Parallels Desktop 6 coming September 13, with better 3D support and Windows/Mac integration 9 Sep 2010, 10:30 am

Parallels, Inc. has taken the wrappings off of its new desktop virtualization software (yes, the same app which was already spotted on some store shelves -- looks like a few retailers jumped the gun), and provided TUAW with a look. The update adds over 80 new and enhanced features, with better support for 3D apps and games, an enhanced Transporter program that will connect Windows and Mac files to both implementations. Also, integration between the two OSes has been improved to include the ability to use Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts, Spotlight, and Parental Controls across both Mac and Windows on the same computer.

We got a quick demo of the new app, and it looks great -- Parallels has expertly integrated Windows and OS X in whatever form you want, from a full screen switchable setup, to a windows mode, all the way to Coherence mode, which leaves the virtual machine metaphor out of the equation and just lets you run Windows apps straight from the dock as if they were Mac apps.

There's one caveat: Parallels has discontinued support for Tiger, so you'll need to have OS X 10.5 or better installed to run Parallels 6. The app comes in two flavors: Parallels Desktop 6 is the standard app and can be purchased (officially starting on September 14th, we're told, regardless of what's on the shelves at your local Best Buy) for US$79.99, or you can get a Switch to Mac edition (which includes easy file migration and special tutorials for Mac newbies) for $99.99. Previous users of the software can get an upgrade for $49.99. Stay tuned, too -- Parallels tells us it has more even more big news about the new version coming up soon.

TUAWParallels Desktop 6 coming September 13, with better 3D support and Windows/Mac integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Mailbag: your iOS 4.1 tips and tribulations 9 Sep 2010, 10:00 am

The first one (above) is actually a bug with iMovie 1.1, although the app was updated yesterday and requires iOS 4.1. As you can see, reader Sean P. is still seeing a glitch in iMovie for iPhone that makes clip trimming a haphazard affair.

Eric B. reports that the headphones he received with his "iphone 2g" (we're thinking he meant the 3G) now work, whereas before 4.1 but after 4.0 they did not.

John T. tells us "the iOS4.1 upgrade somehow 'recovered' clued 2+ weeks of lost voicemails that I really wish I had received, well, 2 weeks ago." He reports others have seen this as well -- have you?

Joseph T. says there's good news for Bluetooth headset users who jam out on their headsets: "...the new AVRCP profile allows Bluetooth headsets to FINALLY skip forward and rewind."

A few of us noticed it, but Jonathan L. wrote in to point out the icon for "deleting" an email in Gmail accounts has changed to indicate that you're not deleting, you're archiving the email. Instead of a trash can, you now have an arrow pointing to a file cabinet. If you want to go back to trashing email, however, you can set this in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > choose the account (Gmail only) > Turn OFF "Archive Messages."

Jeff V. reports a welcome enhancement regarding app updates on the phone: "Guys, I haven't seen anyone cover this yet, nor do I know if it is a really big deal, but now in iOS 4.1 you can download and install more than one app at a time. Up to three at a time from what I see. I noticed this while updating some apps on my iPhone after updating to 4.1. I had twelve updates, told it to download all, and then it started downloading 3 of the apps at the same time (I have a screenshot showing the three blue install bars at the same time). Again, I thought this was nice, and I wasn't expecting it, so I figured I would pass it along in case you hadn't noticed."

Reports from our commenters on the next page.

TUAWTUAW Mailbag: your iOS 4.1 tips and tribulations originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's App Store Review Guidelines: Some juicy bits 9 Sep 2010, 9:30 am

We've been busily going through the App Store Review Guidelines that Apple released to developers this morning, and we're surprised (and happy) to find direct, blunt language which makes Apple's requirements crystal clear. Here are a few gems.

Line 8 is a standout: "We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don't need any more Fart apps. If your app doesn't do something useful or provide some form of lasting entertainment, it may not be accepted."

From line 9: "If your App looks like it was cobbled together in a few days, or you're trying to get your first practice App into the store to impress your friends, please brace yourself for rejection. We have lots of serious developers who don't want their quality Apps to be surrounded by amateur hour." You'll remember Steve also said "amateur hour" during last week's press event.

Here's line 10: "We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, 'I'll know it when I see it'. And we think that you will also know it when you cross it."

Line 12 ends with a punch: "This is a living document, and new apps presenting new questions may result in new rules at any time. Perhaps your app will trigger this."

Finally, the introduction concludes with a subtle barb: "If it sounds like we're control freaks, well, maybe it's because we're so committed to our users and making sure they have a quality experience with our products. Just like almost all of you are too." Almost all of you.

The introduction sounds like it was copied verbatim from Steve Jobs' own mouth. We're looking at the rules themselves now, but here's the gist: Go ahead and use 3rd party apps, keeping the following in mind:

1. Don't submit 3rd-party apps that download code
2. Don't make crap
3. Help us make a kick-ass experience for everyone

Good work, Apple.

[Via Engadget]

TUAWApple's App Store Review Guidelines: Some juicy bits originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carry more iPad data with you, using HyperDrive 9 Sep 2010, 8:45 am

No matter what size iPad or other portable device you get, many times it seems that you're going to hit that storage limit and find yourself aching for more space. The HyperDrive may not fix that problem for you, but it may be handy in certain circumstances.

