TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

What's that menu item mean on my Mac?

Joachim Bean — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST

Ever since you've started using your Mac, you've been looking at those icons towards the top right of your display in your menu bar. These items can direct to many different things, from connecting to a wireless network, to finding items on your Mac. These items not only can be clicked on to show a pop-up menu to perform actions, they can also indicate activity depending on what that icon if for. Here's a summary of some of the most widely-used icons, some menu items you might not have seen before on your Mac, common applications that have uses for menu items, and some extra functions in these items.

Spotlight: The Spotlight menu item provides an easy shortcut to finding files on your Mac. Clicking it will show a search box directly under the menu bar, and will provide a summary of results when searching. This icon will also indicate when your Mac is indexing new search results, like when you plug in a external hard drive, by a pulsing dot inside the magnifying glass.

Bluetooth: This icon (which is a Bluetooth logo) will show the current status of Bluetooth on your Mac. If Bluetooth is turned on, it will simply show the Bluetooth symbol. If it's turned off, the item will appear faded. If the Bluetooth part has been unplugged, it will slow a line and it will also appear faded. If your Mac is connected to a Bluetooth device, it will show three dots along with a faded Bluetooth logo. If your Mac is connected to an Apple Wireless Keyboard or Mouse, there will be a low battery warning displayed on the icon if their batteries are running low.

Continue reading What's that menu item mean on my Mac?

What's that menu item mean on my Mac? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes Connect is still down, was due back today

Joachim Bean — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

It looks like the iTunes Connect team is still on "holiday break"; it was scheduled to end today.

iTunes Connect is used by developers to manage their apps on the iTunes Store and to check sales of their apps. Developers have been without iTunes Connect since last Wednesday. Those who were hoping to submit new versions or pricing changes will have a lot to catch up on once iTC goes live again, and the App Store reviewers will have a big backlog to go through.

Update: iTunes Connect is back up! Developers on Twitter are noting the holiday surge in purchases...

iTunes Connect is still down, was due back today originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard

Joachim Bean — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:30:00 EST

A few days ago, the BTStack keyboard package was released to Cydia. This package, which we posted about recently, allows owners of jailbroken iPhones to use a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPhone 3G or 3GS, or 2nd generation or later iPod touch. The package is available for US$5.00 from Cydia.

Since the iPhone was first introduced, there have been efforts to bring support for external accessories. The iPhone 3.0 external accessory framework allowing accessories that connect to the universal dock connector or use Bluetooth has been closed, and only a few companies have developed accessories using the framework. The BTStack project by Matthias Ringwald offers a more complete and open Bluetooth stack for jailbroken iPhones. The stack has even been used with an iPhone and a Wii Remote over Bluetooth. To use a Bluetooth keyboard for quick and easy data entry into your iPhone, you'll need to jailbreak your iPhone, which can be done with an application like blackra1n.

Read on to find how I set up my iPhone to use the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and how it works with the iPhone.

Continue reading Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard

Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac 101: AllThingsD delivers a video guide for Mac novices

Joachim Bean — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

If one of your loved ones has just switched to the Mac, or just got a Mac for the holidays, they might want some tips on how to get around and do the things they're used to doing in Windows. Katherine Boehret from AllThingsD has just posted a video and some tips showing many useful tips for switchers.

The video shows hints about keyboard shortcuts (such as using the Command key on a Mac instead of the Control key on a PC), and using Command-Option-Escape on a Mac to force-quit an application, much like Control-Alt-Delete does on Windows. There's also tips on using the mouse on a Mac, and using the trackpad to perform gestures to get around your laptop.

Switchers are also going to need help on controlling windows; closing and minimizing controls, of course, are on the top left of windows on a Mac, much like the buttons on the top right of a window on Windows. There's also tips on the differences and how to adjust to similar features and applications on a Mac, like the differences between Windows Explorer and the Finder on the Mac, and what parallels there are between other bundled applications. Finally, there's also tips on which web browser to use, how to eject a disc, and where to go for help.

If you've got a friend or family member who's new to Mac OS X, it's something they should check out to help get used to using the Mac. Of course, right after that, the next step is to read through our library of Mac 101 tips and tricks for novice Mac users.

Mac 101: AllThingsD delivers a video guide for Mac novices originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Court orders Microsoft to stop selling Office 2007 by January 11th

Joachim Bean — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Update: A statement from Microsoft's director of public affairs, Kevin Kutz, clarifies the affected versions. Note that Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac was not cited as an infringing product, so this ruling is not applicable to Mac versions of Office.

We have just learned that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied our appeal in the i4i case. We are moving quickly to comply with the injunction, which takes effect on January 11, 2010.

This injunction applies only to copies of Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Office 2007 sold in the U.S. on or after the injunction date of January 11, 2010. Copies of these products sold before this date are not affected.

