Baffling inconsistencies in OS X Lion Multi-Touch 2 Aug 2011, 6:00 pm

OS X Lion's new Multi-Touch gestures have switched things up more than any previous version of OS X, and they're brought a lot of confusion with them. While "natural" scrolling is the most obvious change and the one that takes the most getting used to (unless you disable it), other inconsistencies in the way Lion handles Multi-Touch gestures are both more subtle and potentially more baffling. The one that's been tripping me up even after almost two weeks of using Lion is the gestures for going forward and back in Safari and other applications.

In Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard, a three-finger swipe would take you backward and forward in any app that supported that gesture, like Apple's Safari, Finder, Preview, iPhoto, Aperture, and even the iTunes Store. Eventually, third-party browsers like Firefox baked in support for these three-finger gestures, and the whole system worked pretty well.

OS X Lion introduced a new gesture for forward/back navigation: a two-finger swipe. I actually like this gesture better, because when you're using Safari you get a preview of the next/previous page as you swipe, something that three-finger swiping doesn't provide. It's a very neat trick, but there's a problem: the gesture only works in Safari. No other programs react to this gesture at all. So if you have "Swipe between pages" set to "Scroll left or right with two fingers" in System Preferences, you lose the ability to use gestures to go back and forward in Finder, iPhoto, Aperture, and other apps.

Things get even more confusing if you enable "Swipe with two or three fingers" and have natural scrolling enabled. I'll try to explain why with the outline below:

Two-finger swipe: natural scrolling disabled

• Swipe from left to right: Go forward
• Swipe from right to left: Go back

Two-finger swipe: natural scrolling enabled

• Swipe from left to right: Go back
• Swipe from right to left: Go forward

Three-finger swipe: natural scrolling enabled/disabled makes no difference

• Swipe from left to right: Go forward
• Swipe from right to left: Go back

You might have already caught on to the inconsistency, but I'll spell it out anyway: If you have natural scrolling enabled and have also enabled swiping with either two or three fingers, the gesture direction is completely reversed depending on the number of fingers you use. The result: brain meltdown.

Right now, the only ways around this inconsistency are:

1. Disable natural scrolling
2. Leave three-finger gestures disabled and lose the ability to swipe forward/back in any app other than Safari
3. Set swiping to three fingers only and lose Safari's ability to preview pages as you swipe
4. Reverse the three-finger swipe gesture directions with a third-party app like BetterTouchTool (my personal choice)
5. Live with it, while your muscle memory quietly rebels and plots to overthrow you

I'd like to think this inconsistency is something that Apple will address in a future update to Lion, but as it's likely Apple considers three-finger swiping a "legacy" gesture from earlier versions of OS X and only kept it around to placate users who upgraded from Snow Leopard, the company may not bother. A better solution might be to expand the new two-finger gestures to apps other than Safari. In the meantime, using BetterTouchTool to work around the problem has at least stopped my muscle memory from cursing Apple's UI design team fifty times a day.

Baffling inconsistencies in OS X Lion Multi-Touch originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dear Aunt TUAW: Help me locate incompatible software 2 Aug 2011, 5:30 pm

Dear Aunt TUAW,

Is there a way in LION to conduct a search for all those incompatible apps that have the ø thru them?

Your loving nephew,

Paul

Dear Paul,

Uncle Steve tells Auntie that Lion automatically searches for incompatible apps during installation. You can do a Spotlight search for "Incompatible Software" and it will find a folder containing all of those apps, plus a text file explaining which apps are "bad".

Here's what he found on his iMac just after installation:

A quick look into that folder revealed a couple of kernel extensions that weren't playing well with Lion. The "Read Me" file showed exactly what those files were:

A simple Finder search also helps you locate incompatible software on an external drive or software that you added after the Lion installation. In Finder, start a search for "Kind is Application" and sort by Kind. Your "Classic Application" files will appear at the top of the list, each one representing a now-unsupported app. This allows you to detect those apps on demand, even after you've already installed Lion.

Hope these pointers help you.

Hugs,

Auntie T.

Dear Aunt TUAW: Help me locate incompatible software originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Make your iPad 2 look like a Gameboy with this retro gaming case 2 Aug 2011, 5:00 pm

Lootiful has a line of snap-on iPWN cases that protect your iPhone in style by making it look like a Nintendo Gameboy. The business, run by a single graphics designer, has now extended its retro gaming cases to the iPad 2.

The iPad 2 version is identical to the iPhone 4 and 3G/3GS version. All cases snap onto the back of the smartphone or tablet and provide protection from bumps and scratches. On the front, you have full access to your touchscreen and buttons, while on the back, you have a Gameboy replica that gives your iOS device a look like no other case on the market.

No word on availability for the iPad 2 case, but Lootiful's website promises that pre-orders will be starting soon. Pricing is also an unknown, but the iPhone 4 version retails for a very reasonable US$18.

[Via Akihabara News]

Make your iPad 2 look like a Gameboy with this retro gaming case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive: Big storage, high-powered charging ports 2 Aug 2011, 4:00 pm

Iomega has just introduced the new Mac Companion Hard Drive, a 2 or 3 TB external drive that not only offers a lot of storage in a nice-looking container, but also provides a high-powered USB port to charge up your iPad.

The Mac Companion is priced a bit higher than high-capacity USB external drives, with the 2 TB model weighing in at US$195.00 and the 3 TB model at $295.00. However, the manufacturer's suggested retail price is right in line with many other FireWire 800 drives, and the Mac Companion can connect through FireWire 800 as well as USB 2.0.

The Mac Companion also fills the job of a hub. It not only has a 2.1 Amp USB charging port for your iPad, but two more USB ports in a built-in hub and two FireWire 800 ports. Iomega provides cables to get your Mac and the Mac Companion working together off the bat -- one FireWire 800 cable, one conversion FireWire 400-800 cable, and one USB 2.0 cable.

When placed near just about any modern Mac, the Mac Companion fits right in. The aluminum case has four LEDs on the front to let you know how much free space you have left on the drive. Iomega provides software to enable scheduled file-level backups, although most Mac users will want to use the Mac Companion with Time Machine. Iomega also provides a free 2 GB online backup through MozyHome for extra assurance.

TUAW is hoping to get one of the Mac Companion Hard Drives for a full review, so stay tuned for more details.

Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive: Big storage, high-powered charging ports originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW's Daily iPhone App: Continuity 2 2 Aug 2011, 3:00 pm

Continuity 2 is another fun puzzle/platformer that the iPhone has inherited from Flash -- the original title also had you sliding various parts of puzzles around in order to get a little stick figure from one side of the level to the other. But Continuity 2 ups the ante, introducing new mechanics like switches, power sources that need to be hooked up to work, and even gravity flipping, sending your little guy caroming around the level while trying to reach the exit.

