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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, iPhone, App Review

A trip around town with Traffic Live from Navigon

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

I've already reported on the updated Navigon iPhone app, [iTunes link] and noted that live traffic info was now included as an in-app purchase. I've spent the last 2 days driving around town testing it, and it works as advertised -- but perhaps in not as many places as I would have hoped.

Here in Southern Arizona, there were very few traffic updates, so I set a destination for Phoenix and had lots of information. Clearly, Navigon is not always sourcing information from smaller U.S. cities.

As a comparison, I tried the traffic info built into my car nav system, and it displayed 9 nearby traffic incidents, some as close as 4 miles away. At the same time, the nearest traffic incident I got from Navigon was 94 miles away in the Phoenix metro area.

It was odd, because both systems source a lot of the same places (like Clear Channel Radio) for information. On the other hand, the traffic info from Navigon was more detailed, with nice close-up maps of the trouble areas.

I like everything about the Navigon app. The graphics are first rate. It automatically changes to night view, the text to speech voice is very clear in a noisy car, and the map doesn't lag from my actual position.

The traffic option is US$19.99 as a one time payment, and not overpriced in my view. My only caution is you may not get much information if you are not in the large metro areas, and it would be nice if Navigon posted where good traffic information is available.

For those in the bigger cities, it's a nice addition at a reasonable price.

Tags: GPS, iPhone, navigation, Navigon, traffic

Filed under: Multimedia, Open Source

Boxee boxes available in 2010

by Josh Carr (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

On the boxee blog this morning, Avner Ronen announced a new and exciting partnership with an undisclosed consumer electronics company that will result in a dedicated device for users who want to use Boxee as a home theater system.

They were quick to say that they're still looking to develop Boxee for every possible device connected to your TV... computers, game consoles, set-top boxes, they want to be the media software for your device of choice (like the Apple TV).

However, I have to say that this isn't surprising. It's easier and quicker to develop an awesome application on the hardware of your chosing: any Apple fan knows that. This presents a new dilemma for Mac users who want to see Boxee on their computer or Apple TV -- you can't devote an equal amount of time to development when you add another device into the mix.

That said, Boxee development hasn't exactly been the quickest process to begin with, and the service has been in alpha for quite some time. So, this may be a good way for Boxee to get out of alpha and into something that will show its true potential.

Tags: Boxee, home theater, HomeTheater

Filed under: Deals

The Mac Sale ends tomorrow, get it quick

by Josh Carr (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

Wanted to mention this one before the deal ends: Right now, you can get 10 applications for $49.99 from The Mac Sale. Most notably, this bundle includes CrossOver Games from CodeWeavers which allows you to play many popular games from the Windows platform on your Mac or Linux computer. The bundle also includes Picturesque, a great application that enhances your pictures: also a winner of an Apple Design Award.

One last mention for MacJournal; it's a journal application that integrates with Wordpress, Blogger, LiveJournal, MobileMe and more, all the while keeping your information encrypted and password-protected on your Mac so snooping eyes can't find your secrets. Here's a full list of the applications available:
  • CrossOver Games
  • Picturesque
  • HoudahGeo
  • MacJournal
  • Morph Age Regular
  • Opacity Express
  • Searchlight
  • Vinoteka
  • Stone Imaginator
  • Stor

Tags: bundle, hgg, the mac sale, TheMacSale

Filed under: Accessories, Cult of Mac

Off the screen and onto your desk: Mac OS X Calculator app done in atoms, not bits

by Josh Carr (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

The creative minds at Mintpass have taken applications we're all pretty familiar with and brought us ideas that make the TUAW bloggers drool. Recently, they created Mint Calculator #4; a concept that pulls the calculators from both the Mac OS and Windows out of the screen and places them on your desk -- as real, physical desk accessories.

The picture to the right is a mockup of the Mac OS calculator application, made into a real life calculator with mashable buttons and the typical aluminum style of Apple products.