With respect to Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Office 2007, we have been preparing for this possibility since the District Court issued its injunction in August 2009 and have put the wheels in motion to remove this little-used feature from these products.

Therefore, we expect to have copies of Microsoft Word 2007 and Office 2007, with this feature removed, available for U.S. sale and distribution by the injunction date. In addition, the beta versions of Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft Office 2010, which are available now for downloading, do not contain the technology covered by the injunction.

While we are moving quickly to address the injunction issue, we are also considering our legal options, which could include a request for a rehearing by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals en banc or a request for a writ of certiorari from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Whoa. ~~A judge for the~~ The U.S. Court of Appeals has just upheld an earlier verdict forbidding Microsoft from selling both Office and Word after January 11th, 2010. This suit, which was filed by i4i, a creator of a XML plugin for Microsoft Office, alleged that Microsoft's Open XML format, which uses the DOCX and XLSX extensions that have been a part of Office ~~on the Mac~~ since Office 2007, violated i4i's patented XML handling algorithms. The court ruled in favor of i4i back in May, and Microsoft today lost their appeal, with the judge telling them that they don't have the right to sell the software as-is.

Microsoft now either has to attempt to appeal the ruling ~~again~~, or settle with i4i (read as: "Ballmer has to write a big honking check"), and is currently considering further legal options. The company is also working to remove these features from Microsoft Office (possibly in time to release new versions of the old software on January 11th), and this ruling doesn't affect the upcoming Office 2010 for Windows. We'll keep you posted if anything further develops.

Court orders Microsoft to stop selling Office 2007 by January 11th originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases firmware update addressing 27" iMac screen issues

Joachim Bean — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:15:00 EST

We hope this will provide holiday relief for many iMac owners: Apple just released a firmware update for the graphics chipsets in 27" iMac models, intended to fix display issues. Apple states this download

Updates the graphics firmware on ATI Radeon HD 4670 and 4850 graphics cards to address issues that may cause image corruption or display flickering.

This update is only needed for the 27" iMac models introduced in October.

This should hopefully fix the issues that many are facing with their new iMacs, including our own Josh Carr, who's had display issues with his 27" iMac. We'll let you know if this update fixes these issues for him.

This update is available through Software Update, or from Apple's Support Downloads page.

Apple releases firmware update addressing 27" iMac screen issues originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar shuts down

Joachim Bean — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

After Apple's sweeping permanent injunction, Psystar has officially ceased operations. The company's CEO Rudy Pedraza told the Dow Jones Newswire last night that he is "shutting things down immediately." The company has also released its eight employees, and shuttered its website last night.

The actions came after Apple's permanent injunction against Psystar earlier this week, which gave Psystar until December 31st to stop selling its Mac clones. The clones violated Apple's End User License Agreement for Mac OS X, which expressly forbids use of the operating system on non-Apple hardware.

This also marks the end of Psystar's Rebel EFI software, which had been Psystar's only viable product since early December. Many Psystar watchers doubted if Psystar would continue to sell it.

Psystar first started selling its computers in April 2008, and Apple filed a lawsuit soon after in July 2008. The company was granted a motion against Psystar to stop selling its computers, preinstalled with Mac OS X, by Judge William Alsup in November. Psystar paid Apple a $2.7 million settlement earlier this month, which included $1,337,500 in copyright infringement damages.

[AppleInsider]

Update: The Psystar website appears to be back online at the moment, but isn't currently selling any Mac clones or any licenses to Rebel EFI, but Rebel EFI is listed as "Out of Stock."

Psystar shuts down originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple post server-related updates for Xsan and Mail Services

Joachim Bean — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Apple yesterday posted a few new server-related updates for Xsan and Mac OS X Server.

The first, Xsan 2.2.1, improves file system reliability and cvfsck repair utility. This update is available for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. There's also an updated version of the Xsan uninstaller.

Next, Mail Services Update 1.0 addresses issues affecting overall mail service reliability and performance. This update is available and recommend for all users on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

These updates are available in Software Update, or from Apple's Support Downloads page.

Apple post server-related updates for Xsan and Mail Services originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital RAW Compatibility Update 2.7 available in Software Update

Joachim Bean — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:10:00 EST

Apple today released a new digital RAW compatibility update for some Canon and Nikon cameras that shoot photos in RAW format.

This update extends RAW image compatibility for Aperture 2, iPhoto '08 and iPhoto '09 for the following cameras:

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS 7D
Canon PowerShot G11
Nikon D3S
Nikon D300S
Nikon D3000

If you have one of these cameras, you should check out this update to work with your photos shot in RAW format with any of these applications. As always, this update is available through Software Update, but it doesn't seem to be posted anywhere on apple.com yet.

