The Gmail of a few years ago was quite primitive in comparison to the current incarnation. Still, threading and a nearly-bottomless cup of storage space made it appealing despite early privacy fears. I use Gmail extensively nowadays, complete with a bunch of tweaks, add-ons and lab components. Problem was, all my old email still lived on my "antique" addresses, and worse, I couldn't access those emails within the handy search tool in Gmail. Google Apps came along and while you could now better control email (using your own domain, for example), the same problem existed: your old email didn't migrate to your Google Apps account.

Enter the Google Email Uploader for Mac. It's a simple tool allowing you to upload your old mail to your Google Apps account. That's it! Apple Mail, Eudora and Thunderbird all seem to be supported, but note there are some real limits if you have a ton of email. Here's what Google says to keep in mind:

1. Start small. Due to server upload rate limits, the uploader is fast for up to 500 messages, and slow thereafter (1 message per second.) Pick a small subset of your mailboxes when first trying out the uploader.
2. Be patient. Even after uploading completes, the server requires a while to process uploads.
3. Do assign a custom label (this is checked by default.) This lets you effectively "undo" the uploads later by deleting all messages with the label. Deleting the label itself will not delete the mail.
4. If you have many mailboxes in your archives, creating labels for each mailbox probably is not a good idea, as this could create far too many labels.

The Apple Developer Center is providing iPhone OS 3.2 beta, complete with iPad developer guides and support for Apple's latest creation. Unfortunately, just as Apple has done in the past, they have enshrouded the details of developing for the iPad in yet another NDA, preventing developers from discussing the OS outside the highly sanitized Apple forums.

It's possible that Apple will lift the NDA once iPads start flying off the shelves (or cargo containers) in about 60 days, but it is disappointing that developers continue to be hamstrung by what is, frankly, a futile effort to contain SDK details. The idea of an NDA is great, and it is an agreement, but it's not going to deter people from sharing details if they want to send an email or post in a forum. Granted, you won't be developing long if you do this, but doesn't that seem a little ridiculous?

This adversely affects honest developers who wish to share information. Looks like we'll again have to wait for books on development to get the green light once Apple gives their green light. Again.

I don't know if this is a great idea or an invitation to clog up your Twitter feed with inanity (go ahead, hit me with your best shot in the comments on that open invitation), but Tweet Defense takes the usual tower defense game to a new "social" level by upgrading your towers based on how much you tweet. What's the worst that could happen, right? Slidetoplay says it'll debut at $.99, but what price could you put on leveling up via Twitter, really?"

[Via Joystiq]

As any good technology innovator should, Apple files quite a few patents. But I'm finding the advertising patents curiouser and curiouser these days. Previously Apple filed a patent on ads that will move themselves around so that they become progressively harder to ignore (yes, this sounds like a usability nightmare). Now, GoRumors reports that Apple has filed a patent for proximity-based ads. So if you happen to be using your iPhone and walking by a store running an ad using this tech, you'll see that ad as you pass by. You've seen Minority Report, right?

What does all this mean? Well considering Apple recently acquired Quattro Wireless, a top company in the mobile ad space, it seems pretty clear that those crazy kids in Cupertino want to chum it up big time with the classy gents of Madison Avenue. That is, Apple is getting into the ad business somehow. My guess is this could be an option for developers. Instead of the algorithms of an AdMob, you would get the most targeted ads ever, really. Or it could simply be yet another patent for us to fuss over that'll come to nothing.

Yesterday Mike pointed out some iPod and iPhone docks seen at CES, but our friends at Engadget have unearthed a steady stream of iPhone goodies at CES 2010. Here's a sampling:

According to Kara Swisher at AllThingsD, Apple may announce the purchase of Quattro for the relative bargain price of $275 million. I say bargain because, as Kara points out, Google paid three times that for AdMob, another mobile ad company. So what? This bit of news, when taken with the ad patent filed by Apple, could suggest they are going to implement some sort of ad system on something. But what? AdMob could be used on Android-powered devices...

How about ads on a tablet device? Ads could help lower the cost of the mythical tablet, especially when those ads are sold by, say, content creators like a newspaper or four. I realize those are a lot of threads to pull together, but all the speculation seems to be swirling around this tablet, the cost and the content that'll go inside. Traditionally cost has been the Achilles' heel for an Apple product, but with ad-supported price breaks you could theoretically lower the cost of the product to the consumer while keeping some margins.

Then again, Apple may simply be planning to integrate Quattro into the developers' toolkits, and provide them with an in-house solution for ad-supported apps. Or maybe they are going to sell an ad-supported OS X for Dell machines. Who knows? As I write this neither company had any comment on the sale or announcement.

