrior who must fight the enemies of your homeland. As a servant of the Black Fortress, your word is law. Gain power and influence, experience an exciting adventure, and battle a conspiracy to destroy your people.

"You are an agent of Avadon. The...

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Feb 03
AAS updates ready for Lion

Applied Acoustic Systems has released updates for all of their instruments (except Chromaphone) that bring full compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7.x ("Lion").

The updates include Tassman 4 v4.1.7, Lounge Lizard EP-3 v3.1.5, Ultra Analog VA-1 v1.1.5, Strin Studio VS-1 v1.1.4, Lounge Lizard Session v3.1.5 and Ultra Analog Session v1.1.5. For more info go to www.applied-acoustics.com .

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Feb 03
My Living Desktop for OS X revved to version 5.0.2

Amuse has released My Living Desktop 5.0.2 (http://www.mylivingdesktop.com/) for Mac OS X, a new version of their video desktop and screen saver utility. More applications are now automatically added to the Auto Deactivation feature.

My Living Desktop is a cross between a video desktop (moving wallpaper) and screen saver. With its built-in video importer, users can import their own movie scenes for use as video desktops. Anyone can have family movies, movies of friends and special events, vacation movies and more as their desktop -- or as a screen saver.

My Living Desktop boasts a variety of high-definition movie videos shot from all around the globe, accompanied by nature sound effects. Upon purchase, download access to additional hi-def movie videos are available from within the software itself.

The application also sports Automatic Serenity Breaks. This feature allows the...

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MacTech Blog

Feb 03
IWant an iDesk

I always enjoy the annual article "Mac/Life" on products Apple should/could develop. In their latest feature, I was particularly intrigued by the iDesk.

The iDesk is a conceptual re-imagining of the desk. Not the Mac OS X Desktop, but an actual, physical desktop.

Here's how "Mac/Life" describes it: "Imagine an entirely adaptable workspace that doesn’t just hold your equipment, but enhances and interacts with it. As with Microsoft’s Surface technology, the entire desk would be a touch-sensitive display capable of running several simultaneous apps, some of which--such as a calendar, phone, and digital Post-It notes—would replace their physical counterparts entirely. Notifications, to-do lists, video conferencing, Adobe tool palettes, and countless widgets such as calculators and weather reports would all appear right on the surface of your desk, literally putting your entire working world at your fingertips."

The article says that the iDesk would sync with your...

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Feb 02
Apple patent hints at touchscreen Mac

Although the late Steve Jobs dismissed talk of a Mac with a touchscreen display, an Apple patent (number 20120030626) at the U..S. Patent & Trademark Office shows that the company has considered/is considering the idea. The patent is for a computer with a touchscreen.

Per the patent, a control object including a knob element is displayed in a GUI [graphical user interface]. A first user input can be detected that indicates selection of the knob element. In response to the first user input, the knob element can be visually augmented. The visual augmentation can include displaying text labels of range limit values and a slider element with the knob element.

The slider element can include a fill bar to indicate the current value of the knob element. A second input can be a linear motion on or near the slider control. In response to the second user input, both the fill bar of the slider element and a fill portion of the knob element can be visually augmented to...

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Feb 02
Apple patent involves programmable magnets and...

A new Apple patent (number 20120028480) has appeared at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Among other things it would facilitate the assembly of Apple devices via programmable magnetic devices.

The patent involves alignment and connection for devices. relate generally to programmable magnetic devices, and more particularly to multi-part devices that may be joined or separated through programmable magnets. A plug or connector including a coded magnet and an electrical contact is disclosed.

As the plug approaches a corresponding port, the coded magnet interacts with a magnet within the port. The interaction between the plug coded magnet and the port coded magnet provides a force to connect and/or align the plug with the port. Once the plug is received within the port, if a process is completed, the coded magnets polarities are altered to eject the plug from the port.

“Correlated magnets” or “coded magnets” are magnetic structures formed of multiple...

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Feb 02
THIS is why I'd love to ditch satellite/cable TV

Here's one of the reasons why so many people want Apple (or Netflix or someone) to break the stranglehold the cable and satellite companies have on us:

My DishTV account jumped US$20 in one month. I didn't order any extra channels, but evidently some appeared anyway -- and we were billed. It seems to be part of what I consider a scam. For a short period, you're have access to some channels beyond the basic package (such as HBO and Showtime) for free. But if you don't specifically tell Dish TV that you don't want them, the channels continue past the free period, and you're billed. 

I did battle with Dish TV over this, something I hoped wouldn't occur. I switched to Dish after Comcast raised my cable TV bill about 150% in 24 months.

Currently, I subscribe to Dish TV's "America's Top 120" package. Of those 120 channels, there's maybe 20 that my family watches. I'd love to be able to pay only for those channels, not the other 100 we never tune into.

There are...

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Feb 02
Apple patents involve audio playback, notifications,...

Apple has been granted several patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Following is a summary of each.

Patent number 20120026403 is for facilitating audio playback during display sleep mode. The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for managing power for a display. During operation, the system receives a video-blank command, which specifies that the display is to enter a video-blank mode wherein the display outputs a blank screen. In response to the video-blank command, the system causes the display to output a blank screen, and powers down display components associated with outputting a display signal to the display.

In some embodiments, the display additionally comprises audio components including an audio-output device, and powering down the display components involves maintaining an existing power state for the audio components, so that the audio components can continue to output an audio signal while the display components are...

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Feb 01
The Northern Spy: Tempus Fugit

By Rick Sutcliffe

Or "Time flies like an arrow" ...

If we would marry Virgil's observations on its irretrievability to the unidirectional dictum of modern physics. "Time's a wasting," is an apt observation in any day and age, and for all that a week now seems a relative eternity in Internet time, we assume that the flight of time still takes place at the same speed in some external time-inertial frame of reference, call it eternity or what you will.

Certainly investors seem to have concluded that time has already flown for RIM, which benighted company resolved to solve its market share problems by appointing a company insider to be its great helmsman, only to see its shares plummet. Excuse us, but the Spy fails to see how someone who's been part of the problem these last several years can suddenly morph into the solution. It is for situations like this that the expression "changing deck chairs on the Titanic" was coined.

... | Read more »
Feb 01
2012 looks to be a great year for Apple in the...

If you think Apple had a great year in 2011, you ain't see nothing yet. While still firing on all cylinders in the consumer market, the company is also making great gains in the enterprise arena.

Forrester Research's (http://www.forrester.com) latest "Global Tech Market Outlook" states that enterprises will spend US$19 billion on Apple hardware in 2012 -- which is 68% more iPads and 45% more Macs than purchased in 2011.

"Apple's products are much more visible in business environments than they used to be," writes analyst Frank E. Gillet. "To quantify Apple's business presence, Forrester surveyed almost 10,000 information workers -- workers that use a computer for work an hour or more per day -- across 17 countries globally and more than 3,350 IT hardware decision-makers in North America and Western Europe. We analyzed the data to profile how information workers use Apple products for work, how...

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Jan 31
Apple patents involve iOS, Macs, retail stores, more

Apple has been granted several patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. They involve everything from iOS devices to Macs to Apple retail stores. Following is a summary of each.

