The Mac Observer

 

Apple and Samsung didn’t kiss and make up this week, despite the hopes of Judge Koh. Windows RT might turn out to be a great iPad seller, Apple thinks the DOJ is lame for pushing its ebook price fixing lawsuit, Google closed its deal to buy Motorola Mobility, and the Webbys paid tribute to Steve Jobs. That’s a full plate, but it’s OK. Mac OS Ken’s Ken Ray is hungry.

Read more

Sotheby’s announced on Friday that it will be auctioning off what the auction giant says is the only known surviving Steve Jobs documents from his time at Atari. The document being auctioned is a five page memo from Mr. Jobs to engineer Stephen Bristow on ways to make Atari World Cup Football, an arcade console soccer game.

Steve Jobs Atari Memo
Read more

Need to keep up with current events and don’t want a lot of fluff and opinion to cloud your news? Three apps featured in this week’s Free on iTunes may be just what you need.  Vern Seward tells us about AP Mobile, Reuter’s News Pro, and NPR News.

News Pro for iPad
Read more

Display News Briefs: More from Friday May 25th, 2012

Nest Coming to Apple Retail StoresNest Thermostat Reportedly Coming to Apple Retail Stores

Apple will soon offer the Nest Learning Thermostat through both its online and retail Apple Stores, according to online reports. The internet- and iOS-enabled thermostat will sell for $249.

Nest Coming to Apple Retail Stores
By · 3 Comments
A dirty secretThe TV Industry’s Dreadful Little Secret

We all knew the business model, commercial breaks, for the TV industry is a mess. But now the foolishness has been taken to new heights. Fox has filed a lawsuit against Dish Network for taking care of its customers. The whole industry is ripe for disruption and may not even see it coming. Perhaps Apple does.

A dirty secret
By · 8 Comments
Chitika Mobile Web TrafficMobile Devices Account for 20% of Web Traffic in US, Canada

Mobile web browsing on smartphones and tablets now accounts for 20 percent of all web traffic in the United States and Canada, according to research from online advertising network Chitika.

Chitika Mobile Web Traffic
By · 1 Comment
iTunes Free App of the WeekApple Now Offering “Free App of the Week” for iOS

Apple is now offering a free “App of the Week” on its iOS App Store, the company’s official App Store Twitter account announced late Thursday. The first free app offered this week is ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope: Experiments, a puzzle game optimized for iPhone and iPod touch.

iTunes Free App of the Week
By · 2 Comments
Tim Cook Declines Dividend PayoutTim Cook Declines $75 Million Dividend Payout

Apple CEO Tim Cook has asked the company’s board of directors not to issue dividends on his restricted stock units when the company pays out its planned dividends to shareholders this summer. The CEO’s request will sacrifice a nearly $75 million payout on his 1,125,000 restricted stock units.

Tim Cook Declines Dividend Payout
By · Add a Comment
Absinthe 2.0 iOS 5.1.1 JailbreakAbsinthe 2.0 Provides Untethered Jailbreak for iOS 5.1.1

“Greenpois0n’s” Absinthe 2.0 jailbreak was released early Friday, bringing untethered jailbreak support to iOS 5.1.1. The release supports most versions of the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch and is the first untethered jailbreak option for Apple’s latest iOS firmware.

Absinthe 2.0 iOS 5.1.1 Jailbreak
By · 1 Comment
F18 Carrier Landing Lite v 2.1F18 Carrier Landing (iOS) is a Boatload of Fun

Landing a jet on an aircraft carrier is one of the hardest things humans do. So it’s a great candidate for a game, both as a challenge and as a sobering introduction to the real thing. This game has great visuals and is easy to fly, but it’s not really a technical flight simulator. That’s quite okay.

F18 Carrier Landing
By · 2 Comments
Jeff Gamet talks Cool Apps & Accessories on Not Another Mac Podcast

The Mac Observer’s Jeff Gamet joined the Not Another Mac Podcast to discuss Cool Mac and iOS apps, iPad accessories, and more.

By · Add a Comment
Forum Poll: Which is Your Favorite Photo Sharing Service?

There are plenty of places online to share your photos, and social networking services make it easy to do. Which is your favorite online photo sharing servce? Take today’s TMO forum poll and let us know.

Forum Discussion

Facebook Brings Native Photo Sharing to iPhone with New Camera App

Facebook is moving deeper into the photo sharing game with the release of its Facebook Camera app for the iPhone. The app landed on Apple’s App Store on Thursday, and lets users share photos from their iPhone through their Facebook account.

By · 2 Comments
TSA Ready to Spend $3M on Apple Gear

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is planning to spend US$3 million on Apple equipment including Macs, iPhones, iPads, and AppleTV units. The purchase will be part of a secure mobile device pilot program the agency is launching.