Using the portable HyperDrive and the iPad Camera Connection Kit, one can transfer movies and photos onto the iPad from either the HyperDrive's internal storage or via memory cards attached to it. Since the iPad only allows attached storage of 32GB or less, the HyperDrive sections off its on-board storage into 32GB "folders," each of which is viewable using the iPad Photos application.

It's definitely a hacky way to go about transferring data to your iPad while on the go, but at least it doesn't require jailbreaking to use (if that's a concern of yours). The usefulness of the HyperDrive seems rather limited, though, as it's not able to transfer data off of your iPad, only onto it.

The HyperDrive comes in 120GB up to 750GB models, starting at US$299.

[via Macworld UK]

TUAWCarry more iPad data with you, using HyperDrive originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple loosens reins, allows 3rd party iOS dev tools with caveat 9 Sep 2010, 7:49 am

Here's a surprise we didn't expect this morning -- or ever, for that matter -- Apple has changed its stance on iOS app development, now allowing all tools "...as long as the resulting apps do not download any code." Theoretically, this would include Adobe Flash CS5 but certainly includes tools like Unity. [Note that while the Flash CS5 authoring environment may be kosher, this rule still excludes the Flash browser plugin due to the no-downloaded-code clause. -Ed.]

In addition, Apple has published the App Store Review Guidelines for the very first time. We'll be anxious to hear what developers have to say after giving those guidelines a good read.

You'll remember a recent change in Apple's SDK language that prohibited iOS apps to be written with anything other than Apple-approved tools, including Flash. This led to a viciously bitter spat between Adobe and Apple (though it really seemed to be between Jobs and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen) with both sides setting up their tents and firing barbs. To say that this morning's change is dramatic is an understatement.

Great, now I have to be on the lookout for 3 other horsemen for the rest of the day.

[Via Engadget]

TUAWApple loosens reins, allows 3rd party iOS dev tools with caveat originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VLC coming to the iPad 9 Sep 2010, 7:30 am

VLC, the play-anything video player for the Mac, may soon be available as an iPad app. App maker Applidium has spent months porting the open source player into an iPad app and has submitted it to the App Store. Now they're just waiting for Apple to approve it; if approved, the app will be available next week, and like its big brother on the Mac, the app will be free.

Having VLC available on the iPad would be hugely beneficial. VLC plays far more video formats than QuickTime or the iPad's built-in video support; on the Mac, I've often said that if VLC can't play it, it can't be played. We don't know yet if VLC on the iPad will allow you to move (for instance) AVI files straight into the VLC program via iTunes or if you'll be required to stream files from a Mac to view them on the iPad. In either case, VLC's ability to play almost any video codec out there would vastly expand the iPad's capabilities.

That said, there are multiple reasons why Apple might reject this app. "Duplicating functionality" is one possible reason; the iPad already has a built-in video player, though one that's far more restrictive in the formats that it supports. There may be severe battery life issues to contend with as well. The iPad has the ability to decode H.264 video via its built-in hardware, but most other formats would have to be decoded via software, and depending on the format, it could tax the iPad's A4 processor pretty heavily. Finally, it's possible that media providers might squawk in protest at the iPad being able to easily and freely play video from any source -- let's just say that a lot of the AVI files and almost all of the VIDEO_TS folders out there aren't exactly condoned by the media conglomerates and leave it at that.

I hope this app does get approved. I don't own an iPad, but being able to play back virtually any type of video file on the device via VLC would be a huge selling point for me, and probably for many others, too.

TUAWVLC coming to the iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Work on iOS 4.1 jailbreak continues 9 Sep 2010, 7:00 am

With iOS 4.1 still warm from its journey through the tubes, the jailbreaking community is already working its way inside. Chronic Dev Team member pod2g has discovered yet another bootrom-based exploit that would supposedly work across all iOS devices running the latest firmware. That means that the iPhone 4 and the shiny, new iPod touch are on the list.

The jailbreak isn't yet widely available, but with confirmations of initial success in less that 24 hours, it shouldn't be long before this jailbreak is available to the masses. Redmond Pie notes that patching this exploit will require a revised hardware version with updated bootroms for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and the iPod touches from Apple. In other words, a firmware update won't be adequate.

We'll let you know when the jail has actually been broken.

[Via Engadget]

TUAWWork on iOS 4.1 jailbreak continues originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The extra safe, extra cautious iOS 4.1 upgrade guide 9 Sep 2010, 6:30 am

In case you missed it, the highly anticipated iOS 4.1 software update was released yesterday. If you've already upgraded, or after reading that sentence you're not already downloading it now, then you obviously like to play it cool and safe. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Good for you! Either that, or you got seriously burnt last time.

Well, when you're good and ready, Mac Observer has just the guide for you. It's so extensive, it practically holds your hand when taking your first steps to the land of iOS 4.1. From considering whether you should upgrade or not, to making sure your 'must have' apps are compatible and backed up for the new update, the walk through will guide you every step of the way, without making you run before you can walk!

Seriously though, if you can't afford any mishaps, it's well worth the read. The walk through will even guide you on resetting your iTunes warnings so that the ones you nonchalantly clicked through last time will trigger again. Just make sure you read them this time, OK?

Have you upgraded your iOS device to software version 4.1? Have you hit any snags along the way? Let us know how you're doing in the comments.