Patent number 8104911 is for a display system with a distributed LED backlight. Per the patent, each tile LED light source has a tile and a plurality of similar LED light sources on each tile connected for emitting light therefrom. The inventors are Michael D. Hillman, Gregory L. Tice, William Sauway, Sean Bailey, Ann Torres, Efrain Alcorta and Perry Anderson.

Patent number 8106630 involves a method and system for operating a portable device in a power-limited manner. Per the patent, improved techniques to manage operation of a portable electronic device having a substantially depleted battery when power is available from an external, power-limited source are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the substantially depleted battery can be...

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Jan 31
Should the government help Apple move jobs back to the...

Last week I asked (http://macte.ch/rxr8P) if Apple should be doing more to help the U.S. economy. Some readers, including my long-time friend, J. Scott Anderson, asked the flip side of the question: should the U.S. government be doing more to help companies like Apple move jobs back to this country.

"I think it is the other way around," says Scott. "The US should do more that would attract companies to bring more manufacturing and other business functions back to the US. This is a complicated issue that has a lot of components. However, the bottom line is that Apple should do what is best for them and their customers."

President Obama touched on this subject last week in his State of the Union address. he recommended proposals for tax breaks benefiting companies that keep jobs in the United States, and eliminating tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.

-- Dennis Sellers

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Jan 30
More and more folks watching video online

Here's another good reason to think that Apple may be planning an Apple HDTV: more and more people are watching video online.

Online video continues to increase in popularity, with 143 million Americans watching content online in 2011 according to the latest report from media analysts Nielsen (http://www.nielsen.com). The "2011 State of the Media Report" looked at how consumers in the USA watched video and found that although viewing content on a traditional TV is still the most popular method of watching programs, online video is reaching millions of consumers. An "iTV" could serve the best of both worlds.

The most popular video website is YouTube, which received 126.5 million unique visitors in 2011 but in terms of the time spend on the website the Google owned site comes second after Netflix. YouTube viewers spend an average of 2 hours and 52 minutes watching content on the site, compared to...

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Reviews and Kool Tools

The Aegis Netdock is a near-perfect MacBook Air companion
Apricorn's (http://www.apricorn.com) Aegis Netdock -- Mac Edition is making me rethink some future purchases. It actually has me considering a MacBook Air as my main Mac. As for the Apple US$79 SuperDrive, forget it.... Read more »
Kool Tools: swimming with the Bluefin
MeshWe has announced the Bluefin (http://meshwe.com/products.html), a device that turns your "Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad" into the ultimate wireless control device for you Mac." It connects the two Apple... Read more »
Browse your movies on OS X with this VideoBuffet
With iMovie and QuickTime on all our Macs, plus lots of video download sites and options, most of us have a plethora of videos on our Macs. A cornucopia. A veritable buffet, if you will. Browsing through them to find... Read more »
ColorMunki offers wizard-driven monitor/projector calibration
By Aaron Westgate X-Rite’s (http://www.xritephone.com) new version of the US$169 ColorMunki Display not only calibrates your display, but it will also calibrate projectors, measure ambient light, and correct for display... Read more »

News Scanner

Saturday February 4

00:40
iTunes Match desktop playback bug hits, may clear up
MacNN

iTunes Match subscribers late Friday reported a problem with iTunes Match playback failing. Anyone on a desktop, whether Mac or Windows, couldn't play cloud-stored songs unless they were already matched with the iTunes Store. The problems didn't appear to be limited to particular app or OS revisions, and iOS users could still access the service....



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Friday February 3

22:09
Polish Protests Put ACTA ‘On Hold’
digg

Last week the European Union has officially signed the controversial “anti-piracy” trade agreement ACTA. This brings ACTA a step closer to passing, but individual EU Member States and the European Parliament still have to ratify ACTA later this year. But this may not happen.

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22:00
Apple removes blatant copycat apps from App Store
AppleInsider

Apple has removed from the App Store a number of copycat applications that closely mimicked the titles of successful games after they provoked a public outcry from developers over the issue.

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19:30
Google testing mystery device, may be testing 802....
MacNN

Two applications from Google to the FCC, one asking to test a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled "entertainment device" from December and other seeking to set up a residential gateway using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from earlier this month may indicate that Google is planning to deploy or at least support future 802.11ac networks and devices, which would dramatically increase transmission speeds for HD video and other data throughout a local network....



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18:29
Apple fixes Rosetta problems with new security update
MacFixIt

Apple has released a new version of its Security Update for Snow Leopard which fixes the Rosetta bugs caused by the first release.

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18:15
Apple adds 'Genius' recommendations to...
MacNN

Apple has quietly added its "Genius" suggestion technology to Apple TVs, offering recommendations on other shows viewers might enjoy based on their past rentals or purchases. The option is selected via a new menu item that can be chosen by users. The new feature was added to most connected current-generation Apple TV units silently overnight, and mirrors a similar feature that has been a part of the iTunes application for years....



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17:50
Facebook may run mobile ads before IPO takes effect
MacNN

Facebook may run mobile ads before its IPO takes effect. Its S-1 filing revealed that one of the companyís revenue soft spots was in the level of income generated from mobile devices. With mobile devices rapidly becoming one of the most common ways of connecting to Facebook and the Internet for users, the company looks to be moving quickly to address the perceived weakness....



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17:30
Facebook snatches former Apple exec from Levi's...
AppleInsider

As it gears up for a high-profile initial public offering, Facebook has managed to lure Rebecca Van Dyck, Apple's former senior director of worldwide marketing and advertising, away from Levi's to serve as its head of global marketing.

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17:00
Apple fixes Snow Leopard Security Update to correct...
MacNN

A problem with the previous 2012-001 Security Update posted for users of Snow Leopard (client and server) that caused Rosetta-based apps to misbehave or fail entirely has been corrected, and the company is pushing a "v1.1" edition of the update through its Software Update servers (support web page not yet updated). Over the next 24 hours, users who installed the previous security patch for 10.6.8 systems should see the update available....



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16:30
Remains of the Day: Undercover boss
Macworld

John Browett masqueraded as an ordinary salesman, The Daily reveals its subscriber numbers, and a former Apple product manager unveils the not-so-secret secrets of the iPhone's development.






...

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16:30
iBackFlip Somersault available for preorder; watch...
TUAW

I met up with the guys behind iBackflip while at Macworld, and was impressed with their passion for design. Their first iBackflip was a pretty straightforward flip-down arm sling for the iPad. Using Velcro, it offered a basic black design and minimal extras. The new iBackflip Somersault, now available for pre-order, is a thoroughly updated version. At $99, I got to see one of the final versions, fresh from their factory.

The Somersault's main feature is the ability to position the iPad in front of you while being securely fastened to your body via an ample sling. The flip-down panel securing the iPad is no longer Velcro, it is a sturdy YKK zipper now, and the iPad is more securely fastened in its own pocket.

In addition to an iPad, the Somersault has room for an 11" MacBook Air, pockets for your headphones, ID, etc. and several loops on the shoulder strap. This is...

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16:27
Product News: Apple Addresses iBooks Textbook Issues...
Mac Observer

Apple released iBooks 2.0.1 for the iPhone and iPad on Friday to address a problem where some iBooks textbooks failed to open.









