The Mac Observer

Display News Briefs: Today, Thursday November 5th, 2009

iPhone 3GSIDC: Q3 2009 Smartphone Market Grew, iPhone Up, Android Reaching Critical Mass

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.

1 Comment
Spore IslandsEA’s Spore Franchise Expands to Facebook

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.

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BlackBerry StormResearch In Motion to Repurchase Shares Following Stock Selloff

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.

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Secrets of the Mysterious IslandJules Verne’s Secrets of the Mysterious Island, Other Titles Hit App Store

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

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Download Windows 7 Apple Search AdApple Ads Target People Looking for Windows 7 Download Help

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.

1 Comment
BBEditBBEdit’s Command Line Functions

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.

1 Comment
Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop:  $1410.00MacBook Pro

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.

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Psystar v ApplePsystar to Court: Just Say We’re Legit

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.

17 Comments
Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhoneKensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone

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.

1 Comment
10:36 AM
Online Protection for Kids

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.

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iPhoneCNET Dubs iPhone the Worst Phone in the World

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.

12 Comments
Steve Jobs: CEO of the DecadeFortune CEO of the Decade: Steve Jobs

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.

9 Comments
MagiCam Adds Special Effects to iPhone Photos

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.

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V Phone Adds VoIP, SMS over IP to iPhone

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.

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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

MicroWar 2Arcade Game MicroWar 2 Pits Mac Versus PCs

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.

2 Comments
BBEditBBEdit 9.3 Gets Updates To Projects, FTP Browsing, More

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.

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Valerie Porter and the Scarlet ScandalPlayFirst Debuts New Hidden Object Game, Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal

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.

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Carnival Games LiveNew iPhone Games: Three From Digital Chocolate, One From Legacy Interactive

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.

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Seasons Greetings Vol. 2Equinux Announces Seasons Greetings Vol. 2 for Mail Stationery

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.

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03:20 PM
Magic MouseApple Magic Mouse is no Magic Bullet

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.

16 Comments
MicrosoftMicrosoft Lays Off 800 More Workers

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.

5 Comments
Western Digital Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive: $99.99Western Digital Elements WDE1UBK10000N 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive

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.

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Apple Magic MouseEnabling Two Button Mode on Apple Magic Mouse

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.

2 Comments
Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac: The Missing ManualO’Reilly Intros Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac: The Missing Manual

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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iTunes Store Music MoviesiTunes Store Highlights Music Related Movies

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.

1 Comment
MacTuneUp 3.6MacTuneUp 3.6 Adds Snow Leopard Support

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.

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10:10 AM
Reader Reactions: The Flash-free iPhone

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.

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Beatles USB Album CollectionBeatles Library Goes Digital without iTunes Store

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.

8 Comments
App Store tops 100KApple Tops 100,000 Titles at App Store

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.

5 Comments
08:32 AM
DiscLabel 6.1DiscLabel 6.1 Gets Flickr Support

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.

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X-typeSigFx Energy iPhone Case Contains Smart Battery

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.

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08:00 AM
Computing with Bifocals: A Kinder, Gentler Snow Leopard
A Kinder, Gentler Snow Leopard

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.

11 Comments
Parallels Desktop 5 for the MacParallels Desktop 5 Boosts Performance, More

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.

5 Comments
 

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Pew Pew!Lose/Lose Mac “Game” Deletes Your Files with Every Ship Destroyed

Symantec is alerting Mac users to new Mac game called Lose/Lose that deletes files in the user's home directory every time the player shoots an alien ship. Destroy a ship, lose a file. What's more, the game's creator tells users exactly what will happen when they play, making the game something less than a trojan horse, but much worse than the art project he labels it.

9 Comments
RetrevoStudy Shows More iPhone Owners Find Gadgets Sexier than College Degree

Consumer electronics buying advice site Retrevo has released the results of a study the company commissioned that found that iPhone owners find "cool gadgets"  make a person three times  more attractive than a college degree. The data is part of the larger study, which looked to find differences between iPhone and BlackBerry owners.