UPDATE: Yeah, Apple bought Quattro after all. Let the advertising begin!

The very first book I bought for programming the iPhone was none other than Erica Sadun's iPhone Developer's Cookbook. It wasn't the first book of Erica's I had purchased -- years ago I bought her Desktop Video book -- but it was an excellent introduction into the secret world of iPhone development. If you recall, Apple's cloak of silence (aka the NDA all developers had to agree to) prohibited developers from even talking about how to write programs for the iPhone! Erica, as is her style, was rarin' to go with a book detailing common practices all developers would find useful, especially n00bs like myself.

I should note that InformIT, the publishers, also have sample chapters for a bunch of Mac and iPhone developer books available here.

So I'm very happy to say we are giving away five copies of the second edition of The iPhone Developer's Cookbook. To enter, you must be over 18, in the US or Canada, and leave a comment on this post. The rest of the rules are below. Good luck and get coding!

• Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
• To enter leave a comment on this post.
• The comment must be left before Friday, January 8, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prize: one copy of iPhone Developer's Cookbook, 2nd edition (Value: US$40.49)
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.

'Tis the season to shop until your brains melt (or skip it all entirely, depending on your interpretation of the term holiday). In that spirit, for the next few weeks we'll be rounding up a dozen daily deals courtesy our friends at DealNews.com. Each afternoon tune in to TUAW for this handy summary. Keep in mind that while our posts will live on, the deals won't. Each is lovingly generated by the deal-bot every day, so get 'em while they're hot. Enjoy!

• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: Falling Gems, Koala Dartz, Stop and Go, Pattrns Turbo, more
• Finish Line: [iPod Accessories] Nike + iPod Watch Remote for $20 + $8 s&h
• Apple Store: [iMac] Refurbished Apple iMac Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz 27" Desktop for $1,449 + free shipping
• MacUpdate Promo: [Home & Hobbies Software] Optimism 3.1 for Mac downloads for $20
• Dell Home: [Headphones] Dell Bluetooth Headphones for $19 + free shipping
• Shop4Tech: [Digital Camcorders] 4GB Pen DVR Digital Camcorder for $33 + free shipping
• OfficeMax: [Office Furniture] OfficeMax Divoga Task Chair for $50 + free shipping, padding
• Dell Small Business: [Computer Speakers] Dell AY511 Multimedia Soundbar with Virtual Surround for $63 + free shipping, more
• PC Micro Store: [Store Events] PC Micro Store coupon: $9 off $18 or more + free shipping
• PC Connection: [24" - 26" LCD TVs] Samsung 24" 1080p Widescreen HDTV / Display for $240 + free shipping
• HandHeldItems: [iPod Accessories] HandHeldItems.com: Up to 80% off Apple iPod touch cases + 20% off coupon
• ExperCom: [MacBook Pro] Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz 17" Laptop for $2,699 + $10 s&h

'Tis the season to shop until your brains melt (or skip it all entirely, depending on your interpretation of the term holiday). In that spirit, for the next few weeks we'll be rounding up a dozen daily deals courtesy our friends at DealNews.com. Each afternoon tune in to TUAW for this handy summary. Keep in mind that while our posts will live on, the deals won't. Each is lovingly generated by the deal-bot every day, so get 'em while they're hot. Enjoy!

• Geeks.com: [Computer] Geeks.com End-of-Year Liquidation: Up to 90% off
• Other World Computing: [Store Events] OWC Holiday Sale: Accessories, HDDs, RAM, LCDs, more
• ExperCom: [Computer Services] AppleCare deals at ExperCom: Mac mini for $104, MacBook for $174, more
• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] Wild West Pinball for iPhone / iPod touch downloads for free, more
• Apple Store: [MacBook] Refurbished Apple MacBook 13" Laptops from $849 + free shipping
• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Price Drops: Harry Potter: Spells, Super Monkey Ball, more (updated)
• CompUSA: [] Samsung Sound Bar / Subwoofer Speaker System for $200 + free shipping
• ExperCom: [iMac] Apple iMac Core i7 2.8GHz 27" with 8GB RAM for $2,273 + $22 s&h, more
• InvisibleShield: [iPhone] ZAGG.com sale: Buy one ZAGGSkin, get a second one for free
• ThingFling: [Cell Phone Accessories] Duracell PowerSource Mini for $16 + $6 s&h
• Tanga: [Magazines] 1-Year Subscription to Muscle & Fitness Magazine for $3
• PC Micro Store: [iPod Accessories] PC Micro Store coupon: 50% off iPod touch accessories