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Mike Beasley

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Microsoft releases Office for Mac 2011 patch with critical bug fixes and security updates

Mike Beasley Oct 14 2014 - 5:37 pm PT

Microsoft has released Office for Mac 2011 version 14.4.5, which includes critical bug fixes and security improvements. You can download the free 113 MB patch from Microsoft’s website. The change notes from Microsoft are below:

This update fixes critical issues and also helps to improve security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

The update is recomended for all users of Office 2011, which is the most recently version of the productivity suite for OS X systems.

‘Oops, sorry about that:’ Bono responds to ‘Songs of Innocence’ iTunes deal

Mike Beasley Oct 14 2014 - 4:35 pm PT

iTunes customers who didn’t watch Apple’s iPhone keynote last month were a bit surprised to discover that they suddenly owned a copy of U2’s new album “Songs of Innocence,” even though they’d never bought it. The band had partnered with Apple to add the album to every single iTunes account for free in what they called the largest album debut ever.

iTunes users were less than thrilled at the arrangement, noting that the album was being automatically downloaded to their devices in many cases and there was no way to remove it from their purchase history. Apple responded soon thereafter by releasing an online tool to remove the album, but thus far U2 has remained quiet on the issue… until today.

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Hackers claim to have a database of nearly 7 million Dropbox credentials, service denies it was breached

Mike Beasley Oct 13 2014 - 9:20 pm PT

A database containing login information for nearly 7 million users of the private cloud storage provider Dropbox has been accessed by hackers, according to a partial dump posted on Pastebin earlier this evening (via The Next Web). However, Dropbox has issued a statement denying that this breach occurred on its end, saying that Dropbox itself was not attacked, but rather a third-party service that had stored user credentials:

Dropbox has not been hacked. These usernames and passwords were unfortunately stolen from other services and used in attempts to log in to Dropbox accounts. We’d previously detected these attacks and the vast majority of the passwords posted have been expired for some time now. All other remaining passwords have been expired as well.

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New Apple retail locations opening in New Hampshire, Florida, & Scotland this week

Mike Beasley Oct 13 2014 - 6:22 pm PT

Apple will be expanding its retail operations to three new locations in Florida, New Hampshire, and Scotland this week. The first store will open on Thursday at Sarasota, Florida’s University Town Center. The second will be located in the Mall of New Hampshire (pictured above) in Manchester and will open on Saturday, October 18th (via MacRumors). Edinburgh, Scotland is also due for a new Apple Store opening at 10 Princes Street on Saturday, October 18th. You can see current photos of the venue for the future Edinburgh Apple Store above.
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Many retailers currently have no plans to implement Apple Pay, but that’s no reason to start worrying

Mike Beasley Oct 10 2014 - 7:44 pm PT

When announcing Apple Pay last month, Apple showed off a list of launch partners that would be putting the NFC-powered iPhone payment system to work in October, including McDonald’s, Nike, and Macy’s. However, the Daily Dot has compiled a list of businesses that don’t currently have plans to adopt Apple’s mobile payment system, and there are some notable entries on the list.

Of course, it doesn’t seem unexpected that many businesses that didn’t have early access to the hardware and software that makes up Apple Pay would be without current plans to adopt the technology. Many of the companies gave a “non-statement,” so to speak, confirming that they are considering the possibility of implementing the system in the future but don’t currently have a date set to roll it out.

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Designers mock up Apple Watch versions of popular iOS applications

Mike Beasley Oct 10 2014 - 4:23 pm PT

unity_thinkapps_messenger

Facebook Messenger

Thinkapps’ Build Blog has published a few designer mockups showing what popular third-party applications might look like on Apple’s new smartwatch with some interesting results. The apps were created by several different designers, and you can see that each app maintains some of the branding and design you’d expect while conforming to the smaller wearable UI and its new input devices like the Digital Crown.

Above you’ll find the design for Facebook Messenger, which features a contact view made up of circular contact photos with online indicators that closely resembles the watch’s home screen. The message view sports a single reply button that presumably uses the device’s built-in dictation capability to compose a response.

Below you’ll find designs for apps like Beats Music, Skype, Uber, YouTube, and more. Keep in mind that these designs are hardly official, but represent the types of user interfaces you might see when the folks in Cupertino release the Apple Watch early next year.

