The Mac Observer

Rumor: Taiwan Leak Shows Verizon UTMS/CDMA iPhone for Q3 2010

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:45:03 -0500

Apple is working on a UTMS/CDMA hybrid iPhone that would allow the company to offer the device through Verizon in the third quarter of 2010. The news comes through an analyst research note from OTR Global reported by AppleInsider, and is based on supposed leaks from Apple's Taiwan manufacturing chain.

News: iPhone Moves Into RadioShack

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:55 -0500

Electronics retailer RadioShack announced on Friday that it will be offering Apple's iPhone in several of its stores starting in November.

News: Apple to Open Stunning Paris Apple Store in Le Louvre on Saturday

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:30:59 -0500

Apple is scheduled to open up its first Apple Store in Paris, France Saturday, at 10:00 AM local. In typical high-profile fashion, Apple's new store is located in bowels of Le Louvre museum in that institution's Carrousel du Louvre shopping center.

Free on iTunes: Dictionary, Dictionary, Dictionary, And More

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:43:00 -0500

If you are looking for a free dictionary for your iPhone then you're in luck! This week on Free on iTunes, Vern Seward takes a look at three of them: Dictionary!, WordWeb, and Dictionary.Com Dictionary.

John Martellaro's Blog: Particle Debris (week ending 11/6) Failure IS an Option

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:09:05 -0500

In this week's assemblage of technical news debris, John looks at all kinds of failures, easy options for Barnes & Noble, U.S. DOJ, Apple's Time Capsule, iPhone hardware encryption, those who predicted Blu-ray would never catch on, and Microsoft's bad habit of hosing up their OS advertising.

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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:09:05 -0500

Games: The Latest App Store Games: Gravity Sling, RocketBird, Ground Effect, Checkers!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:14 -0500

New games now available at the App Store include the puzzle game Gravity Sling, the action title RocketBird, the arcade racer Ground Effect, and the self-explanatory Checkers!.

Games: Star Soccer 2010 for Mac Puts Gamers in Role of Up-and-Coming Player

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:25:40 -0500

New Star Games on Friday announced the release of New Star Soccer 2010 for Mac and PC. It's the latest version of its series of games in which gamers create a soccer player and guide him through the ranks, managing every aspect of his career while also taking part in matches. Players decide everything for their character, from relationships with teammates and girlfriends to endorsement contracts and more.

How-To: The Mysteries of Rosetta Housekeeping

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:26 -0500

Rosetta is a software technology that allows Intel-based Macs to run most, but not all, of native PowerPC applications. This How-to explains some details of using, enabling, disabling and status checking Rosetta.

News: iPhone Game Developer Sued for Collecting User’s Cell Numbers

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:33:45 -0500

iPhone game developer Storm8 has been sued for harvesting iPhone cell numbers on iPhones where its game was downloaded. The incident first came to light in August, when Storm8 acknowledged the issue and blamed it on an error that it said was then corrected. Michael Turner of Washington State, however, is now seeking class action status for a suit accusing the company of having violated the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Games: Warhammer Online Expands Trial Play Option

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:17:53 -0500

EA studio Mythic Entertainment on Friday announced that players will now have access to an expanded play trial, rather than a 10-day limit, for its MMORPG Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). New and returning players will have access to a new streaming client, cutting down time spent downloading the game, and will be able to progress their characters to level 10 while exploring two tier one Empire vs. Chaos zones.

Rumor: Apple May Be Bringing RFID to the iPhone

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:19:03 -0500

Apple has apparently been testing prototype versions of the next generation iPhone with RFID support built-in. If true, the next iPhone hardware update could lets users interact with other RFID-enabled devices.

News: Nokia Could Face Counter Suit from Apple

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:39:48 -0500

Nokia recently filed a lawsuit against Apple for allegedly infringing on patents with its iPhone lineup, but the mobile phone maker could potentially face a counter suit claiming it is infringing on Apple's patents, too

Hot Forum Topic: Reader Reactions: 8GB iPhone 3GS Rumors

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:08:55 -0500

The rumor mill claims an 8GB iPhone 3GS is on the way in time for the holiday buying season. Today TMO readers are offering their take on that rumor.

Rumor: 8GB iPhone 3GS in Time for Christmas

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:37:27 -0500

Apple's own Phil Schiller said that the company's holiday product lineup is set for this year, but that's not stopping the rumor mill from claiming that an 8GB version of the iPhone 3GS is still on the way. No less that two unnamed sources are saying that AT&T will begin selling an 8GB iPhone 3GS for US$99 before Christmas

News: Apple Updates iTunes LP for Apple TV

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:52:54 -0500

Apple began alerting customers on Friday morning that Apple TV-compatible versions of the iTunes LP albums they've purchased are available and ready for download.

Product News: iTweetReply 1.2 Adds Twitter Search Support

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:34:36 -0500

Syncode announced the immediate availability of iTweetReply 1.2 on Friday. The update for the Twitter push notification app for the iPhone and iPod touch added the ability to automatically send Twitter search results to your iPhone.

