MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

Apple policies drive Facebook iPhone app developer to quit

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/facebook.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Developer Joe Hewitt, the driving force behind Facebook's iPhone app, has quit working with Apple's platform to protest the company's review policies, according to TechCrunch. The well-known developer passed off the project to another software engineer, although he will still work with Facebook on projects for other platforms....

Microsoft: mobile apps aren't important

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/rayozzie.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Mobile apps aren't an important factor in the success of a smartphone platform, Microsoft chief software architect Ray Ozzie claimed today. Interviewed at the company's Professional Developer Conference, the veteran developer tried to downplay apps as a lure and insisted that "all the apps that count" will be available on every smartphone as the time to write and port code is much shorter than on the desktop. Ozzie instead implied that it was the OS itself and its built-in features that would make the difference....

Jobs: Forced name change 'not that big of a deal'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/stevejobs-bw.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple CEO Steve Jobs has chastised a Mac developer in response to a letter regarding a name change, reports say. The CEO of Little App Factory, John Devor, says he was recently served a notice by Apple lawfirm Baker & McKenzie, asking him to change the name of iPodRip, a program used to transfer content from an iPod or iPhone back to a Mac. Devor decided to plead his case with Jobs directly, writing an elaborate e-mail message....

Apple wins judgment against Psystar

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/psystaropenduo.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple this week won a decisive victory in its lawsuit against clone maker Psystar. Judge William Alsup has ruled in a summary judgment that the Florida-based defendant had violated copyright laws, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) through creating and selling PCs with unauthorized copies of Mac OS X. By modifying the Mac OS X bootloader and kernel extensions to allow non-Apple hardware to run, Psystar has violated Apple's "exclusive right" to determine how and where Mac OS X runs, the judgment reads....

Psystar claims it cracked Mac OS X on its own

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/gallery/sep2009/psystar.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Psystar co-founders and brothers Rudy Kendall and Robert Kendall have shed light on the beginnings of their company, including a claim they cracked Mac OS X on their own, according to an interview with Miami New Times. After growing up in a family that could not afford the early Macs, Robert set out to learn how to run Apple's operating system on cheaper computers....

Ballmer: it "matters" that Apple has gained share

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/steveballmer-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer today warned at a yearly shareholders' meeting that the company needed to improve the standing of Windows in the future. The executive was emphatic that Microsoft was still in a comfortable position with "96 out of 100" choosing Windows worldwide but acknowledged that Apple had cut into Microsoft's share in the past year. He downplayed the amount, labeling it a "a couple of tenths of a percent" but added that even the claimed amount was significant and worth fighting for....

Developer quits iPhone over App Store rejections

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/ast.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Software developer Rogue Amoeba has claimed plans to quit iPhone development, citing what it calls the "broken" nature of the App Store approval process. In July the company submitted a bugfix for Airfoil Speakers Touch (AST), an app streaming audio from computers running the Airfoil desktop client. Amoeba complains that the corrected version has only just become available, as a result of three rejections which ultimate forced it to remove existing functionality....

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Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

Verizon seen turning to Palm; Droid "disappointing?"

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/palmpre-sprintsm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Palm may prove to be Verizon's best hope if the Droid line doesn't bear fruit, Kaufman Bros analyst Shaw Wu said in a note today. He points to contacts within the cell industry and supply chain that suggest Verizon will carry one or more of Palm's webOS phones, such as the Pre or Pixi, sometime in 2010. Sales of both the Motorola Droid and HTC's Droid Eris have purportedly been "somewhat disappointing" and may lead to Verizon using Palm to bolster its smartphone catalog....

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Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

Microsoft patents sudo system used in Mac OS X, Linux?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/microsoftretailconstruction-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The USPTO recently granted Microsoft a patent, No. 7,617,530, which describes a method for running a command as an administrator. The filing has sparked outrage by many, including Groklaw blogger Pamela Jones, who believe the company has simply rebranded the sudo Unix command developed in the 1980s by members of the Computer Science department at SUNY/Buffalo....

AT&T strikes back at Verizon with new 3G commercials

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/wilson.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />AT&T has fired back at Verizon's "there's a map for that" commercials by launching its own critical ad. The carrier hired film actor Luke Wilson, who guides viewers through a chart comparing several aspects of the 3G networks. Wilson credits AT&T with having the fastest network, the ability to simultaneously use voice and Internet, the most popular smartphones and access to over 100,000 apps....

