MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

Vendors launch Black Friday software deals

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/office2008biz.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Several companies have begun offering Black Friday software discounts, joining others promoting hardware deals. Microsoft has notably introduced discounts on Office for Mac 2008, cutting the prices of the Home and Student Edition by $20, and the Business Edition Upgrade by $40. The complete Business Edition is temporarily $50 cheaper....

Websites launch early Black Friday Mac sales

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/macbookpro15.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Several websites have already begun Mac-related Black Friday sales, including MacMall, OnSale, ClubMac and MacConnection. MacMall is selling Minis for $550 and $745, a 2.66GHz MacBook Pro for $1,799, and a 27-inch, 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo iMac for $1,585. Its MacBook Airs are priced at $1,399 and $1,690....

Tesco to join UK iPhone sales

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/tesco.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />UK supermarket chain Tesco will soon begin carrying the iPhone, according to an announcement. Sales will be conducted by Tesco Mobile, a joint venture with O2, and provided not only via regular Tesco locations but on the web and through the company's nearly 100 dedicated Phone Shops. There are 2,282 Tesco stores in total across the UK, a factor which should help to significantly expand the reach of the iPhone....

Apple calls for permanent injunction against Psystar

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/law.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Following a recent legal victory, Apple is now calling for a permanent injunction against Psystar's operations. If granted the injunction would prevent Psystar from doing anything which might violate Apple copyrights, including bypassing controls in Mac OS X which prevent it from being freely installed on any Intel system. The company would similarly be banned from sharing the necessary decryption technology with others....

Apple, Live Nation pair on exclusive iTunes content

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/birdbee.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has signed a deal with concert promoter Live Nation, in a deal that should see a number of recordings sold exclusively through iTunes. Both audio and video offerings are planned, which will be taken from concerts recorded in 80-plus venues equipped for capturing the material. Live Nation stages over 22,000 concerts annually, though it is likely that only a fraction will become available online....

iPhone continues to encounter 'searching for service' bug

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/iphone-1.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Some iPhone owners are still suffering from an issue preventing any kind of cellular connection, posters on Apple's support forums say. After entering an area with no carrier service, or simply at random, an iPhone may launch into a "searching for service" mode from which it does not return, even when back in a known coverage area. The only way of temporarily fixing the problem is said to be rebooting a phone....

Core i7-based iMacs suffer cracked screens, DOA failures

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/imac2009.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Some buyers of the 27-inch Core i7 iMac are receiving unusuable systems, threads on Apple's support forums indicate. In a collection of cases the systems are failing to even turn on properly, at best sounding the Mac startup chime, always failing to display anything more. Apple is reportedly offering replacement iMacs for affected customers, but this may involve a shipping time of two weeks, as Core i7 is an upgrade option not normally sold at retail....

Airfoil Speakers Touch update restores product graphics

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/ast.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Rogue Amoeba says it has released v1.0.2 of Airfoil Speakers Touch, a companion app for the company's Airfoil desktop client. The former streams various forms of Mac audio to handhelds. The update makes only one change, which is to restore images of Apple hardware and software to in-app displays....

Schiller responds to App Store approval criticisms

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/philschiller.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Speaking in an interview, Phil Schiller -- Apple's senior VP of worldwide product marketing -- has responded to ongoing criticisms of the App Store approval process. A number of developers have complained that it may take weeks or months for an app to be approved. Even after such delays an app can still be rejected, sometimes for what may be considered arbitrary criteria....

Apple Black Friday deals leak online

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/applebfleak.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />With teasing having only just begun for the event, a brochure has already leaked for Apple's Black Friday sales. The document reveals conservative discounts for various products, for instance dropping the prices of iMacs to between $1,098 and $1,898. MacBook Pros are slated to cost between $1,098 and $2,448....

iPhone now 50% of all smartphone traffic worldwide

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone3gs-3sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple devices now represent exactly half of all smartphone traffic on the Internet, AdMob said today in its report for October. The iPhone has gained 10 percent of absolute share since August to reach 50 percent while Symbian has fallen again to 25 percent. Apple has identical share in the US....

Best Buy cuts Mac prices ahead of Black Friday

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:55:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/bestbuyblack.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Big-box retailer Best Buy has announced a brief holiday discount for Macs, already in effect. All iMac prices have been cut by $100, while MacBook Pros are between $100 and $200 cheaper, depending on individual configurations. Notably the deals are set to end after Wednesday, well ahead of Black Friday, the traditional date for Thanksgiving sales. Consequentially, they will also avoid overlapping with Apple's own sales plans....

Korean iPhone launches Nov. 28th; prices revealed

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone-korea.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Carrier KT has exposed details of the South Korean iPhone launch, confirming reports that the product will be released locally on November 28th. Plans are set to cost 45,000 ($39), 65,000 ($56) or 95,000 won ($82) per month on contract. Phone prices vary accordingly; a 32GB 3GS is set at 396,000 won ($342) under a base plan, but only 132,000 won ($114) under the most expensive plan. The 16GB 3GS and the 8GB 3G have been made free in some combinations....