5 Comments
Verizon Map ComparisonAT&T Sues Verizon Alleging Misleading “There’s A Map For That” Ads

AT&T is suing Verizon, alleging the latter's "There A Map For That" commercial misleads customers into thinking that AT&T doesn't offer coverage across large portions of the U.S. As part of the suit, AT&T is asking for a temporary restraining order against Verizon asking that the ads be pulled.

17 Comments
World Series of Poker Hold ‘Em LegendMore New Games Flood Into the App Store

As the App Store approaches 100,000 available apps, Tuesday saw a flood of new releases that will help get Apple closer to that milestone, including Glu Mobile’s Taxi Fight! ($0.99) and World Series of Poker Hold ‘Em Legend ($6.99), Orb Games’ Kamikaze Race (US$0.99), Manayunk Productions’ Speed Bag: Urban Gym ($0.99), ngmoco's Eliminate (free), Classic Media’s Casper’s Scare School ($4.99), VFSoftware’s Beat the Swine ’09 ($0.99), and Plum Amazing Software’s Galactic Pool (free through Nov. 6).

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MobBaseMixMatchMusic Launches MobBase: Individual iPhone Apps for Bands

MixMatchMusic announced Tuesday the launch of MobBase, an iPhone app platform that allows bands to easily have their own branded iPhone app. MobBase allows bands to completely customize their own iPhone app through a browser-based content management system (CMS) - the resulting iPhone app is then submitted to Apple by MobBase, which handles the entire approval process for the bands.

3 Comments
64-bitsMaking 64-bit Booting on a Mac Permanent

For those Macs that can boot into the 64-bit kernel, there are several ways to force that to happen.  Here are some pointers, and a gotcha, on how to make it permanent.

 

11 Comments
John MartellaroApple and Verizon will Kiss and Make Up

I don't really believe that Apple and Verizon have severed ties for good.  There's too much money at stake on both sides.  The current activities are just a pillow fight.  Maybe plate throwing.

10 Comments
01:08 PM
Ted Landau's User Friendly Blog: The Multiple Personalities of TweetMyMac
The Multiple Personalities of TweetMyMac

Imagine sending a Twitter message from wherever you happen to be, containing a command such as "open Safari," and having the requested command carried out on your Mac back home. That's the way TweetMyMac works. After playing with TweetMyMac over the past few weeks, I find myself vacillating among three different reactions: "Wow, this is truly amazing," "Technologically impressive but, really, who needs it?" and "Gak, the implications are a bit scary."

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01:04 PM
Apple Magic Mouse:  $69.00 DeliveredMagic Mouse

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the Magic Mouse for $69. That's the retail price, but in this case it includes free delivery.

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iMedia BrowseriMedia Browser 1.2.1 Adds Snow Leopard Support

Karelia Software announced the immediate availability of iMedia Browser 1.2.1 on Tuesday. The update for the media browser application added Mac OS X 10.6, or Snow Leopard, compatibility.

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Mercury ProOWC Unveils FireWire 800/USB/eSATA 12X Blu-ray Drive

Other World Computing announced the immediate availability of its new 12X Quad Interface Mercury Pro Blu-ray drive on Tuesday. The new Mercury Pro external Blu-ray drive includes FireWire 800 and 400, USB and eSATA interfaces.

6 Comments
4G iPhone partsCompany Claims to Have 4th Generation iPhone Parts

Even though Apple's iPhone 3GS was released only a few months ago one company in China is already claiming to have parts in stock for its successor. China Ontrade is offering what it claims is the fourth generation iPhone midboard and SIM card tray for sale on its Web site.

9 Comments
10:03 AM
What’s Missing from Apple TV?

Today TMO readers are talking about the features they think are missing from Apple TV.