Digital RAW Compatibility Update 2.7 available in Software Update originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple requiring the HTTP live stream protocol for iPhone apps

Joachim Bean — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Amidst all of Apple's recent app non-rejections and changes to allow APIs that were private, it was announced earlier this week that the company is now requiring developers of apps that implement live streaming video to use the HTTP Live Stream protocol.

The HTTP Live Stream protocol uses web standards to implement video, and also allows for use of iPhone-friendly formats like H.264 encoded streams for QuickTime (supported on the iPhone since iPhone OS 3.0).

This change also requires developers to create a minimum stream of video no larger than 64kbps, for use with slower connections.

It's still not known if this will have any impact on AT&T's position on streaming video over a 3G connection, but developers are still trying to find ways to work around Apple's restrictions. One example is the EyeTV update that was released earlier today, which works via Mobile Safari to stream video over a 3G connection.

Apple requiring the HTTP live stream protocol for iPhone apps originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Developers now can use private API for screen capture on iPhone, says Apple

Joachim Bean — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

As Apple seems to be lightening up and accepting more applications using private APIs (including Ustream and others that stream video from the iPhone 3G), word comes that the review team is now officially allowing the UIGetScreenImage() function to be used in applications distributed in the App Store.

An Apple forum moderator stated in the developer forums:

"After carefully considering the issue, Apple is now allowing applications to use the function UIGetScreenImage() to programmatically capture the current screen contents." The function prototype is as follows:

CGImageRef UIGetScreenImage();

Apple also states "that a future release of iPhone OS may provide a public API equivalent of this functionality." It's also noted that "At such time, all applications using UIGetScreenImage() will be required to adopt the public API."

This function, which is a part of the Core Graphics framework, allows an application access to what's being currently being displayed on the screen. It's useful for things like capturing a screen shot, as our own Erica Sadun's BETAkit does to allow developers to send screen shots to a developer. It also allows streaming video from the iPhone camera, as an application like this captures what's being displayed on the screen from the camera, and records it or sends it somewhere.

What other features devs are hoping to see opened up? There's things like general calendar access, Core Surface, and XMPP and app-settable timers that developers would like to take advantage of in their SDK apps.

I hope this is a sign of what's to come for the iPhone SDK, and that we'll see more things like this opened up soon for App Store distribution.

[via the Apple Developer Forums, dev membership required]

Developers now can use private API for screen capture on iPhone, says Apple originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple is delaying shipments of 27 inch iMacs

Joachim Bean — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:30:00 EST

Uh oh! It looks like there's shipping delays and availability issues with 27 inch iMacs. It's reported that these delays could be due to graphics issues with the GPU. Several Apple resellers are citing shipping delays when trying to order the models.

Apple made a brief statement to CNET tonight acknowledging the delays, but iMacs are showing a two week shipping delay on Apple's online store, which might mean you won't be able to purchase one in time for the holidays.

Graphics issues are nothing new to these iMac models. Some 27 inch iMacs also had issues earlier with graphic performance and Flash, which was fixed in the 10.6.2 update. The 27 inch iMac has also had a number of other reported problems before, from machines that have had broken screens, to iMacs arriving that simply don't work.

Apple is delaying shipments of 27 inch iMacs originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple countersues Nokia for patent infringement

Joachim Bean — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST

Apple today filed a countersuit against Nokia for patent infringement as a response to the lawsuit Nokia filed against Apple back in October. The countersuit is over the 13 patents that cover many different communication technologies that are used in the iPhone, which Nokia clams to hold the patents. These patents cover the GSM, UTMS 3G, and Wireless-LAN standards used in the iPhone since early 2007.

Bruce Sewell, General Counsel and senior vice president for Apple stated: "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours."

We'll post any more details on these lawsuits as this develops, so stay posted.

Update #1: Engadget's Nilay Patel has, of course, pointed out some interesting things. Notably: while this is about patent infringement, the majority of claims are around some insane licensing terms Nokia felt it was entitled to. Read his post for the breakdown and a PDF of the paperwork.

Apple countersues Nokia for patent infringement originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patents recap, universal docks, iPod motion controls and more

Joachim Bean — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST

Over the past few days, several patent applications by Apple have been unearthed -- here's a recap.

Universal Dock
Apple flied a patent for a more "universal" dock for iPods and iPhones. This dock would be made of an elastic, sponge-like material, and would conform to any shape, instead of having to find a dock adapter. Silly putty? Spage-age memory foam? We're not sure what the magical morphing material would be, but not having to deal with bunches of little adapters for each iPod would be terrific.