The creator says that the Apple product would cost more to manufacture than its Windows counterpart because of the aluminum it would need. I'm tempted to reference the "Apple tax" (which I truly believe doesn't exist, so I'll just leave it alone). The Mac OS calculator definitely looks nicer than the Windows version -- which looks more like a toy than a usable product -- but from a design standpoint that shouldn't come as a surprise. In fairness, the Windows calculator is based on the XP version and not the snazzier Windows 7 accessory.

Tags: calculator, concept, mintpass

Filed under: Retail, Surveys and Polls, iPhone

Gartner: iPhone has 17.1% of worldwide smartphone sales

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

iPhone sales are up more than 4% from a year ago, while the leading smartphone seller, Nokia, is down 3% from a year ago. That's the word from Gartner Research today as they survey 3rd quarter sales.

According to Gartner research:

Apple's worldwide smartphone share reached 17 per cent as iPhone sales totalled 7 million units in the third quarter of 2009 following the continued rollout of the iPhone 3GS in new countries. Its ASP (average selling price) is holding steady and sales in the fourth quarter should be even stronger as Apple starts selling in China, through one additional carrier in the UK, and in an additional 16 countries.

Sales of Windows smartphones had another quarterly decline, with Windows Mobile 6.5 appearing too late to factor into the accounting.

For a company that was dismissed two years ago for not having any experience in building phones, Apple seems to doing more than just OK. By the same token, the competition from the new Droid from Verizon should keep Apple innovating.

Tags: Gartner, iPhone, market share, news, retail sales, sales

Filed under: Software, Freeware, Developer

Chrome for Mac due in December?

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

I sure thought Google Chrome was already out for Mac, but apparently that was just a developer preview -- they haven't yet done an official release (it's been a tough road to travel, I guess). But the wait is almost over, according to Mashable.

They've spotted a message on a developer list that hints at a beta release as soon as this December, assuming the extensions team gets their BrowserActions ready, the code clears the appointed timelines, and the stars align over the Pegasus constellation in the fifth quadrant. (Can you tell I don't know anything about what it takes to ship a new browser? Or, for that matter, about astrology?)

But I do know something about using browsers, and it'll be nice to finally have an official version of Chrome to run on the Mac. There have been a couple of unofficial attempts at getting the base software running, but especially since I plan to use more and more of Google Wave, being able to run it in the "official" Google browser will be nice.

Tags: astrology, browser, chrome for the mac, ChromeForTheMac, december, development, google, google chrome, google-chrome, GoogleChrome, mac, open source, open-source, OpenSource

Filed under: Software

Microsoft Office 2008 & 2004 updated

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

The productivity suites for Mac from Microsoft, past and present, received a patch this week to resolve security issues and improve performance. While the 2004 version only got the security patches, the 2008 update, to version 12.2.3, boasts the following fixes to all apps in the suite:
  • Security is improved. This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2008 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. For more information, see the security bulletin that is listed earlier in this document.
  • Stability is improved. This update fixes an issue that causes Office 2008 applications to close unexpectedly when you open or use Office 2008 applications.
  • Windows Office documents to which metafiles are attached now contain the correct text spacing when they are opened in Office 2008 for Mac. This update fixes text spacing issues that occur when you use Office 2008 for Mac to open a Windows Office document to which an OLE object or a metafile is attached.
There are also specific tweaks to the individual suite apps, and a passel of bug fixes for the (relatively) new Microsoft Document Connection for Mac utility. The 350MB updater requires Office 12.1.0 or later and Mac OS X 10.4.9.

While my experience is probably idiosyncratic, I did have a rather nasty sequence of events after updating my home machine to the new Office version: my Entourage database went belly-up and had to be rebuilt. Once the rebuild was done and Entourage was relaunched, more badness ensued; due to a yet-to-be-isolated issue, all of the mail, contacts and calendar entries in my connected Exchange 2003 account went poof and had to be restored from a backup. Not my best day ever.