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Flash? Not on the iPhoneAdobe: Flash-free iPhone is All Apple’s Fault

Adobe Flash isn't supported on the iPhone and now it seems the company wants to make sure everyone knows it's all Apple's fault. iPhone users have begun reporting that they're seeing a new message from Adobe when they visit Web sites with Flash-based content, and that message tells them to look to Apple for answers.

12 Comments
China Unicom iPhone SalesChina Unicom: 5,000 iPhones Sold So Far

Apple's iPhone may not be selling as fast in China as it has in other countries, but China Unicom did manage to push some 5,000 units out the door during its first week of availability. Currently, China Unicom is up against grey market iPhone sales that in some cases cost less than legit iPhones.

5 Comments
Data AbstractRemObjects Intros Data Abstract for Mac OS X

RemObjects Software announced the immediate availability of Data Abstract for Mac OS X on Tuesday. Data Abstract is a developer framework for handling in-app databases.

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Monday, November 2nd, 2009

MGG 225: Mail Fixes, Open With, Batteries, Renaming and Mac Tips

The mailbags were full this week, folks, and John and Dave do their best to tackle everything that came in. Voicemail, email, and Twitter messages lead your favorite geeks through fixing Mail.app sounds, opening files with different apps, sleep and battery advice, what locum is, and more Mac and iPhone Tips than you can shake a stick at! Subscribe today, it's free!

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08:57 PM
ACM 157: Microsoft Stores, iTunes vs. Palm Pre, & iTablet

In this week's episode of The Apple Context Machine, Jeff and Bryan discuss Microsoft's retail store opening in Scottsdale, AZ, the turf war between Apple and Palm Pre over third-party iTunes support, and the iTablet as an Ebook reader.

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Apple 10K Shows 70% Capital Expenditures Increase for 2010

Apple is planning on a 70% increase in its capital expenditures spending (CapEx) for 2010, according to the company's 10-K filing. Caris & Company analyst Robert Cihra told clients in a research note obtained by The Mac Observer that this could suggest that Apple is working on, "strategic new infrastructure."

3 Comments
Apple TVApple Reportedly Shops iTunes as TV Service

Apple has been shopping iTunes as a TV service to network executives, according to a report from AllThingsD.com. Writing for the MediaMemo blog within AllThingsD, Peter Kafka said Apple is looking for networks to sign on to provide content to a monthly subscription service through iTunes that would effectively put the company in competition with cable and satellite TV companies.

8 Comments
Refurbished Apple Time Capsule 500GB Wireless Hard Drive:  $158.99Apple Time Capsule 500GB Wireless Hard Drive

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the Apple Time Capsule 500GB Wireless Hard Drive for $158.99. This is a refurbished unit, and shipping is free.

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iStock TickerZacks Upgrades AAPL to “Outperform” on Mac & iPhone Success

Zacks Investment Research upgraded Apple's stock to "Outperform" from "Neutral" on Monday, based on the company's "earnings momentum and accelerated revenue growth." The investment firm largely attributed both factors in Apple's performance in part to the growing Mac platform and in particular to the success of the iPhone.

1 Comment
01:43 PM
iObserver Quick TipiTunes 9.0.2: Return of the Dark Grid

The album grid view in iTunes is a popular way for many people to browse their music library, but the white background that iTunes 9 introduced hasn't been going over so well. Apple listened, and iTunes 9.0.2 added an option to reenable the dark grey grid background.

2 Comments
Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself)Adult Swim’s Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself), Other Games Hit App Store

Monday saw the release of three more games to the App Store: Adult Swim’s Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself), Hydrix’s puzzle game Roto, and Highlights Hidden Pictures.

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Command & Conquer Red AlertEA Releases Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPhone

EA Mobile on Monday brought the venerable Command & Conquer series of strategy games to the App Store with Command & Conquer Red Alert. Set in an alternate timeline in which World War II never happened, the Command & Conquer series pits the Soviets against the Allies during the 1950s, when the Cold War spills over into worldwide conflict.