TUAWThe extra safe, extra cautious iOS 4.1 upgrade guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW's Daily App: Auditorium 9 Sep 2010, 6:00 am

Auditorium is that rare kind of game that's a must-play no matter what kind of gamer you are. It's a puzzle game, a music game, and a piece of art at various times. It's out now on the iPhone courtesy of EA (and the main download is absolutely free), but even if you don't want to take up space on your mobile device, just head over to the website and play the Flash demo for a little bit. My guess is that you'll be taken by the beauty and originality, at least enough to pop over to the App Store and download the main game.

The idea is that there is a stream of music flowing through each level, and it's your job to use the various widgets you've been given to shape and paint the music into certain spots on the board. As you move through the levels, you'll get more and more adept at sending the flow where you need it to go. Fortunately, the puzzles get harder and harder as you play, creating a great curve of both learning and adjusting your mind enough to find the right solution.

The main game is free, and then you can purchase all of the levels in three different packs, at 99 cents each. But even for the whole three bucks, this is quite an experience; it's more than worth the price. Again, if you're doubtful, give the demo a try, and see if you're not convinced to try the whole thing in order to see where it goes.

TUAWTUAW's Daily App: Auditorium originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HDR photo hands-on with iPhone 4 and iOS 4.1 8 Sep 2010, 5:30 pm

I've never used one of the HDR apps, so I was eager to try out this new feature using iOS 4.1 on my iPhone 4.

Launching the camera now gives you an HDR option at the top of your screen. It's automatically set to off. When you toggle the option on, it will automatically switch the camera flash to off.

Using HDR will provide you with two shots -- one normal shot and one with HDR utilized. For my test subjects I used:

• A shot of a window from a few feet away.
• A shot of a window standing at the window.
• A dark shot using the cat lounging next to the iMac as a model
• A well-lit shot using one of the other cats, who happened to claim a kitchen cabinet as his own, as a model.

The most noticeable difference came from the window shot taken a few feet away. As seen above, the normal shot has the outside areas overexposed while you can clearly see the apartment building across from mine -- including some detailed areas -- in the HDR shot. This shot was taken about eight feet from the window.

TUAWHDR photo hands-on with iPhone 4 and iOS 4.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Found Footage: Last week's SteveFest in three minutes 8 Sep 2010, 4:00 pm

We're all busy people, and I'm sure that many of us missed the iPod/Apple TV SteveFest on the first. Once again, Neil Curtis, master of cutting to the chase, has created a three-minute version of the 75-minute presentation. Previously, Neil did a very short version of the adjective enhanced iPad rollout; he's very good at this sort of thing.


This little video (making wonderful use of music) only mentions stores "with people" in them, the new iPods, the Game Center, Ping, and the underwhelming new Apple TV. I've been through the full video a number of times, and nowhere does Steve mention just what resolution he's talking about when he says HD. In my opinion, this is a bag of hurt...but maybe that's just me. There's also some Lady Gaga in the video.

So, don't expect anything about iOS 4.2 or anything iOS related. It's worth a look and will probably give you a chuckle or two.

Keep up the good work, Neil.

TUAWFound Footage: Last week's SteveFest in three minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW TV Live: An Apple TV in pieces and a machine that goes Ping 8 Sep 2010, 2:55 pm

The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things. Of Apple TVs and iOS 4.1, of new iPods and Pings. On today's TUAW TV Live the discussion is sure to wander all over the metaphorical map. As promised earlier, I will have my old Apple TV torn apart and will point out some interesting design flaws that demonstrate why the darned things ran so hot.

We have lots of other cool stuff to talk about, and I'm seriously hoping that iOS 4.1 drops before the show so I can give you a hands-on demo of some of the new features. To join in from your Mac or PC, just go to the next page by clicking the link at the bottom of this post, and you'll find a livestream viewer and a chat tool. The chat tool allows you to join in on the fun by asking questions or making comments.

If you're driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you're stuck in traffic, please don't -- keep your eyes on the road! However, if someone else is doing the driving, you can watch the show on your iPhone by downloading the free Ustream Viewing Application.

iPad users haven't been forgotten, either, as you can tune in to TUAW TV Live on your iPad! That link will send you to a non-Flash page, although you won't have access to our chat tool. And one final note -- if the show has started and you're seeing a previously recorded show instead of the livestream, you can always pop on over to ustream.tv/tuaw to join the show in progress.

TUAWTUAW TV Live: An Apple TV in pieces and a machine that goes Ping originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VersionTracker.com officially 'absorbed' by CNET 8 Sep 2010, 2:00 pm

Have you been to VersionTracker.com lately? If you try today, you'll be redirected to the CNET site, where you'll get a brief explanation that the venerable VersionTracker site is now a branded part of the CNET empire.

VersionTracker Pro, a paid feature, will be discontinued after the current subscriptions run out. The VersionTracker newsletters will continue, but they will be rebranded as CNET products. CNET has put up a page explaining the changes.

This process actually began in 2007, when CNET acquired VersionTracker, MacFixIt, and iPhone Atlas. VersionTracker goes back to 1995, when it was a Mac only site. Over time, the content expanded to include Windows software. The familiar layout of VersionTracker has been changed, and it may startle a few users. I don't think MacFixIt was improved any by the CNET takeover, and I don't have high hopes for VersionTracker, either, but I'm going to keep an open mind.