Second Microsoft official denies Mac influence on Windows 7

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/windows7startmenu-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The appearance of Windows 7 is not based on Mac OS X, says Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, writing on the official Windows Blog. A Microsoft partner group manager, Simon Aldous, recently told the the press that the "look and feel" of the new OS was based deliberately on the "graphical and easy to use" nature of the Mac interface, allegedly one of its main draws. Windows 7 does feature elements strongly similar to Mac OS X, such as the Expose-like Aero Peek and a Dock-like taskbar....

AT&T demands Verizon pull 3G ads

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone-verizonchristmasad.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />AT&T late Wednesday amended its lawsuit against Verizon to demand its rival pull its ads. The new version of the complaint asks the Federal Court to block all Verizon ads attacking AT&T's 3G coverage and would silence much of Verizon's marketing campaign for the holidays. AT&T acknowledges that the coverage map itself is accurate for 3G but implies no coverage in many of the areas AT&T still services with 2G....

Dell chases Mac mini with official Zino HD

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:55:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/dellzinohd.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Dell this morning officially unveiled its most direct attempt at claiming the ultra-compact desktop space currently held by the Mac mini. Shown after multiple teases, the Inspiron Zino HD occupies roughly the same footprint as its Apple counterpart but uses AMD processors to keep the costs low while still supplying options its rival doesn't have. The micro PC is seen as a home theater PC and comes with native HDMI output as well as options of discrete Radeon HD 4330 graphics and a Blu-ray drive....

New Get a Mac ad takes over YouTube

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/youtubead.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has deployed a new Get a Mac ad, this time directed not at TV audiences but at YouTube viewers. Mac (Justin Long) and PC (John Hodgman) stand at one side of the front page, watching security camera footage at the top showing former PC users entering Apple Stores. The people are switching instead of upgrading to Windows 7, Hodgman complains, because Apple is highest in customer satisfaction, and since they would have to migrate files anyway, they might as well switch to a Mac....

AT&T issues customer memo attacking Verizon ads

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone-verizonchristmasad.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />AT&T has turned to direct communication in order to discourage customers from believing recent Verizon TV ads. The carrier has issued a new memo, claiming the ads are "so blatantly false and misleading" that it has to "set the record straight" about data coverage. It notes for instance that roughly 233 million Americans should have access to AT&T 3G, while 301 million can fall back to EDGE (2.5G) service, and 303 million have at least GPRS....

Verizon: AT&T sued over 3G ads because "the truth hurts"

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/map.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Verizon has filed a response to AT&T's lawsuit which had sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) to ban the "there's a map for that" ads critical of the latter carrier's 3G coverage. Verizon defends its ad campaign, claiming the coverage maps are accurate and clearly labeled as 3G networks. AT&T argues that the ads mislead customers to believe the comparison includes 2G coverage....

Belgian theft grabs approximately $3 million in iPhones

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone3gs-3sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Between 3,000 and 4,000 iPhones have been stolen from CEVA Logistics in Willebroek, Belgium, according to regional newspapers De Standaard and Gazet van Antwerpen. Although the exact number of phones taken is uncertain, each one is estimated to have been worth between €575 and €675, putting the total value of the robbery around €2 million, or $3 million US. It is suspected that the thieves had inside information, as they cut a hole in the roofing precisely over where the iPhones were being held....

Dell misses targets, sees income plunge 54%

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/delladamoxps.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Dell today posted disappointing results for its latest quarter ended in October. The company saw its year-over-year revenue drop 15 percent to about $12.9 billion and its net income drop even further, falling 54 percent to $337 million. Both decreases were blamed on poor results both in the public sector and in its staple home PC business, where its shipments were up about 17 percent compared to a year earlier but its revenue was down 10 percent, an indication that many buyers were opting for less expensive PCs....

Dell Adamo XPS to ship just days before Christmas

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/delladamoxps-2.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Dell today at last began taking orders for the Adamo XPS teased over the past several months. The system comes in just one default configuration and color, arriving for $1,799 with a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium. Contrary to earlier reports, the system will use just Intel's GMA 4500 graphics instead of NVIDIA hardware....

Review: 27-inch iMac with Core i5

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/imac27inch-review.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The 27-inch iMac is already a milestone for Apple through its inclusion of a truly greater-than-HD display, but the addition of Core i5 and Core i7 processors transforms it into a near powerhouse. This is the first iMac in recent memory to come close enough to Apple's workstations that it could replace one of them. Our review of the Core i5-equipped iMac will find out how close it comes to that goal and whether it's a worthwhile option for any other prospective Mac desktop owner....