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Snow Leopard update kills Atom supportRumor: Mac OS X 10.6.2 Breaks Atom Netbook Hacks

The latest pre-release builds of Mac OS X 10.6.2 apparently break support for Intel's Atom processor, essentially killing the ability to run Snow Leopard on "hackintosh" PC netbook computers.

9 Comments
10:45 AM
When Does Apple TV Stop Being a Hobby?

Today TMO readers are talking about the Apple TV 3.0 update and the new features it brings to the home entertainment box, but are wondering what it will take to move the product beyond Apple's "hobby."

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No iPhone for VerizonAnalyst: No iPhone for Verizon

Despite Verizon's interest carrying the iPhone, don't expect Apple to strike a deal with the cell carrier any time soon. Motorola's Droid smartphone and Verizon's anti-iPhone commercials are two indicators that an iPhone deal isn't on the way, according to the Gerson Lehrman Group.

18 Comments
Want to Stream Your Content?  Check Out Darwin Streaming Server!

John F. Braun check out Darwin Streaming Server, an Open Source version of the same media streaming technology used in Mac OS X Server.

1 Comment
Google staying out of phone hardwareGoogle: No Android Phones from Us

Andy Rubin, Google's head of Android development, insists the company isn't planning to build its own smartphones despite rumors to the contrary. His comment comes in response to new rumors that Google is getting ready to make its own Android-based handsets, according to CNET News.

2 Comments
Rowmote Pro 2.2 Adds Movst, PandoraBoy Support

Regular Rate and Rhythm Software announced the immediate availability of Rowmote Pro 2.2 on Monday. The update for the iPhone and iPod touch remote control app added the ability to control Movst, PandoraBoy and OpenOffice Impress on the Mac.

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Friday, October 30th, 2009

MicrosoftWith Help from Free Concert Tickets, 2nd Microsoft Store Opening Gets 1,000 People

Microsoft opened up its second Microsoft Store retail location in Mission Viejo, CA Thursday. With the help of a free concert ticket giveaway for Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, the company saw a line of some one thousand people waiting for the doors to open, according to The OCRegister.

13 Comments
Vern Seward - Free on iTunesThe Weather Channel, TED, Dr. Tran, & more

In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward takes a second look at some freebies; The Weather Channel app, T.E.D. app and the Dr. Tran podcast.

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iPhone 3GsReport: Apple Increases iPhone Orders for Holiday Quarter

Apple has increased iPhone production for the holiday quarter, according to a report from the print edition of Taiwan-based newspaper DigiTimes (via ITProPortal). The trade paper said that orders from component supplier Primax and manufacturer Foxconn Electronics have been increased between 17 and 20 per cent in expectation of increased holiday business for the device.

4 Comments
John MartellaroParticle Debris (week ending 10/30) Eyes Wide Open (and Shut)

In this week's hoard of technical news debris, John looks at a video of Steve Ballmer pimping Windows 1.0, the best Apple tablet concepts, the U.S. DOD pushing Open Source, details of Nokia's lawsuit against Apple, and Apple's clever meeting with RBC analyst Mike Abramsky.

14 Comments
Writer's Block BusterWriter’s Block Buster is Merely a Cherry Bomb

The Writer's Block Buster app for iPhone (and iPod touch) is designed to get those creative juices flowing for a writer who may be experiencing writer's block -- inability to come up with an inspirational idea that carries the script. It has some interesting elements, but, given the limitations of an iPhone app, it can't do the complete job.

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Jabra BT5020 Bluetooth Headset:  $19.99 DeliveredJabra BT5020 Bluetooth Headset

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the Jabra BT5020 Bluetooth Headset for $19.99 with free shipping.

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Spooky RunesAnawiki Games Releases Spooky Runes Puzzle Game for Halloween

Anawiki Games on Friday released Spooky Runes, a Halloween-themed version of the publisher’s Runes of Avalon action puzzle games. Players gather runes and match them to eliminate them from the game board. Four spells and six power-ups help them along the way.