This game is everything a great puzzle game should be -- it offers up a number of simple mechanics, and then slowly tweaks up the complexity over time, asking you to constantly use the various mechanics in new and surprising ways. There are over 50 levels to play through, and full Game Center integration means if you want to, you'll be playing this one for a while.

Continuity 2: The Continuation is available on the iPhone as a universal app for just US 99 cents, or you can grab the lite version to check out the gameplay first if you'd rather do that. It is, however, an excellent puzzle game with lots of great ideas, so if that sounds like your thing, look it up.

TUAW's Daily iPhone App: Continuity 2 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The New Yorker has sold 20,000 annual paid iPad subscriptions 2 Aug 2011, 7:00 am

The New Yorker has sold more than 20,000 annual paid iPad subscriptions since Conde Nast overhauled its iPad magazine strategy in May. 20,000 readers are now subscribed to the annual US$59.99 iPad-only edition of the quintessential news, social, and literary magazine while every week another 5,000 people buy single issues of the magazine for $4.99. While this is good news for Conde Nast, it also reflects heavily on The New Yorker as a magazine and speaks to its digital distribution strategy.

Of all Conde Nast's iPad magazines, The New Yorker has achieved the highest subscription rates by eschewing the interactive and sometimes annoying eye-candy content and navigation other digital magazines have been using in their apps. As The New York Times points out, "The New Yorker, a magazine that has always been heavy on text, took a different tack from its peers. Instead of loading its iPad app with interactive features, the magazine focused on presenting its articles in a clean, readable format." In other words, even on a device like the iPad, the content and skilled editorial decisions of a magazine seem to matter more than distracting visual flair like page curls, flips, and transitions.

Pamela Maffei McCarthy, The New Yorker's deputy editor, told The New York Times, "That was really important to us: to create an app all about reading. There are some bells and whistles, but we're very careful about that. We think about whether or not they add any value. And if they don't, out the window they go." Good advice.

The New Yorker has sold 20,000 annual paid iPad subscriptions originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Skype for iPad 'prematurely' released, no longer available (Updated x2) 2 Aug 2011, 5:30 am

Skype for iPad has just been released on the New Zealand App Store, which probably makes it about 16 hours or so until it goes live in the United States. Typically App Store releases like this find their way onto the NZ App Store first, then roll out across time zones over the course of the day.

The app was announced over a month ago in late June, but for unknown reasons its release was delayed until now. The iPad version of Skype supports the same features as the iPhone version, and it seems that all features other than two-way video chat are supported on the original iPad. The iPad 2, of course, will have full support for video conferencing via either of its cameras.

Skype for iPad is a separate app from Skype for iPhone, but like the smaller app, the iPad version will be free and capable of making calls over either Wi-Fi or 3G. We'll have an overview of its features later on.

[hat tip to iPhonewzealand]

Update: Looks like Apple decided to skip the timezone-by-timezone festivities, as Skype for iPad is now available in the US too, and possibly worldwide. The long wait is over, go download Skype now!

Update 2: Skype has "temporarily" pulled the app from the App Store, due to it "prematurely" going live. Not sure what was so "premature" about six weeks, but okay. If you didn't download Skype for iPad while it was available, you'll have to wait until Skype re-ups the app.

Skype for iPad 'prematurely' released, no longer available (Updated x2) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iCloud.com developer beta opens, includes full-featured web interface 2 Aug 2011, 2:30 am

Remember when I told you there would still be iCloud web apps once the service took over MobileMe, despite what some other sites were saying at the time? Not to brag or anything, but I was right. Today, Apple launched the iCloud.com beta for developers. Web apps on the service include Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Find my iPhone, and iWork.

The interface looks to be heavily overhauled from its earlier MobileMe incarnation, and iCloud.com's design seems to have taken many design cues from the iPad's iOS interface. Of note, if you're not a fan of the "real object" design of iCal and Address Book on the iPad or in OS X Lion, you're not going to like the web app design either, because it's essentially the same.

Since many of us are under NDA at TUAW, we won't provide screenshots but 9to5 Mac had no reservations and published a few which you can check out here.

The iCloud.com beta does require installing the OS X Lion 10.7.2 developer beta before you can use iCloud for OS X Lion beta 5, so if you're not a developer and were hoping to check this service out for yourself, you're out of luck for now. iCloud.com should launch to the public this fall, alongside iCloud itself and iOS 5.

Apple has also released pricing data for iCloud storage upgrades. All free iCloud accounts come with a standard 5 GB of online storage, but Apple will be offering three upgrade options:

• 10 GB for US$20/year (15 GB total)
• 20 GB for $40/year (25 GB total)
• 50 GB for $100/year (55 GB total)

Before it became free to all, MobileMe was $99/year and included 20 GB of iDisk storage, so these new pricing tiers for storage are a much better deal than MobileMe was.

iCloud.com developer beta opens, includes full-featured web interface originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Video App Demo: Daedalus Touch 2 Aug 2011, 2:00 am

Daedalus Touch is a text editor designed for iPad and engineered to be as simple and clutter-free as possible. From what I saw, it succeeds admirably. Granted, there are lots of text editors on the App Store, but Daedalus offers a clean interface with a few nice features, like modeless search. In modeless search you can search at any time across all documents and the presentation makes it easy to find what you're looking for. Of course, the best way to see this is to see it in action, so check out the video below to see Daedalus in action.

Video App Demo: Daedalus Touch originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon freezes new Appstore submissions in Germany 2 Aug 2011, 1:00 am

Amazon is freezing new Android app submissions to its Appstore that originate from Germany. Amazon said new admissions would be accepted again soon, but did not provide an exact date. Until Amazon re-opens the floodgates, German developers must hold onto their apps or submit them to the Android Market.

Amazon claims this ban is the result of legal action from Apple over the use of the term Appstore. The exact legal reason behind this decision was not discussed, but, according to Electronista, it may be the result of Germany's application of International trademark law. Apple filed a trademark dispute against Amazon and asked for an injunction that would prevent the online retailer from using this term. Apple was not awarded this injunction and the case remains active in the Northern District of California. A trial is expected to begin in Ocotober 2012.

Amazon freezes new Appstore submissions in Germany originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Camino 2.1 now in beta, features improved plug-in control 2 Aug 2011, 12:30 am

Camino, an open source third-party web browser for Mac OS X, released a beta of version 2.1 last week. According to the release notes, new features in Camino 2.1 include:

• Enhanced Location Bar Autocomplete: The location bar's autocomplete feature now displays results in a single list, using an improved ranking algorithm.
• Improved Plug-in Control: Camino now disables certain insecure or incompatible versions of common plug-ins. In addition, Camino now supports loading plug-ins from the profile's "Internet Plug-Ins" folder.
• Gecko chrome and component registration: Camino 2.1 Beta 1 supports loading components and chrome from the profile, making it easier to use some simple Gecko extensions.