...

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16:15
Apple removing copycat apps from App Store
MacNN

Users who have been recommended to get a certain game but are not totally clear on the name of the app are the target market of "copycat" games that have similar names and borrow gameplay and other elements from more successful apps, hoping to cash in on brand confusion, TechCrunch reports. Titles like "Plants Vs. Zombie" and "Tiny Birds" are "fast fakes" of real apps. Apple is again removing such apps from the App Store, highlighting an ongoing problem....



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16:10
Canalys crowns Apple top Smartphone vendor in 2011...
AppleInsider

Smartphones passed up PCs for the first time last year, with Apple leading that industry while iPad accounted for most of the growth among computers, alongside moderate sales of notebooks, nearly flat sales of desktops, and a sharp decrease in netbooks.

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16:08
News: Apple Rolls Out Updated Snow Leopard Security...
Mac Observer

Apple released Security Update 2012-001 version 1.1 late on Friday for Snow Leopard users. The new version of security update replaces the one Apple released on Wednesday, and the cryptic release notes only state that it is “recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X,” although it seems likely it actually fixes odd errors some Snow Leopard users were experiencing after installing the version.







...

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16:00
Yahoo starts its own iOS, Android app search tool
MacNN

Yahoo has launched an app filtering tool to its search engine. Yahoo's main page now gives a user a tab for Apps as well as the traditional Web, Images, Video, Local and More. With it, users can get app only search results and filter them for either iOS or Android apps....



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15:59
Apple Clarifies iBooks Author Licensing
SlashDot


bonch writes "After drawing criticism over iBooks Author's licensing language, Apple has modified it in a software update to make clear that Apple is claiming rights to the .ibook format itself and not the content therein: '[The license restriction] does not apply to the content of such works when distributed in a form that does not include files in the .ibooks format.' In other words, the content may be sold on competing book stores as long as it is not packaged using iBooks Author."


...

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15:57
Apple revises Snow Leopard security update
Macworld

Apple updated the latest Snow Leopard security update, 2012-001, to version 1.1. While the company didn't spell out what changed, many users who installed the previous version of the update had encountered problems with the Rosetta technology used to run PowerPC-based apps.






...

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15:50
Metrics: Samsung's anti-iPhone ads have lost...
MacNN

Metrics from ad tracking agencies has hinted that Samsung's TV ad campaign has lost momentum. YouGov BrandIndex has posted updated ad effectiveness tracking that suggests the buzz, or conversation around the brands, has leveled off. Its score has climbed since October, from 18 to 26, but Apple has also grown in the same space of time to get a comfortable lead at 34....



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15:45
Apple TV now offers Genius recommendations for...
TUAW

A silent update to the backend has introduced Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows to the Apple TV. No user action is required to access the new feature, as it's not part of a device firmware update. Instead, Apple has updated its own servers to send this information to the Apple TV from its iTunes Store equivalent.

Based on AppleInsider's screenshots of the updated Apple TV UI, this feature appears essentially identical to the Genius recommendation features already present in iTunes on the Mac and iOS devices. With access to your library and purchase history, the Apple TV can now recommend TV or movie content based on what you've watched before.

Apple TV now offers Genius recommendations for movies, TV shows originally appeared on...

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15:30
Daily iPhone App: NFL Flick Quarterback
TUAW

If you want to pass like Tom Brady from the comfort of your living room chair, then you should grab a copy of NFL Flick Quarterback for the iPhone. The app is a flick-style passing game that lets you take on the role of an NFL quarterback. The game isn't a full-fledged football simulation like Madden 2012, but a passing game as its name suggests.

Even though it focuses on only one aspect of the gridiron game, NFL Flick Quarterback is a lot of fun. You star as a quarterback of your favorite team and get to choose your jersey number. Your goal is to complete passes to receivers down field. Sounds easy until you throw in a defender or two who'll try to deflect your pass.

You throw the pass by flicking the ball out of the quarterback's hand. The faster and straighter you flick the ball, the harder and straighter your pass will be. Once the pass is in the air, you can swipe left or right...

| Read more »
15:21
Apple CEO hints at no ARM-based MacBook Air as iPad...
AppleInsider

After meeting with Apple chief executive Tim Cook and chief financial officer Peter Openheimer, Citi analysts noted a strong iPad outlook leaving little likelihood of an ARM-based MacBook Air, vast growth potential in China, an indistinct future role for Apple TV, and the strength and importance of iCloud.

...

| Read more »

Rumor Scanner

Friday February 3

15:52
Uploaded iTunes Match Songs Inaccessible for Some Users
MacRumors

Some iTunes Match users are encountering difficulties when attempting to download songs they have previously uploaded to iTunes Match. Matched songs appear unaffected for most users. Threads on both the MacRumors Forums and the Apple Support Communities detail the issues.

I keep getting the "error = -2114" and "Please check that the connection to the network is active and try again." It then moves to the next download and most times is succsesful. I am getting this error in the last few hours and to about 10-20% of my downloads.The Verge confirms that the issue occurs in both iTunes 10.5.2 and 10...

| Read more »
14:00
Genius Recommendations for Movies and TV Shows Appearing o...
MacRumors

Several Apple TV users have reported a new addition to the menus of their devices, with the new option bringing Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows in their libraries. Curiously, early reports noted that rather than carrying a correct menu title, the movie option carried the name "ATV.Menu.MOVIE.GeniusItem", suggesting that the new feature may have appeared prematurely. Apple seems to have fixed the issue, however, with the menu option now showing properly as "Genius".

Improperly-displayed (left, via @cthielen) and properly-displayed Genius option for Movies on Apple TV

Despite the strange display of the menu option, the feature does appear to have been functional since its initial appearance yesterday, with users being able to access Genius recommendations for their content.

Genius movie...

| Read more »
12:01
Apple Clarifies iBooks Author Licensing Situation in New S...
MacRumors

Following Apple's release of iBooks Author last month to support creation of iBooks Textbooks, significant controversy arose regarding the software's licensing, which specified that the output from the software could only be sold via the iBookstore and not any other marketplace.

Some confusion had resulted from Apple's language, with some believing that Apple was claiming rights to all content used in the production of the iBooks Textbooks, perhaps attempting to exclude books from being published in any other form.

Apple has now addressed the issue by releasing an update to iBooks Author that includes a modified licensing agreement to clarify that Apple claims rights only to the .ibooks document format itself, with authors being free to distribute their content in non-.ibooks formats however they...

| Read more »
11:02
Apple's Share of Profits Among Top Mobile Phone Vendo...
MacRumors

asymco's Horace Dediu has released his latest calculations of revenue and profits in the global mobile phone industry, finding that Apple has increased its share of the top vendors' profits to 75%. Samsung followed in second place with 16% of industry profits while no other vendor accounted for more than 4% of profits.Apple reached 75% of profit share, nearly 40% of revenue share and 9% of units share.