Apple hints at November 27th online sales special

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/appleblack.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has posted a teaser for its annual Black Friday online sale, this year scheduled for November 27th. No discounts have been revealed so far, as they are only typically announced on Black Friday proper. The event should nevertheless see lower prices on Mac, iPod, and iPhone-related products, as well as universal free shipping....

Apple's App Store API screening flawed, says developer

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/postage.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />A new automatic screening technique Apple is using for the App Store appears to be backfiring, claims developer Rogue Sheep. The screening is believed to be aimed at catching unauthorized APIs, blocked under Apple's submission rules. A number of the apps trapped so far are allegedly ones using Three20, an Objective-C library. Rogue Sheep's Postage has in the past relied on some Three20 code, and so private API calls were removed from the software before submitting a recent update....

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

TomTom to ship iPod touch-specific car kit

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/tomtomtouch.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />GPS maker TomTom has revealed a new car mount, one designed exclusively for the iPod touch. The accessory reflects a recent update to the company's GPS app, which now includes Touch support. The new kit is little different from its more broadly-compatible iPhone version, mainly being $20 cheaper at a price of $100....

China Unicom claims high expectations for iPhone

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/chinasml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />China Unicom has set high targets for iPhone sales in its native country, according to China Daily. One senior executive tells the newspaper that within two to three years, the iPhone is expected to represent 10 percent of all 3G devices in China. The carrier's chairman, Chang Xiaobing, has meanwhile suggested that the product will eventually become the nation's most popular smartphone....

Apple I system on auction through eBay

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/applei.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />A resident of Roseville, California is auctioning off an original Apple I, according to the Detroit Free Press. The computer was the first put into production by Apple, launching in 1976 in a limited run of 200 units. It was distinctive at the time for being produced and sold by a two-man team -- Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs -- and building in its own terminal circuitry, requiring only a separate keyboard and TV set....

Mac OS X 10.6.2 hacked to allow Atom processors

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/intelatomz500-sm.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />A workaround has been developed to restore Atom processor support in Mac OS X 10.6.2, a Russian hacker claims. The technique relies on a custom version of the Mach kernel, which must be installed using Terminal because of the need to gain root access. Once active, the kernel should support so-called hackintosh netbooks, most likely to use Atom chips....

Autodesk's Smoke 2010 to come to Macs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/autodesksmoke.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Autodesk will soon launch a Mac version of Smoke, a demonstration at Japan's InterBEE expo confirms. The software is a high-end video production suite, costing approximately $15,000. It is capable not only of conventional editing tasks, but also handling audio, painting, text and various visual effects....

Apple retail workers to get new iPod touch apps?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/easypay_sml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple Store workers will soon have more apps for their iPod touch-based EasyPay handhelds, a source claims. The devices are currently meant to run Easy Touch, an app which handles roaming checkouts in tandem with an attached card reader and barcode scanner. Apple is gradually retiring an assortment of Windows CE-based checkout units, which have been criticized as slow and unreliable....

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....

Virgin Mobile Canada to sell iPhone 3G, 3GS

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone3gs-bell.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Virgin Mobile's Canadian division will soon carry the iPhone, according to an announcement. The company has revealed few details, except that it will sell both the 3G and 3GS, and that a launch should happen sometime "in the coming months." The device will also be the carrier's first HSPA-based phone, possible through an upgraded Bell cellular network....

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....

TomTom app update brings iPod touch support

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/tomtomsml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />As promised, TomTom has released an updated GPS app for the iPhone. A previously unannounced feature is support for the iPod touch, which normally lacks a GPS receiver. As with the recent Magellan app however, Touch support can only be enabled by docking with a first-party car kit....

MacBook, iPod touch make Time list of top travel gadgets

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/ipodtouch3g.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The MacBook and the iPod touch have both taken positions on a Time list of the top 25 travel gadgets for 2009. The updated plastic MacBook is complimented for being tougher than its predecessor, and having LED backlighting, which contributes to a maximum seven-hour battery life. The magazine also remarks on the presence of a glass multi-touch trackpad, and the removal of mercury and arsenic from materials....

1Password 3 adds remote access, custom iPhone sync

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/1password.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Agile Web Solutions has released the completed version of 1Password 3, its web login utility. The software generates custom passwords for websites, remembering login information for automatic insertion later. Users can also save content related to online shopping, such as credit card numbers....

Apple posts Cinema Display, Windows QuickTime updates

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:05:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/cinemadisplay.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has released two new software updates, beginning with a firmware update for the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. The update fixes an error with the built-in iSight camera, which may not be detected as intended by some programs. Downloaders must have an Intel Mac, as well as Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.2....

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....

Analyst calls for up to 2.9 million Macs in Dec. quarter

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/imac2009.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple is likely to sell between 2.8 and 2.9 million Macs in the December quarter, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. The forecast is based on October sales data from the NPD Group, which indicates that the month's Macs were up 7 percent year-over-year. Should Apple meet expectations, overall growth for the December period should be 14 percent....