Camino 2.1 Alpha was released in January, and version 2.0 was released in late 2009. The somewhat stately development pace has meant Camino's fallen behind the feature sets of big-name browsers like Safari, Firefox, and Chrome, but this latest release should get the browser closer to being caught up with its more famous cousins.

Camino 2.1 beta is a free download, with all the usual caveats that apply for running beta software. The latest stable release is Camino 2.0.7, released in March.

Camino 2.1 now in beta, features improved plug-in control originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW's Daily iPad App: ScreenChomp (and Camtasia giveaway) 2 Aug 2011, 12:00 am

When most people think about developer TechSmith, they think of the company's big products like Camtasia and SnagIt. Now the company has come out with a fun little app for kids of all ages that brings video screen capture to the iPad. ScreenChomp is a free whiteboard app that captures everything that's drawn on the screen to a video that can then be shared with others.

Not only does ScreenChomp work with the whiteboard, but it imports photos from your iPad Photo Library as well. The result? Well, it's really easy to draw a big pirate mustache and dark goatee on just about anyone, record a soundtrack, and have a blast.

There's more to ScreenChomp than just fun and games. TechSmith sees this as a tool for teachers to explain concepts and record their drawings and explanations for posterity. The sharing capability is tied to a specific iPad -- there's no account to sign up for, you just tap a button to have the screen capture sent to ScreenChomp.com. ScreenChomp also allows sharing with Facebook accounts, and the URL for your opus on the ScreenChomp website is easily sent to friends or students.

For students, they can draw and narrate their own movies for free. The app is extremely simple to use and cutely animated with the ScreenChomp mascot seen in the icon at the top of the post. There's only one downside for parents who show their kids ScreenChomp -- I don't think you'll ever get your iPad back from your child.

Giveaway

TechSmith has also provided TUAW with two licenses for Camtasia for Mac valued at US$99 each. To have a possibility of winning one of these licenses, keep an eye on the @TUAW Twitter account later this afternoon. We'll post the two product keys at a random time. Once you see one, grab it, download Camtasia for Mac (email required) from the TechSmith website, and then paste in the product key. If you happen to be the first person to use that product key, you're a winner.

TUAW's Daily iPad App: ScreenChomp (and Camtasia giveaway) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hackinations: How to bring the spring back into TextEdit's step 1 Aug 2011, 11:30 pm

TextEdit on Lion has version control coming out of its ears, vertical layout for Eastern languages, and improved toolbars. It's got some really great forward-looking features.

It also is slow as a hungover mule carrying ten sacks of potatoes. Launching the file open dialog takes countable seconds. It's no longer instant the way it used to be. And losing that responsiveness has been getting on my nerves more and more the past few weeks.

Today, I finally had enough of Lion's TextEdit. I replaced it with Snow Leopard's. I keep an entire SL install around on a spare USB drive. (/Volumes/Backed was my last Carbon Copy Cloner backup, made as I was about to switch to my new SSD HDD.) I launched my copy off that backup. Now that I've been using it, I'm not sure if I'm going back anytime soon.

When you open a lot of files throughout the day, searching for items, making updates in to-do lists, and so forth, that re-found zippiness is incredibly welcome. I'm no longer plagued by "Could not create file" errors, or slow-loading screens with their pause-pause-pause delays.

Find and replace has returned to the uglier but faster floating panel from the built-in version, and "replace" is back to being a standard element rather than an option.

Returning to 10.6 TextEdit is like putting that mule on methamphetamines.

Speed, I tell you, speed.

I'm going to give this about a week and see how things go before I make a more permanent commitment. For now, I've remapped my Quickeys macros to open the SL version rather than the Lion one, but I haven't changed anything else in-system.

Are you a heavy TextEdit user? How has the change to Lion affected your workflow. Pipe up in the comments.

And for all of you who are about to comment "If you hate Lion so much why not go back to Snow Leopard," well get off of my lawn, you rotten kids.

I love Lion, but I'm not afraid to keep making it better.

Hackinations: How to bring the spring back into TextEdit's step originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dear Aunt TUAW: Can I use a third-party SSD with Lion? 1 Aug 2011, 11:00 pm

Dear Aunt TUAW,

Is there any (un)official word from Apple regarding the support for 3rd party SSD HDDs with Lion? I desire to tweak my MBP but do not wish to be without garbage collection and TRIM. What advice have you? Should I hold off on acquiring an SSD?

Warm regards,

Need4Speed

Dear N4S,

Auntie is using a 3rd party SSD without any troubles. She downloaded a TRIM enabler from groths.org after reading that the Snow Lion enabler seemed to work under Lion as well.

So far, everything seems be running well.

Hugs,

Auntie T.

Dear Aunt TUAW: Can I use a third-party SSD with Lion? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Forbes profiles Comex, the hacker behind JailbreakMe 1 Aug 2011, 10:30 pm

The Apple world knows him as Comex, the person who developed JailbreakMe to let iPhone users quickly and easily jailbreak their devices. Now Forbes has outed Comex in a preview of an article that will be published in the magazine later this week.

Comex is really Nicholas Allegra, a 19 year old student on leave from Brown University who lives with his parents in Chappaqua, NY -- not too far away from IBM's facilities in Armonk. Allegra is looking for an internship, and hopefully now that the world knows who he is, he'll be able to get a job with Apple or another electronics or Internet firm.

Forbes writer Andy Greenberg cites security expert Dino Dai Zovi as comparing jailbreaking to "writing a ransom note out of magazine clippings," then goes on to say that last year's JailbreakMe 2 was more akin to "requiring an attacker to assemble a note out of a random magazine he's never read before, in the dark."

Dai Zovi, co-author of the Mac Hacker's Handbook, notes that the level of sophistication in JailbreakMe is on a par with Stuxnet, the state-sponsored worm designed to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. He says that Allegra is probably "five years ahead" of the hackers who create persistent attacks on government and industrial targets.

For all of his hacking skills, Allegra refers to himself as simply an "Apple fanboy" who likes the challenges of finding -- and exploiting -- security issues in iOS. Let's hope that Apple offers him a full-time job soon.

Forbes profiles Comex, the hacker behind JailbreakMe originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW's Daily Mac App: Bejeweled 3 1 Aug 2011, 10:00 pm

Fancy an addictive, fun, casual game for your Mac? Look no further than the classic Bejeweled, now back in its third iteration on the Mac.

Played either in full screen or windowed, the standard game hasn't changed, you still match three or more gems in a row to clear them from the board. There are four different play modes to choose from: classic, which you just match the gems until you can't make any more moves, levelling up as you go; Zen, where the board is shaken up if you can't move; Lightning, where you have to match against the clock; and Quest, where you have to complete a set task or puzzle to progress. Four secret modes are also available to unlock like Poker, a cross between gem matching and the classic card game, which are unlocked by playing the four regular game types.