Apple and Samsung combined for about 91% of profits with RIM third at 3.7%, HTC fourth at 3.0% and Nokia last at 1.8% of a $15 billion total for the quarter.Dediu's analysis covers eight top mobile phone vendors: Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Research in Motion, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson. While the numbers do not include a few major players such as China's ZTE for which public numbers are not available, his analysis does provide a relatively solid picture of the...

| Read more »
07:49
Snow Leopard Security Update Kills PowerPC Apps Using Rose...
MacRumors

While the odd "CUI Error" experienced by some users after upgrading to OS X 10.7.3 earlier this week has garnered a fair amount of attention, it appears that a security update released for Mac OS X Snow Leopard at the same time is also causing major issues for users who rely on older PowerPC applications that run under Apple's Rosetta framework.

Security Update 2012-001 was released alongside OS X 10.7.3 on Wednesday in order to bring some of the security fixes found in OS X 10.7.3 to users still running Mac OS X Snow Leopard. But as noted in several discussions at Apple's forums (1, 2,...

| Read more »
06:11
Apple Pulls All 3G Devices Except iPhone 4S from German On...
MacRumors

Bloomberg reports that Apple has removed all non-iPhone 4S devices with 3G technology from its German online store following a win by Motorola in the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. The devices, which include the 3G iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS, remain available from Apple's physical stores and other resellers in the country.

iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS removed from Apple's German online store

The removal is related to enforcement of a December injunction focused on a Motorola patent on 3G GPRS technology.“While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apple’s online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an...

| Read more »

Thursday February 2

13:00
Apple's New SVP of Retail Went Undercover as Regular...
MacRumors

Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week explained that new Apple's new Senior Vice President of Retail, John Browett, was hired not to "bring Dixons to Apple", but instead "to bring Apple to an even higher level of customer service and satisfaction." In the initial press release announcing the hire, Cook went even further, saying that "John shares that commitment [to customer service] like no one else we’ve met."

Showcasing part of John Browett's dedication to customer service, MacRumors reader Paul Harmer passed along this story of a run-in he had with Browett in the UK:

Just a quick note about John Browett -

About a year ago I was with a friend in our local branch of PC World (part of the Dixons group) looking at plasma TVs....

| Read more »
10:34
iMessages Going to Wrong iPhone "Isn't a Bug...
MacRumors

In December, an apparent bug appeared in Apple's iMessage service that allowed iMessages to be sent to a stolen iPhone. Earlier this week, Gizmodo reported that a customer who went to Apple's Genius Bar began receiving iMessages to and from the Genius who helped fix their phone.

It appears that the Genius took his personal SIM card and inserted it into the customer's iPhone as part of a series of unofficial and unapproved diagnostic efforts to fix the customer's phone. An Apple representative explained to The Loop's Jim Dalrymple that the issue in the Gizmodo story wasn't a bug, but instead was the result of the Genius not following protocol.

“This...

| Read more »
10:17
No Apple Event Scheduled for February
MacRumors

Earlier today, Japanese blog Macotakara claimed that Apple will be holding an "unusual" event in February, backtracking somewhat on its earlier claim of an early February iPad 3 event.

The Loop's well-connected Jim Dalrymple now reports that Apple will not hold an event in February, indicating that observers waiting for the iPad 3 or other major announcement from Apple will need to hold out until at least March.This is not going to happen, according to my sources. Apple will not hold an event in February, unusual or otherwise. That’s it.Dalrymple has in the past quashed inaccurate rumors regarding...

| Read more »
10:06
Apple's Town Hall Meeting Emphasized Corporate Philan...
MacRumors

Last week, following Apple's blockbuster earnings report, the company held an internal town hall meeting with employees to discuss "exciting new things". While one piece of information about new employee hardware discounts did surface, little else from that meeting has made its way off of Apple's campus.

The Verge now reports that it has been hearing that discussion of the company's philanthropic efforts was a notable focus of the event, with Tim Cook spending "quite a bit of time" talking about the company's work in that area. One of Cook's first visible actions as CEO was to institute a...

| Read more »
07:55
Apple Poised to Benefit from U.S. Government's Five-Y...
MacRumors

The Associated Press reports on a new initiative from the U.S. government to help push schools and textbook companies make the transition to digital textbooks over the next five years. With Apple pushing itself to the forefront of the digital textbook discussion with its iBooks Textbooks launch just two weeks ago, the company stands to significantly benefit if its iPad hardware becomes a primary tool in the move to digital textbooks.Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski on Wednesday challenged schools and companies to get digital textbooks in students' hands within five years. [...]

Tied to Wednesday's announcement at a digital town hall was the government's release of a 67-page "playbook" to schools that promotes the use of...

| Read more »
07:31
New Virtual Controls from Apple Point to a Future iMac Tou...
Patently Apple

On February 2, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that describes new virtual controls for a desktop with a touchscreen. This once again illustrates that Apple may be working on an iMac Touch desktop computer. Considering that a company by the name of ...

| Read more »
07:15
OS X 10.7.3 Update 'CUI Error' Fixable in Many C...
MacRumors

Following yesterday's release of OS X 10.7.3, a number of users in our forums and at Apple's discussion forums began reporting issues with the update. The most serious of these issues seems to be widespread crashing of apps generally accompanied by an artwork error in the crash notice window in which the window's buttons are replaced with graphics showing "CUI" and question marks.

In general, users have found that applying the combo version of the OS X 10.7.3 update rather than the standard delta version typically offered via Software Update will fix the issues. The combo update can even be applied over an existing installation that is exhibiting the problem.

With the crashing...

| Read more »
06:46
Avid Takes on Apple's iMovie with Avid Studio for iPa...
MacRumors

While companies such as Avid and Adobe have attempted to capitalize on Apple's Final Cut Pro X missteps by wooing users in need of professional video editing and production software, AllThingsD notes that Avid is pushing forward on the mobile "prosumer" front with its just-launched Avid Studio [App Store] app for iPad.

The iPad obviously imposes some limitations on what can be done with the software compared with the full Avid Studio for Windows, but Avid suggests that it is full-featured enough to be used for editing on the go and is ideally suited as a companion to the desktop app.The idea is that the iPad app and the desktop software are complementary, [Avid vice president Tanguy]...

| Read more »
02:05
iPad 3 Event in March, An 'Unusual' Apple Event...
MacRumors

Japanese blog Macotakara has posted a follow-up to their previous claim of a February iPad 3 media event.

The original report had claimed that Apple would hold an iPad 3 media event in February with product launch in March. We had expressed some doubts about the long lead time between event and launch. Macotakara has had a mixed track record in the past, but has had enough hits that they continue to warrant attention.

The site is now reporting that while there will be an event in February, that it would be a "strange" (or unusual) event rather than the usual product announcement event:I reported that Apple was going to hold Special Event in...

| Read more »
01:31
Analyst Expects iPhone 5 to Launch at WWDC 2012 in June
MacRumors

The Commercial Times relays a report from Daiwa Securities that the iPhone 5 is expected to launch at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) to be held in June 2012. Daiwa Securities also claims that the iPhone 5 will utilize "glass to glass" touch panel technology which will benefit TPK Holding and Wintek.

The summer launch claim is not new and has been echoed in previous reports. So this could simply be a parroting of previous rumors.

Apple broke from tradition with the iPhone 4S by launching it in October of 2011. Previous iPhone launches have occurred at Apple's annual WWDC conference.

