Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1451

Apple Releases Small Update For iPhone 4S And Apple TV

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Apple has released two minor software updates today. A tweaked version of iOS 5.0.1 (Build 9A406) for the iPhone 4S has been pushed for users who haven't yet upgraded to the latest firmware (essentially replacing the current 5.0.1 build).

The second-generation Apple TV has been updated to version 4.4.4 (Build 9A406a) and features small bug fixes and stability improvements. Both updates can be downloaded now.

It's very odd for Apple to release such a small tweak when the next iOS update is on the near horizon. iPhone 4S users that have not yet upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 are able to install the altered version (direct link) that Apple seeded today. The firmware itself has no noticeable changes and is likely related to Apple putting the finishing touches on the iOS 5.1 beta that is currently being tested by developers.

MacRumors also speculates that the update has something to with Apple's next round of international 4S rollouts. It's probable that small alterations are needed to allow other international customers access to the full 5.0.1 firmware when they update their smartphones from the pre-installed iOS 5.0.

The Apple TV's minor 4.4.4 update strictly contains "stability and performance" fixes, according to Apple. Users can download the latest software on the Apple TV itself or download it directly from Apple's website (direct link).

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Published on December 15, 2011 15:15

iTunes Match Officially Rolling Out To International Customers

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The internet sounded the bell a little prematurely last night, but it now appears that iTunes Match is indeed rolling out to international customers. While we all thought the service had been rolled out to most of Europe and Australia yesterday, it was later confirmed that the launch was an error, with Apple emailing apologizes to international customers and handing out refunds.

Now it appears that many countries, including Australia, U.K., Canada, Mexico, and others, are now able to access iTunes Match from the iTunes Store.

iTunes Match has already been available across Latin America and Brazil, and the service launched in the U.S. last month.

Apple has now rolled out iTunes Match to most of Europe, with pricing set at €24.99/year. U.K. customers can buy a subscription in the iTunes Store for £21.99.

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New sidebar links in the iTunes Store have appeared for many international customers above the top charts section of the store homepage. Customers can signup for iTunes Match there with their Apple IDs and have their library scanned and matched in the cloud.

You can click here to read all of our iTunes Match coverage. New users should be aware that the initial scan, upload, and match process can take several hours, depending on available bandwidth.

International readers, let us know if iTunes Match is available in your country now. If you run into any errors or other issues, please let us know in the comments.

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Published on December 15, 2011 14:46

Snobby Robbers Only Steal iPhones, Refuse To Take Droids Or Blackberries

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Some Columbia University students were recently robbed in upper Manhattan. While robberies happen on the streets of New York City every day, this particular instance was an interesting case of smartphone theft.

The pair of bandits ambushed three students and demanded that they hand over their iPhones. Not only did the robbers demand iPhones specifically, but they also refused to steal Droid or Blackberry phones. Ouch.

NBC New York reports:

Twice at 526 114th St., and once at 556 114th St., the suspects demanded the victims hand over their iPhones, police said.

The first victim complied, but the second only had a Droid, according to police. The thieves apparently didn't want a Droid — so they took cash instead.

The third victim also didn't have an iPhone, but the men allegedly refused to believe her and threw her against a fence to search her.

One of the students commented that, ""I think it speaks to the resale value of an iPhone," while another felt insulted that the robbers refused to take her Blackberry. Yet another victim said, "I don't like mine. I'm waiting to get an iPhone myself."

(via The Loop)

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Published on December 15, 2011 14:22

Amazon Selling 1M Kindles A Week — But iPad Sales Still Lead

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Photo by Gadgetmac - http://flic.kr/p/aGaiSV

Amazon, known for its shyness about sales figures, made a bit of a splash today, announcing it had sold 1 million Kindles per week for the past three weeks. Sure, that isn't much to go on, but it prompted some to wonder whether the No. 2 tablet maker is about to overtake the iPad.

The announcement mentioned only hard Kindle sales, which encompasses five different devices ranging in price from $79 to $379. How about the Kindle Fire, Amazon's 7-inch tablet seen as the lone real candidate to challenge Apple? Well, CEO Jeff Bezos was his usual self, quoted saying only "we've already sold millions of units, and we're building millions more to meet the high demand." (Bezos says the Kindle Fire is the best-selling product that the internet giant hawks.)

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects Apple will sell 13.5 million iPads during this quarter, or around 964,000 tablets per week. Of course, we can't know for certain how many iPads are sold each week, nor can we know if the majority of the 1 million per week Kindle sales is for the ereader or the tablet. Likewise, the average 964,000 iPads Apple could be selling each week might just as well be far above 1 million devices.

However, what is more certain is Amazon is using the Kindle is a most Apple-like way. That $79 Kindle does more than sell ebooks, but is an entrance to the entire Amazon ecosphere, ranging from digital music, storage and devices. The ereader eases the consumer into the buying experience, which then enforces the Amazon brand, which greases the skids for buying a Kindle Fire tablet.