Bejeweled 3 has all sorts of fancy gems, which explode, zap and annihilate the gems, while the explosions and sound effects are joined by an announcer who blasts out "Excellent" and "Awesome" when you get on a roll. The game even has a fairly decent midi sound track to it. If you're a fan, the whole experience really draws you in so be prepared to waste a good hour or two before you know it.

As with most modern games Bejeweled 3 also comes with achievements in the form of 20 badges to collect, including five "Elite" badges, while you can level up with experience points gained from playing each of the games.

Bejeweled 3 is available from the Mac App Store for the rather dear US$19.99, but if you've played the free online version and want the ads gone and a native experience, Bejeweled 3 for Mac delivers in droves and there's even a free trial to test it out.

TUAW's Daily Mac App: Bejeweled 3 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Appsterdam founder rallies developers for legal protection 1 Aug 2011, 9:30 pm

Mac and iOS developer Mike Lee has announced the Appsterdam Legal Defense Team, meant to defend independent developers against the patent claims recently made by the likes of Lodsys. Mike tells his fellow developers that "rally time starts now," while outlining the defense team's immediate plan of action.

Texas-based technology attorney Michael McCoy (he's also licensed in California) has been meeting with Lee in Amsterdam to develop a concrete plan of action. McCoy will head the defense fund and, Mike states, establish the Appsterdam Legal Defense Fund.

Lodsys began targeting developers earlier this year by suing them over a patent relating to in-app purchases in iOS. While Apple pays a licensing fee for the technology addressed in the claim, Lodsys insists that individual developers whose apps allow for in-app purchases ought to do the same. Shortly thereafter, Apple announced that it was "actively investigating" the claims and issued a formal response several days later.

Mike Lee, formerly of Apple and Tapulous, recently moved to Amsterdam to create an application development community. Already there is a weekly lunchtime lecture series in place.

Good luck to Mike, The Appsterdam Legal Defense team and all independent developers caught up in this sticky mess.

Appsterdam founder rallies developers for legal protection originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple wins iPods.com domain 1 Aug 2011, 9:00 pm

Apple has won a victory over the owner of the iPods.com domain name. As we reported two months ago, Apple filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to have the iPods.com domain name transferred from its current owner to its "rightful owner" -- Apple.

Rather than spend a lot of money to purchase the domain name from the existing owner, Apple used the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). The UDRP allows a complainant to request a domain transfer when a domain name is identical or "confusingly similar" to a trademark that they own. In particular, if the respondent to the complaint has no "legitimate interests in respect of the domain name" and the domain name is being "used in bad faith," the complainant (Apple) can request a transfer of the domain name to its rightful owner.

This process can be completed for just a few thousand dollars. In the past, Apple has paid seven-digit amounts for domain names, including iPhone.com and iCloud.com.

Apple wins iPods.com domain originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Safari browser growth outpaces Chrome in July 1 Aug 2011, 8:30 pm

Apple's Safari browser is gaining usage share dramatically, with its largest increase ever during the month of July. Net Applications provides metrics on a regular basis showing how various web browsers are faring in terms of usage, and the July figures showed Safari being used by 8.1 percent of all web users.

That's the largest single increase in a single month for Safari, with iOS devices making up more than a third of the usage for the browser. Safari's growth rate even beat Google's Chrome in July -- Safari's share jumped .6 percent for the month, while Chrome grew at only a .3 percent rate.

Safari has shown continued growth for 17 months straight, while Microsoft's Internet Explorer has been declining. IE still has the lion's share (no pun intended) of the browser market at 52.8%, but has shown solid declines for quite some time. Internet Explorer 9, the latest in the IE family of browsers, is showing continued growth as more businesses adopt Windows 7, but the overall browser share for IE is declining.

Firefox and Opera are also showing declining usage share, with Opera down to a measly 1.7% share -- about where it was in late 2007. Safari still has a long way to go to be on top of the heap, but the gains it is making show that Apple's strength in mobile devices and recent growth in Mac sales is also having a positive effect on Safari's usage.

For a detailed dive into the data, take a look at Net Applications' browser statistics.

Safari browser growth outpaces Chrome in July originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Next iPhone will launch in October 1 Aug 2011, 8:00 pm

The next iPhone may arrive in October, not September according to a new report from AllThingsD. A source familiar with Apple's plans claims the rumor that AT&T was blocking vacation at the end of September in preparation for an iPhone launch was incorrect. AT&T may still black out vacations for that time period, but it's not for the iPhone 5.

Instead, this source claims the iPhone 5 will launch in October, possibly late October. But what about Apple's annual iPod event in September and iOS which will launch this fall?

In the past, Apple has announced the iPhone a few weeks before its actual launch. It's possible that Apple may confirm the iPhone 5 in September for a mid-to-late October launch. iOS 5 should also be released around that time as well.

Rumor: Next iPhone will launch in October originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple TV update streams TV purchase history, adds Vimeo support (Updated) 1 Aug 2011, 7:45 pm

The Apple TV software has been updated to 4.3 with the following changes:

• Purchase TV shows through Apple TV
• Streams purchased TV shows, including access to all shows purchased through the iTunes even if deleted off your Mac -- though some ATV users are reporting that a good bit of their TV purchase history is missing
• Vimeo support
• Cloud icon added

The update is available now through your Apple TV. We'll update this piece as we find more changes in the software.

Update: The gallery below shows the changes made in the latest update. Many thanks to fellow TUAW staffer Dave Caolo for the shots! You also might be asked for the security code on your credit card associated with your iTunes account.

Gallery: Apple TV 4.3

Apple TV update streams TV purchase history, adds Vimeo support (Updated) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Survey: iPhone retention rate at 94%, interest in iPhone 5 high 1 Aug 2011, 7:30 pm

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster suggests interest in the iPhone remains strong. In a recent research note, he points to a small survey of 216 mobile phone owners in Minneapolis that shows 64% will buy an iPhone as their next handset.

Breaking it down, 94% of iPhone owners plan to buy another iPhone. 42% of Android and 67% of BlackBerry owners expect to make the switch to the iPhone when they buy their next handset. Most of these switchers (60%) are waiting for the iPhone 5. This number is even higher for Verizon subscribers with 74% of non-iPhone owners waiting for the iPhone 5 to jump platforms.

In his report to investors, Munster estimates the iPhone's market share could double after the launch of the iPhone 5. Apple will grab a substantial share from BlackBerry and a smaller amount from Android. When digesting these survey results, keep in mind the small sample size. Though interesting, the survey results may not represent the millions of iPhone and smartphone owners in the States.

