11/09, 4:55pm
Also corrects litany of lesser-known bugs
Apple has at last released Mac OS X 10.6.2 , a key update to Snow Leopard. The patch addresses a variety of technical problems, most notably one which would permanently delete data when logging into a main account after having just used a guest one. The bug has been known since at least early October. Other resolved account problems include unexpected logouts, and difficulty authenticating as an administrator.
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11/09, 4:25pm
Combines tethering, home Internet
UK carrier O2 has announced a new "Bolt On" option for iPhone subscribers, the Total Connectivity package. The plan combines O2's £9.79, 3GB per month tethering Bolt On with a standard O2 Home Broadband connection, at no extra cost. The deal is explicitly associated with the iPhone 3G however, and will be available only between November 10th and December 31st.
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11/09, 3:35pm
ASUS, MSI motherboards remain troublesome
Gigabyte has released a new beta BIOS for its GA-P55-UD4P motherboard, addressing problems with iPhone sync on certain Windows 7 systems. Issues are said to remain with ASUS and MSI motherboards , for which no patched software is available. People may nevertheless be able to solve errors by upgrading to the latest available BIOS and chipset drivers, or running Windows in Vista SP2 compatibility mode.
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11/09, 1:35pm
Japan's Softbank climbs on iPhone sales
Apple is persisting in efforts to expand iPhone sales before the end of 2009, reports note. Singapore is set to gain a third iPhone carrier in the form of StarHub , which will join competition with M1 and SingTel by the end of the year. Vodafone has announced a deal for Qatar , making it the first iPhone carrier in the Middle Eastern country. A local launch could slip into 2010.
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11/09, 11:40am
Utility organizes miscellaneous content
MacNN has reviewed Yojimbo 2.0 , an organizational utility produced by Bare Bones. The app collects various pieces of information, such as notes, images, passwords, receipts and PDF documents, making them easier to find and sort through for future reference. Among the new features in v2.0 is the Tag Explorer, which enables filtering beyond basic categories.
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11/09, 11:00am
Reneging on promises?
Apple is still preventing the use of 3G VoIP on iPhones, according to observers. While Wi-Fi has always been an option for Skype and other iPhone VoIP apps, 3G calling has typically been blocked out of bandwidth concerns, and the potential for depriving cellphone carriers -- namely AT&T -- of voice revenue. In regions with unlimited data, 3G VoIP could effectively circumvent minute limitations.
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11/09, 9:55am
Only affects jailbroken devices
The first known iPhone worm has been observed in the wild, reports say. Called Ikee, the worm is considered relatively inoffensive, as it does not steal information or sabotage hardware or software. Instead the package merely changes a phone's wallpaper to a photo of singer Rick Astley before seeking out more points to infect.
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11/08, 3:30pm
Verizon attacks Apple, AT&T in three ads
Verizon this weekend stepped up the pressure in its anti-AT&T campaign with three new ads (viewable below). The lead ad, "Misfit Toys," attacks the iPhone's attachment to AT&T and says it belongs on Rudolph 's Island of Misfit Toys for running on a network with relatively low 3G coverage. Unlike the recent Droid ads, the new commercials take care to praise the phone but attack the network, suggesting Verizon is backing away from direct criticism of Apple.
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11/07, 4:00pm
Suggests Apple frowns on iPhone gaming
id Software co-founder John Carmack has described working with Apple as a "rollercoaster ride" in a new interview , arguing that Apple executives are not happy with the increasing popularity of the iPhone and iPod touch as a gaming platform. Carmack -- responsible for Doom , Quake and other titles -- has spent several years working with Apple in order to get games such as Doom Classic onto the App Store.
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11/07, 3:35pm
Drag and swipe features fail to work
In spite of the relative newness of the Magic Mouse , some complaints have begun emerging on Apple's support forums . Anticipated drag and swipe functions are sometimes said to be failing, leaving only regular click commands available. When the special wireless mouse software is applied, a Mac may still fail to detect a Magic Mouse.
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11/06, 4:15pm
Designed to cope with holiday rush
Apple has unveiled a new program for its retail stores, Reserve and Pick Up . Via the company's website, shoppers can now opt to have products held for later purchase at a store they select. Only Macs and iPods are eligible however, and pickup must occur between December 15th and the 24th. As the program is meant to cope with potentially long holiday lineups, shoppers can also have some products wrapped.
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11/06, 3:50pm
Highlights discrepancy in standards
A Spanish translation of Mein Kampf has been launched at the App Store, observers note. Written in the 1920s by Adolf Hitler, the book is both an autobiography and a charter of the fascist, anti-Semitic policies that would come to guide the Third Reich. No other version of the book is available as a standalone app, and its icon is the Nazi Party emblem, complete with swastika.
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11/06, 1:15pm
Should differ dramatically from current alpha
The first public beta of Boxee will be shown on December 7th, according to its developer. The app is primarily used to stream movies and TV shows to an HDTV, including remote content from sources such as Hulu and Netflix. Music and photos can also be streamed; versions of the app have been produced for the Mac, Windows and the Apple TV.
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11/06, 11:55am
Formal unveiling due for November 14th
Apple has sent out media invitations for a preview of the company's fourth Manhattan retail store , scheduled to occur November 14th . The store is situated in the Upper West Side of the island, at the corner of Broadway and 67th; neighbors include the Lincoln Center and the Julliard School. It is still unknown when doors will open to the general public.
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11/06, 11:10am
Telefonica Europe CEO answers questions
UK iPhone owners subscribed to O2 will indeed be allowed to unlock for other carriers, according to the CEO of O2's parent company, Telefonica Europe. "Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks," says Matthew Key, "we will allow O2 customers to unlock their iPhones, although of course they will still need to honour any outstanding contract period they have. At the end of their contract period, they are entirely free to move to another operator -- though naturally we hope they won't want to!"