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Apple begins rollout of redesigned iTunes Store ahead of OS X Yosemite launch

Mike Beasley Oct 10 2014 - 2:45 pm PT

Apple has started rolling out a redesigned version of the iTunes Store for users running iTunes 12 less than a week ahead of what’s expected to be the launch of OS X Yosemite. The new storefront takes design cues from the iTunes and App Store home pages on iOS devices, featuring a flattened, side-scrolling carousel at the top of the page in place of the old “card”-style header. This new header can be scrolled horizontally using two fingers or even dragged around with a mouse.

Individual pages for albums, TV shows, and iOS apps have also been redesigned and now feature more iOS-like controls throughout. Download buttons have been reduced to simple outlines. Shadows and textures have been removed throughout the store, putting the content directly on a stark white or dark gray background.

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Jony Ive takes the stage at Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit, talks design of course (Video)

Mike Beasley Oct 9 2014 - 5:28 pm PT

Image via Steve Kovach

Image via <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekovach/status/520360606994415617" target="_blank">Steve Kovach</a>

Jony Ive appeared live today at Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit and talked about Apple’s design team, principles, and process. For example, the executive revealed that Apple’s core design team is made up of only about 16 people, and the company almost gave up on the first-generation iPhone because they weren’t sure they could get a touch interface working.

According to Business Insider, Ive said that no one has ever voluntarily left his small design team, which is a pretty fantastic track record. He also said that the rounded edges on the newest iPhone models were designed to make it feel thinner. Previous attempts had been made at creating a larger iPhone, but the squared edges made it feel bulky.

You can find some of the more interesting tidbits below. Video footage of the event below.

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Apple Watch set to appear on the cover of Vogue China’s November issue

Mike Beasley Oct 9 2014 - 4:24 pm PT

Apple’s upcoming wearable will appear on the cover of Vogue China’s November issue according to Business of Fashion. Several styles of the device will be worn by supermodel Liu Wen. This comes just a few weeks after Apple’s one-day-only special showing of the Apple Watch during Paris Fashion Week, proving that the company is taking a much more direct approach to the fashion world.

Vogue China EiC Angelica Cheung reportedly met with Tim Cook and Jony Ive prior to the official reveal of the watch to learn about the process behind its design. When asked about why Vogue China was chosen as the first magazine to feature the device, she responded in part by stating:

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WSJ: Apple deal with GT Advanced broke down over inability to provide iPhone 6 displays

Mike Beasley Oct 9 2014 - 3:18 pm PT

The Wall Street Journal has published new information about the breakdown of a deal between Apple and GT Advanced Technologies Inc. that led the latter to file for bankruptcy earlier this week. As was previously noted, Apple withheld a $139 million payment from the sapphire supplier, though the exact reasoning was unclear.

In a research note released yesterday, KGI confirmed that GTAT was Apple’s first choice for these displays because the company had created a process that provided superior drop test results. Now the Journal reports that the payment was withheld after GT Advanced failed to meet Apple’s requirements for the iPhone 6 display.

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49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick fined $10,000 for wearing Beats headphones to press conference

Mike Beasley Oct 9 2014 - 2:39 pm PT

BzOS2z_CYAEDh-h.jpg-large

Image via <a href="https://twitter.com/PGutierrezESPN/status/518919857832599553" target="_blank">Paul Gutierrez </a>

SF 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing a pair of pink Beats by Dre headphones (presumably for Breast Cancer Awareness Month) during a post-game press conference on Sunday. The National Football League recently signed an agreement with Bose that barred players and staff from wearing any other brand of headphones while on camera.

Kaepernick has an endorsement deal with Beats which comes into conflict with that agreement. The player declined to state whether the Apple-owned brand was picking up the tab for this infraction (and potentially others in the future).

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Apple reminds two-factor users about changes starting tomorrow, provides instructions for passwords

Mike Beasley Oct 8 2014 - 7:55 pm PT

Apple has sent an email to users of its two-factor authentication system reminding them of an upcoming change to the feature that will take effect tomorrow. Originally the requirement for app-specific passwords was supposed to start on the first of the month, but Apple has informed users that it will begin tomorrow instead. The system to generate and use these passwords is already in place.

App-specific passwords allow you to log into applications that don’t support two-factor logins, such as most email clients or other apps that may want to access your iCloud data. You can create these one-time-use passwords from the Apple ID website. Once you’ve generated the password, just plug it into the app you want to use and you’re all set.

