iOS Devices

Apple’s latest patents detail some extremely sophisticated gaming features for multiplayer gaming in real-life environments. We’re heading for the great urban iWars.

Expand
Expanding
Close

There’s an observed trend among enterprise users to move to embrace the iPad, now big business is being urged to make serious plans to integrate the device into their IT infrastructure, on strong advice from the Gartner Group.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s taken a bit of a bump in Japan, where Samsung’s recently-introduced Galaxy S Android-powered smartphone has outsold the iPhone — the first time in 18+ weeks iPhone’s been kicked off of the number one slot.

Admittedly the figures only reflect one week’s sales. Also important is that the sales reflect the first week in which Samsung’s offering was made available for purchase.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Remember that girl, Jammie Thomas, who stole 24 songs back in 2006? Well according to CNET she finally she’s on the hook for $62,500 per song and that comes out to a $1.5M settlement. Capitol records was the main plaintiff in the case and they, along with the rest of the Recording Industry Association of America, had this to say:

We are again thankful to the jury for its service in this matter and that they recognized the severity of the defendant’s misconduct,” the RIAA said in a statement. “Now with three jury decisions behind us along with a clear affirmation of Ms. Thomas-Rasset’s willful liability, it is our hope that she finally accepts responsibility for her actions.

As Apple says, “Don’t steal music.”

http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/microPlayer.swf

“People looking for a light duty laptops should consider an iPad.” –Mossberg

Remember a lot of non-techies follow this guy’s advice. 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Some hackers have got Plex client working on the new iOS-based AppleTVs.  That means if you have a Plex server running in your house you could theoretically play any Plex content on your AppleTV.  Here are the simple instructions.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LriKSoDzZOI&w=640&h=390]
Expand
Expanding
Close

Well that was quick! After a few glorious hours in the App Store, it looks like Skyfire has been removed.  We’re not sure if it was early or did something wrong or what.  It seemed like Apple was playing along…maybe it was a little too popular?

Update: Hilarious! Skyfire pulled the app because it was so popular that it was overpowering their Flash-> H.264 video converting servers.  They’ll enable it after they add some capacity…perhaps there was more desire for Flash video than expected.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Yeah, developers get your apps ready…
Expand
Expanding
Close

The hackers at the Wall St. Journal have discovered a security hole in the iOS version of the Paypal app which allows a hacker sitting between your iOS device and Paypal servers (most likely at an Internet Cafe type setting) to spoof the Paypal security certs.  The PayPal app bewilderingly doesn’t check the validity of this certificate.

A hacker would need skill and luck to make use of the vulnerability, which only affects users of the iPhone app connecting over unsecured Wi-Fi networks. It doesn’t affect the company’s Android app or users of the PayPal.com website.

A pretty blatant oversight by a banking company, nonetheless.  Here’s how it goes down:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Oh, snap!  As part of the Q&A in today’s announcement, FaceBook CEO Mark Zuckerberg fielded a question about a Facebook App coming to the iPad.  His answer?  “iPad is a computer, not a mobile device.”

That wouldn’t be so bad if some douchebags weren’t installing it on Android tablets as we speak.

Skyfire, the browser that lets you watch Flash videos/movies via H.264 transcription is now live on the Apple Store, one day early.

The downside?  It is $2.99.  D’oh!

Expand
Expanding
Close

That big Facebook announcement today?   Yeah it is a smartphone update, but not a Facephone.  Zuck took to the stage to announce some feature updates to the Android and iPhone Facebook apps, including the new Places, Groups and tagging features.  It hasn’t hit our App Store yet (Update there it is!) but I’m sure you’ll let us know in the comments when it does, won’t you?

Expand
Expanding
Close

COMPUTERWORLD: We may be talking about gaming, but Apple isn’t playing. The company is rapidly deploying all the components it needs to make a major grab for the console games market, powered by the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Nintendo knows what’s coming, while developers expect iPhones to be able to run the kind of titles which were state-of-the-art when Microsoft launched the Xbox360. It is almost beautiful watching as Apple slowly puts its game together.

READ MORE

We’re hearing from developers that Apple is already approving some iOS 4.2 Apps that take advantage of Apple’s Game Center platform.  For instance, Big Bad Sudoku Book is already available for download with iPad Game Center compatibility.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s legal battle with Nokia looks to have seen some setback, with staff at the US International Trade Commission (ITC) telling the judge in the case that Apple’s patent allegations are ‘unfounded’.

“The evidence will not establish a violation” of Apple patent rights, the staff, which acts on behalf of the public as a third party in the case, said in a pre-hearing memo released yesterday.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple will introduce support for iTunes LP and iTunes Extras formated content on the new Apple TV, but hasn’t committed to a release date as yet, the latest note from Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, explains.

Expand
Expanding
Close

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhkxDIr0y2U&w=670&h=401]

Here’s a funny: Sesame Street’s parody of Apple’s famed ‘There’s an App for that’ marketing schtick.

For example, “If you want to comb your cat…there’s an app for that!”

Funny. Cheers to Technabob.

When iOS 4.0 was released with multitasking for the iPhone and iPod touch, Apple removed the convenient volume slider control from the double-click the home button menu. Many users were not happy about this and it looks like Apple has listened.

The volume slider has returned in iOS 4.2 and it is accessible by sliding the multitasking dock all the way to the left. One slide to the left takes you to the standard media controls and orientation switch from iOS 4.0/4.1 and one more slide takes you to the volume slider seen above.

AirPlay is also now easily accessible from the iPhone/iPod touch multitasking dock (thanks, Drew). Screenshot after the break:

Expand
Expanding
Close

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KmfXupi9cg&w=640&h=390]

It doesn’t look like T-Mobile is getting the iPhone anytime soon.

Also, if you want to video chat over 3G on the iPhone 4, your options include YahooIM, Fring and Tango… or jailbreaking.
Expand
Expanding
Close

The iPad is already making its way across the different retail chains across the world including Best Buy, Target and Walmart and today Bloomberg reports that the iPad will now be sold at Best Buy’s 158 mobile stores.

Best Buy’s mobile stores are stores that focus on the sale of mobile phones and are located either within Best Buy stores out by themselves. This report involves the 158 stores that standalone as the Best Buy stores with mobile stores within them began carrying the iPad back in April.

Apple is clearly trying to push the iPad out to as many customers as possible, excluding Costco customers that is.

Fortune today details the Skyfire browser that Apple has apparently already approved which will alllow iOS users to watch Flash videos like the one below on their iOS devices. We’ve profiled Skyfire before giving it negligible odds of making it through the App Store gauntlet.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/.element/apps/cvp/4.0/swf/cnn_money_384x216_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=/video/technology/2010/11/01/bst_skyfire_iphone_flash.fortune

Skyfire submitted their app in August so it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the startup. The technology turns most Flash video into H.264 video streams which “are Kosher” for iOS devices to gobble up.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGai5Nf9BwU&w=640&h=390]

August Press release follows:
Expand
Expanding
Close