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11/06, 9:55am
Raises iPhone privacy issues
A California iPhone developer, Storm8, has been accused of spying on iPhone owners, according to court documents. A lawsuit was recently submitted on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, charging Storm8 with several violations including breaches of contract, the California Computer Crime Law and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. On August 26th, says Turner, the company openly admitted that its games had been illicitly collecting phone numbers.
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11/05, 3:45pm
Likely related to anti-jailbreaking efforts
Apple is looking to hire a new iPhone manager with significant responsibilities, observers note. In particular the company is now searching for an " iPhone OS Platform Security Manager ," who will be responsible for a team securing the booting, installation and running of the firmware. The worker is also expected to help plot a roadmap for iPhone security, and bring at least three years of experience running a development team, plus hands-on knowledge in designing against hardware and software exploits.
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11/05, 1:35pm
Concept includes new iPhone apps
Apple may be working on an easier and more comprehensive method of syncing data between devices, a new patent application hints. Even the company's current technology, built into iTunes and iSync, is described as too complex. "Though a user may have access to two similarly capable electronic devices, sharing data between the two devices may involve a number of steps," the application reads.
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11/05, 12:05pm
Supports consoles, web browsers, media players
Orb Networks has launched a Mac port of its self-named media streaming software . The app funnels music, photos and video from a computer to other Internet-connected devices, including game consoles, notebooks and various cellphones, such as the iPhone when using the companion OrbLive app. Content is primarily sourced from an iTunes library, but can also be pulled from webcam feeds and connected gadgets.
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11/05, 11:05am
Magazine claims revolutionary impact
Apple head Steve Jobs has been chosen as Fortune 's CEO of the Decade . The magazine claims that "the past decade in business belongs to Jobs," not only because of his personal and corporate wealth, but the way he has "radically and lucratively reordered three markets," specifically movies, music and cellphones. His impact is also said to extend to computers, though it is less pronounced.
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11/05, 9:40am
France may outdo US in store openings
As foreshadowed in late October, Apple today revealed its first Parisian Apple Store, located in the Carrousel du Louvre. The shop is situated within close range of the famous Louvre art museum, and uses an elaborate two-floor design, with unique touches such as diamond-shaped windows. Coinciding with the store launch is the release of a free Musée du Louvre iPhone app, which showcases various exhibitions, such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa .
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11/05, 9:15am
New Mac anti-virus software protects files
Kaspersky has introduced Anti-Virus for Mac , a port of its long-running Windows and Linux software designed to cope with threats such as worms, Trojans and bots. Some features include e-mail and attachment protection, as well as download scans, and alerts on blocked files and programs. The software recognizes up to 30,000 threats; self-protection functions guard settings with a password, and attempt to prevent techniques from being modified or deleted.
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11/04, 1:15pm
Microsoft finishes last despite Windows 7
Apple stock is said to have led the pack in Piqqem's October sentiment ratings , again excelling over Microsoft, which came in last amongst a group of six major technology companies. Apple achieved a score of 3.11, considered high in a scale of 0 to 4. Google was second with 2.88, while Intel ranked third at 2.70. Below the top three were Cisco (2.69), Amazon (2.53) and HP (2.53), followed by Microsoft at 2.27.
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11/04, 12:25pm
Calls 750MB more than enough
Orange UK has begun publicly responding to criticisms of its upcoming iPhone plans . At the center of complaints is the company's unlimited data provision, attached to each iPhone subscription. In reality data use is restricted by a 750MB "fair usage" policy, in sharp contrast to other iPhone carriers, such as O2 UK and AT&T.
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11/04, 10:45am
Apple aims for exclusives, broader selection
Apple has introduced a new Music Movies section to the iTunes Store, further segregating its video. The page highlights all movies with a music-related theme, running from documentaries like Imagine and Woodstock through to straight concert films, and fiction titles like The Blues Brothers . iTunes now also has a larger amount of such content, with material including The Song Remains the Same and U2: Rattle and Hum .
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11/04, 10:05am
Apple marks psychological milestone
Following some anticipation , Apple has announced that there are now over 100,000 titles available at the iTunes App Store. Over two billion downloads have been made, and the store is currently accessible in 77 countries. The total number of apps which have passed through the store is higher; Apple does not count deleted titles.
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11/04, 3:00am
Crystal mode makes Windows disappear, 300 percent
The Parallels 5 launch marks the latest salvo in the ongoing battle for those who run Windows on their Macs. The virtualization software has been updated with significant interface and speed improvements aimed at keeping the company's market share lead over the recently updated VMware Fusion . The new software adds substantial interface improvements, allowing users to choose how much, or how little, they want to see of the Windows interface. Parallels 5 is faster, while graphics performance has been substantially increased.
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11/03, 3:10pm
Exposes security vulnerability
A hacker in the Netherlands has attempted to extort several iPhone owners, reports say. The hacker is believed to have used port scanning to identify T-Mobile-branded phones running SSH, commonly used in jailbreaking techniques. Because many people do not change the default root password on jailbroken devices, the hacker was able to take control of iPhones, and send custom text messages warning them to visit a website in order to resecure their firmware.
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11/03, 1:05pm
Unofficial end occurred months earlier
America's Apple and Orange, a division of France Telecom, have formally dropped an arrangement for exclusive French iPhone sales, says Dow Jones . France was in 2007 one of the first markets to receive the iPhone, and as in other countries at the time, negotiations left only one carrier in control of sales; unlocked phones were still available only through Orange, and at a high premium. Orange rivals SFR and Bouygues Telecom eventually complained to the country's competition regulator, which issued first preliminary then final rulings against exclusivity.
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