Click here to check if anything new just came in.
October 31 2011
Mac OS 10.8 users already doing external testing
Mac OS 10.8 testers both inside Apple’s HQ and in the surrounding area of Silicon Valley have been spotted in Web Logs by MacRumors. Indeed, looking at our own logs (above), 10.8 users have been hitting our servers since mid-August, though only in numbers that probably could have been faked.
More recently, however, 10.8 testing has grown more abundant, with testers hitting our site every day including on weekends from non-Apple IP addresses throughout October.
Similar patterns emerged in testing OS 10.7 which leads us to conclude that this is still very early testing and it is likely more than a year before we’ll see even public betas of the OS.
Still, very nice to see Apple’s already working on the next big cat.
Related articles
- Apple looking to bring AirPlay Mirroring, iMessage application to Mac OS X (9to5mac.com)
- Former Compaq Chairman, and current Mac user, reveals that Jobs asked Compaq to license the MacOS in 1999 (9to5mac.com)
- Refurbished Apple PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8GHz Desktop for $265 + $4 s&h (9to5toys.com)
August 11 2011
Lion Recovery USB sticks start arriving
Readers have alerted us that their Lion Recovery Sticks have started arriving. Interesting upgrade from the Snow Leopard Stix that come with the MacBook Airs.
We discovered that you don’t necessarily need to buy these for the list price of $69, Apple will send these free in special cases.
Rather than spend $69 on one of these, you could drop $8 on this fugly Kingston 8GB USB stick and add a bit of this.
Backside below:
July 09 2011
Apple Store iPad Smart Sign jailbroken (video)
One of our readers took it upon himself to jailbreak one of the Apple Store iPad 2 Smart Signs (video above). If you are not familier, the Smart Sign is the iPad in front of each Apple product. As we revealed earlier this year, this sign explains and provides specifications for the product it sits beside.
Customers are not able to actually use this iPad for anything but the Smart Sign application, but with the right top-secret gesture anything is possible. That’s where reader Adrian came in. He figured out the secret gesture, went to the home screen, launched up Safari, and jailbroke the Smart Sign with the new JailbreakMe 3.0 tool.
Now that it has been done, no one else needs to do this, mmk?
- Apple Store employees talk about the new iPad displays (9to5mac.com)
- Secret Service goes after guy who installed spy cams on Apple Store Macs (9to5mac.com)
February 27 2011
Apple testing Android-like gesture-based lock screen for iOS
Apple has been working on a new gesture-based lock screen for iOS devices that works similarly to Android’s “dots” lock screen feature. The user sets up a pattern and needs to input that same pattern in, instead of a password or a four number code. Apple has already deployed this new lock screen internally for use in the employee ‘Apple Connect’ application for iOS devices.
There is no word on whether or not this new lock screen will make its way to iOS devices for users. We were told, though, that Apple will be pushing this lock screen down to some of their internal applications in the future. For example the applications retail-store employees use.
Apple is even planning on bringing this down to their new mobile payment system business, on the EasyPay machines. The lock screen looks just like Android’s lock screen, which Google probably has patents on, so this might never see the fingers of consumers. Three more screenshots of the system are after the break.
February 23 2011
Girl Scouts can now accept credit card payment via iPhone
Uh oh. You can no longer use the excuse that you don’t have any cash to get ut of buying a truckload of Girl Scout cookies. Now Girl Scouts of NorthEast Ohio (my home turf 
) will be collecting payments via Intuit’s GoPayment platform on iOS and Android.
To celebrate the Girl Scouts upcoming 99th anniversary in March, Intuit Inc. has equipped the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio with its GoPayment mobile payment app, including a free Intuit credit card reader, and reduced pricing on transaction fees. GoPayment provides them with an easy and affordable way to process credit card payments on their mobile devices while protecting sensitive credit card information with industry-leading data encryption.