TMO Quick Tip: Instapaper: Tag it Now, Read it Later

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:50 -0500

Keeping track of everything you want to read online can be a real pain, especially if you're trying to keep track of articles and blog posts on the go. Instapaper solve that problem, and it's easy to use, too.

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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:50 -0500

News: IDC: Q3 2009 Smartphone Market Grew, iPhone Up, Android Reaching Critical Mass

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:56:16 -0500

The smartphone market grew in the September quarter, despite the world-wide recession, with global unit shipments up 4.2% year-over-year to 43.3 million, according to research firm IDC. The company said that Apple saw its highest iPhone unit sales yet, though Research In Motion's BlackBerry also gained share in the global market. The research firm also said that Google's Android platform was reaching "critical mass" with the release of several new Android models and the release of Android OS 2.0.

Games: EA’s Spore Franchise Expands to Facebook

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:44 -0500

EA’s studio Maxis on Thursday announced the release of Spore Islands, a new Facebook game based on the Spore franchise originally created by Will Wright, of Sim City and The Sims fame. The free 2D game puts player on their own island, where they can create and evolve their own creatures, as well as invite Facebook friends to live on their island.

News: Research In Motion to Repurchase Shares Following Stock Selloff

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:56:53 -0500

Research In Motion (RIM) announced a stock buyback program following the loss of one-third of the company's value in the past six weeks. The company's board of directors approved a plan that will take up to US$1.2 billion in company resources to repurchase as much as 21 million common shares at today's price.

Games: Jules Verne’s Secrets of the Mysterious Island, Other Titles Hit App Store

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:49:03 -0500

Chillingo on Thursday released Jules Verne’s Secrets of the Mysterious Island for iPhone, leading a quartet of new App Store games.

News: Apple Ads Target People Looking for Windows 7 Download Help

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:07:22 -0500

Apple has been buying ad space on Google for people looking for help with downloading Windows 7. Google searches for "Download Windows 7" often result in an ad from Apple titled, "Upgrading to Windows 7?" The ad then advises users that, "There's never been a better time to switch to a Mac. Find out why." It links directly to Apple's site.

How-To: BBEdit’s Command Line Functions

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:04:02 -0500

With BBEdit 9.3, a new terminal command has been added: bbfind. That's in addition to the previous commands: bbedit and bbdiff. Here's a brief introduction on how to use these commands.

Deal Brothers: Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop: $1410.00

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:32:04 -0500

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop for $1410.00. This is a brand new system, and shipping is free.

News: Psystar to Court: Just Say We’re Legit

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:48:28 -0500

Psystar is asking a Florida Court to say that its unauthorized Mac clone making business is legit and to force Apple to keep quiet about the whole deal. Apple and Psystar have been fighting in court in California, and now in Florida, over whether or not the little PC maker can hack Mac OS X and install it on PCs without Apple's permission.

Quick Look Review: Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:10:12 -0500

Kensington's iPhone car mount kit lets you keep your combination iPod and smartphone in view when you are driving. It includes vent and windshield mount attachments, and based on Nancy Gravely's tests it does its job well.

Hot Forum Topic: Online Protection for Kids

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:36:07 -0500

Today TMO readers are talking about applications that can help them protect their kids from online threats and what they can do to monitor their computer activities.

News: CNET Dubs iPhone the Worst Phone in the World

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:51:40 -0500

It's OK to call Apple's iPhone the best phone ever, but not in the CNET UK offices. Instead, they dubbed the iPhone the worst phone ever, but also said it's the best mobile Web device and media player.

News: Fortune CEO of the Decade: Steve Jobs

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:15:12 -0500

There's no doubt that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been instrumental in the success of the company known for the iMac and iPhone, and according to Fortune, he's the CEO of the decade, too.

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Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:15:12 -0500

Product News: MagiCam Adds Special Effects to iPhone Photos

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:47:44 -0500

Quapps Interactive announced the immediate availability of MagiCam 1.0 for the iPhone on Thursday. MagiCam is an app that lets users add effects and other objects to photos they take with their iPhone.

Product News: V Phone Adds VoIP, SMS over IP to iPhone

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:12:45 -0500

Matrix Knowledge Management introduced V Phone for the iPhone on Thursday. The application lets iPhone users make VoIP phone calls and send SMS messages over IP, too.

Games: Arcade Game MicroWar 2 Pits Mac Versus PCs

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:26:18 -0500

Developer Pierre-Alain Dorange on Wednesday released the arcade game MicroWar 2, which begins in the year 1984, when the original Macintosh shipped, and moves through computer history, pitting the player’s Mac against swarms of attacking PCs. The gameplay is akin to such arcade game classics as Space Invaders and Galaga.

Product News: BBEdit 9.3 Gets Updates To Projects, FTP Browsing, More

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:44 -0500

Bare Bones Software announced Wednesday the release of BBEdit 9.3. This update includes improvements to the Projects feature, ctag data files, FTP/SFTP browsing, and the clipping system. Bare Bones has also introduced a new command-line utility called bbfind.