Tamper-resistant indicators
Apple also filed a patent for a "sticker" which would show evidence of tampering. If you would open the casing of an Apple product, the casing could be attached to a sticker, which would also be attached to a part inside the casing, and would indicate if the casing had been opened. This would be similar to the liquid sensors that Apple has been putting in iPhone and recent iPod models. It also sounds similar to the same sorts of stickers you see warning you that you'll violate your warranty if you break the seal. This warning is seen frequently on hard drives, but would Apple use this to preclude 3rd-party battery replacements? We hope not.

iPod motion controls
Apple also filed a patent for controlling an iPod with motion. It would use an accelerometer, which is currently found in the iPod nano, iPod touch and iPhone. There's the "Shake to Shuffle" that's been a part of 4th and 5th generation iPod nano models, and the iPhone and iPod touch since iPhone OS 3.0, which allows to skip to a random song by shaking the device. Further motion-based controls may allow you to scroll by tilting, or move to the next song by "flicking" the device in your hand. Either way, you'll want to turn it off before you go dancing in an iPod ad.

As with all patent applications, it doesn't mean that these features could be released, it just gives a general idea on what Apple has been focusing on.

[Engadget and AppleInsider]

Apple patents recap, universal docks, iPod motion controls and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple introduces iPhone developer RSS news feed, takes time off from iTunes Connect

Joachim Bean — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Late yesterday, Apple introduced a RSS feed for news from the App Store Resource Center, which was introduced a few months ago, and gives iPhone developers news about what's going on with the App Store for developers. Apple promises to deliver current turnaround time for app reviews (kind of a hot topic), program updates, development and testing techniques, and much more. Add it to your reader of choice.

In related news, iTunes Connect will be unavailable from December 23rd to December 28th. You'll remember that Apple did the same thing last year. You'll won't be able to access anything in iTunes Connect in that time, which includes, sales reports, app submission, generating promo codes and more. Hey, even geeks need a holiday break, right? Make sure your pertinent business is concluded before then and enjoy the break!

Apple introduces iPhone developer RSS news feed, takes time off from iTunes Connect originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases updates for AirPort software, MacBook and MacBook Pro EFI

Joachim Bean — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

Apple today released several updates today including AirPort client software, and EFI firmware revisions for some MacBook and MacBook Pro models.

First, the AirPort Client Update 2009-002 update fixes the following issues:

An Inability to turn AirPort on or off in some cases after upgrading from Mac OS X Leopard.
An occasional loss of network connection when using Wake on Demand.
An Inability to create a computer-to-computer network, or share the Internet connection on some MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini computers.

Next, the MacBook and MacBook Pro EFI updates allow the installation of SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0, reducing the noise of the optical disc drive when waking from sleep and startup. The SuperDrive firmware installation is a 2nd step; you need to do the EFI update, then check again for software updates. This update is available for the Late 2008 aluminum MacBook model and the Early 2009 and Mid 2009 white MacBook models, and for Late 2008 15 inch MacBook Pro models and Early 2009 17 inch MacBook Pro models. (The KB article for the MacBook EFI update may need a little editing, as it refers to a suggestion from a mysterious 'Glenno.')

These updates are available through Software Update, or they're available from Apple's support page.

Apple releases updates for AirPort software, MacBook and MacBook Pro EFI originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Holiday Gift Guide: Displays

Joachim Bean — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

A display, whether it's a primary, extra display for a portable, or a desktop secondary, is something that's very useful, and makes a great gift. Here's a few gift ideas for displays to use with your Mac.

Dell ST2210

This display offers a 1920x1080 resolution, a 21.5 inch viewing area, and is available for only $189. It has a DVI and VGA port, which means that you might need an adapter to connect it. There's also a 24 inch model of this display, the Dell ST2410, if you're looking for something a little bit bigger.

Samsung XL2370

If you're wanting another option, there's the Samsung XL2370. It's LED backlit, like the Apple LED Cinema Display, and can be purchased for around $399. It has a display resolution of 1920x1080, and it features a DVI and HDMI port, so you'll need an adapter to hook it up to a Mac with a Mini-DVI or Mini DisplayPort.

Apple LED Cinema Display

The Apple LED Cinema Display offers unique features that make it easy to connect to a Mac, like the MagSafe connector that charges a MacBook. The display is measured at 24 inches, and can display a 1900x1200 resolution. It also features a built-in iSight camera, a mic, speakers, and a three-port USB hub. You can purchase it for $899, though refurbished models have shown up for $599 from Apple.

27 inch iMac

The 27-inch iMac, can be used in Target Display Mode as a monitor for another Mac with a Mini DisplayPort. It offers a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, and it's LED backlit. You'll just need a cable to do so, and you can purchase a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable from Apple or Monoprice. Of course, the iMac is a computer, so we aren't suggesting using it primarily as an external display.

Do you have any suggestions for displays? Leave a comment and let us know!