The official dates for the 2012 conference have not yet been announced, but a...

| Read more »

Wednesday February 1

19:34
Apple Passes LG to Become World's Third Largest Mobil...
MacRumors

Research firm IDC today released its estimates of global mobile phone sales for the fourth quarter of and full-year 2011, finding Apple moving past LG to claim third place in the rankings for the first time. Apple was rapidly closing on LG by mid-2010, but fell back into fifth place behind ZTE during the third quarter as customers held off in anticipation of new iPhone hardware. The strong surge from the iPhone 4S launch was then enough for Apple to move up in the year's final quarter and by a large enough margin that it was able pass LG in full-year numbers as well.

Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales in 4Q11 in Millions of Units (Source: IDC)

While Apple has been estimated to be neck-and-neck with Samsung for the crown of top smartphone manufacturer, Nokia and...

| Read more »
14:00
Apple's Hiring of an Outsider is Out of Character
MacRumors

Earlier this week, Tim Cook announced the hiring of John Browett to replace Ron Johnson as the Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple. After spending more than 10 years at Apple, building the world's most successful retail chain from scratch, Johnson was appointed CEO at JC Penney with the difficult task of turning around one of the country's most well-known department stores.

Johnson announced his departure from Apple in June of 2011 and by August Apple's recruiters were in full-swing looking for a replacement. Curiously, for a company where nearly the entire executive team is home-grown, reports emerged that Apple was using executive search-firm Egon Zehnder to assist with finding the perfect...

| Read more »
13:18
Apple Releases OS X 10.7.3 with New Language Support and B...
MacRumors

Apple today released OS X 10.7.3, the third maintenance update to OS X Lion. The update is available via Software Update and Apple's download pages.The 10.7.3 update is recommended for all OS X Lion users and includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac including fixes that:

- Add Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian language support

- Address issues when using smart cards to log into OS X

- Resolve issues authenticating with directory services

- Address compatibility issues with Windows file sharingDetailed information is available in the full full release notes.

Available versions includes:

- OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client) (997.01 MB)

- OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client...

| Read more »
10:59
Apple's 1.3 MP Camera-Equipped iPod Nano Due for Laun...
MacRumors

Earlier today, we reported on new photos of an iPod nano casing that appears to support a rear-facing camera. With similar photos having shown up in the past, it was unclear whether Apple was still pursuing the design for a future iPod nano.

M.I.C gadget now weighs in with claims that the pictured device is in fact a two-month old prototype but that Apple has been having difficulties with the 1.3-megapixel camera taking overexposed photos.It’s real, and it’s a two-month-old prototype that has big problems. It comes with an auto iris lens that can be affected by diffraction and blurring when the iris opening becomes too small in bright conditions. Ok, I gotta say it simply, it takes overexposed photos.

According to our factory sources, Apple have...

| Read more »
09:31
Apple Reportedly Investigating Television Set Components a...
MacRumors

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, whose long-standing claims of an Apple television set have been gaining steam in recent months as new rumors have surfaced in support of the idea, issued a research note late yesterday (via AppleInsider) discussing some new developments with Apple's work. Specifically, Munster notes that he had recent discussion with a "major TV component supplier" which disclosed that Apple had contacted the company to inquire about their products. The disclosure adds another data point to rumors from Asian supply chains that Apple has been working on a television set. The relevant portion of Munster's report is quoted by Barron's:In Jan-12 we spoke with a major TV component...

| Read more »

Documentation Scanner

Friday February 3

14:16
Final Cut Pro X trial: FAQ
Apple - All...

Learn more about the Final Cut Pro X trial with these frequently asked questions.

| Read more »
13:49
Shape shifting Office objects
Office for M...

What? No egg shape? If you want to fine-tune a shape in Office for Mac 2011, or even create a different shape altogether, you can edit its points.

For example, turn a circle into an egg shape. Or rearrange the points in a freeform shape that you created with the drawing tool.

To see the points on the shape, right-click (or hold down CONTROL and click) the shape, and then click Edit Points. Then drag a point wherever you want.

Tips Zoom in 200% or 400% for more precision. To move the object with finer control, hold down COMMAND and press any arrow key.

For more information about changing shapes, read the following Office for Mac Help topic:...

| Read more »
09:17
OS X Lion: Fonts list
Apple - All...

Learn about the fonts included with OS X Lion.

| Read more »
09:14
Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the...
Apple - All...

If you want to switch to a different backup drive, use this article to learn how to transfer your existing Time Machine backups to the new backup drive, and then use it for regular Time Machine backups.

| Read more »
09:11
OS X Lion: How to create and deploy a recovery key...
Apple - All...

Learn how to create and deploy a recovery key for use with FileVault 2 in order to recover encrypted data after a lost user password, in this advanced article.

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: Auto-copy Photo Stream images to a folder
Mac OS X Hin...

To get the Photo Stream working on my MacBook I found out that I had to BUY an upgrade for an application that I don't want: iPhoto.



Looking for a solution I found that iPhoto stores its pictures in a specific location and the Photo Stream is updated even if iPhoto is not running. The goal was to create a script that copies all of the images from many sub-directories into a single folder.



As there are many people who know a lot more about OSX I would welcome improvements and feedback. Some areas to look at:

  • Using 'without replacing' which would only copy the missing pictures.
  • A Folder action which monitors changes and runs the script automatically.

Here's the script:

tell application "Finder"
set this_folder to "Macintosh HD:Users:duittenb:Library:Appl ...



...

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: Fixing a stuck application in Mission Control
Mac OS X Hin...

I finally upgraded to Lion on my work computer and bid farewell to the wonderful Hyperspaces application. I used all 16 spaces and was loathe to make the jump to Mission Control.



After upgrading many apps were not respecting being assigned to specific desktops or to all desktops. At first I tried unassigning them in the Dock and reassigning them to their previous desktop or all desktops, but it didn't work.



Here is the solution I found:

  • If an app assigned to a particular desktop wasn't staying put, I had to assign it to all desktops, and then reassign it to desktop N.
  • If the app was not respecting assignment to all desktops, I had to assign it to a specific desktop, and then reassign it to all.

Apparently setting it to 'None' does not clear the previous assignment.



[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one.]



...

| Read more »

Thursday February 2

10:23
Lion Server: When creating a system image with added...
Apple - All...

In Lion Server v10.7.2 and later, you can use System Image Utility to add packages to a NetBoot or NetRestore image.

| Read more »
07:55
Backing Up and Reindexing The Profile Manager...
krypted

A common task when scaling databases is to reindex tables within the database. This process makes lookups faster and databases run butter. Reindexing becomes a pretty easy step before or after backing up the database as a general housekeeping step. To backup the database, you’ll use the pg_dump command, defining the user with -U and then the database with -d. In the case of Profile Manager, the database is device_management. Given that data is distributed across a lot of tables in the device_management database, the below script will backup the device_management database and then reindex each of the tables.

If you follow previous articles to enable the Postgres user, you would use the enabled user to access the database, editing the pguser variable to set that user. The paths to the binaries have also been made variables. This same concept could also be used with the collab, caldav,...

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: HTML5 Video Display Sleep Workaround
Mac OS X Hin...