I'm inclined to believe that this snafu was specific to my bloated database file and my Exchange config, and not something likely to hit most users... nevertheless, you might consider backing up your Office 2008 Identities folder (which contains your Entourage mail & PIM data) prior to the update.

Tags: microsoft, office, office 2008, Office2008, update

Filed under: Retail

Apple previews Broadway store for press

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

It's scheduled to open to the public on Saturday morning, but Apple gave a sneak peek of its newest US retail outlet to press and photographers this morning -- no, I wasn't invited, and yes, I did ask nicely.

Gothamist is there, though, and snapping some snazzy pictures of the grand glass roof and huge sales space. The word that comes to mind is 'dramatic,' and then the next word that comes to mind is 'big.'

How big is this new store? Ron Johnson tells the site that the ground floor could fit eleven of the iconic glass cubes from the 5th Ave store. Yowza. More pictures here from ifoAppleStore cover the store's unveiling.

If you're planning to attend the store opening on Saturday, drop us a line or send in a link to your photos & videos.

Tags: broadway, nyc, retail, uws

Filed under: Hardware, OS, Software, Apple

Psystar alienates the Hackintosh community, too

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

Say what you will about Psystar, the community that continues to sell computers running OS X, despite bankruptcy, constant legal problems with Apple, and a case so slim even their own legal team gave up. Sure, they're out of reason, out of room, and way out of line, but at least they've got plenty of cojones, as the locals say.

Why else would they say the things they do in this Miami Times article? Our friends at Engadget lay out just what's wrong with that piece, from Robert and Rudy's Pedraza's claims that they "cracked the code" behind OS X, to the suggestions and hints that what they're doing just might not be a contract violation. Whether or not Apple's EULA is enforceable is, of course, one of the arguments at issue in Psystar's case, even though plenty of shrinkwrap licenses have been upheld in court before. Apple's also got a copyright infringement claim against Psystar; this will be one of the topics at today's summary judgement hearing in California.

But the kicker in all this is the statement that Rudy Pedraza makes about the famed Hackintosh scene -- a community of people who persist in running OS X on hardware and devices that it wasn't supposed to run on (not nearly as much of a problem to Apple, as they don't sell the capability like Psystar does, but still not technically allowed by the license agreement). Surely, you might think, this is where the Pedrazas could find friends; surely, despite all of the commotion they're causing, this is the place where they could find a kind ear and a helping hand. Nope. From the article: "The first thing you have to do is unlearn everything you've read online about how to make this work," Rudy says, "because it's all wrong."

Nice. Way to alienate the one group, the one community that might still support your cause. I wish Psystar the best of luck -- not, mind you, because I need to buy or run any of their machines (I buy Apple because I appreciate both the hardware and the software), but just because their story continues to be so darn entertaining.

Tags: apple, bankruptcy, code, community, hackintosh, issues, legal, legal-problems, miami times, MiamiTimes, psystar, robert pedraza, RobertPedraza, rudy pedraza, terms-of-use

Filed under: iTS, Apple TV

More HD movies hit iTunes' virtual shelves

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009

Apple has added many new HD movie titles to iTunes, according to former TUAWian David Chartier's post for Macworld. David, who is an HD-aficionado, noticed that the iTunes Store just recently stocked both classic and new release HD movies, bringing the HD movie collection to nearly 300 titles.

The new HD content is sold at a premium price (typically $20), and as far as we can tell that pricing stands regardless of whether or not the movies offer iTunes Extras. A few titles, mostly items that were already available on iTunes, sell for less -- such as Terminator 2 [iTunes link] for just $13.

Until now, Apple has offered some of its HD content as exclusive Apple TV rentals. Items could be rented from Apple TV units that were not available to rent from the normal iTunes Store. It's unclear at this time whether Apple will continue this policy of exclusive Apple TV rentals, or will expand the iTunes store-based rental system to match the Apple TV offerings.

Tags: HD, High Definition, HighDefinition, iTunes Store, ItunesStore, Movies

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