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Garters & GhoulsGarters & Ghouls: Giving ‘Em Hell in High Heels at the App Store

Namco on Friday announced the release of Garters & Ghouls (US$4.99), a new App Store game in which players control the not-too-dead Marie Dupois as she makes her way through 25 levels full of undead adversaries. Other new App Store games include Big Buck Hunter Pro ($2.99), Hamster Hunt ($0.99), and Halloween Mayhem ($0.99).

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Analyst: Apple Tablet Isn’t for Books

Apple may be working on a tablet computer device, but it won't be targeted at ebook reading. Based on hints from Apple executives, RBC analyst Mike Abramsky thinks Apple is focusing on movies and video instead.

7 Comments
ICANN Approves Non-Latin Character Domain Names

ICANN approved a change to the URL domain name scheme on Friday that allows for the use of non-Latin characters. The change goes into effect on November 16, and domain names using characters from other alphabets are expected to be online shortly after.

7 Comments
LifeFocus 1.2LifeFocus 1.2 Adds Repeating Task Support

LifeFocus Apps announced the immediate availability of LifeFocus 1.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch on Friday. The update for the task management app added support for repeating tasks.

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10:41 AM
Reader Reactions: China iPhone Sales

The iPhone finally went on sale in China, but the lines weren't as long as they typically are in the U.S. Today TMO readers are talking about the impact China's iPhone sales will have on the smartphone market.

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China Unicom iPhone LaunchHigh iPhone Prices? Not a Problem in China

Apple's iPhone has been available on the grey market in China for some time, but that didn't stop shoppers from lining up to be among the first to buy the combination iPod and smartphone from China Unicom despite higher prices.

3 Comments
Playing iTunes LP, iTunes Extras Content on Apple TV

The release of the Apple TV 3.0 update added the ability to play iTunes LP and iTunes Extras content on your Apple TV. Any LP and Extras content you've already downloaded, however, isn't compatible with your Apple TV, but updates are on the way.

1 Comment
Apple “Think Different” Ad Creator Stepping Down

TBWA/Media Arts Lab Chief Creative Officer Lee Clow is handing over the keys and stepping down from his creative lead position handling Apple's ad campaign.

6 Comments
RemoteRemote 1.3.2 for iPhone Adds Apple TV 3.0 Support

Apple released Remote 1.3.2 on Thursday for the iPhone and iPod touch. The update for the iTunes and Apple TV remote control application added support for Apple TV 3.0.

1 Comment
ComicsComics for the iPhone Adds Marvel Titles

Comixology's Comics for the iPhone and iPod touch expanded its list of available comic book titles on Thursday with the addition of Marvel to its lineup. Comics users can now buy and download issues from X-Men, Captain America, and more.

3 Comments
 

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

GameSaladGameSalad Now Offers iPhone Game Publishing

Gendai Games on Thursday announced that its GameSalad, its iPhone game development software, now offers the ability to publish titles on the App Store under two levels of membership: the casual-oriented Express, for US$99 a year, and Pro, for $1,999 annually

1 Comment
App StoreApple Approves 102K Apps, 94K Available

Apple has approved some 102,700 iPhone apps for the App Store, with 93,850 of those apps being available for purchase or download as of October 28th, 2009. The figures come courtesy of AppShopper.com (first noted by PCWorld), which tracks and lists iPhone apps as they become available.

10 Comments
Palm PreiTunes 9.0.2 Disables Palm Pre Sync

iTunes 9.0.2 disables Palm Pre synching yet again, according to a report from pre|central.net. Apple and Palm have been involved in a back and forth tussle for months, with Palm using spoofing techniques to trick iTunes into recognizing the device for syncing, and Apple releasing iTunes updates that break each of Palm's latest efforts.

7 Comments
MacUpdate Desktop 5MacUpdate Rolls Out Redesigned MacUpdate Desktop 5

MacUpdate announced the immediate availability of MacUpdate 5.0 on Thursday. The new version of the application update tracker is completely rewritten and offers beefed up Leopard and Snow Leopard support.