Leaks 'confirm' DS, PSP sequels will outrun iPod

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/nintendodsill.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Talk of Nintendo using Tegra 2 gained support today through new sources of information that also point to a faster Sony PSP. Detailed explanations given to DigitalFoundry say the sequel to the DSi should use the future NVIDIA processor and not only see a "colossal" jump in speed versus the DS line but could be as fast as the Wii while supporting more visual effects....

Droid topping 250,000 users in one week?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/motodroid-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />A new set of extrapolated data from location network developer uLocate suggests that active users of the Droid may have more than doubled in the first week of sales. Third-party estimates indicated that Verizon may have only sold 100,000 launch units, but uLocate says it will have detected about 25,000 new Droids on its network by Saturday. As uLocate's information usually represents about 10 percent of the actual user base of a phone when it's new, the figure would translate to about 250,000 total Droid users....

Windows 7 design takes cues from Mac OS X, says MS manager

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/windows7homepremium-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The "look and feel" of the Windows 7 interface borrows from Macs, according to a Microsoft partner group manager, Simon Aldous. "One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it's very graphical and easy to use," explains Aldous in an interview. "What we�ve tried to do with Windows 7 -- whether it's traditional format or in a touch format -- is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics."...

Dell steps up green wars with bamboo boxes

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/dellmini10-bamboobox.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Dell today boasted an industry first by becoming the first to ship its computers in bamboo packaging. The Mini 10 and 10v will have boxes made primarily of the more efficient material, which regrows much faster than the trees used for cardboard and is more easily renewable. As it takes as much stress as steel, it even provides more protection and replaces not just cardboard but also the foam normally used to cushion against an impact....

Verizon "very pleased" with early Droid sales

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/motodroid-3.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Verizon today responded to predictions for Motorola Droid sales with only a brief statement on their actual results (subscription required). A spokeswoman for the carrier declined to say whether or not a rough estimate of 250,000 Droids sold is accurate but did say the company is "very pleased" with sales in just over a week since the Android phone reached stores. Verizon doesn't normally provide sales breakdowns for phones and doesn't intend one for the Droid, she says....

Bill Gates commends Steve Jobs for salvaging Apple

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/billgates.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, speaking on a Thursday-night CNBC program, is noted to have complimented Steve Jobs on his return to Apple, crediting him for effectively saving the company. Gates was on TV as part of a "Keeping America Great" town hall event, paired with billionaire investor Warren Buffett. One audience member asked Gates' opinion of Jobs, specifically in regards to the latter's contributions as a CEO....

Live: Google's Chrome OS event

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/googlechromeos.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Google provided its first public details of Chrome OS at a special event today. Electronista supplied coverage of the just-ended even; all updates are listed in reverse chronological order. Among the news unveiled are the first public view of the OS, that there will be no beta today and that the platform is being open-sourced early as Chromium OS a year ahead of its planned late 2010 release....

Apple patent points to tablet with pen support

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/applepentabletpatent.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple's rumored tablet may have the option of a pen for input, a US patent filing published today suggests. The application for a patent on getting ink data from "pen-aware computer systems" shows an example device with slight interface cues from the Newton, such as the bottom icon tray, but with a significantly different design and a different engine. Apple in the description makes clear that the technology would be an improvement on the writing systems implemented in the defunct PDA....

Apple tablets pushed to 2H 2010, to get OLED model?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:35:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/appletablet-mockup.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple may have delayed the launch of its repeatedly rumored tablet line to incorporate newer parts that could include an OLED touchscreen, a purported leak claims today. While an often mentioned 10.6-inch version with an LCD is still deemed on tap, the entire line may have been moved to the second half of 2010 to accommodate a 9.7-inch OLED from LG Display. The company may be delaying the launch to wait for OLED prices to fall, as a panel costs $500 today where Apple could save $200 to $300 just by waiting several months....

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Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:35:00 EST

Zune HD's first 3D games go live

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/zunehd-projectgotham.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Microsoft today quietly added its promised 3D games to the Zune Marketplace. The new mix brings games that better take advantage of the Zune HD's Tegra graphics chip and are highlighted by Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Vans Sk8: Pool Service and AudioSurf Tilt. Other games have also been added to the small catalog, such as Lucky Lane Bowling and Piano....