Survey: iPhone retention rate at 94%, interest in iPhone 5 high originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple blocks Samsung tablet sales in Australia 1 Aug 2011, 7:00 pm

Apple won an injunction that prevents Samsung from selling the US version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. This measure stems from a patent infringement lawsuit the company filed against Samsung in the Federal Court of Australia. Apple claims Samsung violates ten patents that cover the touchscreen technology and the look and feel of the iPad. Samsung was about to release the Galaxy Tab in Australia, and has advertised it since July 20.

Samsung will defend this case with an Australian version of the Galaxy Tab which is supposedly different from the U.S. version. Samsung is supplying Apple with three samples of this device so Apple's legal team can review it. An August 29 hearing was set to review the details of the case and set a trial date, if necessary.

Apple blocks Samsung tablet sales in Australia originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Clarify brings focus to your screen-based documentation 1 Aug 2011, 6:00 pm

Clarify -- now in Public Beta -- is Mango Learning System's new product for communicating screen-based instructions quickly and easily. It's something like a successor to ScreenSteps (which history will show I'm a big fan of), but in the words of developer Greg Devore, "while ScreenSteps was aimed at documentation, Clarify is aimed at communication."

Clarify provides a simple set of tools for taking screenshots, adding annotations, writing descriptions and then sharing the final step-by-step instructions you create using the free screensteps.me service or by email. The tools are an evolution of what was found in ScreenSteps, and are both better looking and easier to use.

You can take delayed screenshots (for setting up a dropdown menu before snapping, for example) and you can repeat prior screenshot location and dimensions, which is great for documenting things like navigating web pages where the only changes are within the browser window. The annotation tools are robust but not overwhelming, and the text editing tools are more Cocoa-like and familiar than ScreenSteps'.

Sharing via ScreenSteps.me is free and provides a dead-simple way to get your communication to its destination. You can also deliver it by email, but using the service allows easy updates and export to plain HTML, styled HTML or just images as well.

If all of this sounds useful for you, grab the free public beta and give it a whirl. Final pricing is undetermined at the moment but will be less than ScreenSteps. While Clarify is in beta it's a great time to offer new suggestions and help out with the development of the final release!

Clarify brings focus to your screen-based documentation originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iSync: Who stole my software? 1 Aug 2011, 5:00 pm

Actually, if you upgraded to Lion, Apple did. When you installed the new OS, Apple decided to delete Apple software that wasn't part of the Lion distribution. It's left a lot of hacked off customers who were using iSync with some older phones to sync contacts and calendars. iSync still functions just fine under Lion, but if you didn't preserve it, Apple reached into your hard drive and obliterated it. It's not just iSync that has gone to the world of Apple discontinued software.

Front Row is also a goner, probably because Apple would love to sell you an Apple TV. Front Row will work under Lion, if you can get a copy via a Time Machine install for example, though it's a less-than-optimal experience now that iTunes support has been pulled. Apple has posted a download link for a Front Row update, but not the whole app. Or follow this advice.

It's a bit hard to understand why Apple does this. If they don't want to support a piece of software, that's surely up to them. It's quite another thing, however, to erase perfectly functional software from your computer. Sure iSync is pretty long in the tooth, and I expect the majority of Apple owners also have iPhones. But if you were syncing to an old Nokia or some other ancient phone, you're pretty much out of luck.

Of course if you have Time Machine running, or some other back up you can get the software that way. Or find someone who hasn't upgraded and hit them up for a copy. If you are really in the weeds you could look at some paid alternatives to iSync, like Missing Sync, which works with some phones but not all under Lion. As for Front Row, there is software like Plex which is free and Media Central from Equinux which isn't.

This issue is a little different from the tightening specs that have messed up Apple Mail for some, and created problems for network attached storage drives.

What do you think? Is Apple being a bit too proactive for you at deleting working software?

iSync: Who stole my software? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone augmented reality browser Junaio used to "block" billboards in NYC 1 Aug 2011, 4:00 pm

PublicAdCampaign and The Heavy Projects worked together to include an ad-scrubbing feature in the augmented reality browser Junaio. This trial feature lets NYC residents replace outdoor advertisements in a handful of locations including Times Square with art from indie artists/activists. This is a beta test of what may become a larger project to digital remove outdoor ads from our environment. They hope to compile enough art work "so you never have to look at an ad in public space again." PublicAdCampaign and the artists involved in this project believe public space belongs to the public and they take a strong stance against outdoor advertising. This AR app is their way or legally removing these ads from the public view.

iPhone augmented reality browser Junaio used to "block" billboards in NYC originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW's Daily iPhone App: Matchlings 1 Aug 2011, 3:00 pm

Ah, match-3. It's now a tried and true form, and if you're like me, just the idea of matching three gems, shapes, or what have you is enough to keep you interested in a game. Enter Villian's Matchlings, a match-3 game where you're matching actual characters, of all things. The gimmick here is that (much like Snood, actually), the characters are alive even as you match them, which means that they'll not only make faces and react to you as you play, but you can also double-tap them for various special abilities and power-ups.

There's nothing super new here -- it's match-3 through and through, and it'd be even nice if Villian, a company that really went out on a limb with their first game, the FPS for iOS Archetype, tried something a little different or new with this one. But you can't really go wrong with match-3, and that was probably their thinking with this one.

If you want something original, you'll have to look elsewhere. But if you just can't get enough of match-3 (a genre that seems perfectly made for iOS and this platform), Matchlings is available on the iPhone for US 99 cents.

TUAW's Daily iPhone App: Matchlings originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Adobe introduces Edge, the HTML 5 tool with an eye towards open improvements 1 Aug 2011, 7:01 am

Adobe's new HTML 5 authoring tool, Edge, is now available for download. Edge aims to be a "web motion and interaction design tool that allows web designers to bring animation, similar to that created in Flash Professional, to websites using standards likes HTML, JavaScript and CSS."

While we give Adobe flack for Flash Player's Mac woes, the truth is that the Flash platform successfully brought a higher level of animation and interaction to the web long before HTML 5 was in the picture. When Apple unequivocally said Flash would not be supported on iOS, I knew Adobe (despite some infamous bluster) wouldn't sit idly by and let HTML 5 be a cash cow for other developers.

Enter Edge, Adobe's effort to offer web developers a choice. Edge is a free beta, and more importantly, it's a first version of an application which Adobe states will be developed in the open with the aid of the web developer community. In fact, according to Adobe this isn't even "beta" yet -- they are releasing the application before it even reaches that status in an effort to ensure that what developers want the most gets in the app first. For now, Edge is a very simple (but still useful) tool.

Edge is currently limited to basic animation and simple page layout. Users of timeline-based applications will immediately grok Edge's simple UI and timeline for HTML 5 animation. Of course, just like in Dreamweaver, you can access code directly. Edge creates pretty clean code, but as an early product it isn't doing anything particularly difficult yet. Edge is primarily designed for WebKit-based browsers, as Adobe has contributed to WebKit; the in-app sandbox browser is also WebKit-based.