“We’re glad to put the latest mobile technology in the hands of America’s future business leaders to help them increase cookie sales,” said Chris Hylen, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. “For this generation of girls in particular, running a business and being able to take payments anywhere with mobile apps like GoPayment will become second nature. We’re eager to see how sales will increase now that they take credit cards with GoPayment.”
Thin Mints!
February 22 2011
We got our iPad 2 case and it’s crazy thin (video)
We just got our own hands on a case for the yet to be announced second generation iPad (weird, right?) and from the top, it’s crazy thin. It’s difficult to explain how thin this thing is and, if it is legit, props to Apple for being able to make a tablet as thin as they did.
Our case is silicon and has all the new iPad 2 fixings we’ve heard so far, except the magical top port. The bottom of the case has space for the standard 30-pin dock connector and a larger speaker with a meshed grill. The case also has room for the now standard mute/screen lock switch and volume rocker on the right. We’re thinking, due to the tapering, that the mute/screen lock switch will slide like the iPhone 4′s.
The left side has that super mysterious port and the top has the standard earphone jack and the sleep/wake power button. Oh, and the back? It has a camera hole, slightly larger than the one’s found on iPhone 4 cases (which might allow for movement/alignment issues). Back to the left-side port: there are a few things people think it’s for. The rumor mill has been filled with speculation that it might be an SD card slot, a full USB port, or most recently for a Light Peak port.
We went ahead and tried stuffing an SD card through the port and it’s just too wide. So that SD card reader? It won’t be on the left side, probably no where on the iPad 2 at this point. Next, is USB 2.0 and Light Peak. Although we would like to believe the iPad 2 will sport a USB port, the caps on those two cables are just to tall and wide to fit through the port. The only logical cable at this point is a micro-USB port, and this fits great with Europe’s new micro-USB port regulation. Knowing Apple, it might not be that either. Maybe a new port scratched at the last moment? A mini/micro-SD card?
Be sure to check our video above to truly see how thin the device could possibly be.
February 18 2011
Apple television in the works, Apple job listing hints
Not the Apple TV, but an Apple television. Apple has posted a new job position looking for people to work on next-generation power supply technology. Apple needs people to to “work on the forefront of new power management designs and technologies with the exemplary company consistently bringing innovations in the industry.” Although some mind find that fascinating, we find what Apple needs this new power management technology to power even more interesting… TVs!
Apple separates ”TV” from “standalone displays” making it clear these are actual televisions, not Apple’s regular LED displays. Apple does have a television accessory called Apple TV and the job posting does not note this being that product. We are certainty speculating a little bit here, but we do feel this is very interesting either way. Over the years a number of reports emerged Apple was working on an actual TV, including reports from analyst Gene Munster in 2009 and a few weeks ago.
Also, this could tie in nicely with our report about Apple exploring OLED displays.
January 20 2011
iPhone multitasking gestures caught on video
Looks like someone figured out how to enable the iPad’s new mulitasking gestures on their iPhone. It looks pretty sweet and we hope it makes it to an official release sometime. Probably won’t be iOS 4.3, though. Oh, and the guy who made the video got his iPhone mute switch to act as an orientation lock too.
January 02 2011
Verizon acquired iPhoneonVerizon.com and iPhoneforVerizon.com? (yes, but in ’08)
Although this is not confirmation for the rumored Verizon iPhone, it looks like Verizon Wireless may have acquired the domain names iPhoneonVerizon.com and iPhoneforVerizon.com. The domain names appear to have been originally registered through GoDaddy to Jack Benton then later transferred to the Mark Monitor domain service. Benton owns the domain names iPhoneonSprint.com and iPhoneonATT.com and judging by the those site designs being the same as iPhoneonVerizon.com’s design, he was the one who transferred or sold the Verizon iPhone domain to Verizon.
The new registration information for the iPhoneonVerizon.com and iPhoneforVerizon.com domains are identical to other domain registered to Verizon. Because domain registration information can be faked, this rumored domain transfer is still unconfirmed. We are skeptical of its legitimacy as it seems odd that Verizon would register such a high-profile domain with their actual information.