Apple pulls wraps off of Upper West Side NYC store

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/uws.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has revealed that its Upper West Side store -- based in New York City -- will open to the public at 10AM on November 14th. The outlet is Apple's fourth in Manhattan and 280th worldwide; it will employ over 200 workers, and on its basement level feature the company's "largest area ever" devoted to training and tech support, for instance incorporating a 45-foot Genius Bar. Normal operating hours will run from 9AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday, and 9AM to 7PM on Sunday....

Firefox most vulnerable browser, Safari close

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/firefox35-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Despite stereotypes, Mozilla's Firefox is significantly more vulnerable to web attacks than any of its rivals, a Cenzic study (PDF) claimed late yesterday. About 44 percent of the 3,100 exploits tracked by the researchers attacked the open-source browser where only 15 percent of them would work in Internet Explorer. Safari is notably much closer to Firefox in vulnerability as 35 percent of exploits could affect the platform, while Opera's small market share left just 6 percent of attacks putting it at risk....

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Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST

Nokia takeover rumor surges Palm stock

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/palmpre-adsm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Palm stock climbed over 8 percent on Friday after speculation that it would be bought out by Finland-based Nokia. Trading was about 15 times heavier than usual in the morning and remained heavy until the end of the day. The spike mirrored a similar increase from late September....

AMEX Digital puts out Mac mini Blu-ray upgrade

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:35:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/macmini-blu-ray.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />AMEX Digital today put out an internal Blu-ray drive upgrade kit for owners of current generation Mac minis. The slot-load SATA drive gives the Mac the option of burning Blu-ray discs in apps that support it as well as reading Blu-ray media at up to 4X speeds; although Macs can't yet play Blu-ray movies directly, AMEX suggests using VLC to load the raw video files. Boot Camp gives access to regular movie playback....

USBfever launches iPhone telescope, Smart Stand

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/teltemp.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />USBfever has released two new products in its line of iPhone and iPod accessories, the 8X Telescope with Hard Case and the Smart Stand. The telescope is designed for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and attaches via the case, offering 8X optical zoom when capturing images. A focus ring is mounted on the lens, and an included stand can be attached for stability....

ShopSavvy barcode scanning app arrives on iPhone platform

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/scannersml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Big In Japan's popular Android app ShopSavvy has finally been ported to the iPhone platform. The software utilizes the phone's integrated camera to scan barcodes, enabling users to quickly view information such as local and online prices and inventory availability. The app was believed to be awaiting the auto-focus capabilities of the latest iPhone 3GS, however the developer claims it is compatible with the full range of iPhone generations....

Microsoft defeat in Chinese suit bans Windows XP

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/xpstartmenu-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Microsoft today lost a lawsuit that could temporarly block it from selling netbooks and other PCs in China (registration required). A Beijing Intermediary People�s Court determined on Tuesday that two fonts used in Windows 98 SE, 2000, XP and Server 2003 weren't properly licensed from Zhongyi Electronic and that Microsoft must pull sales of any of those releases from the Chinese market. The two companies already had a license agreement but have disagreed over what it covered....

Microsoft vows GPU acceleration, standards in IE9

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/ie9-pdc2009.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Microsoft on the second day of its Professional Developers Conference by providing an early look at Internet Explorer 9. The new browser is just three weeks into development but is already expected to significantly outperform its predecessor. The new version will take advantage of hardware acceleration from graphics chipsets that support D2D in DirectX to offload many of the visual elements of browsing, such as maps or sub-pixel rendering. Microsoft's aim is to let the hardware "shine through" in the browser, chief software architect Steven Sinofsky said....

Wondershare launches iPhone Ringtone Maker for Mac

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src=' http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/ringtemp.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Wondershare Software has launched its newest audio/video conversion software, iPhone Ringtone Maker for Mac. The app enables users to convert almost any audio or video file for use on the iPhone, while providing options to create and transfer ringtones. Its equipped with a wave-form function, an editor which allows users to choose what specific sections of files they want. The utility provides control over both the starting and stopping time of ringtones. Additionally, users can add fade-in and fade-out effects to their edited audio or video clips....

Conde preps Wired for Apple tablet without Apple help

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/appletablet-mockup.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Magazine publisher Cond� Nast today revealed that it's taking the unusual step of optimizing its publications with Apple's rumored tablet in mind. The agency doesn't claim to MediaMemo that it's privy to Apple's design but expects Wired, and later its 17 other magazines, to be ready in a format that works with the device by mid-2010. It will allow both actual-size and optimized formats and should include both mixed media and hooks for social networking....