CNET was acquired by CBS two years ago. Other than the irritating and frequent plugs for CBS TV, the site is still useful and continues to aggressively cover all things related to tech.

If you need an alternative to VersionTracker, MacUpdate is still around, and AppFresh (based on i use this) and Logiciel are worth a look. There is also a Dashboard Widget called App Update that will check for software updates.

[via Daring Fireball]

TUAWVersionTracker.com officially 'absorbed' by CNET originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iMovie updated to 1.1, requires iOS 4.1 8 Sep 2010, 1:47 pm

Apple's official iMovie app for iPhone has been updated to version 1.1. The new update requires iOS 4.1 and is compatible with the new iPod touch. It also adds the ability to split up video clips, automatically loop music for a longer videos and updated Photos browser. There are a few other upgrades to help performance and reliability, and a new tips and indicators to help you use the app. High Dynamic Range photography is new in iOS 4.1, but since HDR requires multiple exposures of a still picture, there's nothing in the new iMovie app to similarly improve your videos.

Current users can upgrade right now via the App Store. iMovie for iOS can be purchased for US$4.99. Enjoy the update!

TUAWiMovie updated to 1.1, requires iOS 4.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Games updated for Game Center (soon) 8 Sep 2010, 1:35 pm

As you might have noticed if you've added a few friends in Apple's new Game Center service, the backbone social components are working great. But where, exactly, are all of the games? Developers have actually had access to Apple's service for quite a while now -- it was introduced to them under NDA way back at WWDC. But for some reason, Apple seems to be waiting on approving Game Center-enabled games.

Fortunately, they're coming, probably as soon as Apple can approve them. Touch Arcade forum member Project-79 has been keeping track of which games have said that they'll be Game Center-enabled. As soon as updates roll out for games like Field Runners, Flight Control, Super Mega Worm and Angry Birds, you'll be able to jump in and earn achievements with them.

Keep in mind that some of the best games on Game Center are still to come: Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter 2 was leaked via a Game Center screen, and of course we're all waiting to see what Epic Games' Project Sword looks like, ever since it was shown off with full GC functionality at last week's Apple event. There are games coming for Game Center, and they should be here soon.

Update: Apparently Ms. PAC-MAN is the first game to get updated with Game Center support. You might want to wait, though -- we've heard it's not a very good version.

TUAWGames updated for Game Center (soon) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iPod touch has vibration motor (Update: No, it doesn't) 8 Sep 2010, 1:30 pm

FCC pictures of the brand new iPod touch's internal tech show that the device has a vibrating motor inside of it. According to Apple, the motor will be used with FaceTime, but presumably, it'll work when any app calls for vibration. That should help for gaming -- neither the DS nor the PSP has any sort of vibration feedback, and that's a feature that has become more or less standard on game consoles.

This also brings the iPod touch in line with most of what the iPhone has. Besides the cell service (obviously), the GPS, and the mute switch, the iPod touch really is, as even Steve commented at last week's event, "an iPhone without the contract."

Update: According to iFixit's teardown of the iPod touch, the component identified is actually a microphone and not a vibration motor. Mac Rumors points out that Apple has updated the iPod touch's FaceTime page to remove all reference to vibration. It appears vibration continues to be an iPhone-only feature for now.

TUAWNew iPod touch has vibration motor (Update: No, it doesn't) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A gallery of iOS 4.1 update screenshots 8 Sep 2010, 1:20 pm

If you're stuck at work and can't update your iPhone or iPod touch to iOS 4.1 yet, feast your eyes on the gallery below. I was able to take some screenshots of the notes for the update as well as get some shots of Game Center, the HD YouTube movie upload capability, and the new HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography setting in the Photo app.

As noted in the gallery titles, I wasn't able to actually find any Game Center games -- the button in the Game Center app shows nothing just yet. That's not a good sign for the first day. At least we can all get signed up and befriend each other. We'll keep an eye out for any games that get GC-enabled as soon as they're ready.

I plan on tinkering with the HDR photography quite a bit over the next few days. I could have used it during a short trip out of town this last weekend. It's also nice to see that the HD YouTube movie upload is working well. Be sure to let TUAW and our readers know what you like the most or least about this update by leaving a comment.

TUAWA gallery of iOS 4.1 update screenshots originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple replaces 5K nano batteries in Japan 8 Sep 2010, 1:00 pm

Back in 2008, reports of fires that were caused by overheating batteries in first generation iPod nanos caught the attention of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MEI). In turn, MEI ordered Apple to replace defective units. Apple conceded and launched a replacement program in August of 2010. Since then, according to the Mainichi Daily News, Apple has replaced over 5,000 batteries.

The MEI reported that Apple replaced 5,527 batteries in August, up from 232 in July and 62 in June. The jump is attributed to changes Apple made to the program's Web page, which made it easier for customers to find pertinent information.

Apple has stated that the defective batteries overheat only in "very rare cases," but it has not revealed how many of the targeted units -- first generation iPod nanos sold in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006 -- have been sold.

The new iPod nano looks super, but I've always been partial to the design of the original model. It felt like a big Andes Mint. And for the record, mine never got too hot.