By · 5 Comments
Mac OS X: Getting the Most Out of the Fonts Window

Mac OS X’s Fonts Window, which is accessible from many programs by hitting Command-T, makes handling and choosing your fonts easier. (Note that we didn’t suggest that anything about fonts is ever actually easy.) In this article, Melissa Holt will show you some secrets of that little window and how to use them to your best advantage.

By · 4 Comments

Thursday May 24th, 2012

Apple Forever TattooJonathan Ive Tells BBC He Wants to Stay at Apple

Design guru Sir Jonathan Ive said in an interview on Thursday that he wants to stay at Apple, effectively squashing speculation that he would leave the company in order to return to England. Sir Jon made the comments to the BBC in an interview related to receiving his knighthood on Thursday.

Apple Forever Tattoo
By · 1 Comment

news

 
Apple’s European Head Departs - 07:44 PM ET
Apple in EuropeApple’s European Head Departs

Pascal Cagni, Apple’s General Manager and Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, resigned this week after 12 years with the company.

Apple in Europe
By · Add a Comment
Airfoil Speakers Touch Removed from App StoreApple Pulls Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil Speakers Touch from App Store

Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil Speakers Touch app for iOS has been inexplicably removed from the App Store, Paul Kafasis, the company’s CEO, noted Thursday, leading some to speculate that iOS 6 will include functionality similar to that which the app provides.

Airfoil Speakers Touch Removed from App Store
By · 4 Comments
ApertureApple Updates Aperture for External Editors, Snow Leopard

Apple released Aperture 3.2.4 on Thursday, an update that addresses two issues. The first is improved stability with Snow Leopard, and the second is an issue when working with external editors in whatever OS you’re working in.

Aperture
By · Add a Comment
MGG 399: Five Questions from Three Scotts

Ever wonder how to send multiple photos from the Photo Library on your iPhone? Ever wonder why some Keynote files are packages and others aren’t? Ever have trouble connecting to your AirPort-connected hard drive? How about knowing when — and when NOT — to worry about your Mac’s RAM consumption? All this and much more, as usual, on today’s Premium episode of Mac Geek Gab. Subscribe for just US$25 and you’ll get access to this show PLUS all the archives, and two extra shows per month for the duration of your six-month membership. Subscribe today and support your two favorite geeks!

By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) · Add a Comment
SimpleAir Apple Patent SettlementApple & Others Settle Mobile Lawsuit With Patent Firm SimpleAir

Apple and ten other companies have settled a lawsuit with licensing company SimpleAir relating to the delivery and processing of content, notifications, and updates on mobile devices.

SimpleAir Apple Patent Settlement
By · 1 Comment
Personal Tech InvestmentHow the Ripples in Apple’s TechSphere Will Influence Us

Apple has become such a large company that its influence ripples throughout the market in ways we are just coming to understand. That, in turn, can dictate our personal technology choices in new ways.

Personal Tech Investment
By · Add a Comment
Microsoft Motorola InjunctionMicrosoft Wins Motorola Android Device Ban in Germany

Microsoft has won an injunction in a German court against Motorola Mobility Android devices, the company confirmed Thursday. The injunction arises from Motorola’s infringement of a Microsoft patent covering the transmission of long text messages by breaking them into multiple parts.

Microsoft Motorola Injunction
By · Add a Comment
Oracle Java vs Google Android Patent InfringementJury: Google’s Android Doesn’t Infringe on Oracle’s Java Patents

Google’s Android platform does not infringe upon Oracle patents, a federal jury decided Wednesday, ending a five week trial and lawsuit dating back to late 2010. Thepatents at issue relate to Oracle’s Java platform, which the company acquired during its purchase of Sun Microsystems in 2009. 

Oracle Java vs Google Android Patent Infringement
By · 4 Comments
CasselletCasellet: iPhone 4S Case and Wallet Combined

The Casellet is an iPhone case integrated with a wallet that can conceal a small amount of cash or credit cards. It’s perfect for those occasions when you need your iPhone (4 or 4S) but don’t want to carry a wallet or purse.

Casellet iPhone case plus wallet
By · Add a Comment
13” MacBook Air 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo:  $1,099

The Deal Brothers found us a deal on the refurbished 13” MacBook Air 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo for $1,099. This system was originally released in October of 2010, comes with Snow Leopard, and it ships for free.

13" MacBook Air

Sharp Teams with Foxconn for iPhone Display Production

Sharp and Foxconn will be working together on a factory that will produce displays for Apple’s popular iPhone. The news follows reports that the two companies had struck a deal to work together on LCD panel technology.

By · Add a Comment
Forrester: Maybe Apple’s TV Isn’t a TV

Rumors that Apple is planning to release its own television have been circulating for months, and now Forrester Research is saying that Apple’s best move into the television market may be to make a TV that isn’t a TV at all.

By · 9 Comments
Reader Discussion: Apple’s Secret Projects

Sir Jonathan Ive told media this week that Apple’s current secret projects account for the most important work the company has done so far. Today TMO readers are talking about what the Mac and iPhone maker may be working on, and what impact it could have on the tech world.