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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

Canalys: iPhone may become UK's best-selling smartphone

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphonesml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The iPhone could soon become the UK's most popular smartphone, claims a Canalys analyst. Presenting at yesterday's Canalys Mobility Forum event in London, Pete Cunningham observed that the iPhone was the most popular smartphone in France during Q3 2009, a result of the end of an exclusive deal between Apple and regional carrier Orange. The French government ruled that the deal violated competition regulations....

Mac OS X 10.7 already in development?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/gallery/sep2009/snow.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple is in early development of the next major version of Mac OS X, evidence suggests. The information comes by way of the open-source launchd framework, which is used to boot Mac OS X and manage its processes. The framework's codebase was recently updated, and a posted changelog contains the entry "< rdar://problem/7386864> 11A47: SecurityAgent no longer visible via Accessibility."...

Korea ready for iPhone sales, China Mobile still in talks

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/iphone-1.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The path is now clear for South Korean iPhone sales, reports note. The Korea Communications Commission has granted Apple a license to run location-based services in the country, long a major obstacle to entering the market. Korean cellphones are subject to such restrictions in order to manage privacy violations; with the iPhone, concern is mainly said to have revolved around Google Maps, and the MobileMe service Find My iPhone....

Chinese App Store succeeding in spite of barriers

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/iphone-china.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />The App Store is doing fairly well in China, in spite of obstacles to its adoption, says the Wall Street Journal. Over $1 million in sales are said to have been made so far, a significant amount given the short space of time in which the store has been open. Some popular apps include the instant messaging title QQ, and the real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Red Alert....

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....

Magellan launches iPhone GPS app, announces car kit

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/magellaniphone.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />GPS maker Magellan has launched a new iPhone GPS application, RoadMate 2010. Like most such apps, the software provides turn-by-turn navigation, with features like bookmarks, lane guidance and spoken navigation cues. Aspects separating RoadMate include a pedestrian mode, and an associated "find your car" option, which marks a parking place for later return....

Google Earth for iPhone 2.0 imports web maps

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:35:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/earth2.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Google has released v2.0 of Google Earth for the iPhone, its portable 3D mapping software. Users navigate a graphic representation of the Earth, on which various places, businesses, photos and Wikipedia articles can be located. The second edition is a major update, allowing users to import Google Maps content from the web. After logging into a Maps account, the app can impose route information on terrain....

Apple hunts for Cupertino game programmer

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0910/ipodtouch3g-games.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple is looking to hire a new game programmer for its Cupertino headquarters, listings show. The person would specifically hold the title of "game/media software engineer," and work with a small team on various entertainment apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. Requirements include three to four years of game development experience, with knowledge of C, C++, Objective-C and/or iPhone programming. Applicants must also have "at least one AAA title" under their belt, and ideally skills in audio, graphics or network code....

Apple confirms Nashua, NH retail store opening [u]

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/appleretail.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />(Updated with Greenwich info) Though only recently rumored, plans have already been confirmed for an Apple Store opening in Nashua, New Hampshire. The new location will launch Saturday, November 21st at 10AM, within the Pheasant Lane Mall at 310 Daniel Webster Highway. The Apple Store is on the first floor near the food court....

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....

Apple working on 'Concierge' iPhone app, Nashua store?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/applegenius.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple is planning to launch a new iPhone app for visitors to its retail stores, several sources claim. So far dubbed "Concierge," the app is expected to mimic the company's web-based reservations system, which lets users schedule Genius Bar and One to One appointments. Users should also be able to monitor various types of membership subscriptions. No date for the app's release has so far been leaked....

Missing Sync for Android, GoGadget for webOS go live

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/androidphones.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Mark/Space has launched two important Mac applications, The Missing Sync for Android and GoGadget for webOS. After a month's delay, the former is now in public beta, and can now sync content such as music, video, contacts, photos, ringtones and miscellaneous files to an Android-based smartphone. Data is pulled from the likes of Address Book, Entourage, iTunes and iPhoto....

Apple considered AdMob purchase, say sources

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/appsml.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple took tentative steps towards buying AdMob ahead of the recent Google acquisition, say sources contacted by Bloomberg. Google agreed to pay $750 million in the deal; the combined company will own between 30 and 40 percent of the mobile advertising market. Apple is said to have approached AdMob a few weeks before the Google bid, entering into private negotiations. Both companies have refused to comment publicly on the matter....

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....

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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

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....

iPod nano 5G 1.0.2 update fixes podcast problems

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0909/4gnano.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Apple has posted a v1.0.2 firmware update for the fifth-generation iPod nano, which was launched this September. The firmware corrects a problem with podcast playback at different speeds. Newly enabled is the ability to use Genius Mixes in tandem with the Nike+iPod fitness add-on....

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....

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....

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....

iTunes Preview adds web component to shared Store links

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST

<img align='left' src='http://photos.macnn.com/news/0911/itunespreview.jpg' border='0' width='176' height='120' />Without announcement, Apple this week launched iTunes Preview, a new feature of the iTunes Store. The option solves a problem created through the ability to share URLs pointing to store content. Until recently, anyone who was given a link to music and did not already own iTunes would be directed to a generic webpage, simply asking them to download the client....