Games: PlayFirst Debuts New Hidden Object Game, Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:51 -0500

PlayFirst on Wednesday released Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal, a new hidden object game for Mac OS X. Set during the 1920s, the game puts players in the role of up-and-coming reporter Valerie Porter, who soon finds herself covering a major story: the death of starlet Scarlet Velour.

Games: New iPhone Games: Three From Digital Chocolate, One From Legacy Interactive

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:29:24 -0500

Digital Chocolate and Legacy Interactive released a quartet of new iPhone games between them on Wednesday, with the former publishing three – Carnival Games Live, Nightclub Fever, and Absolute Minesweeper – and the latter offering up one: the trivia game Bird Brain.

Product News: Equinux Announces Seasons Greetings Vol. 2 for Mail Stationery

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:22:00 -0500

Equinux announced Wednesday the release of Seasons Greetings Vol. 2, a collection of Mail Stationery templates for sending holiday messages via Mail.app. The collection includes 22 different templates for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, and are available in English, French, and German.

Quick Look Review: Apple Magic Mouse is no Magic Bullet

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:20:47 -0500

Our tendency, based on other technologies, is to believe that our Apple accessories just keep getting better and better. However, Apple has had its share of hit and miss affairs with computer mice, and the Magic Mouse is no exception.

News: Microsoft Lays Off 800 More Workers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:10:22 -0500

Microsoft is laying off another 800 workers starting today (Wednesday). Microsoft characterized the layoffs as being part of an earlier plan to reduce its work force by 5,000 people, but the newest round will surpass that original goal.

Deal Brothers: Western Digital Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive: $99.99

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:52:37 -0500

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the Western Digital Elements WDE1UBK10000N 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for $99.99, including free delivery.

TMO Quick Tip: Enabling Two Button Mode on Apple Magic Mouse

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:18:46 -0500

Out of the box, the Apple Magic Mouse has a smooth surface that hides its two button nature. On top of that, the default in System Preferences is a one button mouse. For those who prefer a classic two button mouse, here's how to fix that.

Product News: O’Reilly Intros Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac: The Missing Manual

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:27:28 -0500

O'Reilly announced the immediate availability of Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac: The Missing Manual on Wednesday. The 584 page book by Barbara Brundage explains how to use Photoshop Elements 8's features as well as how to get the most out of Adobe Bridge.

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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:27:28 -0500

News: iTunes Store Highlights Music Related Movies

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:36:36 -0500

Apple added a new section to its iTunes Store on Wednesday geared at highlighting movies with a musical theme. The section includes musicals, music-focused movies, concert movies and documentaries.

Product News: MacTuneUp 3.6 Adds Snow Leopard Support

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:57:40 -0500

Macware announced the immediate availability of MacTuneUp 3.6 on Wednesday. The update for the disk utility application added Mac OS X 10.6, or Snow Leopard, support and improved performance on Intel-based Macs.

Hot Forum Topic: Reader Reactions: The Flash-free iPhone

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:10:20 -0500

Adobe is saying it's Apple's fault that Flash isn't available on the iPhone. Today TMO readers are talking about whether or not the iPhone even needs Flash support.

News: Beatles Library Goes Digital without iTunes Store

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:37:39 -0500

Apple Corps, the company that manages The Beatles works, announced on Wednesday that it is releasing a limited edition USB drive with the bands complete album collection in MP3 and FLAC formats. The announcement marks the first time the Fab Four's songs have been legitimately available in electronic format, but they aren't available through Apple's iTunes Store.

News: Apple Tops 100,000 Titles at App Store

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:56:19 -0500

Apple's iPhone and iPod touch App Store topped 100,000 available applications on Wednesday. The App Store is Apple's online service for third party iPhone and iPod touch applications, and has hosted over two billion app downloads so far.

Product News: DiscLabel 6.1 Gets Flickr Support

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:32:24 -0500

SmileOnMyMac announced the immediate availability of DiscLabel 6.1 on Wednesday. The update for the CD and DVD label design application added the ability to import images from Flickr accounts.

In-Depth Review: SigFx Energy iPhone Case Contains Smart Battery

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:05 -0500

SigFx Energy in Lewisville, TX sells a full line of cases for the iPhone 3G/3GS (and iPod touch) that have built-in batteries. I have been testing the X-type design which has a 1,200 mAh (milliamp-hour) smart battery. No power is drawn from the iPhone battery until the external battery is depleted. It's a keeper.

Computing with Bifocals: A Kinder, Gentler Snow Leopard

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:36 -0500

Behind all of Snow Leopard's glamor and the "under the hood" changes, someone has paid attention to some of the little things as well -- such as simpler directions and basic terminology. Nancy Carroll Gravley shares some of the features she's found in Snow Leopard that are easier to use and understand.

Product News: Parallels Desktop 5 Boosts Performance, More

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:04:59 -0500

Parallels announced the immediate availability of Parallels Desktop 5 for the Mac on Wednesday. The new version of the OS virtualization application offers up to a three times performance improvement, and video performance that's up to seven times better compared to previous versions of the application.