Mark Gurman

Apple’s top movie-making software, Final Cut Studio, was last updated in July of 2009 and today it looks like it will be getting another update sometime in the near future. Reader Evan Agee recently e-mailed the man in charge about the lack of a Final Cut Studio announcement at Apple’s Back to the Mac event and also threw in his hopes for a 64-bit update. Jobs’ reply?

Stay tuned and buckle up.
Sent from my iPhone

So there you go, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, has hinted through e-mail that Final Cut Studio is not dead, like the white iPhone 4, and it will be receiving an update at some point that will include 64-bit capabilities. Sweet.

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Some Apple folks have let us know that the final build of Mac OS X 10.6.5 was released internally today. They also tell us that Apple pre-release updates usually come in one to a few days prior to public launch. With that, 10.6.5 may even hit tomorrow, Tuesday. The build is 10H568 and that is the build tier 2 developers received yesterday. Check out the list of new features and enhancements in the screenshot above.

Apple thinks their legendary, magical, and amazing iPad is also electric:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8-nKo2hqlg&w=640&h=385]

The golden master seed of iOS 4.2 for all iDevices has just been let into the wild – for developers that is. If you want it become a developer or become friends with someone who is. Early reports share no new features except some lame Apple ID thing. Let us know if you find anything new mmk? Oh and it’s apparently pretty snappy.

Update: MacStories notes that YouTube Airplay is back in action with this Golden Master seed as well as a spiced up controls bar to the left of the multitasking dock:

Also, GMs don’t require you to register your device with a developer so if you want to be daring and jump on board, have at it.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY4gKCGA-Cg&w=480&h=385]

We already know Parallels has their own iPad remote desktop app and today RazorianFly reports that VMWare has one of their own in the works. The iPad app is called ‘VMWare View Client’ and will be available sometime in early 2011. Above is a hands-on video of the application by VMWare’s CTO.

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Remember when Motorola sued Apple (and everyone else) earlier this month? Remember when Motorola said Droid Does and iPhone Doesn’t? Well today Apple is hitting back at Motorola. Apple has recently filed two lawsuits against Motorola over six patents filed by Apple relating to Multi-Touch. According to Apple’s lawsuit the Motorola products infringing on Apple’s Intellectual Property are the Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq, Cliq XT, BackFlip, Devour A555, Devour i1, and Charm 1.

Apple has split up the six patent infringements into two lawsuits and here they are from Patently Apple:

One: Apple, Inc patent titled: Ellipse Fitting for Multi-Touch Surfaces

Two: Apple, Inc patent titled: Multipoint Touchscreen

Three: Taligent, Inc patent titled: Object-Oriented System Locator System

Four: Apple, Inc, patent titled: Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Commands by Applying Heuristics

Five: Apple Computer, Inc. patent titled: Method and Apparatus for Displaying and Accessing Control and Status Information in a Computer System

Six: Apple Computer, Inc. patent titled: Support for Custom User-Interaction Elements in a Graphical, Event-Driven Computer System

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We are all aware of the obsession surrounding turning the new iPod nanos into watches. Heck’ even Steve Wozniak did it. Well now iPod Watch Store is selling high-quaility iPod nano watch bands for only $9.99. Get yours here. Oh, and here’s a secret: use the code “9to5mac” at checkout for 25% off.

iOS app strategist Raven Zachary today revealed via Twitter that Microsoft apparently has a group dedicated to the iPad. This tidbit comes from Zachary overhearing two Microsoft employees discussing confidential information. Electronista reported this tweet as possible evidence that Microsoft is developing an iPad competitor.

It would be no shock that Microsoft is working on some tablets of their own but we do not think this tweet is any indication that Microsoft has a dedicated group to go against the iPad. The original report states that the tweet could also mean they have a group dedicated to market research of the iPad but it probably has nothing to do with that either.

If you recall, back in September of this year we reported that a Microsoft employee revealed that Microsoft was in fact working on some applications for the iPad. Because of this, we believe this “iPad group” has no anti-iPad incinations but is instead the group working on Microsoft’s iPad App Store applications.

When Apple released iTunes 10.0.1 the software’s sidebar was renamed to the ‘Ping Sidebar’ and it removed Genius Recommendations from the side. Today, Apple brought Genius Recommendations back to the sidebar and renamed the bar to something more fitting: ‘iTunes Sidebar.’

We think users will enjoy this change as having your Genius recommendations at your side (pun intended) is very convenient for your music buying – and Apple for that matter.

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Earlier this week we told you about some of the issues iPhoto ’11 users are experiencing. Perhaps the most detrimental is an issue resulting in the loss of your iPhoto library when upgrading. Well today, Apple has fixed this with iPhoto 9.0.1.:

This update addresses issues that, in extremely rare cases, could result in data loss when upgrading a library from an earlier version of iPhoto.

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Over the past few months multiple rumors emerged claiming that Apple would adopt USB 3.0 for their line of Macs. Since this is yet to happen, reader, Tom Kruk e-mailed the man in charge asking why he cannot order a Mac with USB 3.0.

Jobs’ Reply:

We don’t see USB 3 taking off at this time. No support from Intel, for example.

According to Jobs USB 3 is not exactly never happening and it looks like they are simply waiting on Intel to adopt the platform. He says Apple does not “see USB 3 taking off at this time” leaving the possibility of Macs with USB 3 for the future.