All of which begs the question, has the Kindle become Amazon's iPod?

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Published on December 15, 2011 11:51

Acer's At It Again: Now The Mac Is Predicted To Go Belly-Up

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Photo by Greg Lilly Photos - http://flic.kr/p/a6881v

Acer is prognosticating again – hide the babies and keep your tin-foil hats firmly in place. The netbook maker's chairman now expects Apple's Mac sales will run out of steam by 2014, deflated by Intel's ultrabook. This after diagnosing overwhelming tablet demand as a "fever" and the iPad slipping in popularity. Kreskin need not be worried — and neither should Apple.

According to a brief report by industry publication DigiTimes, Acer chairman JT Wang "expects Apple platform growth will start weakening in the next two years and the major driver will be replaced by the rapid growth of Wintel." Wintel is comprised of chip giant Intel and Microsoft. Intel is pushing the ultrabook design as a way for PC makers such as Acer to bounce back against nosediving netbook sales and the MacBook Air.

Does this comment elicit anything other than giggles? The two points: Mac sales will "start weakening" and the "rapid growth" of ultrabooks are like the distant half-cousins of reality. Mac sales, particularly of the thin and low-cost MacBook Air, continue to be strong. Indeed, they have reached a 15-year-high, accounting for 28 percent of Apple notebook sales. Unless there is a drastic turnaround from the current tepid PC demand, the trend away toward Macs and tablets is likely to continue.

But what about that "rapid growth" of ultrabooks Wang is expecting? After all, the Acer chairman says the new category of PC in 2012 will fall to $699 and Intel is promising the notebooks will grab 40 percent of the mobile market.

And monkeys will fly.

PC makers have been screaming bloody murder that they need a 50 percent discount on Intel's CPUs in order to meet the much-touted sub-$1,000 MacBook Air killer price. Instead, the chipmaker counter-offered a 20 percent discount — and only for "first-tier notebook players." What's more, we're likely to see the ultrabooks not go head-to-head against the MacBook Air, but in "emerging markets," such as China and India.

What's the old saying about you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig? Same goes for ultrabooks, netbooks and Acer fortune-telling.

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Published on December 15, 2011 10:36

Here Are Your Top 10 iOS Games Of 2011, Now Choose Your Number One [Poll]

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2011 has been a huge year for gaming on iOS devices. It saw the introduction of Apple's dual-core A5 processor in the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S, which in turn pushed the boundaries of what's possible on a mobile device and saw the release of console-quality games like Infinity Blade II, Modern Combat 3, and Real Racing 2.

To celebrate the year's best games, we're on a mission to find 2011′s best iOS game and we need your help. We've already asked you to vote for your favorite from more than 20 titles, and now we've roundup up the top 10 finalists. These are the most popular iOS games as voted for by you, but we're not done yet.

Now it's time to vote for your number one.

[image error] Minecraft — Pocket Edition

This one was a little late to the App Store, which probably explains why it's number 10, despite the anticipation leading up to its release. Minecraft — Pocket Edition finally allows you to build masterpieces on the go, using 36 different kinds of blocks.

[image error] Dead Space

Dead Space is undoubtedly one of the most popular third-person shooters on consoles, so it was always going to be a hit with iOS gamers, too. This title features an original story exclusively designed for iOS, with "hardcore" gameplay that immerses you in action-packed battles against the Necromoprh horde.

[image error] Machinarium

Machinarium has been labeled the "best indie game of the year" by a number of gaming publications, which could be thanks to its terrific visuals and imaginative adventure gameplay, developed by the makers of Samorost.

[image error] Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies

This is a personal favorite of mine as a big Call of Duty fan. Like its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies pits you against the undead, either along or in a team of 4 with your friends. What's great about this release is the addition of Dead-Ops Arcade, an arcade-style top-down shooter that was hidden within the Black Ops console release.

[image error] Tiny Tower

Named as a runner up for Apple's game of the year for 2011, Tiny Tower has become the latest iOS addiction in which players build their empire within an ever growing skyscraper. The more you earn, the more you build, while special events and VIP visitors will earn you special perks as you take your tower beyond the clouds.

[image error] Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation

Gameloft's Modern Combat games are famous for being the company's mobile answer to Call of Duty, and if you're a fan of first-person shooters, they're a must-have. Fallen Nation features a lengthy 13-mission campaign from Los Angeles to Pakistan, and an online multiplayer mode for up to 12 players.

[image error] Where's My Water?

Where's My Water? is another of Disney's fun-for-all-the-family titles that features over 120 puzzling levels through six themes chapters. Fight physics to provide Swampy the alligator with the water he needs to keep clean, but watch out for algae, toxic ooze, and traps.

[image error] Jetpack Joyride

Jetpack Joyride sees the return of the lovable Barry Steakfries who's sporting a jetpack he stole from some evil scientists. Barry uses his jetpack with a variety of weapons to travel as far as he can without being taken out. This is another addictive running game from Halfbrick Studios that just never seems to get boring.