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iOS 8.1 beta includes “3x” images for iPad interface elements, possibly pointing to higher-res tablets

Mike Beasley Oct 8 2014 - 6:33 pm PT

More investigation into the newest beat of iOS 8.1 has revealed that the operating system contains 3x versions of some iPad UI elements. Triple-size elements are used by the new iPhone 6 Plus to maintain “Retina” quality on the larger display, and this change could indicate that a larger or higher-resolution iPad could be coming with next week’s announcement.

Like the new Apple Pay UI that was recently uncovered in this beta, the new assets were discovered by Hamza Sood and posted to Twitter:

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Apple enters top 5 PC vendors worldwide by shipments, takes third domestically

Mike Beasley Oct 8 2014 - 5:10 pm PT

New IDC numbers released today reveal that Apple has jumped into the top five PC vendors worldwide by shipment this quarter, with Mac shipments coming in at 4.9 million units for 6.3% market share. That’s a year-over-year growth of just under 9%. Lenovo and HP held the top two slots with 20% and 18.8% respectively.

unitedstates The same report indicated that the Cupertino company had held steady in third place for domestic shipments. With 2.26 million Macs shipped within the United States, the company was able to grab 13% marketshare. The domestic year-over-year growth came out to 9.3%. Apple was beat out by Dell with a 24% share, while HP held the top position with 27.%.

Apple will be announcing several new products next week, including new iMacs, which should provide a boost for Q4 shipments.

Apple releases beta version of OS X Server 4.0 for Yosemite to developers

Mike Beasley Oct 8 2014 - 4:14 pm PT

Apple has just posted a pre-release build of OS X Server version 4.0 on its developer portal. The update is designed for systems running the upcoming OS X 10.10 Yosemite and has a build number of 14S323. The seed notes are below:

OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview
OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview 14S323 (app version 3.5.9) is now available for testing. This version is designed for OS X Yosemite and includes many new features and improvements.
Minimum System Requirements
To install OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview 14S323, you need one of these computers:
• iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) • MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
• Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac needs:
• OS X Yosemite Developer Preview
• Atleast2GBofRAM
• At least 10 GB of available disk space (50 GB if you wish to use Caching Server)
Clean installs, updates from OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview 14S310 and upgrade and migration from OS X Snow Leopard, OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion, and OS X Mavericks systems are supported (exceptions noted below) for this seed.
What’s New In OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview Server Application
• OS X Server can perform network diagnostic tests to verify your server is accessible from the Internet. Network diagnostic tests verify reachability by checking your server’s host name, and service ports.
• Firewall and user/group-based service access controls can now be defined in the Access tab of Server pane. Access restrictions may be applied in multiple levels – for
all networks, local networks, this Mac, custom networks, and for specific users and groups.
File Sharing
• SMB 3 is the default protocol for sharing files in OS X Yosemite. SMB 3 helps protect against tampering and eavesdropping by encrypting and signing data “in-flight.” In addition to SMB 3, OS X Yosemite maintains support for SMB 2, AFP and SMB network file sharing protocols, automatically selecting the appropriate protocol as needed.
• SMB 3 provides end-to-end encryption to protect data and secure communication on untrusted networks. SMB 3 uses AES CCM for encryption to ensure communications between client and server are private.
• To guard against tampering, SMB 3 adds a signature to every packet transmitted over the wire. SMB 3 uses AES-CMAC to validate the integrity of the signature, ensuring the packets have not been intercepted, changed or replayed and that communication between hosts is authenticated and authorized.
Profile Manager
Profile Manager features new payload settings and Mobile Device Management (MDM) support for new features in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
iOS and OS X
• MDM support for device renaming
• MDM query to display which VPP account is configured on a device, if any • Network settings for WPA-2 Enterprise and WPA2-PSD security types
• VPN settings to support “Always On” and Internet Key Exchange (IKEv2)
iOS 8
• MDM support for pushing the installation of media assets including PDF, EPUB and
iBook Author files
• MDM query to determine the most recent iCloud backup
• Restriction setting to Allow user to configure restrictions on a device
• Restriction setting to restrict cellular data usage
• Restriction setting to allow or restrict use of Handoff
• Restriction setting to prevent backup of managed books
• Restriction setting to prevent syncing of highlights and notes of managed books • Restriction setting to allow Internet results in Spotlight search
• Restriction setting to Allow Erase of All Content and Settings
• Restriction setting to Allow Managed Apps to Store Data in iCloud
• Network setting for EAP-SIM random key challenges
• Updated Content Filter setting for third-party Plug-in filters
• Updated Mail setting with per-message S/MIME signing encryption switch
• Managed Domains setting to manage web and mail account domains
OS X Yosemite
• MDM support for OS X enterprise app installation
• AD Certificate settings to support AllowAllAppsAccess and KeyIsExtractable
• SCEP and AD Certificate settings to allow specifying certificate renewal notification
time
• Passcode setting to prevent login after a specified number of incorrect attempts
Mail Server
• Simpler interface for setting up email for multiple domains.
Calendar Server
• Administrators can store address information for all meeting rooms in the Calendar Server. This allows Calendar clients to associate map location with a schedule-able location, support travel times, etc.
Caching Server
• IP address range registration to support caching content in non-NAT’ed networks.
What’s New and Noteworthy to Test
• Upgrade and migration from OS X Snow Leopard and higher systems • Xsan
Bug Reporting
When reporting a bug, enter the following command in Terminal, then attach the output to the bug report.
$ sudo /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/sbin/
serverloggather
Known Issues Server App
• On first launch following a migration from a OS X Server 3.1.2, Open Directory users and groups may not appear. The workaround is to quit Server App and relaunch. Wiki service.
Xsan
Configuration Instructions
• Create a SAN
• Start Xsan and create a new SAN. This machine will become an Xsan Controller.
• Joining a Controller to an existing SAN • Start Xsan and select to Join a SAN.
• Clients
• Use the “Save Configuration Profile” command available on the Xsan pane of Server App to add a client to the SAN and copy the profile to the client. Install the profile on clients by double-clicking the profile and following the installation process.
Configure SAN Clients Using Profile Manager
Clients can be configured using an Xsan Configuration Profile generated using Profile Manager.
1. Enroll one of the Xsan controllers into Device Management of Profile Manager.
2. Enroll each SAN client into Device Management of Profile Manager.
3. Use Profile Manager to push the Xsan configuration profile to the Clients.
4. Install the Profile on each SAN client.
Upgrade and Migration
1. 2. 3.
Upgrade or Migrate your legacy Primary MDC first • Launch Server App and turn Xsan ON
• Select to Restore a previous SAN configuration
Upgrade or Migrate your legacy Backup MDC’s (one at at time) • Launch Server App and turn Xsan ON
• Select to Restore a previous SAN configuration
Upgrade or Migrate Xsan Clients
• Xsan will not be enabled at the end of the upgrade/migration
• Copy the Xsan Configuration Profile from one of the MDC’s and install on
the client OR Configure SAN Clients using Profile Manager (see notes above)

KGI: GTAT bankruptcy unlikely to have impact on Apple Watch, future of sapphire iPhones uncertain

Mike Beasley Oct 7 2014 - 8:12 pm PT

KGI has published a new report clarifying that the recent announcement that Apple’s sapphire supplier had filed for bankruptcy will likely have no impact on the production of the comapny’s sapphire display-equipped wearable. According to KGI, GT was mainly contracted to create the sapphire crystal displays for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

The reason Apple partnered with GT Advanced on the iPhone displays was related to the size of the screens. Because GT was the best equipped to manufacture a display the size of the new iPhone models. However, because the Apple Watch uses a smaller display, other companies are able to produce the covers as easily as GT. This is also why the Touch ID sensor and iPhone cameras, which both use a sapphire lens, will also be unaffected.

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Apple Pay setup screen appears in modified version of iOS 8.1 beta 2

Mike Beasley Oct 7 2014 - 7:41 pm PT

Just in case there hadn’t already been enough evidence of Apple Pay support coming to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in the iOS 8.1 update, the second beta of the operating system, which was released earlier today, contains the setup screen for the system. The change isn’t visible to most users right now, but Hamad Sood been able to make it appear:

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More details on GT Advanced bankruptcy come to light: Apple withheld $139 million, GT CEO unloaded stock

Mike Beasley Oct 7 2014 - 3:02 pm PT

Mesa-Arizona

Apple’s sapphire processing plant in Mesa, AZ

The Wall Street Journal has cast some more light on recent reports that Apple’s sapphire supplier had declared bankruptcy earlier this week. According to the Journal’s report, Apple withheld a payment of $139 million from GT Advanced, though currently there’s no indication of why this decision was made.