[Via AppleInsider]

TUAWApple replaces 5K nano batteries in Japan originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands on (and in) the iPod nano 6th generation reveals hints of video playback support 8 Sep 2010, 12:30 pm

This morning, I headed over to the Apple Store and picked up a sweet little green iPod nano to play with. (Thank you, red-headed Molly!) The nano is basically the size and weight of a 2G shuffle, with a cute little touch screen and a couple of buttons for volume control and Sleep/Wake. Of course, I was just as interested in what was inside the nano -- at least from a software perspective.

The interface is easy to use once you get comfortable with the lack of a Home button (you swipe to switch screens) and certain GUI changes (switch buttons are smaller and look slightly different from their standard iOS cousins). The nano refused to play with older versions of iTunes, expecting a minimum of iTunes 10.

TUAWHands on (and in) the iPod nano 6th generation reveals hints of video playback support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW TV Live mystery episode today at 5 PM EDT 8 Sep 2010, 12:00 pm

Mystery episode, you say? What could that mean?

Usually it means that your host can't think of much to talk about, but today I'll probably have iOS 4.1 feature discussion and demos, an original Apple TV tear-apart (literally), and that's just the beginning. I'm thinking a few app demos might be in order as well, provided that the super-secret spy cam decides to cooperate. I'll also be showing off some iPhone 4 products from Exogear, including their new Exolife rechargeable battery case.

My weekly hour-long video livestream starts, as usual, at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT) right here at TUAW.com. Drop by a few minutes before the show begins to get yourself acquainted with the livestream and chat tools (if you're not a regular viewer), or to start chatting with the others about whatever topic comes to mind. It's fun, it's fast, and it's live -- see you at 5 PM.

TUAWTUAW TV Live mystery episode today at 5 PM EDT originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sound the klaxons: iOS 4.1 now available for download 8 Sep 2010, 11:20 am

If you were using the tripwire script, you already know this: iOS 4.1 is now available for download via iTunes. Just connect your iPhone or iPod touch and hit the Check for Update button.

As announced last week, the new version of the firmware should fix some deeply annoying issues (if you've inadvertently muted or hung up a call with your earlobe, raise your hand). It also adds Game Center, HDR photos, high-def video uploading, TV show rentals and dramatic improvements to the lot of iPhone 3G owners.

Chime in below or on our Facebook page with your 4.1 upgrade experience!

TUAWSound the klaxons: iOS 4.1 now available for download originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1) 8 Sep 2010, 11:00 am

If you're an iPhone 3G user who has upgraded to iOS 4, you're most likely pulling your hair out in anticipation of the bug fixes expected in iOS 4.1 (due to arrive this week). However, if you just can't wait that long, creativebits has a few tips you might like to try in order to improve the performance of your sluggish iPhone 3G.

• Delete all unused and unessential apps.
• Delete all unessential conversations from your SMS inbox.
• Clear your history and browsing cache in Safari.
• Delete your call history.
• If you don't use them, turn off Spotlight and MMS messaging.

For all the details, check out the article here.

Our own Chris Rawson has some good pointers concerning this issue, but if all else fails, we recommend you get your party poppers ready for the imminent iOS 4.1 release.

TUAWHow to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit tears down a new iPod shuffle 8 Sep 2010, 10:30 am

Whenever Apple releases new hardware, I start to anticipate iFixit's inevitable teardown. This time they've gotten into the iPod shuffle to show us the very small number of tiny parts that keep users rocking.

Much like the Magic Trackpad, there isn't much to see inside the new shuffle. The guys admit that getting the shuffle apart wasn't easy. "It took us a good half hour of prying and heat-gunning to open the little guy." The front and back cases were glued and press-fit together. It's a solid little device.

Inside, the battery and logic board live side-by-side in cozy quarters. In fact, they're soldered together (so no user-serviceable battery in the shuffle). Once the connecting ribbon has been removed, you can pop the board's retaining clip and the lone screw holding it in place, removing it and the battery as a single unit. Finally, four little screws keep the click wheel in place.

iFixit shares some other information on the battery, board, and probable dates of manufacture in their article, so go and read it. We suspect, as they do, that these teardowns will only get harder as Apple's hardware continues to shrink.

TUAWiFixit tears down a new iPod shuffle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW first look and giveaway: Courier simplifies Mac media sharing 8 Sep 2010, 10:00 am

Sharing your files, photos, movies, and images with others through online services can sometimes be a hassle for Mac users. For some of us, it's possible to get all of the various interconnections between services set up in such a way that one tweet sends a photo to Facebook, Flickr, and a variety of other services. But for a surprising number of Mac users, it just isn't that easy.

Realmac Software is in the business of making things easy. They're the folks who make website design easy with RapidWeaver, and they've just come out with a tool to make media sharing as easy as putting a stamp on an envelope. Courier (US$19.95 introductory price) is designed so that anyone, even your Mom, can easily upload photos, movies, and the like to a pile of services.

A download of Courier is available for a limited trial, and you can make an in-app purchase of the app if you like it. We're going to be giving away five copies of Courier to TUAW readers, so read up on how the app works and then enter the giveaway. Check out the gallery below for a few screenshots, and then read on for a look at this Mac application.