Even if Verizon did purchase those domain names this is still not proof of a soon-launching Verizon iPhone as they could have purchased them for a later date (not an early 2011 iPhone launch) or could have purchased them simply due to rumors and for potential traffic. Verizon could also be scooping up potential brand infringing domains like Bank of America owns bankofamericasucks.com
Also, at this time, the two domain names still forward to Benton’s website, not to anything from Verizon. Verizon may still forward to his site in order to stay under the radar. Thanks, Anonymous for the lead.
Update: First to point out how skeptical we were from the beginning and second, MacRumors says they were transferred in 2008.
Related articles
- What if…no Verizon iPhone at CES? (9to5mac.com)
December 25 2010
AT&T cuts $50 off refurb Apple iPhone 4 prices, from $79 + free shipping
- Click here to start
- find the “Buy Refurbished” ad and click “Shop refurb phones”
… where you’ll find the following prices (with the price drop in parentheses), tying AT&T’s Black Friday prices:
- refurbished iPhone 4 16GB for $99 (was $149)
- refurbished iPhone 4 32GB for $199 (was $249)
- refurb, cosmetic blemish iPhone 4 16GB for $79 (was $129)
- refurb, cosmetic blemish iPhone 4 32GB for $179 (was $199)
Note: No warranty information is provided. Also, a $36 activation fee applies.
December 14 2010
December 07 2010
iTunes sending out free movie rentals
Apple today started sending out free iTunes movie rental codes to many iTunes users. This seems to be random and we have no idea why they’re doing this. Maybe to promote the rental service? People not renting enough movies? The free movie rental promotion lets you rent one of the 8,500 compatible movies and you have 30 days to start watching and 24 hours to finish. Happy Chanukah/Christmas from Apple! Thanks, Branden!
December 06 2010
Verizon scuppers Sprint iPhone, analyst claims he’s ‘heard’
Apple may have hatched a deal with Verizon under which T-Mobile and Sprint will be locked out of the sexy, beautiful iPhone everywhere post-ATT exclusive in the US next year, an analyst said.
I hasten to note that the analyst here is one Kaufman Bros., Shaw Wu, and I’ve noted that his analysis while widely reported is often incorrect. But here’s the story.
As reported by Apple 2, Wu reckons Verizon wanted to ensure T-Mobile and Sprint didn’t get the iPhone to boost its market position. Wu writes that he is”picking up that iPhone economics to Apple are likely to be favorable, similar to that offered by AT&T.”
Then he comes up with some weird remarks that iPhone economics could be less favorable given the strength of Android and component costs.
*Which will be why the iPhone already accounts for most of the revenue/profit in the smartphone sector*
“Last but not least,” he concludes, “we are hearing that VZ does not want iPhone, the hottest selling smart phone, available on T-Mobile USA and/or Sprint and may be willing to pay for exclusivity to itself and AT&T.”
Image: Via Fastcompany
November 22 2010
Pittsburgh Apple Store robbed
ABC 27 reports that the Pittsburgh Apple Store was the scene of a smash and grab last night with thousands of dollars worth of products stolen. The police are in the middle of determining whether or not this robbery is related to one three hours earlier at a T-Mobile store in the same area, Shadyside. Another image after the break:
Images courtesy of WPXI Pittsburgh.
November 02 2010
Images of life inside the iPhone factory
Living eight to a room on four bunks, long shifts and tiny televisions in depersonalized common rooms, this is life at Foxconn’s iPhone factories, a fresh report informs this morning.
Below pictorial record of life in Foxconn’s factory in Shenzen, China, a place a colossal 420,000 workers call home. There’s pictures of dorm blocks and of the netting draped around these buildings to help prevent suicides at the plants. (The spate of suicides stopped in May, the report explains).