1 Comment
iTunesiTunes Updated to 9.0.2 with Apple TV 3.0 Support, Grid View Background Option

Apple updated iTunes to version 9.0.2 Thursday, up update that, "adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility."

2 Comments
04:44 PM
John MartellaroApple TV 3: Is it us?  Or Them?

Apple continues to post updates to Apple TV that disappoint a segment of the customer base and TV industry experts.  This time around, the update 3.0 merely adds a new top level shell for navigating and some minor enhancements such as iTunes LP and Internet radio stations. The big question is: should we really feel disappointed?

21 Comments
Apple TV 3.0Apple Releases Apple TV 3.0 with iTunes LP, Internet Radio, More

Apple announced Thursday the release of Apple TV 3.0, an update to the software that runs the company's TV settop interface. The new software adds support for iTunes LP, internet radio stations, iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes, and a new interface through which to access iTunes content and local media.

4 Comments
AndroidGoogle Posts Video Demo of Mobile Google Maps Navigation (for Android)

Google has posted a video (below) demonstrating Google Maps Navigation for Android GPS-enabled phones -- notice the lack of "iPhone" in that clause. With this feature, users can use their Android phone for turn-by-turn GPS navigation, including voice-based requests and the ability to receive voice directions.

2 Comments
Apple vs. NokiaApple Intends “Vigorous” Defense Against Nokia Suit

Apple Inc. intends to defend itself vigorously against a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Nokia according to the company's annual 10-K filing for fiscal 2009. Nokia filed suit against Apple in October alleging the iPhone infringed upon some ten separate patents Nokia owns.

5 Comments
8GB iPod Touch - Newest Model:  $189.00iPod touch

The Deal Brothers found a deal on the newest model of the 8GB iPod Touch for $189.00. This is a new unit, and the price includes free delivery.

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01:09 PM
Ted Landau's User Friendly Blog: Setup Secrets for Canon Printers
Setup Secrets for Canon Printers

The Canon MP990 is a great AIO printer-scanner-copier. However, if you have Snow Leopard installed on your Mac or if you want to use the device over a network, you may run into some unexpected trouble. This article provides the solutions, which may apply to other recent Canon printers as well.

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Take Control Offers Free “Take Control of VMware Fusion 3”

Take Control and TidBITS announced the immediate availability of "Take Control of VMware Fusion 3" on Thursday. The 142 page ebook by Joe Kissell is sponsored by VMware and is available for free.

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The Mobile Market Fight: Apple, Google and Microsoft

Apple, Google and Microsoft all have products in the mobile market. Today TMO readers are talking about how the three-way battle might play out.

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Apple TV 3.0 On the WayNew iTunes TOS Hint at Apple TV 3.0

A software update for the Apple TV looks to be just around the corner based on updated iTunes Store terms of service. The changes make reference to Apple TV software version 3.0, which isn't yet available.

3 Comments
Digital Camera Patent suitApple Hit with Camera Patent Lawsuit

St Clair Intellectual Property Consultants is suing Apple over claims that the Mac and iPhone maker is infringing on patents it owns relating to digital still cameras. The company has a history of patent litigation, according to TG Daily, and Apple looks to be just the next target on the list.

7 Comments
Podcast patentApple Files Podcast Support Patent

Apple is looking to patent a system for publishing, subscribing to and managing podcasts. Some of the patent filing components sound like features that are already available in iTunes, but it's a fairly safe bet that Apple has even more in mind.

4 Comments
Apple RetailiPod touch: Apple’s New Retail Scanner

Apple is ramping up its retail stores for the holiday buying season, and one of the biggest changes will be retiring its Windows CE-based handheld sales system for the iPod touch

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Twittelator ProTwittelator Pro Adds Geocode, Spam Blocking

Stone Design announced the immediate availability of Twittelator Pro 3.3.1 on Thursday. The update for the iPhone and iPod touch Twitter client added support for Twitter's upcoming geocoding feature along with the ability to report spam Twitter accounts.

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