TUAWTUAW first look and giveaway: Courier simplifies Mac media sharing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Game Center for 2nd gen iPod touch, not iPhone 3G 8 Sep 2010, 9:30 am

Good news for 2nd generation iPod touch users! As reported by AppleInsider and MacDailyNews, the 2nd generation iPod touch will be compatible with Game Center, Apple's new gaming and social networking application, but the iPhone 3G will not. Other compatible iOS devices are the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch as well as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

AppleInsider notes that the 2nd generation iPod touch, which has similar hardware specs to the iPhone 3G (in terms of game playability), had previously not been compatible with Game Center, in an iOS 4.1 beta build. However, in a turn of events, the 2nd generation iPod touch is now compatible, according to Apple's official Game Center website.

Though both the iPhone 3G and the 2nd generation iPod touch were released in 2008, the 2nd generation iPod touch has a slightly faster processor, clocking in at 532MHz over the iPhone 3G's 412MHz.

With the iPhone 3G suffering under the weight of an already slimmed down version of iOS 4, it's no surprise to see that the 3G won't be compatible with Game Center. Game Center will be available, for compatible iOS devices, with iOS 4.1

TUAWConfirmed: Game Center for 2nd gen iPod touch, not iPhone 3G originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cyberduck adds cloud file management improvements 8 Sep 2010, 9:00 am

My FTP app of choice, Cyberduck, has updated to version 3.6, and as you can see on the changelog, it's a nice, chunky update. The developers have added in support for Google Storage, made things easier for Amazon S3 users, and added a lot of little features and bugfixes that make the whole experience easier and more compatible with other apps and platforms.

I still like Cyberduck as an app -- a lot of Mac users praise the heck out of Transmit, and it's also a very nice app, but I like supporting open source (and don't mind the free downloads, either). And Cyberduck is still growing -- they just recently announced that a Windows version is coming soon, so if you need to do some FTP'ing on Microsoft's platform, but want a Mac-quality app to do it with, Cyberduck could be the one. That version is in beta now, and should be out for release soon.

Cyberduck, as open source software, is a free download, with the option to make a donation to the hardworking developers over here.

TUAWCyberduck adds cloud file management improvements originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First generation Apple TV owners: checkout aTV Flash 8 Sep 2010, 8:00 am

Like many first generation Apple TV owners, I was sad to see that we were being left behind with the advent of the new Apple TV. That said, I have no plans to get rid of my original Apple TV. In fact, Apple's decision spurred me to take action I have been thinking about for a long time: installing aTV Flash.

aTV Flash is a set of programs that add features to your Apple TV. It adds SSH/FTP access, allows you to use an external hard drive for additional storage, adds Boxee support, and much more. One of the big additions is the ability to watch AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, and DVD (VIDEO_TS) files. You can even install Firefox and use the AppleTV as a web browser.

I've actually owned the aTV Flash software for over a year but had never gotten around to using it, because after each Apple TV update I'd have to wait for the software to be updated again. aTV Flash updates come out fairly regularly, but it was just the hassle of the process that made me averse to doing it. Now that Apple has declared the product to be essentially End Of Life, I figured there was no better time to start.

Installing aTV Flash couldn't be any simpler. You simply download the installer (available for Mac or Windows), and it installs the aTV Flash software onto a USB flash drive. Unplug your Apple TV, plug in the aTV Flash formatted flash drive, reboot the Apple TV, and wait for it to finish. The whole process took only a few minutes. After being updated, the Apple TV interface looks mostly the same, except there are some new menu options to choose from.

The aTV Flash software sells for $50 and includes a year of updates. They are planning to keep developing additional features for the first generation Apple TV units, including Last.fm support. When I first looked into this about a year ago, there were apparently ways to do much of what aTV Flash offers by yourself if you had the time and inclination to find the instructions on a variety of websites. Personally I found it well worth it to pay for an easy way, but if you are looking to save some money, you might take a look via Google to see what's available; it may have gotten easier since I last checked.

TUAWFirst generation Apple TV owners: checkout aTV Flash originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 101: Play other people's music, increase contrast 8 Sep 2010, 7:00 am

Here's two tips for the new iTunes 10 that you might not have seen yet. First up, 9to5Mac shares the news that you can now plug any iOS device with music on it into iTunes 10 and listen in to whatever music is available without having to enable "manual sync mode." That's a nice bonus -- if you're at a party, and your friend wants to hear a tune you're carrying around on the iPhone, you can just plug it in, hit play, and dance the night away. I presume all of the usual restrictions on sharing music are still there (music bought on one account can't be downloaded to another, obviously), but at least just for listening, iTunes 10 makes things much easier.

Mac OS X Hints also shares a tip for those disappointed by the look of the grayed-out icons in the iTunes 10 sidebar. By putting a certain line into Terminal, you can enable "high contrast mode" for the app. It won't bring back the colors (it basically just inverses the sidebar from black-on-white to vice versa), but if you need a little more action in the iTunes sidebar, you can give it a shot.

TUAWiTunes 101: Play other people's music, increase contrast originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW's Daily App: Skies of Glory 8 Sep 2010, 6:00 am

I actually picked up Skies of Glory a while back, but it wasn't until I finally nabbed my iPhone 4 this weekend that I got to see it running in its full, well, glory. Skies of Glory is a World War II air combat simulator -- it walks a nice line between simulation and arcade, as you don't need to worry too much about controlling the plane (the iPhone's accelerometer is used to great effect), but you'll still need to keep your bearings to take out enemies. It's challenging, but spending the time to get your plane lined up is actually pretty rewarding, not to mention that it's awesome to see a fully implemented air combat sim on the iPhone.