TUAW Holiday Gift Guide: Displays originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lala bought by Apple, streaming iTunes Store around the bend?

Joachim Bean — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST

Earlier today, Greg Sandoval at CNET reported that Apple was in talks to buy out music-streaming service Lala; his piece suggested that these talks were in advanced stages, and a deal could happen at any time -- Apple just needed to sign on the dotted line.

As of this evening, Sandoval's rumor is looking a lot more like a done deal. The Wall Street Journal and the NY Times are both confirming that Apple has pulled the trigger and spent a minuscule fraction of those billions in cash on Lala. No numbers were announced, but the WSJ notes that an investment of $20 million in Lala from Warner Music Group was written down by more than 50% earlier this year.

Why Lala for Apple? The AP noted that Lala co-founder Bill Nguyen demoed an iPhone app in October that allowed 'intelligently cached' songs to be streamed to your iPhone, with the recently-streamed songs replayable even outside of cell coverage areas; Wired suggests that Lala's bundle-payment setup, where users buy stream credits, could save Apple's iTunes Store millions in credit card fulfillment charges. The deal is expected to put Nguyen and the Lala engineers on Apple's payroll, although the Times notes that Lala's agreements with the labels to stream music are non-transferable.

Lala's model for music streaming is an interesting one; the service scans your hard drive for songs you already own and lets you stream them at will, taking the concept Apple's also providing with Home Share to the Web (other services also let you share media between iTunes instances). You can also choose to stream songs you don't already own for $0.10 a piece, and 'upgrade' to a downloadable version at will.

Lala also recently made an agreement with Google to offer music previews in Google searches, greatly expanding Lala's reach. It's not clear whether Apple's purchase will have any affect on that arrangement

Is this a streaming service you would like to see come to iTunes? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Lala bought by Apple, streaming iTunes Store around the bend? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Java for Snow Leopard and Leopard

Joachim Bean — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:30:00 EST

Apple just released a Java update today, bring improvements to Java in Mac OS X. Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 1 for Snow Leopard updates Java SE 6, while Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 6 updates J2SE 5.0 and Java SE 6. Both of these updates improve reliability, security, and compatibility for Java.

The Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 6 update also disables J2SE 1.4.2, as it's no longer being updated to fix issues.

These updates can be downloaded with Software Update, or from the Apple Support Downloads page.

Apple updates Java for Snow Leopard and Leopard originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes Connect gets a face-lift

Joachim Bean — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

Apple quietly tweaked the interface of iTunes Connect for App Store developers today, changing the way applications are listed. It changed from the list format that was previously used, and now shows a group of five app icons in a row, which gives a more complete look at your apps. Below the icon, it now shows the name of the application and a colored indicator showing the application status.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

iTunes Connect gets a face-lift originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple looking to sell iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system to others?

Joachim Bean — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

Apple has recently moved away from the old Windows Mobile-based EasyPay point-of-sale systems formerly used at the Apple Stores to a new iPod touch-based system. Now, Apple may be looking to sell the new system to other retailers. ifoAppleStore is reporting that Apple has received many inquires from people interested in purchasing this new system for their own use.

The system consists of an iPod touch outfitted with an accessory case that has a built-in barcode scanner, magnetic card reader, and battery. The device also uses a Pogo stylus for capturing customer signatures. The iPod touch runs a custom application that handles all the aspects of the sale.

Sales of the system outside of Apple retail outlets still remains only a possibility, but Apple is reported to be compiling a list of customers who might be interested in purchasing it. If demand grows, this Apple-developed tool could be sold to many other retailers.

Apple looking to sell iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system to others? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple planning to add iTunes LP creation to iDVD?

Joachim Bean — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST

With the recent introduction of documentation to create iTunes LP and iTunes Extras and the ability to submit the the iTunes Store, Apple might be thinking about bringing development of iTunes LP a bit further. Boy Genius Report is reporting they've heard that Apple might be wanting to bring iTunes LP creation to the next version of iDVD, which is part of iLife.

This could further broaden the creation of iTunes LP for independent artists, as they could be created right along with other things in iLife. iDVD hasn't received a major update in a few years, so it could be likely iDVD will receive some sort of update.

Apple planning to add iTunes LP creation to iDVD? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First look: Echofon for Mac beta version

Joachim Bean — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Echofon (formerly TwitterFon) has been a favorite for many iPhone users for tweeting on the go. naan studio, the developers behind Echofon for iPhone and Firefox, have brought Echofon to the Mac with a newly-launched beta version.

Like Tweetie (which launched for iPhone and was later released for Mac) and other Twitter apps for Mac like Twitterrific and TweetDeck that started on the desktop, Echofon intends to provide tight integration with Twitter. Echofon is also aiming at integrating their new Mac offering with Echofon for iPhone.