Gizmodo offers us a glimpse at the corridors and dorm rooms in which these Foxconn workers spend their off-duty lives. “Eight workers sleep in four bunk beds in a room about the size of a two-car garage,” the report explains.
Small televisions, under-exploited exercise equipment and sinks on the balconies also feature in the factory dorms.
October 21 2010
Apple’s new Lincoln Park, Chicago Store is ‘Significant’
Chicago Now got a sneak peak and a chat with Apple Retail chief, Ron Johnson, about the new Lincoln Park, Chicago Apple Store. Apple is calling their latest retail store “significant.” They’re placing it in the same category as their recent London, Shanghai, and Paris stores.
The design of the store is gorgeous and very innovative for the neighborhood that it is located in. According to Chicago Now this particular area of Lincoln Park used to be very old looking as well as “dingy, dark, smelly.” Now, Apple is transforming it.
In terms of the actual retail store it has three entrances, for very significant reasons. The northern part of the store has a retail focus, the southern portion covers Apple’s one-to-one program, and the center entrance is something new to Apple’s retail chain.
It’s a public area with benches, tables, chairs, WiFi and all that good stuff. Apple’s Lincoln Park, Chicago store opens this Saturday 10/23/2010 at 10 AM. There will be special t-shirts for the first 4000 people visiting the store on opening day. A few more pics after the break:
Thanks, @inket for the image.
October 18 2010
More MacBook Air rumors, fast boot, lower prices
Interesting details on the new MacBook Air from CultofMac today:
- - The new model is also apparently much snappier than its underpowered predecessor. ”It boots so fast, it’s unbelievable,” our source says. “It’s amazing how fast it boots up.”
- - A faster 13-inch model with upgradeable options should appeal to pro users, while a cheaper 11-inch MacBook Air might be more attractive to students and casual users.
- - A 50-percent bigger battery, delivering 8-10 hours of battery life. The current MacBook Air has a 5-hour battery.
- - The new machine is thinner and lighter, weighing less than the current model’s 3lbs, our source says.
- - The new enclosure is also an aluminum unibody design, like the current model — but not as curvy.
- - Same black keyboard as current MBA, same single-button Multi-Touch trackpad. [wha? Current MacBook trackpad has separate button, unlike the rendering]
- - Upgradable RAM (base 2GB [-boo!], SSD. Also NVidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics
- - Two configs: 2.1Ghz (with 2GB of RAM) and 2.4 GHz (with 4GB of RAM).
In pricing, it gets a little more foggy:
The new MBA is rumored to be considerably cheaper than the current MBA’s $1,500 starting price. Our source suggests the 13-inch machine may be priced as low as $1,100, and the 11-inch MBA at $999. The source points out that the 64GB iPad starts at $700, and the MacBook Air doesn’t have many more components.
We’re skeptical, however. We’re not sure that Apple would price a premium machine like the MBA as low as the entry-level white plastic MacBook, which also starts at $999. More likely, price points will be at $1,100 for the 11-inch MBA and $1,400 for the 13-inch machine.
If you are saying to yourself, there isn’t much here besides speculation and information that could be extrapolated from Engadget’s prototype from April, you aren’t alone. In fact, everything about this MacBook Air seems to emanate from that and the Digitimes report of a 11.6 inch screen.
Quanta has reportedly landed orders for 11.6-inch MacBooks from Apple. Shipments of 11.6-inch MacBooks are expected to top 400,000-500,000 units in 2010.
There is a lot of room for error there.
October 08 2010
Yahoo Messenger app to allow iPhone to Computer video calling
FaceTime, one of the iPhone 4′s marquee features, already has some heated competition in the App Store. These apps include the popular Fring and most recently Tango video calling applications. Fring is popular for its large feature set, 3G video calling capabilities, and compatibility with other mobile phone. The recently launched “Tango” app is known for its ease of use as well as 3G video calling capabilities with other iPhones and smartphones. Today Reuters reports on some interesting information they learned regarding an upcoming Yahoo video calling application for the iPhone.