The game's model will probably rub some folks the wrong way, but there's actually plenty of content for free. The game itself is a free download, and includes a tutorial mission, a first combat mission, and a set of dogfights, along with the ability to play multiplayer over WiFi. After that (and it will take you a good evening to finish that content), you can buy extra planes and mission packs with in-app purchases, just a couple of bucks each. Or if you want to go a more traditional route, you can buy a Battle of Britain app for US $6.99, which has planes and mission packs already included.

Either way, Skies of Glory is worth checking out. I wouldn't say it rivals flight sims on other platforms -- it doesn't have the graphical glitz of a game like HAWX on consoles, and it definitely doesn't match up to super professional flight sims on the PC. But on the iPhone, especially running at full speed on an iPhone 4, it's pretty impressive.

TUAWTUAW's Daily App: Skies of Glory originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 101: Using Ping on your iPhone 8 Sep 2010, 5:00 am

Along with the desktop version of Ping, you can also utilize Apple's new social network on your iPhone. It's actually proven to be my favorite method of using the service.

However, Apple does make it a bit difficult. At this time, you can't activate a Ping account from your phone -- it must be done through iTunes 10. Otherwise, you'll get the lovely message as seen in our screenshot gallery. Once you get Ping activated, it integrates nicely with the existing mobile iTunes.

Read on to see Ping in action on the iPhone, or check out the gallery.

TUAWiPhone 101: Using Ping on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Extended iTunes song previews delayed, licensing may be to blame 7 Sep 2010, 11:00 pm

One of the things that was widely rumored to appear but ultimately absent from Apple's music event last week was an extension of song previews on the iTunes Store from their current 30 seconds to 60 or even 90 seconds. According to CNET, we can blame the Byzantine licensing arrangement of the music industry (surprise, surprise).

Apple had a deal worked out with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), all four major record companies, and a contract with American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) that never limited preview lengths in the first place. Apparently that still wasn't enough to increase preview lengths, because CNET says the National Music Publishers Association objected and basically said, "No, you have to make a deal with us, too."

All of which just makes me wonder: how many different licensing associations does this cash cow industry need, anyway?

The music industry giants gave up a lot of their power (and money) to Apple in the mid-2000s, and it seems they've learned their lesson. Unfortunately for us users, this obstructionism means we end up losing out on neat features. As CNET notes, the current mini-battle over song previews is likely just a warmup for the headliner bout: Apple's predicted music streaming service.

Music industry execs already tried to get Apple to pay "performance fees" for its 30-second song samples; I can imagine Steve Jobs's response to that one was something like maniacal laughter followed by a hearty "No." If Apple does finally manage to get 90-second previews pushed through, it could be a good sign for its music streaming aspirations.

[Via MacRumors]

TUAWExtended iTunes song previews delayed, licensing may be to blame originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ping reaches a million, attacked by spam 7 Sep 2010, 9:00 pm

Apple's new social network, Ping, has been around for about a week now, and all of the pundits have had their chance at weighing in on what Apple got wrong and right. And what's the result? Not bad, but not great -- more than a million people joined the network in just 48 hours. That's not terrible at all, but it's a far cry from the millions of people who actually use iTunes, presumably every day. Apple's success in this area, in other words, isn't going to come easy.

The company has already had to put in a little more work. In addition to all of those members, the network was also hit by spam early on, with fake accounts for people like Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive, plus links that led off to contact-stealing scripts and other trouble like that. Apple has already cracked down on most of the offenders, but clearly it was an issue early on that they didn't foresee.

The interface has already been updated a bit -- Apple has added "back" and "forward" buttons to the service, to match the rest of the in-app browsers in iTunes. I still maintain that Ping won't reach its full potential until you can actually "like" songs and albums in your personal library, so hopefully a few more updates and tweaks are on the way.

TUAWPing reaches a million, attacked by spam originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Brief: Canadian App Store allows gift card purchases 7 Sep 2010, 7:15 pm

Drop that curling broom and get downloading! Reader Jacques writes in to let us know that the Canadian edition of the App Store has begun accepting iTunes gift cards as payment for app purchases, a policy change that seems to have quietly taken effect back in June of this year.

You may recall (or maybe not) that Canada's iPhone-toting population was previously shut out of using gift cards for apps, although the reasons why aren't entirely clear.

Congratulations, Canada, and enjoy.

TUAWIn Brief: Canadian App Store allows gift card purchases originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod touch makes up 38% of iDevices shipped 7 Sep 2010, 6:00 pm

Blogger asymco did a little calculating from last week's announcement numbers, and has hammered out a rough estimate of just how many of each iDevice are floating around the world today. According to Steve at last week's event, there are 120 million iDevices total in the world, and we already knew from SEC filings that 59.6 million of those were iPhones. The current number of iPads in the hands of customers around world is 3.2 million, which (with estimates for the past month on both of those devices added in), means that there are likely 45.2 million iPod touches around. That's 37.7% of iOS devices at large -- not as big as it used to be, as the iPad's arrival shook things up a bit, but still a very significant total.