Read on to see what Echofon for Mac offers...

Gallery: Echofon for Mac beta

Continue reading First look: Echofon for Mac beta version

First look: Echofon for Mac beta version originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's one-day sale hits the US store

Joachim Bean — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:15:00 EST

After seeing that yellow sticky for just a little while, Apple has posted the Black Friday specials in the US store. The products on sale include:

iMacs (21.5 and 27 inch) and MacBook Pros (13, 15 and 17 inch) are discounted $101, and start from $1098.
You can save $11 on an iPod nano, which can be purchased from $138 today.
You can also save $21 on a 8GB iPod touch, $31 on an 32GB iPod touch and $41 on a 64GB iPod touch.
You can get an Apple TV for $208, a savings of $21.

There's also discounted prices on software, Mac accessories, iPhone and iPod accessories, so there's something hopefully for everyone.

Apple's one-day sale hits the US store originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Provision profile expiration time: does it leave you wondering?

Joachim Bean — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Back when the iPhone Developer Program was first announced, developer provisions (the 'permission slips' that allow developers to distribute pre-release builds of apps in progress) lasted one year. It seemed natural to have a one year expiration, as our developer memberships also lasted one year.

Everything was all fine, developers created new provision profiles as they grew, and each lasted one year. However, sometime in May of this year, provision profiles seemed to start expiring after 90 days. At first, many thought this was linked to the expiration time of their iPhone developer memberships, which would decrease the time to use a provision.

However, it seems that it's been set that provisions are only going to last 90 days. Also, distribution provision profiles, which are needed to submit applications to the App Store or distribute applications via ad-hoc, now only last about six months instead of one year.

If your provisions are expiring, your iPhone will remind you to renew your provision, and will state when that provision will expire.

If this is the way it's going to be, we may have to live with it -- it's just something that I would like to stay consistent, rather than wondering every time I renew a provision whether Apple has swapped out its stopwatch again.

Provision profile expiration time: does it leave you wondering? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple documents iTunes LP and iTunes Extras for developers

Joachim Bean — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

After seeing the intent by developers and artists to create iTunes LP and iTunes Extras for their music, Apple has opened up the availability to develop these features to third parties. However, automatic submission for iTunes LP and iTunes Extras is not expected until early 2010; in the meantime, it's still a limited process and uploads must be performed manually.

If you're an iTunes contributor and you're looking forward to developing an iTunes LP of your own, Apple has posted several resources for Extras & LP, including a best practices guide, a development guide, asset delivery tips and a testing guide.

There's also templates to get you started, and documentation on the TuneKit framework used by iTunes LP and iTunes Extras. These make extensive use of the WebKit framework, while using many new web standards.

Are you going to be more interested in these features since it's now open for development? Let us know in the comments below!

Apple documents iTunes LP and iTunes Extras for developers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces one-day shopping event on November 27th

Joachim Bean — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

As usual for this time of year, Apple has announced a special one-day sale on November 27th, which is Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). The page on Apple's online store reads:

"Come back to the Apple Online Store the day after Thanksgiving for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You'll find dozens of great iPod, iPhone, and Mac gift ideas - all with free shipping.

Mark your calendar now. And until then, start your research by browsing the Apple Online Store to find iPod, iPhone, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list."

There's no details on what's exactly going to be on sale, and this doesn't look like the questionable leaked email we saw last week stating Apple's Black Friday discounts. Apple has in the past not posted the actual sale prices until early Friday. We'll let you know when we find out what's on sale and what those discounts are.

What are your purchase plans? Let us know by leaving a comment!
[via Mashable]

Apple announces one-day shopping event on November 27th originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases updates improving printing, scanning, iSight cameras and QuickTime

Joachim Bean — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Over the past few days, Apple has been releasing updates for printer and scanner drivers in Snow Leopard, iSight cameras in LED Cinema Displays and QuickTime 7 for Windows.

First, Apple released printer driver updates for Snow Leopard for Lexmark printers and Brother, Canon and HP printers and scanners.

Next, Apple released a firmware update for the iSight camera that's built into the Apple LED Cinema Display. According to Apple, this firmware update corrects an issue with the built-in iSight camera on the LED Cinema Display where the camera may not be recognized by applications.

Finally, Apple released QuickTime 7.6.5 for Windows, which fixes an issue where applications weren't reliably loading libraries required by QuickTime at startup and the incorrect display of QuickTime movies embedded in a webpage using custom scale attributes.

All of these updates are available from the Apple Support downloads page and Software Update.