When I spoke to Adobe I asked about integration with their other products, as I see the Adobe pipeline and workflow being a competitive advantage when comparing Edge to competitors such as Tumultco's Hype. As this is so early in the development stage, I was told that features like integration with other Adobe tools would happen, but at a later date. This initial push is to open the floodgates of feedback, and Adobe will shovel in features as needed.

I do hope Edge is a success for Adobe. While not all of the company's decisions make sense, there's no doubt that Adobe makes strong tools for designers and developers. If Edge helps make better, faster, standards-compliant websites for everyone, I think that's great. Download Edge here and take it for a test drive. Then be sure to let us know in the comments what you think.

Adobe introduces Edge, the HTML 5 tool with an eye towards open improvements originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Talkcast, July 31, 2011: Practically August edition! 1 Aug 2011, 12:00 am

You don't always know who will show up to talk Apple news with us, so it might be best if you just showed up to see for yourself. As a bonus, I'll rock a little aftershow for the live crowd. If they're good.

It's really all about you, the community, so please join me won't you? To participate, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for +5 Interactivity, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (Viva free weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8.

If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Blink or X-Lite SIP clients, basic instructions are here. (If you like Blink, the pro version is available in the Mac App Store.) Talk to you tonight!

TUAW Talkcast, July 31, 2011: Practically August edition! originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crux360 raises the bar for iPad 2 Bluetooth keyboard cases 31 Jul 2011, 12:00 am

Just yesterday, I reviewed the Qmadix Portfolio case for iPad 2 and was favorably impressed. It's too bad I didn't wait a day, because I could have done a smackdown between it and the new Crux360 (US$149). Both keyboard cases are a sign that manufacturers are doing their homework, listening to consumers, and producing innovative new designs to protect and enhance the iPad 2.

Design

The Crux360 comes in an attractive box that when opened, reveals the case wrapped in a reusable monofiber drawstring bag. Power is provided to the keyboard's lithium-ion polymer battery through a standard micro-USB to USB connector that can be plugged into an iPad 2 power brick or any Mac or PC USB port for charging. While charging, a bright red LED just above the keyboard glows; it's helpful, but you can't tell when charging is done if you have the lid of the case down.

The Crux360 is a hard shell keyboard case, not a soft leather portfolio like the Qmadix. It can be used in four different modes: laptop mode, where the keyboard and iPad work together as a mini-laptop; movie mode, propping the screen up in landscape orientation for easy video viewing; tablet mode, where you're using the iPad in its native mode; and carry mode, in which the case is closed and protecting the iPad from scratches and dings.

The hard shell of the case has a soft-touch finish, meaning that it is easy to grip and not likely to slip out of your hand. The hinge that connects the "screen" portion of the case with the keyboard is the namesake of the Crux360, as it will rotate through a full 360°. This hinge is very stiff, which allows the case to hold your iPad in the assorted modes without the various props and velcro tabs that you see on so many other cases.

Gallery: Crux360 Bluetooth Keyboard Case

Inserting an iPad 2 into the case is a cinch -- the top of the case is in two parts, so you just pop the iPad 2 in, press the two parts together until they click. This takes a little force, but you will feel confident that the iPad isn't going to fall out of the case.

What's interesting about the design is that the keyboard has four "feet", one in each corner. Sure enough, when you're using the Crux360 in movie mode or have it flat on a table in tablet mode, those feet keep the keys from being accidentally depressed. Of course, you'll probably want to turn off the keyboard if you're using the Crux360 and iPad in your lap.

The Crux360 keyboard has a power-saving mode that makes the most of the 510 mAh battery by switching to a low power setting after two minutes of non-use. Touching any key brings the keyboard back to full life. As with the Qmadix keyboard yesterday, the Crux360 has replaced function keys with a bunch of iPad-specific keys. There are 17 altogether on the Crux360, six of which provide the same music-related track/play/volume functions. The copy and paste buttons are accompanied by select all and cut buttons, and there's a special button for changing the language on the iPad.

Finally, the Crux360 works like the Apple Smart Cover, automatically turning on your iPad 2 when the case is opened and turning it off when it's closed.

Functionality

How did the Crux360 do in my tests? Very well, thank you. As with the similarly-priced Qmadix keyboard case, the Crux360 has a very high-quality feel to it. While I'm not sure how long a "normal" charge takes, I was able to charge up the Crux360's battery in about 90 minutes prior to testing.

Turning on the keyboard just takes a five-second press on the dished On button. The red power light glows for a second, letting you know that the keyboard is on. To pair the keyboard with an iPad 2, there's a small button that makes up part of the power light. Pressing it for several seconds puts the keyboard in discoverable mode, at which point pairing with the iPad is done quickly.

The hinge on the Crux360 is almost infinitely adjustable and holds the iPad in place in a variety of positions. Crux Case says that the hinge is good for up to 10,000 open/close cycles, so it should outlast most iPads.

The keyboard has a good feel, but is a bit loud in operation. One thing I didn't like was the size of the delete button -- on the Qmadix Portfolio, the delete button was almost normal sized. Here, it was the size of any of the regular letter or number keys. In addition, there were three command keys, as well as two shift keys on the right side of the keyboard. Right next to the Enter / Return key is another Enter key. There's nothing wrong with the extra keys, but the placement and number of the keys just seems ... odd.

Putting the case onto an iPad 2 is really quite simple, as everything slides into place. Pulling the iPad 2 back out of the case was another matter -- I had to enlist my wife's help in holding onto the keyboard side of the case while I pulled the iPad out with the other. Crux Case notes that you may need "extra hands" available when removing the case, and they certainly weren't kidding.

The Bottom Line

The Crux360 is a very versatile and well-made keyboard case for the iPad 2. The solidity of the case is excellent, and the price is not out of line with other keyboard cases. Other than the odd placement of several keys on the keyboard, I was able to quickly start touch-typing on it. As an iPad stand, the Crux360 also does a good job although it doesn't work in portrait orientation.

If you're considering using your iPad 2 as a laptop replacement, you might want to wait for a few months. Crux Case is coming out with a new case called the Crux Loaded that will feature a Bluetooth trackpad for actually controlling the cursor on the iPad screen. Crux plans on charging a steep $249 for the Crux Loaded, which means that the total price tag for a mid-range iPad 2 and the keyboard case would start getting into the range of an entry level MacBook Air.

For a student or commuter who wants to protect an iPad 2 while having a Bluetooth keyboard on hand for fast typing, the Crux360 is perfect.

