850 MHz is my friend. I know I talk crazy smack about AT&T’s coverage in New York, but it is definitely getting better. The FemtoCell in the house also works like a charm.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZsfefaezNY&fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1]
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Last week we discovered that Apple has included a vibrate mechanism on the new iPod touch as an accessibility tool for those unable to hear when a FaceTime call is incoming. Well, today Apple has amended their iPod touch accessibility page removing the line you see highlighted in the screenshot below.
It is not clear while Apple decided to remove the vibrate function from the iPod touch as it seemed like a pretty neat feature for consumers but even better for those really in need of it, like the deaf. The folks down at iFixit even tested this by simply receiving a FaceTime call on their iPod touch 4. They can confirm Apple’s change in plans. This does not even seem to be some Apple copy/paste or photoshop error as they were very clear to say “a vibrating alert – on your iPod touch.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-n_9u6–i0&w=640&h=385]
Microsoft updated their Mac Office 2011 page today on multiple editing with Sharepoint/Skydrive.
Collaborating with friends, colleagues and classmates is worry-free with the co-authoring tools in Office 2011. Documents can be stored in the cloud (SkyDrive free to consumers and SharePoint for businesses) allowing for multiple people to access and edit a document. In addition, there is built-in support for the Office Web Apps. That lets a user edit an Office document, even if they are at a machine that doesn’t have Office installed on it.
The team also announced new features in Outlook for Mac including the scheduling assistant, which allows users to see their calendar in line with their mail resulting in a more efficient workflow. Additionally, PowerPoint 2011 allows users to broadcast a presentation. Broadcast Slideshow lets the users of your choice view your presentation at your speed, all recipients need is a browser connection.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElubRNRIUg4&w=640&h=385]
Apple’s iPhone 4 seems set to hit the insanely populous Chinese market as the device has won key approval from government agencies there.
The company has won a China network license for the iPhone 4 from China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. That’s broadly in line with statements from Apple’s Chinese iPhone carrier, China Unicom, which has previously said it expects to offer the iPhone in China later this year.
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Here’s interesting: aas the above chart shows we’ll soon have downloaded more apps from iTunes than songs. Though to be fair, reading too much into the statistic is unwise, as so many of the apps available in-store are free, while music costs at least 59-cents.
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Plans to extend the song samples made available via iTunes to a more satisfactory minute were shelved in advance of last week’s music product update event because music publishers refused to play ball.
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Every time you do a Maps.app search on your iOS device (or on a Mac) and see a brand logo, Google gets some cash it was revealed today.
Samsung seems to be emerging as a leading Apple competitor, with its A4-style processor-powered Galaxy smartphone and tablet devices — now news it intends introducing an Android OS-powered range of television sets, even as Apple seems to be foundering slightly with its Apple TV “hobby“.
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IDG and GSMA Mobile World Congress are coming together to bring an Apple mobile presence to the yearly parade of mobile devices in Barcelona held every February. Just like Macworld in San Francisco, this one won’t have an official Apple presence, but Macworld will be on hand to shepherd mobile apps developers and accessory makers who want to showcase their wares on the world stage.
We’ve always wanted an excuse to go to Barcelona in February! Full press release below:
As expectation of the Google Music service grows, the search giant has despatched invitations to a September 8 press event to sundry US journos, reports claim. The event will be held at the SF Moma.
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Long-standing Mac developer, DataViz is this morning rumored to have been acqiuired by Research In Motion for a $50 million fee.
Computerworld: There’s so much hysterical coverage of the great Apple versus Android war it sure is easy to get confused by all the claims and counter-claims: is the iOS really six times more popular for Web browsing than Android, or is it really only twice as popular? And is Apple now selling 6 million iOS devices each month?
I just threw my iPhone 4 away because this thing looks so excellent. Think Zune+Kin and then add AT&T as the launch network provider. I only wish they could have squared the edges a little more and made a less beautiful homescreen.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ROL2_czpW0&w=640&h=385]
In all seriousness, Microsoft is going to spend boatloads of money on Windows Phone 7 so expect ads like this from now until Christmas. The one area where this OS will be able to compete is in gaming with its XBox Live connection. We’ll see if that’s enough to bring people over.
Apple’s iPad has broken into yet another enterprise sector, this time the insurance industry with internationally-known insurer, Lloyds, working with brokers to test use of the Apple device in its underwriting room.
The trial began this month and will see iPads used instead of the more traditional underwriting slips. Brokers, Marsh, Cooper Gay and RK Harrison Group are testing the Apple devices.
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We’ve been ordered to take this post down. For legal reasons, we’re complying.
We knew something was up when Amazon dropped the price of Parallels Desktop 5 to $20 yesterday. It looks like a new version is now shipping to stores, though nothing has been announced from the company.
In the past, Parallels has given people who’ve purchased the previous version within the past two weeks of a new release a free upgrade, so it may or may not make sense to buy now for $20.
That’s an iPad testing next-gen firmware in the field and those settings are for video call debugging. You may recall iPhone 4 field-test devices having a similar menu.
Update: Apple changed the September 8th launch date back to “Coming Soon” on both the UK and France iPhone software update websites. Release date changing? Was Sept. 8th a mistake? Who knows?…
According to both Apple’s United Kingdom and France websites, iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch is set to publicly launch on Wednesday, September 8th. For those counting down, that’s just 5 short and magical days away. In case you haven’t heard, iOS 4.1 ups the ante with Game Center, HDR Photography (awesome btw), $.99 TV Show rentals, iTunes Ping support, WiFi HD video uploading, and all the bug fixes Jobs told us all about via e-mail.
Apple did not officially announce a set launch date for iOS 4.1 but did state it would launch next week complementing the launch of their new iPods. Maybe the new kit will hit retail on the 8th too? Who knows? In case you’re wondering, iOS 4.1 is already out for those with the new 4th gen iPod touch… pity that doesn’t apply to many of us.
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So, the Magic Trackpad will kill the mouse?
Amazon’s listings seem to disagree, putting the Magic Mouse at #1 and a Magician’s choice of trackpad at numero 36.
No folks, you can’t get iOS 4.1 on your current kit unless you’re a developer and are up for installing the Golden Master seed. What is available though, is iOS 4.1 for the just announced 4th generation iPod touch. So who does this apply to? Folks who have the yet to be shipped 4th generation iPod touch that are in need of restoring to a fresh copy of 4.1. If you do happen to have one of these new toys laying around, drop us a line.
Oh, and if for some reason you feel the need to download iOS 4.1 that only will install on a 4th gen touch, be our guest.
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It’s only been around 48 short hours since the launch of Apple’s Ping social music network, and the service has already managed to get one million users. According to Apple’s Chief of Internet stuff, Eddy Cue, those one million Ping accounts make up 1/3 of iTunes downloads. If you crunch those numbers you’ll find out iTunes 10 has already had 3 million downloads.
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Apple has opened a Trailer Showtimes site today that uses browser location settings both on desktop and mobile devices to deliver showtimes. You’ll be prompted to let the browser access your GPS information, whether that is your geo-located IP or your device’s dedicated GPS.
This one is for the Google h8rs:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouof1OzhL8k&w=640&h=385]
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