It's somewhat surprising to me that the touch is so popular, given that the iPhone and the iPad have gotten most of the press for iOS. But then again, it makes sense -- the iPod touch, as Jobs himself joked during the event, is like an iPhone "without the contract," and it's the cheapest of all the devices. While it's lacking a bit of functionality, iOS, the main selling point, is still there and running, so all of the super popular apps like Angry Birds and Doodle Jump are able to be bought and played. It makes a lot of sense that the iPod touch would be so popular -- maybe what's surprising is that Apple has waited until now to update it with the iPhone 4's big features as well.

TUAWiPod touch makes up 38% of iDevices shipped originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Safari updated to 5.0.2 7 Sep 2010, 5:18 pm

The good news is, the Safari 5.0.2 update fixes a passel of bugs and outstanding security issues. The bad news: like all Safari updates, which replace the underlying Webkit framework used by many Mac OS X apps to render HTML, this 39 MB update requires a restart. There's also a 4.1.2 update for users still on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

Apple's notes on the update say that it "contains improvements to compatibility and security" including:

• Fixes an issue that could prevent users from submitting web forms
• Fixes an issue that could cause web content to display incorrectly when viewing a Google Image result with Flash 10.1 installed
• Establishes an encrypted, authenticated connection to the Safari Extensions Gallery

Thanks to Carlos, Joachim and David for sending this in.

TUAWSafari updated to 5.0.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game Center is live... mostly 7 Sep 2010, 4:45 pm

iPhone developers report that Apple's Game Center has finally gone live. Formerly limited to a sandbox-only development environment, accounts and friends that were created for the sandbox will not apply to the live production system on Apple's servers. Game Center is now prompting for new credentials -- and developers are sharing usernames on Twitter. Older accounts and friends were wiped out yesterday to prepare for the live system.

The server is reportedly having some start-up issues, including connectivity and crashing issues, but developers who were limited before are now able to create full accounts and full-on matchups. Currently, Game Center is live in 4.1, which we expect to arrive soon. Developers can submit Game Center applications to iTunes Connect using the 4.1 GM seed.

Once the app and iOS 4.1 are available, we'll have a full review.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

TUAWGame Center is live... mostly originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian carriers feel heavy burden from iPhone 4 7 Sep 2010, 4:00 pm

Stop us if you've heard this one. Apple releases the iPhone 4, and the tremendous demand from customers keeps store shelves bare. That's the case in Australia, where suppliers Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia are struggling to keep up.

As online stores generate increasing backlogs, shipping times increase. As of this writing, most customers are being asked to wait between two and three weeks for their orders to arrive. It's beginning to wear on shoppers and store owners alike. "Even one to two weeks, or up to three weeks, waiting time is not ideal," said an unidentified representative from Vodafone Hutchison Australia.

Meanwhile, Apple is sending out fresh supplies weekly. "Shipments of the iPhone 4 continue to be made," an Apple rep told The Australian. Supplies were strained in the US for quite a while after launch, but Apple seems to have finally caught up, as customers can now find iPhone 4s in Apple Stores and AT&T stores.

The whole thing reminds us of Monty Python's Cheese Shop sketch, in which a hungry patron is trying to buy cheese from a shop that doesn't have any:

Shop owner: "[Our cheese shop is] the finest in the district."
Customer: "Explain the logic behind that conclusion."
Shop owner: "Well, it's so clean."
Customer: "It's certainly uncontaminated by cheese."

Here's hoping our friends down under get their cheese iPhone 4s soon.

[Via MacDailyNews]

TUAWAustralian carriers feel heavy burden from iPhone 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retro new iPhone dock has pricey, film noir feel 7 Sep 2010, 3:15 pm

If you're feeling nostalgic and have US$250 burning a hole in your pocket, perhaps we've found the iPhone dock for you.

The iRetrophone Skyliner, designed by artist Scott Freeland, is a retro-style iPhone dock (compatible with 3G, 3GS, and iPhone 4) within a custom-designed, old-style desktop telephone. The iPhone connects via a standard connector within the dock, providing charging power and a working handset -- yes, the handset works.

Combine this dock with the aptly-named iRetroPhone iPhone app, and your iPhone retro-izing is complete. But for $250? They lost me there.

[via iPhone Savior]

TUAWRetro new iPhone dock has pricey, film noir feel originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iWeb updated to 3.0.2 7 Sep 2010, 3:00 pm

TUAWiWeb updated to 3.0.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MobileMe iDisk app and Find My iPhone updated with bug fixes 7 Sep 2010, 2:30 pm

If you've been having problems with the Apple MobileMe iDisk app, or even if you haven't noticed anything weird, it's a good idea to get the latest update. The newest version (1.21) fixes a problem opening Keynote files in some circumstances on the iPad. Rotated images now show in the correct orientation, and there are the usual unspecified 'stability and performance improvements.'

Meanwhile, the Find My iPhone app has been bumped to version 1.01. The updated app supports the new iPod touch and fixes some translation issues in French, German and Japanese. There are also 'various bug fixes.'

The apps work on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, so check the app store for the free updates pronto.

TUAWMobileMe iDisk app and Find My iPhone updated with bug fixes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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