Crux360 raises the bar for iPad 2 Bluetooth keyboard cases originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple adds 90 second song previews to some international music stores 30 Jul 2011, 9:00 pm

Apple has extended song previews to 90 seconds in some international iTunes music stores. As noted by MacRumors, the extended previews are available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other parts of Europe. As with the US store, not all songs will have 90 second previews; some are still limited to 30 seconds.

When Apple first began offering 90 second song previews in the US back in December they apparently did so without consulting the music labels. Instead they simply added a new agreement to iTunes Connect that the labels had to accept to continue adding songs to iTunes. It read: "We are pleased to let you know that we are preparing to increase the length of music previews from 30 seconds to 90 seconds on the iTunes Store in the United States. We believe that giving potential customers more time to listen to your music will lead to more purchases."

Have 90 second song previews appeared a country not listed above? Let us know in the comments.

Apple adds 90 second song previews to some international music stores originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Qmadix Portfolio brings removable Bluetooth keyboard to an iPad 2 case 30 Jul 2011, 2:00 am

I haven't been a real fan of most keyboard cases for iPad for three main reasons -- the keyboards are usually tiny, they use "chiclet" keys, and they're stuck in one place and can't be moved around. Accessory manufacturer Qmadix has just introduced the Qmadix Portfolio with Removable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 2 ($149.99) that promises to change all of that. How does it live up to the promise? Read on for my complete look at this new contender.

Design

Compared to most of the portfolio cases that we've tested over the years, the Qmadix Portfolio has a feel of quality around it. The leather exterior is smooth and beautiful, and the stitching is close and tight.

As for the keyboard, the keys are closer together than on the $69 Apple Bluetooth Keyboard, but it's a real keyboard with a good feel to it. It's also made with Apple fans in mind -- unlike most of the iPad keyboard cases we see that are repackaged Windows BT keyboards, complete with a Windows button to bring up the Start Menu. Not with this keyboard, which actually has the Apple command key properly marked and in the correct place.

The keyboard comes encased in a leather holder that attaches to the main case with magnets. The keyboard is inset a bit, so the leather acts as a nice wrist pad that is actually quite comfortable while typing.The case also has a magnetic latch to keep the cover closed for travel. There's a four-foot micro-USB to USB charging cable to keep the keyboard battery juiced up. According to Qmadix, the battery takes anywhere from four to six hours to fully charge, but will last for up to 30 days depending on usage.

Gallery: Qmadix Portfolio Removable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 2

Using the Portfolio Keyboard

The keyboard is uniquely suited for use with the iPad. The function keys we're used to on the top row of our keyboards have been replaced with iPad-specific function keys. Here's what they do:

o. Take you back to the iPad Home Screen
o. Enable the Search function of the iPad
o. Copy
o. Paste
o. Take you to the photo slideshow
o. Display or hide the virtual keyboard
o. Take a screenshot
o. Go to the previous song or track
o. Play / Pause
o. Go to the next song or track
o. Mute the iPad
o. Raise the volume
o. Lower the volume
o. Turn off the iPad (lock screen)
o. Switch the font on the virtual keyboard

I was able to get all of the function keys to work except one. I couldn't figure out what apps the last button was meant to work with. Remember, you'll still need to tap on your iPad screen for certain commands, but the function keys can keep you from having to do too much tapping. There is at least one other keyboard with these same function keys -- the Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2 by Zagg.

How's the feel of the keyboard? I liked the tactile feedback of the keys, but found that they were a little too close together for my style of typing. That's a common issue with most portfolio keyboard cases, since they're trying to keep the size of the portfolio down to the size of the iPad. I'd frankly rather see someone make a nice case that would hold a keyboard the same size as the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard -- heck, just make a nice portfolio that would hold an iPad and an Appel Bluetooth Keyboard. That being said, I was able to get used to the Qmadix keyboard very quickly.

The Bottom Line

So who is the Portfolio for? With the price tag, it's most likely going to appeal to executives or those who are willing to pay a bit more for the quality and convenience. Those who are looking for a cheaper alternative can find many other Bluetooth keyboards, not the least of which would be the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. The Kensington Folio Keyboard ($100), ClamCase ($149), the CaseGoods TypeCase ($149), and Logitech Keyboard by Zagg ($100) all use a similar design, but with fixed keyboards. Heck, if you have the Apple Camera Kit, you could probably pick up a flexible Monoprice USB keyboard for $7 and use it, but I don't think you'd be happy with the chiclet keyboard.

The Qmadix Portfolio feels great to type on and the iPad-specific function buttons are well-implemented. The case itself is quite stylish and looks like it would stand up to a lot of use, and it's nice to know that the keyboard can be moved to a comfortable spot for any typist. Of all the portfolio keyboard cases on the market right now, the Qmadix Portfolio is the best of the bunch.

Qmadix Portfolio brings removable Bluetooth keyboard to an iPad 2 case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hack adds NFC payment to your iPhone 30 Jul 2011, 1:00 am

Apple is rumored to be adding NFC support to the iPhone at some point in the future, but here's a way you can add wireless payments to your iPhone right now. You don't have to solder an NFC chipset, install any applications or even apply a sticker, all you have to do is pop off the back of the iPhone and stick an NFC payment card inside. The procedure is detailed over at Unplggd and it seems easy, once you overcome the fear of cracking the glass back of your iPhone.

Hack adds NFC payment to your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Washington Post reflects on Lion's first week of availability 30 Jul 2011, 12:30 am

Like the rest of us, the Washington Post is taking a look at Lion after a week of use. It's mostly positive, but writer Hayley Tsukayama finds Lion a bit quirky. Chief criticisms are the change to natural scrolling (which can be turned off) and some of the complicated gestures when using a track pad. Mission Control also gets a thumbs down.

The positives from Tsukayama's perspective are the stability, overall simplicity and increased security of Lion. The article suggests a person test drive it for awhile before pulling the trigger if you harbor some doubts. I know in my case I turned off many of the new features to make Lion more like Snow Leopard. I was also disappointed in the mail bugs (it just doesn't work with some POP accounts and I have a 13 year old legacy account I still want to use) and my network attached storage is defunct unless I get (fingers crossed) a firmware update.

OK, readers. After a week of use is Lion a hit or a miss for you? Or more of a mixed bag? What should Apple do to make you happy?

The Washington Post reflects on Lion's first week of availability originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google updates its search page for the iPad 30 Jul 2011, 12:00 am

Google is rolling out an update to its google.com search page that'll make it even more tablet-friendly. Text, buttons and other page elements are now slightly bigger and easy to touch with those big, fat fingers. Like it or not, the page now shares that Google+ look as well. The improved interface is available for the iPad and Android 3.1 tablets across 36 different languages. It's a rolling update so if you don't see it at first, keep checking back.

[Via Mashable]

Google updates its search page for the iPad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T to throttle speeds for some unlimited data users 29 Jul 2011, 11:45 pm

AT&T announced today that it's throttling back the speed that the highest-usage unlimited data subscribers can use on the network.