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Since the release of Apple’s new MacBook Air we’ve heard countless reports of Skype users not being able to login to their Skype accounts.

After doing some more research, it turns out this issue was not-only for new MacBook Air users but on all new Skype for Mac installs.

Well today Skype pushed out an update to Skype for Mac and it resolves the issue. It’s version 2.8.0.863 and you can download it here.

We’re trying to put the White iPhone 4 to bed but this was kinda funny:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d09yWG2fSBg&w=640&h=385]
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This is BulletTrain’s Apple Keyboard + Magic Trackpad platform:

It’s stylish, aluminum (Ive approved), and super-convinient. It puts your Magic Trackpad and Wireless keyboard onto one platform for excellent usability and for that laptop style. It’s 99 bucks US and we have a review unit en route. Also, with 10.7 Lion’s touchy-ness, this will be the perfect setup for your desktop Mac in Summer 2011- if Lion doesn’t ship on a white CD that is.

Yahoo has just updated their Messenger app to enable video calling on the iPod touch 4. Yahoo Messenger video calling was released for iPhone 4 a few weeks back and enables video calls over 3G between computers and smartphones. The update is free of course and includes bug fixes as an added treat.

According to a report from Gigaom, Apple may be planning to cut out their carriers in future iPhone purchases. The report claims that Apple is working with SIM-card manufacturer, Gemalto, in order to create a custom-made card that is installed in the phone.

The card’s purpose would be to allow users to purchase an iPhone directly from Apple’s online or retail store, then choose their carrier when they get the device. The SIM-card would work with an Apple carrier-chooser App Store app thus cutting out the need for users to call or work with the carriers, in order to get their devices all set up.

The apparent future of iPhone sales appears to be geared towards Europe as Europe has several iPhone carriers, versus one in the U.S. – until January-ish, that work on similar cellular and data connections.

Apple today has finally opened up their Online Store for customers in China. China’s Online Apple Store sells all Apple products including the iPhone 4 and iPad, which recently made their way to China.

Apple also announced that an enhanced App Store for China is also now available. This App Store has localized featured apps, sections, and top charts. The updated App Store is also now available in Simplified Chinese for the first time.

Full press release after the break:

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Mac Stories is reporting that Apple’s Apple Store iPhone/iPod touch application will be receiving a minor update in the near future. This update will include a feature that recognizes when you enter an Apple Store you have a reservation at, and will ask you if you want to confirm your reservation. You’ll also get a popup with the picture of the Apple employee helping you so you can find them more easily.

On the customer end, it appears the Apple Store application will be updated to integrate with Apple’s ecosystem. As the ability to make reservations is already in place, you’ll receive a push notification as you enter the store asking if you’d like to check-in. You’ll then be notified of your waiting time (your position in the queue), and who you’ll be meeting up with via a photo of the employee. You also may receive helpful hints as you enter the store, so that you can request services via your iPhone. It’s a very streamlined process.

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ABC News Australia is reporting that factory workers in Southern China are being treated for poisoning from vapors they breathed in while working on Apple device screen production.

After breathing in the chemical’s vapours, they became dizzy and numb and eventually they could not walk.

“At first the symptoms were pretty obvious. My hands were numb. I could hardly walk or run,” one woman told the ABC.

“I think they knew it was poisonous to human bodies but if they had used another chemical our output would not have increased,” another woman said.

“By using n-hexane, it was much more efficient”.

The women have now been in hospital for more than half a year.

“I am back at work but my symptoms are still with me,” one worker said.

“My legs still hurt. This will accompany me for the rest of my life. It’s very painful.”

The workers’ boss, Zhong Jianxiang, was not available to be interviewed.

Workers in one factory claim to have been poisened by the chemicals used in shining the silvery parts of Apple products – like the Apple logo on iPhones. Others blame the chemicals that go into preparing Apple’s displays. Apple would not confirm these reports and has only said it has tightened its requirements regarding workplace safety at its suppliers.

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Back in January 2010 Apple announced that the hardware switch on the side of the iPad would be a mute switch, just like on the iPhone. Then, closer to the product’s launch in March of this year, Apple revealed that the mute-switch magically transformed into a very handy orientation-lock. Now with iOS 4.2 for iPad, Apple again transformed the hardware switch’s purpose and now it is once again a mute-switch. As we now know, you can lock the iPad’s screen orientation via a menu to the left of the multitasking dock.

Since Apple is clearly able to change the switch’s purpose via a software update, many have wondered if Apple would make an option in settings for the user to choose whether they want it as an orientation lock or as a mute switch. Well today, we have the answer and it comes straight from the top. Reader, Robert Novak, sent an e-mail to Steve Jobs asking:

In IOS 4.2 for iPad is the switch on the side going to be the mute and not screen orientation lock from now on?

After getting a classic thumbs up from Jobs:
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Many hoped and speculated that Apple’s latest media-suite, iLife ’11, would be re-written to work in 64 bit. As Gear Live notes, this is sadly not the case. If you look at the screenshot of the Mac Activity Monitor above, you will notice that the ’64 bit’ marker is not present next to both iMovie ’11 and iPhoto ’11. The same apparently goes for Garageband ’11. We are not really sure why Apple chose not to go 64 bit with iLife ’11 seeing that Snow Leopard is fully 64 bit compatible. On the other hand they need something besides new slideshows and video effects for iLife ’12 or ’13, right?