Apple releases updates improving printing, scanning, iSight cameras and QuickTime originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cycript: Blending Objective-C and JavaScript

Joachim Bean — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Cycrypt is a new project that blends Objective-C and JavaScript to make it easier to implement aspects of both together. It's going to be great for using elements that JavaScript offers when programming with Objective-C. It's similar to JSCocoa, but it's been designed to offer a more complete set of JavaScript commands. It offers a full JavaScript parser/serializer, which allows for extensive use of JavaScript coding.

If you're wondering what exactly this is, the Cycript page offers some examples of code written with Cycript. Basically, it allows you to implement full JavaScript commands, while working with Objective-C in the same project.

Cycript is dependent on the MobileSubstrate and libffi libraries, which are available in Cydia. This won't be used to develop applications in the App Store anytime soon.

If you're interested, you can download examples or releases of Cycript. It's still being worked on, but if you're developing with both Objective-C and JavaScript in a project, you should check it out.

Cycript: Blending Objective-C and JavaScript originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple quietly updates the 5th Generation iPod nano to 1.0.2

Joachim Bean — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

This week Apple issued an update to the iPod nano, bringing it to version 1.0.2. Fixes and additions include:

Fixed audiobook playbook setting so Normal, Slower, Faster, works for audio podcasts
Resolved issue where Genius Mixes did not work when using the Nike+ Sport Kit
Accessibility setting for Mono Audio in now working
Fixed bug so VoiceOver menu items are no longer skipped when using headphone + and - volume buttons to navigate

As always, you can download this update by clicking on the "Check for Update" button in iTunes when you connect your iPod nano to your computer.

Apple quietly updates the 5th Generation iPod nano to 1.0.2 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Safari to 4.0.4

Joachim Bean — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

In just two days after Apple released the Mac OS X 10.6.2 update, there's now an update for Safari. This new version, 4.0.4, improves and fixes performance, stability, and security of Safari including:

Improved JavaScript performance.
Improved Full History Search performance for users with a large number of history items.
Stability improvements for 3rd-party plug-ins, the search field and Yahoo! Mail.

This update requires Mac OS X 10.6.1 or 10.6.2, Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.5.7, Mac OS X 10.4.11
or Windows 7, Vista, XP and is available through Software Update, or on the Apple Downloads page.

Do you notice any improvements in this update? Leave a comment and let us know!

Apple updates Safari to 4.0.4 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First look: Viewfinder supercharges Flickr search

Joachim Bean — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

The new Mac app Viewfinder by Connected Flow (developer Fraser Speirs is the man behind the FlickrExport plugins for Aperture and iPhoto) is designed for browsing/searching images on Flickr. This application provides many ways to work with the service's photos; you can select licenses to constrain your search to images you can use (such as Creative Commons or commercial use images), or search through the full text of tags and descriptions. Once you've found a photo, you can save a few steps in performing common tasks that would normally require you to download the image separately.

You can set the selected image to your desktop picture in one click. You can also insert the selected image into a Keynote presentation immediately. You can see the selected image(s) on Flickr, or you can download them. Also, you can get a "quick look" of the image by pressing the space bar on your keyboard, just like you would using the Finder.

If you're a frequent image searcher on Flickr, Viewfinder is a nice way to supercharge your search tasks. If you're not an image search pro, however, you're probably not going to need this application.

Viewfinder requires Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (which makes it Intel-only); Keynote '08 or later is required to insert an image into a Keynote presentation. It's available for a introductory price of US $23.60.

First look: Viewfinder supercharges Flickr search originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with the new Apple Remote

Joachim Bean — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Like many of the others at TUAW who really wanted to see this remote, I got my new Apple Remote a few days ago, and here are some of my impressions.

Continue reading Hands-on with the new Apple Remote

Hands-on with the new Apple Remote originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with the Magic Mouse

Joachim Bean — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Well, I got my Magic Mouse a few days ago, and I've been using it for my everyday tasks for a few days (and I'm still using it), and here are my impressions.

Packaging:

This packaging is clear, showing the actual Magic Mouse, just like the packaging that Apple has been using recently for the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch and accessories.

Downloading the update:

As we posted earlier, you'll want to to download the Wireless Mouse Update to enable the new features of the Magic Mouse, which is available for Snow Leopard and Leopard.

Set Up:

Once you've installed the Wireless Mouse Update, you'll want to go to the Mouse Preference Pane in System Preferences and click the new "Set Up Bluetooth Mouse..." button. You no longer have to use the Bluetooth Setup Assistant to pair, which makes it a little simpler. It will then search for your Magic Mouse, and make sure it's turned on, which is done by a switch on the bottom of the Magic Mouse. Once it's paired, you'll be all ready to use your Magic Mouse.

Read on below to see the how it was using the Magic Mouse....