The just released OS X 10.7.3 has a new Safari version but the old FDisplay Sleep Issue on HTML5 Video was still not fixed, so I started to look around for a solution and it seems that it is a WebKit Bug, and I made a workaround for this.



Go to the WebKit Project home page and download the latest Nightly Build; it has worked for me so far.



Put it into your Applications Folder and launch, and the browser launches as Safari containing all settings and features, so go to Settings and make WebKit your default browser.



Next download and install the RCDefaultApp PrefPane launch it and go under the application pane to WebKit and enable all file associations and actions.



Safari is no longer the default, now go to the Extensions Pane and search for the safariextz Extension, set it to...

| Read more »
07:30
Digital audio-in passthrough with AppleTV2
Mac OS X Hin...

I have an Apple TV2 hooked up to a DVI monitor by HDMI, an arrangement which doesn't support audio.



As the Apple TV2 also has SPDIF optical out, I connected this into my 2011 iMac's optical input so I could hear the ATV sound from the Mac. Looking at the sound input in System Preferences, I could see the connection was working, but I heard nothing from the iMac speakers, even though they were chosen for output. Then it dawned on me that the iMac likely didn't support audio passthrough.



I recalled that QuickTime Player could record audio from an input. So in QT I chose New Audio Recording, chose 'Digital in' as the input, and then slid the volume slider so I could monitor the audio. Works like a treat. There's no need to actually record anything in QuickTime Player.



[crarko adds: A clever solution. I have my Apple TV2 hooked up using the standard HDMI setup, so I did not test this.]

...

| Read more »

Wednesday February 1

14:03
Mac OS X 10.7.3 and 10.7.3 Server Now Available
318 Tech Jou...

Mac OS X 10.7.3 and Mac OS X Server 10.7.3 are now available for download through software update:


The update comes with fixes to better language, smart card ServerBackup, Profile Manager, opendirectoryd/directory images, file sharing and support for a number of other aspects of the OS. Some specific aspects include disconnecting specific users w/ Server.app, more ACL information in Server.app, setting login greetings, etc.

The client update and available information is available at OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client)

The client combo update and available information is available at OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client Combo)

The server update is available at ...

| Read more »
13:31
Login and directory binding delays on systems joined...
Apple - All...

In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and OS X Lion v10.7 through 10.7.2, delays may occur when joining to or authenticating users against an Active Directory domain that ends in ".local".

| Read more »
13:28
Server App or Server Admin can't connect to a...
Apple - All...

After upgrading Mac OS X Server v10.6 to Lion Server v10.7.2 or earlier, servermgrd may not start automatically. This can cause the following symptoms:

Server app's login window will indicate an invalid login even though the correct username and password have been entered.
Server Admin will show an alert: "Could not connect to server.example.com.
Server Admin was unable to connect to the server at server.example.com."

| Read more »
13:22
OS X Lion: Binding to Active Directory read-only...
Apple - All...

In order for OS X Lion clients to be able to bind to Active Directory when read-only domain controllers are present, you should update the clients to OS X Lion v10.7.3 or later.

| Read more »
13:21
Lion Server: Migrating and copying wiki data from...
Apple - All...

Learn how to migrate wiki data from a Mac OS X Server v10.6 Snow Leopard to Lion Server, or copy wiki data between two Lion servers.

| Read more »
13:19
About Server Admin Tools 10.7.3
Apple - All...

Server Admin Tools 10.7.3 contain advanced administration tools for Lion Server. You can install them on the server or on another Mac and use it for remote administration.

| Read more »
13:19
About Apple Remote Desktop client 3.5.2
Apple - All...

Apple Remote Desktop client 3.5.2 is included in the OS X Lion v10.7.3 Update, and as a standalone update for Apple Remote Desktop on Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard. It is recommended for all Remote Desktop clients.

| Read more »
13:17
About the Lion Server v10.7.3 Update
Apple - All...

This software updates Lion Server v10.7, v10.7.1, and v10.7.2 to version 10.7.3. It is recommended for all Lion Server users.

| Read more »
13:17
Lion Server: How to set up auto-accept for Lion...
Apple - All...

In Lion Server v10.7.3 and later you can configure the iCal service to allow users to auto-accept invitations during free time.

| Read more »

Documentation Scanner

Friday February 3

14:16
Final Cut Pro X trial: FAQ
Apple - All...

Learn more about the Final Cut Pro X trial with these frequently asked questions.

| Read more »
13:49
Shape shifting Office objects
Office for M...

What? No egg shape? If you want to fine-tune a shape in Office for Mac 2011, or even create a different shape altogether, you can edit its points.

For example, turn a circle into an egg shape. Or rearrange the points in a freeform shape that you created with the drawing tool.

To see the points on the shape, right-click (or hold down CONTROL and click) the shape, and then click Edit Points. Then drag a point wherever you want.

Tips Zoom in 200% or 400% for more precision. To move the object with finer control, hold down COMMAND and press any arrow key.

For more information about changing shapes, read the following Office for Mac Help topic:...

| Read more »
09:17
OS X Lion: Fonts list
Apple - All...

Learn about the fonts included with OS X Lion.

| Read more »
09:14
Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the...
Apple - All...

If you want to switch to a different backup drive, use this article to learn how to transfer your existing Time Machine backups to the new backup drive, and then use it for regular Time Machine backups.

| Read more »
09:11
OS X Lion: How to create and deploy a recovery key...
Apple - All...

Learn how to create and deploy a recovery key for use with FileVault 2 in order to recover encrypted data after a lost user password, in this advanced article.

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: Auto-copy Photo Stream images to a folder
Mac OS X Hin...

To get the Photo Stream working on my MacBook I found out that I had to BUY an upgrade for an application that I don't want: iPhoto.



Looking for a solution I found that iPhoto stores its pictures in a specific location and the Photo Stream is updated even if iPhoto is not running. The goal was to create a script that copies all of the images from many sub-directories into a single folder.



As there are many people who know a lot more about OSX I would welcome improvements and feedback. Some areas to look at:

  • Using 'without replacing' which would only copy the missing pictures.
  • A Folder action which monitors changes and runs the script automatically.

Here's the script:

tell application "Finder"
set this_folder to "Macintosh HD:Users:duittenb:Library:Appl ...



...

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: Fixing a stuck application in Mission Control
Mac OS X Hin...

I finally upgraded to Lion on my work computer and bid farewell to the wonderful Hyperspaces application. I used all 16 spaces and was loathe to make the jump to Mission Control.



After upgrading many apps were not respecting being assigned to specific desktops or to all desktops. At first I tried unassigning them in the Dock and reassigning them to their previous desktop or all desktops, but it didn't work.



Here is the solution I found:

  • If an app assigned to a particular desktop wasn't staying put, I had to assign it to all desktops, and then reassign it to desktop N.
  • If the app was not respecting assignment to all desktops, I had to assign it to a specific desktop, and then reassign it to all.

Apparently setting it to 'None' does not clear the previous assignment.



[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one.]



...

| Read more »

Thursday February 2

10:23
Lion Server: When creating a system image with added...
Apple - All...