Forum Discussion

North Carolina Approves Apple Fuel Cell Station

The North Carolina Utility Commission approved Apple’s request to build a 4.8 megawatt fuel cell facility on Wednesday as part of its data center in Maiden. Once completed, the power plant will be the single largest privately held fuel cell center in the United States.

By · 2 Comments
Apple Airs Two Siri Ads with John Malkovich

Apple aired two new iPhone 4S commercials Wednesday evening that show off the smartphone’s Siri voice control feature. Both ads include actor John Malkovich interacting with Siri, much like other recent iPhone commercials with celebrities.

By · 5 Comments

Wednesday May 23rd, 2012

Sir Jon IveJonathan Ive Calls Apple’s Current Project the “Most Important”

Sir Jonathan Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design, said on Wednesday that the product his company is working on developing now is the “most important” product yet, and the one he’d like to be remembered for. While he didn’t name that product, by definition, it means that he thinks it’s more important than the original iMac, the iPod, the iPhone, or even the iPad.

Sir Jon Ive
By · 7 Comments
Apple & PublishingApple Accuses DOJ of Siding with Amazon Ebook Monopoly

Apple is accusing the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust suit against it and five of the so-called “Big 6” U.S. publishers is “fundamentally flawed as a matter of fact and law.” In court documents, Apple argued that the DOJ has sided with Amazon’s Ebook monopoly, rather than competition.

Apple & Publishing
By · 3 Comments
Pitch PerfectPitch Perfect for Developers is a Perfect Pitch

Many smaller developers without access to a professional public relations agency, don’t always know how to approach a blogger/reviewer.  For that matter, some PR agencies are also somewhat mystified about how bloggers work. This new e-book by Erica Sadun and Steve Sande lays it all out: How to pitch your product to a publication.

Pitch Perfect
By · 1 Comment
How to Fix Corrupted IMAP Attachments in Apple Mail

Mac Geek Gab listener Keith frequently finds his IMAP email attachments corrupted. We show him how to solve his problem using Apple Mail.

By · Add a Comment
Kuel H12Kuel H12 Stylus for iPad: Almost Perfect

In a continuing series of reviews, John Martellaro has been looking at styluses for iOS devices, primarily an iPad. The SPIGEN Kuel H12 stylus, like the previously reviewed Wacom Bamboo, is almost perfect. But not quite.

SPIGEN Kuel H12 Stylus
By · Add a Comment
Microsoft Office for iOSRumor: Microsoft Office to Debut on iOS & Android in November

Microsoft’s venerable Office suite may finally be heading to iOS and Android tablets this November, according to online reports. The software was said to look nearly identical to an alleged leak revealed in February.

Microsoft Office for iOS
By · 2 Comments
IBM Bans SiriIBM Bans Siri & Dropbox Over Security Concerns

Enterprise software and consulting firm IBM has banned the use of Apple’s Siri Personal Assistant feature on employees’ iPhones. Siri, and other apps and services such as Dropbox, pose a security risk to IBM due to their requirement that user data be transmitted to and stored on third party servers. 

IBM Bans Siri
By · 3 Comments
Samsung vs Apple Patent LitigationSamsung Asks Court to Sanction Apple for Withholding Documents

In the latest development in the companies’ ongoing patent infringement litigation, Samsung has asked the US District Court for the Northern District of California to sanction Apple for allegedly withholding thousands of pages of testimony that the iDevice maker was ordered to deliver.

Samsung vs Apple Patent Litigation
By · 2 Comments
Apple, Samsung Patent Negotiations Crumble

Patent lawsuit settlement negotiations earlier this week between Apple and Samsung failed, leaving the two companies on track for a trial next month. The negotiations came at the request of Judge Lucy Koh who is overseeing the infringement lawsuit, and included the CEOs from both companies.

By · 4 Comments

Earlier: Archives...

 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Macsales Add 2nd Hard Drive or SSD to Mac mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro. 1TB of Hard Drive or SSD Capacity from $64.99! Video Guides Make it easy - OWC DataDoubler - Macsales.com
  • Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!
  • Macpokeronline.com If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out PokerOnAMac.com. Online casinos and poker rooms are literally giving away cash and the casino sites at Poker on a Mac do the unthinkable, they actually reward! Join today, the download is free!
  •  Looking to find online casinos for mac? We can help you find the best real money casino sites where you can play your favorite casino games including blackjack and slots.

Apple Stock Quote (AAPL)

Loading...

Hot Topics

TMO Express

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday. Find out more!

Top Deals From DealBrothers.com

Recent Features

Support The Mac Observer

We noticed you may be running AdBlock on your computer. It takes real money to run this site and to deliver the news, tips, and opinions you love to read.

If you wish to block the ads that pay for the creation of our content, we ask that you instead support TMO Directly, either with a $5 monthly recurring contribution, or a one-time donation of any amount of your choice. Thanks!

Subscribe with Paypal Donate with Paypal