Google phone real, due early 2010?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/htcdragon-leak.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Google's rumored self-developed Android phone is real but has been pushed back, a scoop claimed on late Tuesday. The handset would be built by a third party, most likely LG or Samsung rather than the previously preferred HTC, but would carry only Google's branding and is said by TechCrunch to be designed almost exclusively according to Google's design. It would launch in early 2010 after a delay but would receive heavy marketing as soon as January....

Silverlight 4 beta adds support for webcams, Chrome

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/silversml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Microsoft on Wednesday released an early beta version of the upcoming Silverlight software. Version 4 adds a variety of new features including the ability to integrate HTML content within applications, while Google's Chrome browser will also be supported. The company claims performance optimizations allow apps to start quicker and run up to twice as fast as they would with Silverlight 3....

Needham downgrades Apple stock on economy, progress

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:05:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0908/Apple-ChromeLogo.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf has issued a slight downgrade to Apple stock, dropping his rating from "Strong Buy" to simply "Buy." Apple's share price has grown less than 15 percent over a recent $200 price target, he notes, meeting "admittedly arbitrary" criteria for a lower valuation. Also bearing blame is said to be the economy, which remains in recession and may be the ultimate arbiter of whether Apple makes any gains during the holiday season....

Review: Photo Mechanic photo browser

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:05:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/photomechanic-story-18.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />MacNN has reviewed Photo Mechanic, a professional photo browser that offers options for renaming, captioning and geocoding groups of photos. Photos can also be rotated, watermarked and given new metadata, as well as saved to backup. When browsing, images can be displayed in a contact sheet or else zoomed in for detail....

Google Android device to go data-only?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/android2.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Google's frequently rumored self-branded Android phone could skirt around its partners' worries by using only Internet service if a source is true. The still unknown device would primarily be intended for data and would use VoIP for its calls. At least AT&T has expressed interest in supplying the network for the phone and could let customers pay as little as $20 per month for access, although TechCrunch understands that "conditions" may be involved at that price....

Qualcomm outs hybrid HSPA+/EVDO chipset

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/qualcommchip-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Qualcomm today updated its MDM family of cellular chipsets with some of the first anywhere to support dual, advanced 3G and 4G formats. The MSM7630 supports GSM, HSPA and HSPA+ standards but will also work on CDMA phone networks and support up to EVDO Revision B for 3G on those services. The addition would let a phone work on a CDMA carrier like Sprint or Verizon but still work with AT&T or T-Mobile and roam at speeds of up to 21Mbps on networks from Rogers, other international carriers, and eventually T-Mobile USA....

Casio touts EX-G1 as slimmest rugged camera

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/casioex-g1.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Casio today added a new category to its Exilim cameras tailored just to ruggedized models. The Exilim G series is headed up by the EX-G1 and claims the title of the thinnest toughened camera: it measures just 0.78 inches but can survive drops of 7 feet and is both dustproof as well as waterproof at depths of up to 10 feet for up to an hour. Winter travelers can also use it as it operates in temperatures as low as 14F (-10C)....

Entire UK town to have free Wi-Fi

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/macbookpro-coffeesm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Swindon Borough Council is planning on offering free Wi-Fi to the entire population of its town by April of next year, says a Tuesday report. The UK town's 186,000 residents will not have to pay any connection charges or subscription fees for the service, due to be called Signal. The project will cost the equivalent of about $1.68 million and is run by newly formed Digital City UK Ltd, 35 percent of which is owned by Swindon's city council....

Core i5 iMac arrives: first benchmarks

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/imac27inch-handson.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Electronista has received one of the first Core i5 iMacs and is putting it through its paces. Since many already are already familiar with the 27-inch iMac in Core 2 Duo form, we'll provide impressions specific to the faster model. We also have some of the first benchmarks of the system, which is Apple's first quad-core system ever outside of its Mac Pro workstations....

AT&T denied injunction against Verizon ads

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone-verizonchristmasad.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Judge Timothy Batten Sr. dealt an early setback to AT&T's lawsuit against Verizon over allegedly misleading ads by refusing to grant a requested injunction that would have forced Verizon to take the ads down immediately. The US District Court ruled that the TV spots might be misunderstood but weren't harmfully deceptive, thus leaving no urgent need to change or withdraw the ads ahead of court proceedings. AT&T will have a second chance to persuade Judge Batten at one more hearing on December 16th....