This Yahoo video calling application will be a free update to their already available Yahoo Messaging app on the App Store, and it has some surprises hidden up its sleeve. The updated application will not only work over WiFi and 3G, like Fring and Tango, but will allow for video calls between iPhones and computers running the desktop Yahoo Messenger application. This new app poses some serious competition to Apple’s built-in FaceTime feature as it not only allows for video calling over 3G but opens up the door for video calling with many more users.
Apple announced back at WWDC that FaceTime over 3G would be coming at some point in 2011 as they still have to work out terms with carriers, and from our tests 3G FaceTime works very well. Apple is rumored to be launching a desktop version of FaceTime that will be integrated into the Mac’s iChat application. This upcoming app from Yahoo is reportedly yet to be approved, and hopefully this helps serve as a push for Apple to bring FaceTime to the desktop, iChat to Windows, and FaceTime to more devices.
October 06 2010
Trillian for the Mac to give Adium a run for its money?
For those chat clients outside of the realm of iChat, most of us Mac People use a great little app called Adium. On the PC side of things, the best equivalent of Adium is Trillian (you may know Trillian from its iOS app?) Today, Trillian’s application for Macintosh has gone into Beta (the Alpha’s been floating around for a couple of months).
On paper and with a few minutes of use, it looks pretty good.
From Trillian:
Trillian for Mac is back with a vengeance featuring extensive upgrades across the board! You can now view all of your previous conversations – even those you had before this release – using our new history viewer and chat windows! We’ve also added awesome new social window support starting with Facebook and Twitter. studiVZ chat integration joins Trillian for Mac in Build 160, a few important crash bugs have been fixed, and we’ve also spent some time improving overall performance and stability for this build.
Download Trillian for Mac Beta now! http://www.trillian.im/get/mac/
Brand new history viewer
All of your previous Mac chat history is included. You can start browsing your chat history right away.
Browse by date. The history viewer is laid out like iCal, and days with conversations are marked with a dot.
Auto-history previews your last conversations, letting you close your chat windows and come back anytime.
Extensive Facebook and Twitter integration
New features include:
- List views of multiple sizes
- Growl notifications
- Chat history with viewer
- Twitter feeds
- Facebook news feeds
- MSN MPOP
- XMPP-based Facebook Chat
- Contact info card popups
- Avatar chooser
- Mac-specific keyboard shortcuts
- Sound and notification preferences
- Universal binary support, anda whole bunch of resolved issues and bug fixes!
Will any of you AdiumX users convert?
September 27 2010
Why oh why does Apple get so much news coverage?
The New York Times asks why Apple gets a disproportionately large amount of news coverage compared to say Microsoft or even Google?
A new study confirms what some in the technology industry have long sensed: that Apple commands an inordinate amount of the media’s attention.
A yearlong look at technology news coverage by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism found that 15.1 percent of tech articles were primarily about Apple; 11.4 percent were about Google; and a meager 3 percent were about Microsoft.
It’s not as if Microsoft lacks for public relations people. But Apple is especially effective at seizing journalists’ attention, said Amy S. Mitchell, the deputy director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, citing the anticipation for new devices and Apple’s “very public way of releasing products.”
Besides the fact that Apple is the largest tech company on earth by market cap, people just like reading about Apple. The New York Times wouldn’t have even have to have left their offices to find that out according to Macjournals. In Ex Apple CEO Gilbert Amelio’s book, On the Firing Line, he quotes the Times:
I could well understand an extensive interest about Apple in the Bay Area and the trade press covering high tech. But why this excessive level of coverage in other locations? So I posed the question to a New York Times staffer: “You’re a New York newspaper and we’re a California company, why do you include so much coverage of Apple?”
“Because we sell more papers.”
I asked him to be more specific.
He said, “I can give you the exact statistics. When we run a strong story on Apple, we sell three percent more papers. So we run stories on Apple. That’s the bottom line.”
So there it is: Apple information sells newspapers.
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