In another interesting revelation, the Journal also discovered that the CEO of GT Advanced, Thomas Gutierrez, unloaded all of his stock in the company in a sale just one day before the iPhone 6 was unveiled. The device was widely expected to use sapphire supplied by GT for its displays. GT Advanced had enjoyed a rising stock price that had nearly doubled since initial rumors of a collaboration on the iPhone 6 started swirling.

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1Password 5.1 released with iPhone 6 support, third-party keyboard settings, and much more

Mike Beasley Oct 6 2014 - 10:50 am PT

1Password, the powerful and popular password manager for iPhone and iPad, has been updated to version 5.1 today, introducing a host of new features and improvements. First on the list is support for the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, with full 3x image support on the Plus model.

Touch ID support has also been significantly improved, with the app’s security settings now simplified to avoid the confusing and unnecessary differentiation between the Master Password and PIN code, and Touch ID is now more reliable. You can also create new tags to add to your stored data, allowing for easier sorting on-the-go.

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Gmail for iOS updated with support for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus display sizes

Mike Beasley Oct 6 2014 - 10:37 am PT

Google has updated the Gmail app for iOS with support for the larger displays on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There don’t seem to be any other unmentioned changes (still no unified inbox), but you won’t have to use the awkward zoomed view when using the app anymore.

You can grab Gmail version 3.1415926 (yes, that’s Pi) for free from the iOS App Store.

What’s New in Version 3.1415926
Support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Ten-year-old Real Networks lawsuit against Apple over iTunes DRM will go to trial

Mike Beasley Oct 3 2014 - 3:38 pm PT

Remember RealPlayer? Well, the company behind that software has been granted a jury trial in an antitrust lawsuit from 2004. At the heart of the suit is an anti-piracy measure added to iTunes and the iPod after Real Networks debuted its RealPlayer competitor. According to the suit, Apple deliberately stopped iTunes and iPods from playing music purchased from the competing store through several iTunes updates.

Real Networks says that this cause $351,631,153 in damages, breaking the claim down even further as “$148,947,126 for resellers, $194,655,141 for direct purchasers, and $8,028,886 for additional iPod sales from the additional transactions.” The full ruling is below.

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Looking to revamp Beats Music at a lower rate, Apple asks music labels to cut streaming prices

Mike Beasley Oct 2 2014 - 5:08 pm PT

Last month Apple was rumored to be looking for a way to shut down the current version of the Beats Music streaming service that it acquired as part of the Beats Electronics deal, though the claim of a shutdown was quickly shot down in favor of an upcoming rebranding effort.

Today Re/code has revealed a bit more about Apple’s plans for the new service, which is expected to be revealed in February, according to some reports. According to Re/code, Apple wants to cut the price of the streaming service below the current $10 mark, and it’s asking music companies to cut a special deal on licensing rights to accomplish that.

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Leonardo DiCaprio drops out of Steve Jobs role in Aaron Sorkin biopic, Sony considering new leads

Mike Beasley Oct 2 2014 - 3:47 pm PT

DiCaprio and Boyle on the set of the 2000 film "The Beach"

DiCaprio and Boyle on the set of the 2000 film “The Beach”

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has decided not to play Steve Jobs in the upcoming Danny Boyle-directed biopic after all, according to the Hollywood Reporter. DiCaprio was first reported as being considered for the role back in April, with Slumdog Millionaire‘s Danny Boyle set to direct.

The Aaron Sorkin-penned film has been in development for years now and will reportedly depict the thirty minutes prior to three of Apple’s most important keynotes from Jobs’s perspective. David Fincher, who was in talks to direct the movie before Boyle, said in March that Christian Bale would have been his first choice to play the Apple co-founder, though both ended up being rejected by Sony.

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Apple releases fourth beta of iTunes 12 to developers and AppleSeed users on Yosemite

Mike Beasley Oct 2 2014 - 2:16 pm PT

Apple has pushed out the fourth pre-release version of iTunes 12 to users running the developer preview or public beta of OS X Yosemite. The update weighs in at 214 MB, but the seed notes don’t list anything new in this build. There do appear to be some new icons in the preferences screen, but for the most part it’s the same as the other betas we’ve seen.

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