Author Archives: Lily

Rumor: Brand New iTunes Store And App Store To Launch This Year

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Lily


A new report is suggesting that Apple is hard at work revamping the user interface and structure of the iTunes and iOS App Store fronts and that the new UI will launch later this year. According to 9to5Mac, the new interface will make it easier for consumers to find and download quality new apps and music, putting continued focus on purchasing, downloading and consuming content.

The site is reporting that the new interface will be more simple than the current iTunes interface and will be much more focused upon interactivity and the user experience. The new interface will likely be designed to reflect the increasing importance of the App Store in the Apple ecosystem. As the number of apps increases, so does the difficulty in finding quality apps, or quite simply, that app that you are looking for.
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Lawsuit Settlement Means iPhone 4 Buyers In Line For Free Bumper Or $15

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Lily


When the iPhone 4 was first released, there was a lot of furor over the fact that if you held the iPhone handset in such a way i.e. by grasping your hand over the device and bridging the two antennas, there was a noticeable drop in signal strength. Despite the fact that the phenomenon occured in almost every smartphone, a significant amount of media coverage meant that Apple was forced to hold a press conference and address the issue. Unsatisfied with the response, a number of consolidated lawsuits against Apple were launched.

The lawsuits claim that Apple was “misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4–particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software”. However, as of Friday, CNET reports that a preliminary settlement for these lawsuits has now been reached with Apple now having to offer US residents who have already purchased an iPhone 4 either a free bumper or $15 in cash as compensation.
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Amazon Not Selling New Apple TV Any More?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Lily


AppleBitch has been informed that Amazon.com has ceased selling new units of the current generation of Apple TV from its own stock, Following on from recent reports that the retailer showed an sharp increase in shipping times for the Apple TV, Amazon.com has removed listings of new Apple TV’s from the shelves of its online store. Consumers looking for the second generation Apple TV device will have to either go elsewhere, or purchase a used or refurbished version.

The news comes as rumors swirl about an imminent upgrade to the Apple TV, with a third generation model potentially set for launch next month alongside the iPad 3. Amazon certainly doesn’t appear to be the only retailer discontinuing the model though as 9to5Mac spotted that other major stores such as Best Buy and Walmart have ‘erased them from existance’.
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Apple Unifies Software Update Process In OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Lily


Following on from today’s Developer release and announcement of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, a few details are beginning to emerge which give some indication of Apple’s future plans for the Mac. One of the more interesting things to appear is that Apple has packaged the Software Update process inside the Mac App Store. The move, spotted by iClarified, indicates the importance that Apple is placing on the Mac App Store for managing Mac software in the future. The Software Update function is still available in the Apple menu but clicking it launches a new section within the Mac App Store.

The reasons behind this are probably related to the unification of the Mac software with iOS devices and, more readily, a more logical process for users. Currently, in Lion, users have to use two software update functions; one core software update command from the Apple menu and one from the Mac App Store for installed apps. With the update, users still have to click the Software Update function but I’m wondering if this will disappear in future releases so that the Mac App Store update button will be all that remains. The update will also bring the Mac more in line with iOS devices in that the iOS App Store is the central area for updates.
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Rumor: Brand New MacBook Pro Design Coming This Year

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Lily


A new rumor is suggesting that Apple will abandon the current design of the MacBook Pro this year in favor of a new Air-like design. According to a rumor sourced by AppleInsider from the dreaded ‘people familiar with the Apple roadmap’, the current design of the Pro will be discontinued and a design that is based on the thin, and highly popular, MacBook Air will be introduced in its place. The new models will apparently lose the optical drive that is currently in the MacBook Pro but not in the Air, and will be introduced initially in 15 and 17 inch models.

The new MacBook Pro would likely retain the aluminum unibody that has proven so popular among Apple laptop users, and has certainly been a regular feature in the rumor mill for the past couple of years, particularly since the launch of the updated MacBook Air design. Certainly the loss of an optical drive would be a reasonable assumption given the fact that Apple has discontinued offering its products by that medium. It only seemed to be a matter of time.
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Google Updates Chrome For Mac OS X

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Lily


Google has today released an updated version of their Chrome web browser for Mac OS X. The update brings Chrome to version 17 and contains a number of new features and bug fixes. The new features and fixes continue to add to the rapid browsing experience that Chrome is starting to be known for. The updated version of the browser is available now either for download through the Chrome update or for direct download through the Chrome website.

One of the key new features included in the update is that Chrome will now pre-load webpages during the time that you are typing in your search terms. This means that the browser essentially attempts to predict what website will be your next click and will already have started loading and rendering it by the time that you actually make the click. A rather clever solution to making the web browsing experience faster. In addition to this, Chrome will automatically scan downloaded executable files to determine if they are safe for download or are likely to be malware. There are also a large number of other bug fixes stability improvements.
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‘Float’ Your iPad 2 With New TwelveSouth HoverBar Stand

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Lily


 Apple accessory manufacturer TwelveSouth today released a new accessory for mounting your iPad 2 next to your Mac, in the form of the HoverBar. The HoverBar is a neat little solution for ‘hovering’ your iPad 2 next to your iMac display which works by using a mounting bracket for the iPad 2, which is then connected to the base mount of an iMac or an Apple display, allowing you to use your iPad effectively as an additional touchscreen display.

From the press release today…”HoverBar turns iPad into the ultimate sidecar for an iMac or Apple display, presenting more ways to use iPad more often. The company suggests using your iPad 2 to monitor your Twitter stream, stocks, weather or running FaceTime. Being honest, you could also watch a movie while you work.
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Would You Want An iPad-Like MacBook Air?

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Lily


The question, ‘why would you want MacBook Air that’s more like an iPad?’ is a complicated one. Despite earlier rumors, Apple is apparently not going to consider putting the ARM processors that are found in the iPad, into the next generation of MacBook Air. This may disappoint some people, but the issue is, why would you want to make the MacBook Air more like an iPad. Surely, the most desirable thing is to have a MacBook Air that looks like an Air, but functions like an iMac or Mac Pro?  The Air, as it is now, is a phenomenal device.

Is it likely that the same people who would be disappointed that the Air was not going in the direction of the iPad, are the same people that would buy either a stylus, or an integrated third party keyboard docking station for their iPad. It may be a random thought, but if you get to the point where you need a keyboard for your iPad, you perhaps wish to reconsider your computing needs.
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Weird Steve Jobs Comic On Amazon

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Lily


Apparently, Steve Jobs hairdryers aren’t the only new trend to use the likeness of the late Apple founder. As shown above, this ‘Steve Jobs: Co-Founder of Apple’ comic, published by BlueWater Comics, is now up for pre-order on Amazon.com and indeed, one Twitter user has already received one in the mail. The publisher, based in California, appears to produce a rather varied collection of comic books, including some presented by William Shatner.
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Rumor: Strange Apple Event Taking Place In February (Updated)

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Lily


According to a new rumor which stems from Japanese site Macotakara, Apple is planning to hold an event in February. However, despite the fact that many people would immediately place this event in the context of a launch event for the iPad 3, the site is reporting that this is not a product launch event (via MacRumors). Instead, they are describing it as a ‘Strange’ Apple event, which, as you’ll appreciate, is a very ‘strange’ description.

In addition, the report also suggests that the iPad 3 launch will actually take place in early March 2012, and that Foxconn and Pegatron, manufacturers that are contracted by Apple to produce their hardware, are ramping up production of the iPad 3.
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