Continue reading Hands-on with the Magic Mouse

Hands-on with the Magic Mouse originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple posts Wireless Mouse Update for the Magic Mouse

Joachim Bean — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

If you just happen to have a Magic Mouse, and are wanting to use its Multi-Touch features, there's now a Wireless Mouse Update available from Apple that lets you do so in Mac OS X. You still probably can't find a Magic Mouse around unless you buy an iMac, but if you happen to have one or want to prepare for when you get one, you can go ahead and download this update before you get it.

This Update is available for Snow Leopard or Leopard, and can be downloaded from the Apple Support Downloads page.

Apple posts Wireless Mouse Update for the Magic Mouse originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CSStringTokenizer, a Cocoa Touch front end for tokenizing strings

Joachim Bean — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST

Have you ever wanted to work with rather deep elements of Core Foundation in the iPhone SDK with some sort of front end? August Joki has just come up with a project that provides a Cocoa Touch wrapper for the CFStringTokenizer type in the Core Foundation framework.

As you can see in the screen shot at right, the demo provides various aspects about the current string including the string in a letter, word, or using a WordBoundary. It works just like CFStringTokenizer can, but can be accessed using this front-end.

If you're wondering what CFStringTokenizer actually is, it's useful for breaking a string into a token, which can specified by words, sentences, or paragraphs. You're also able to further modify the tokenization once you break it down.

This is something that's going to be useful for iPhone developers who like to work with a Cocoa Touch interface to bring lower-level elements of the iPhone OS into their apps, and also to developers who work with natural language strings.

To download this project, go over to the cocoa-stringtokenizer project page on GitHub.

CSStringTokenizer, a Cocoa Touch front end for tokenizing strings originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZFS project for Mac OS X discontinued

Joachim Bean — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST

Is it a forgotten project? A fit of open-source pique? Or is it just that everyone got really busy on other stuff? Looks like Apple has just shut down the ZFS project for Mac OS X. The site for the project on Mac OS Forge reads:

ZFS Project Shutdown
2009-10-23

The ZFS project has been discontinued. The mailing list and repository will also be removed shortly.

It's hinted that this was caused by legal issues surrounding the merger of Sun Microsystems and Oracle, which caused Apple to back away from the next-generation file system technology. After many rumors, including ZFS support that was going to be added in Snow Leopard Server, but that ended up being removed in the final version, it now seems like the saga of ZFS on Mac OS X is ending with a whimper.

[via Daring Fireball]

ZFS project for Mac OS X discontinued originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: What do you use your Mac mini for?

Joachim Bean — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Here at TUAW, as you probably know, we really love the Mac mini. Some of us have a mini hooked up to our TV, some are used as servers, and some are used as great desktop computers (including mine).

We wanted to ask you what exactly you use your Mac mini for, so we came up with this in-depth poll. There are several choices, so let us know how you use your Mac mini.

If your favorite use for a Mac mini isn't listed in the poll, you can also leave a comment below and tell us how you use your mini.

View Poll

Poll: What do you use your Mac mini for? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple posts two new updates

Joachim Bean — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Just days after all the hardware updates on Tuesday, Apple has posted two new support downloads.

The first, Pro Applications Update 2009-01, contains several updates for applications in Final Cut Studio. This update includes Final Cut Pro 7.0.1, Motion 4.0.1, Soundtrack Pro 3.0.1, Color 1.5.1, and Compressor 3.5.1.

This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

You can download this update through Software Update, or on the Apple Support Downloads page.

Also, Apple released Apple Server Diagnostics 3X106, which replaces Apple Server Diagnostics 3X104 to provide support for Snow Leopard Server. This is compatiable with the Xserve (Early 2008 or Early 2009) or the Mac mini server config (Early 2009).

This download is also available on the Apple Support Downloads page.

Apple posts two new updates originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The other new products that Apple released today

Joachim Bean — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:45:00 EST

Surprisingly, the Mac mini, Magic Mouse, iMac, MacBook, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule updates are not the only things Apple updated today. Several other products were updated today, which include:

Apple Wireless Keyboard: This keyboard, the subject of several update rumors, did get revised today. It now only requires 2 AA batteries, down from 3 in the previous model.
Apple 60W MagSafe Power Adapter: This adapter now has a aluminum connector, much like the one found on the 45 watt adapter for the MacBook Air; it should be more durable for use.
VESA Mount Adapter Kit: This model for the 24 inch Apple LCD Cinema Display and the previous 24 inch iMac now supports the new 27 inch iMac.

Also, the wired mouse-formerly-known-as-Mighty Mouse -- which is still available -- was renamed to "Apple Mouse." This is consistent with the trademark for Mighty Mouse (the computer mouse) being finally picked up by Man & Machine, instead of CBS and Apple.

Are you going to enjoy the improvements in these products? Let us know in the comments below!

The other new products that Apple released today originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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