Starting Oct. 1, these high-use customers could experience reduced speeds on AT&T network once they've hit a data limit for the month. They'll still be able to access data, but at a much slower speed. The company said that it would provide notices and a grace period before cutting back on the user's speed. It'll be restored to full strength at the beginning of the customer's next billing cycle.

AT&T says that this only affects 5 percent of the heavier data users on the service. These people use more than 12 times the rest of data users combined. As 9to5Mac reported, Verizon and Virgin have also adopted similar plans to deal with bandwidth hogs. While AT&T hasn't released its data threshold, 9to5Mac gives Virgin's, which is 256Kb/s once you've reached a 2.5 GB limit. It wouldn't be shocking to see AT&T have a similar limit. Most likely, the upper threshold will be around 4GB, which is the company's top-tier data plan at this time.

AT&T to throttle speeds for some unlimited data users originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mint "busy developing an iPad App" 29 Jul 2011, 11:30 pm

Apple fans who are still looking for a replacement for Quicken or Quicken Essentials on the Mac might want to hold out for the Mint iPad app. The company has been hounded by iPad users for quite some time to make a native app, and TUAW reader Steve C. pointed out that the company has admitted that they're working on a "brand new experience for the iPad."

In the note above, found on Mint's GetSatisfaction support forum, Mint Customer Advocacy Director Stephen Mann notes that they can't confirm any dates yet and are asking Mint users to "please hold on for just a little while longer."

Mint's free iPhone app has been extremely popular with users, with a 4.5-star rating for the current version on the App Store. The company is part of Intuit, and its web-based app is known for excellent budgeting and automatic categorization functions.

Mint "busy developing an iPad App" originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Five apps for the new Mom or Dad 29 Jul 2011, 11:00 pm

Nothing compares to cradling your first newborn baby in your arms. It's a memorable moment you'll never forget. Though holding a newborn never grows tiring (trust me I know), there are other parts of parenting such as nursing and colic that can be a challenge. Here are five iOS apps to help you navigate the sometimes rocky, but always rewarding time of being a new Mom or Dad:

Baby Shusher ($4.99)

Baby Shusher is an app to help calm your fussy baby. It uses a quiet shushing sound that mimics the sound of the womb. There's a timer that lets you "shush" for up to 8 hours and an equalizer that adjusts the volume according to your baby's cries. The latest version of the app adds in support for forums so you can share your experiences with other moms. Baby Shusher requires iOS 4.2 or later and is compatible with the iPhone, 4G iPod Touch (NOT 2G or 3G iPod Touch) and iPad.

Baby Geek ($0.99)

Raising a newborn is a science. You have to watch its weight, count its diapers and keep track of its sleep. Once your child begins to grow, you'll want to record milestones both for medical reasons and posterity sake. To help with this technical part of child rearing, you'll want to check out Baby Geek. Baby Geek is a logging and analysis app custom-made for tracking babies up to age 3. Besides tracking your baby, Baby Geek also has a syncing option so you can share important baby information. There's also an email option so you can send the stats to your doctor or another caregiver. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.

Baby Monitor and Alarm ($2.99)

Baby Monitor and Alarm lets you use two iOS devices as a baby monitoring system. You leave one device in the room and carry around the other so you can hear your baby while it sleeps. The app also plays soothing music from your iTunes library. You can even record your own voice and have it play back while your infant falls asleep. When the baby begins to stir, an alert function will call you on any phone number. It's great for home use, even better for when you're traveling. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later.

Skrappy Digital Scrapbook ($2.99)

Skrappy is a digital scrapbooking app for the iPad. It'll let you take those cute baby pictures and turn them into a keepsake. It's a full-fledged scrapbooking app with support for images, videos, clip art, backgrounds and more. If you want to take pictures of your baby, make them cute and share them with the grandparents, this is the app do it. Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.

Diapers.com Free (Free)

Unless you go the cloth route, diapers are a fact of life for every parent of a newborn. And, boy, are they expensive which is why it's so nice to have the diapers.com app on your iOS device. The app is a mobile interface for the diaper.com website which offers diapers at a discount. You can place new orders and track existing orders right from your phone. It also has a scanning feature so you can do some comparison shopping if you find yourself hunting down wipes at your local Target or Wal-Mart. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later.

Five apps for the new Mom or Dad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple selling more tablets every 2 weeks as Motorola will all year 29 Jul 2011, 10:30 pm

Motorola announced yesterday that it expects to sell anywhere from 1.3 to 1.5 million Xoom Android tablets for the year. By comparison, Apple figures disclosed during the third quarter financial call show that the company sells that at least that many iPad 2s every two weeks.

The Xoom was widely expected by Motorola to be an "iPad-killer," and the company was the first to market with an Android tablet. Unfortunately, being first meant that there were very few apps available for the device, that the Xoom didn't ship with support for 4G LTE, and that it isn't running the Android 3.x "Honeycomb" operating system found on competing Android tablets.

Not only is Motorola selling fewer Xooms than expected, but the devices are being sold at a discount to clear out inventories in anticipation of new Motorola tablets rolling out later this year. The company is placing its future hopes on tablets and smartphones that will operate on Verizon's fast 4G LTE network.

In the meantime, Apple is steamrolling over the company that used to be the undisputed leader in mobile technology, and doing it without the one feature that Motorola touted in its 2011 Super Bowl ad -- Adobe Flash.

Apple selling more tablets every 2 weeks as Motorola will all year originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW's Daily Mac App: Producteev 29 Jul 2011, 10:00 pm

Task management is something most loathe but have to do to keep productive. Producteev, a previously web and iPhone app focused task management service has just launched a Mac app.

Producteev focuses on creating and managing tasks with the ability to connect those tasks with other people, other services and sync them to the web. You can create tasks in different categories, arrange them by due date, attach notes and files to them, and even comment on them.

You can set up alerts for deadlines and get notified through the app itself, Growl, the Menu bar or Dock icons, or even via email and Gcal with a little help from the web app. You can also apply customizable color coded labels to your tasks to help you differentiate them from one another, as well as "Star" them with a rating from one to five.

For an individual, Producteev could be a little over complicated for what you need unless you're a serious multi-level task manager. But for a team, Producteev allows you to share tasks, create and assign them to others (individuals and groups of people) and has the potential to make collaborative tasks just that little bit easier. Comments and file attachments allow adjustments and additions to a task, while everyone can monitor progress and pitch in if needed.

The Mac app portion of Producteev is free and so is an individual account with up to two users sharing workspaces. If you want more plans start at US$5 per month and reach up to $30 a month for unlimited users and 1.5 GB of file storage (with a two-week free trial).

TUAW's Daily Mac App: Producteev originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.