In Lion Server v10.7.2 and later, you can use System Image Utility to add packages to a NetBoot or NetRestore image.

| Read more »
07:55
Backing Up and Reindexing The Profile Manager...
krypted

A common task when scaling databases is to reindex tables within the database. This process makes lookups faster and databases run butter. Reindexing becomes a pretty easy step before or after backing up the database as a general housekeeping step. To backup the database, you’ll use the pg_dump command, defining the user with -U and then the database with -d. In the case of Profile Manager, the database is device_management. Given that data is distributed across a lot of tables in the device_management database, the below script will backup the device_management database and then reindex each of the tables.

If you follow previous articles to enable the Postgres user, you would use the enabled user to access the database, editing the pguser variable to set that user. The paths to the binaries have also been made variables. This same concept could also be used with the collab, caldav,...

| Read more »
07:30
10.7: HTML5 Video Display Sleep Workaround
Mac OS X Hin...

The just released OS X 10.7.3 has a new Safari version but the old FDisplay Sleep Issue on HTML5 Video was still not fixed, so I started to look around for a solution and it seems that it is a WebKit Bug, and I made a workaround for this.



Go to the WebKit Project home page and download the latest Nightly Build; it has worked for me so far.



Put it into your Applications Folder and launch, and the browser launches as Safari containing all settings and features, so go to Settings and make WebKit your default browser.



Next download and install the RCDefaultApp PrefPane launch it and go under the application pane to WebKit and enable all file associations and actions.



Safari is no longer the default, now go to the Extensions Pane and search for the safariextz Extension, set it to...

| Read more »
07:30
Digital audio-in passthrough with AppleTV2
Mac OS X Hin...

I have an Apple TV2 hooked up to a DVI monitor by HDMI, an arrangement which doesn't support audio.



As the Apple TV2 also has SPDIF optical out, I connected this into my 2011 iMac's optical input so I could hear the ATV sound from the Mac. Looking at the sound input in System Preferences, I could see the connection was working, but I heard nothing from the iMac speakers, even though they were chosen for output. Then it dawned on me that the iMac likely didn't support audio passthrough.



I recalled that QuickTime Player could record audio from an input. So in QT I chose New Audio Recording, chose 'Digital in' as the input, and then slid the volume slider so I could monitor the audio. Works like a treat. There's no need to actually record anything in QuickTime Player.



[crarko adds: A clever solution. I have my Apple TV2 hooked up using the standard HDMI setup, so I did not test this.]

...

| Read more »

Wednesday February 1

14:03
Mac OS X 10.7.3 and 10.7.3 Server Now Available
318 Tech Jou...

Mac OS X 10.7.3 and Mac OS X Server 10.7.3 are now available for download through software update:


The update comes with fixes to better language, smart card ServerBackup, Profile Manager, opendirectoryd/directory images, file sharing and support for a number of other aspects of the OS. Some specific aspects include disconnecting specific users w/ Server.app, more ACL information in Server.app, setting login greetings, etc.

The client update and available information is available at OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client)

The client combo update and available information is available at OS X Lion Update 10.7.3 (Client Combo)

The server update is available at ...

| Read more »
13:31
Login and directory binding delays on systems joined...
Apple - All...

In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and OS X Lion v10.7 through 10.7.2, delays may occur when joining to or authenticating users against an Active Directory domain that ends in ".local".

| Read more »
13:28
Server App or Server Admin can't connect to a...
Apple - All...

After upgrading Mac OS X Server v10.6 to Lion Server v10.7.2 or earlier, servermgrd may not start automatically. This can cause the following symptoms:

Server app's login window will indicate an invalid login even though the correct username and password have been entered.
Server Admin will show an alert: "Could not connect to server.example.com.
Server Admin was unable to connect to the server at server.example.com."

| Read more »
13:22
OS X Lion: Binding to Active Directory read-only...
Apple - All...

In order for OS X Lion clients to be able to bind to Active Directory when read-only domain controllers are present, you should update the clients to OS X Lion v10.7.3 or later.

| Read more »
13:21
Lion Server: Migrating and copying wiki data from...
Apple - All...

Learn how to migrate wiki data from a Mac OS X Server v10.6 Snow Leopard to Lion Server, or copy wiki data between two Lion servers.

| Read more »
13:19
About Server Admin Tools 10.7.3
Apple - All...

Server Admin Tools 10.7.3 contain advanced administration tools for Lion Server. You can install them on the server or on another Mac and use it for remote administration.

| Read more »
13:19
About Apple Remote Desktop client 3.5.2
Apple - All...

Apple Remote Desktop client 3.5.2 is included in the OS X Lion v10.7.3 Update, and as a standalone update for Apple Remote Desktop on Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard. It is recommended for all Remote Desktop clients.

| Read more »
13:17
About the Lion Server v10.7.3 Update
Apple - All...

This software updates Lion Server v10.7, v10.7.1, and v10.7.2 to version 10.7.3. It is recommended for all Lion Server users.

| Read more »
13:17
Lion Server: How to set up auto-accept for Lion...
Apple - All...

In Lion Server v10.7.3 and later you can configure the iCal service to allow users to auto-accept invitations during free time.

| Read more »

Technology Showcase

Dec 16
Appcelerator offers '4 Steps to creating a mobile...

Appcelerator has published a white paper on "4 Steps to creating a mobile development strategy."

"Companies now have a window of opportunity to think about how mobile can transform their business as radically as the web did," says AppCelerator. "By making mobile a part of their overall digital strategy, companies can transform their relationships with their customers in even greater ways than they did with the web."

The white paper tells you how this can be accomplished. Appcelerator (http://www.appcelerator.com/) is a company that helps web developers create mobile, tablet and desktop applications.

| Read more »
Sep 19
InterMapper publishes white papers on network...

InterMapper has published four white papers on network monitoring, mapping and alerting and InterMapper. You can find them all at
http://www.intermapper.com/resources/whitepapers.aspx .

The papers look at "Top 8 reasons SMBs need to monitor their networks," "top 8 considerations for selecting SMB network monitoring software," "10 steps to streamline the deployment of network monitoring software for SMBs," and "6 ways to calculate returns from your networking monitoring investment."

InterMapper is Mac OS X compatible network monitoring software. It uses SNMP to monitor the network infrastructure, and has probes for monitoring many kinds of servers, including web, mail, LDAP, FTP, etc. More information and a free 30-day demo are available at the product Web site (...

| Read more »
Aug 11
Video tour of new Data Rescue Center headquarters...

The Data Rescue Center, a a data recovery company founded in 2009 and a division of Prosoft Engineering, recently opened a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Livermore, California. You can get a video tour of it at http://www.thedatarescuecenter.com/company_background.html .

In June of 2010, the Data Rescue Center and Prosoft Engineering finalized the purchase of a building in Livermore near the Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Work immediately began on the design and construction of the new recovery lab facility.

In late January of 2011, both The Data Rescue Center and Prosoft Engineering moved all operations to this new facility. It boasts a Class 2 UL-Listed Vault and extensive security features.

The ISO 5 / Class 100 Cleanroom exceeds all manufacturers specifications for cleanroom recovery environments, according to...

| Read more »
Mar 11
Video looks at 'Fixing Flat Color in Final Cut...

Future Media Concepts has posted a video on "Fixing Flat Color in Final Cut Pro." It teaches you how to make your colors "pop" in footage in Final Cut Pro. You can find it at
http://www.fmctraining.com/fmc.asp?w=blip_AYHdkS4C .

Future Media Concepts is a digital media training center representing the leading software manufacturers, including Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Boris FX, Digidesign, NewTek and Softimage. Headquartered in New York City, FMC now operates 5 additional digital media training facilities located in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Orlando and Chicago.

| Read more »
Oct 04
Video showcases Zco's services

Zco Corp. (http://www.zco.com) has posted an overview video for their technology showcase. You can view it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzE89z-jexA .

Zco can help you build custom software, as well as market it. The company developsb oth industrial strength backend applications using .NET, PHP and Java as well as apps for all major mobile platforms, including the iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone 7, WebOS and Symbian.

Zco can also help you promote your products and services using search engine optimization and social media optimization techniques, HD video, stunning graphics, 3D animation and video effects, press releases, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google, Yahoo and Bing.

| Read more »
Aug 26
Video looks at digital storytelling features of...

A new online video (http://www.memoryminer.com) shows some of the best ways for using MemoryMiner, a digital storytelling application for Mac OS X. Designed an an complement the iLife suite, the software is all about capturing and exploring your life memories.

MemoryMiner allows anyone to zero in on the stories depicted in their photos by linking them to each other based on people, places and time. While photos are used as the starting point, the goal is always uncovering the backstory.

With MemoryMiner, you can directly record audio or video to capture the backstory of a photo. You can attach documents, web URL's, or other media to add depth and context. Each photo becomes a frame in a storyboard that can be browsed by periods in a person's life, where people overlap, by place, by time, or any combination.

MemoryMiner requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. It's Universal Binary so runs...

| Read more »
Jul 30
Ergonis posts video on using Typinator

Ergonis Software has posted a video (http://www.ergonis.com/products/typinator/movie.html) on Typinator (http://www.ergonis.com/products/typinator/), its tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos system-wide across all Mac OS X applications.

With thousands of predefined corrections for common typos and misspelled words for US and British English, German and French, Typinator is not only just a typing assistant that speeds repetitive typing tasks, but also a system-wide auto-correction tool that automatically fixes typing errors and misspelled words. You just define an abbreviation along with its replacement text or picture. Whenever you type one of your abbreviations in any application, Typinator inserts the corresponding...

| Read more »
Jul 19
Seagate introduces GoFlex Home for centralized storage

Seagate (http://www.seagate.com) has unveiled the newest addition to its GoFlex family of hard drives -- the GoFlex Home network storage system. When it's connected to a wireless router, an entire household can centrally store, easily access and continuously back up files wirelessly from Mac and Windows systems on the home  network.

The new centralized storage system simplifies the backup process by being compatible with the Apple Time Machine, as well as including a version of the backup application for both Mac OS X and Windows operating systems, says Darcy Clarkson, Seagate vice president of Retail Sales and Marketing. With the GoFlex Home storage system, families can also wirelessly stream photos, movies and music to most network connected DLNA devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player, from any room in the house.

The GoFlex Home is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities at...

| Read more »
 
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Reckless Racing 2 Review
Reckless Racing 2 Review By Greg Dawson on February 3rd, 2012 Our Rating: :: RUBBIN' AND RACIN'iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad The original Reckless Racing game set the bar for down and dirty iOS... | Read more »
Five For Friday: Week of February 3
Another week has left us behind along with the first month of the year. As always with the arrival of Friday, we take a few moments to round up five of the most interesting apps and games that we’ve yet to cover in a more extensive form. There will... | Read more »
GHOST TRICK: Phantom Detective Review
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Launch Center Launches New Third Party A...
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Spy Mouse Feels the Love With New Valent...
EA and Firemint’s Spy Mouse has an update out now that’s designed to be more appropriate for this time of year, with Valentine’s Day coming up. Love is in the air, and while the cats in Agent Squeek’s life are still out to keep him from getting his... | Read more »
Panorama 360 Camera Review
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Gravity Lander Review
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Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Open-box special: 17″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro for $487...
MacMall has a limited number of open-box return 2011 17″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pros in stock for $2012.26 including free shipping. That’s $487 off MSRP, and Apple’s one-year warranty remains intact. Read more
27″ iMacs on sale for up to $130 off MSRP
  Apple resellers have 27″ iMacs on sale for up to $130 off MSRP. The following is a roundup of the lowest sale prices we’ve seen from Apple Authorized Internet/Catalog Resellers that are available... Read more
Updated MacBook Price Trackers
We’ve updated our MacBook Price Trackers with the latest information on prices, bundles, and availability from Apple’s authorized internet/catalog resellers: 17″ MacBook Pro 15″ MacBook Pro 13″... Read more
Refurbished Apple iPad 2s available for $100 off n...
 The Apple Store has Apple Certified Refurbished iPad 2s available for up to $100 off MSRP. Apple’s one-year warranty is included with each model, and shipping is free (for the most part, Apple... Read more
Apple offers refurbished MacBook Airs for up to $2...
The Apple Store is now offering Apple Certified Refurbished 2011 MacBook AIrs for up to $250 off the cost of new models. An Apple one-year warranty is included with each model, and shipping is free... Read more
Today only! 27″ Apple Thunderbolt Display for $100...
MacConnection has the 27″ Apple Thunderbolt Cinema Display on sale for today only for $899.99 including free shipping. That’s $100 off MSRP, and it’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this model from... Read more
15″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro on sale for $175 off MSRP,...
Adorama has the 15″ 2.4GHz MacBook Pro on sale for $2024 including free shipping plus NY & NJ sales tax only. Their price is $175 off MSRP, and it’s the lowest price available for this model from... Read more
8GB iPod touch on sale for $20 off, includes free...
Amazon.com has lowered their price on the Black 8GB iPod touch to $179.99 including free shipping. Their price is $20 off MSRP, and it’s currently the lowest price available for this model from any... Read more
 

Jobs Board

LCD SQE for *Apple* Care - Apple, Inc....
Job Title: LCD SQE for Apple Care Profession: Computer Engineering and Information Technology -> Testing/Quality Assurance Job descriptionRequisition Number Read more
Desktop Support (Mac OS/Apple) | OnSite...
for Apple device user support Technical Qualifications: 1. Mac/VIP Technician 2. Mac OS expert - please include any Mac ... will be contacted ASAP if there is an interest in your background and... Read more
*Apple* Solutions Consultant-Retail Sal...
Requisition Number 12018240 Job title Apple Solutions Consultant-Retail Sales Location Manassas Country United States City Nashua State New Hampshire Job type Job Read more
Intern Undergrad Database Programmer IPh...
Intern Undergrad Database Programmer IPhone (User Interface) SCAL( Job Number: 108851) Were looking for big ideas6.9 ... coordinate project management functions etc. Create IPhone/IPad applications... Read more
Systems Engineer- Mac OSX at Ists Worldw...
Foster City, CA Justification: This position will provide Mac OSX gap fill. Deliverables include the design and ... apple script or shell scripting * Experience with creating Apple NetBoot/NetRestore... Read more

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