[image error] Tiny Wings

Tiny Wings was named Apple's game of the year for 2011, but is it your number one? This simple games sees you take control of a bird whose wings are too small to fly. Your job is to help it navigate the hills with enough momentum to stay away from the night that's trying to take over. Once it catches up, the dream of flying is over.

[image error] Infinity Blade II

The much-anticipated Infinity Blade II received the most votes in our recent poll, and it's easy to see why. Like its award-winning predecessor, this game uses the Unreal Engine 3 to provide console-quality visuals within a robust and dynamic 3D world. Take on a hoard of deathless tyrants and their legion of titans in your bid to wield the power of the Infinity Blade.

Get Voting!

So that's your top 10 games of 2011. Now it's time to pick your number one. Cast your vote for your favorite game below and we'll announce the winner, as chosen by Cult of Mac readers next week!

2011′s Best iOS Game

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Published on December 15, 2011 09:57

The iPhone Blasts Off Into Higher Orbit: 190M Handsets Expected Sold in 2012

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Photo by Stuck in Customs - http://flic.kr/p/9Z48eL

The booster rockets have yet to stop for iPhone demand. That's the word from one Wall Street analyst expecting sales of Apple's handset to be 30 percent higher than predicted for the December quarter – and even more in 2012.

Morgan Stanley's Kat Huberty reviewed the results of the firm's AlphaWise survey, telling investors late Wednesday to expect big things from Apple. She believes the Cupertino, Calif. tech giant could ship up to 36 million iPhones during the fourth quarter of 2011 – much higher than the 28 million Wall Street projects. Indeed, in 2012, the iPhone continues its skyward trajectory, likely selling 41 million handsets worldwide.

The iPad isn't a slouch, either. Huberty forecasts Apple will sell 81 million tablets next year, stomping all over the 52 million devices Morgan Stanley had earlier predicted. What's fueling the hyper sales? Demand, of course. The survey found 27 percent of people asked plan to own a tablet soon. Apple could put some nitro in iPad sales by cutting the price by $100. The price drop could pile on an additional 15 million more iPad sales, Huberty writes. Such a move isn't beyond the pale, either. We saw how iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 sales exploded after Apple dropped handset prices in October. The analyst appears to support talk that when Apple unveils the iPad 3 in 2012, it could cut the original iPad's price, spurring sales even more.

Of course, this is just a survey, not actual sales. The survey was conducted just after the U.S. Thanksgiving, before the stone-cold sober Christmas shopping period when consumers weigh their desires against a limited budget. Still, such off-the-chart enthusiasm for the iPhone and iPad likely won't totally vanish come the New Year.

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Published on December 15, 2011 09:12

Watch This Lizard Crush Ants In Its Favorite Smartphone Game [Video]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpldq3myV0

We've seen cats enthralled by tablets and dogs who just love iPhone adverts, but this is the first time we've seen a reptile playing smartphone games. In this video posted to YouTube by "ThatSpecialGuy," a bearded dragon crushes ants using her tongue in her favorite smartphone game, Ant Crusher.

The video has already attracted a whopping 1.2 million views on YouTube. Surely this is now the world's most famous lizard?

Grand Theft Auto 3 Hits The App Store, And It's Better Than You Ever Imagined

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I've been so excited for the iOS port of Grand Theft Auto 3 that as soon as I opened my eyes this morning, I reached over to my iPhone and checked the App Store to see if it had arrived. (Sad, I know.) As promised, it was there, and having played it for a little while this morning, I can assure you it's better than you ever imagined.

The iOS release of Grand Theft Auto 3 celebrates the title's tenth anniversary, but this game certainly doesn't feel like it's ten years old — certainly not on iOS. Rockstar Games has updated its visuals to take advantage of Apple's Retina display devices and its dual-core A5 processor.

The results are incredible. Sure, it's exactly the same game you enjoyed on the PlayStation 2 all those years ago, but now it's in your pocket, and you can play it anywhere.

Rockstar has also done a great job of adapting the title to virtual controls. I had concerns that the lack of a control pad may let the game down a little, but the on-screen controls work wonderfully. Check out this video of Grand Theft Auto 3 on the iPad 2 from TouchArcade:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS1k5YAkAe0

If you're a fan of Grand Theft Auto games, you must get Grand Theft Auto 3 for your iOS device — you certainly won't be disappointed. It's compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, fourth-generation iPod touch, iPad, and iPad, and it's a universal app so you only have to purchase the title once at $4.99 to play it on all of your devices.

What do you think of Grand Theft Auto 3 on iOS?

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Published on December 15, 2011 03:58

iTunes Match Finally Launches In The U.K., Australia & Europe – Here's How To Get It Now

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Apple is slowly rolling out international support for iTunes Match today, with the service appearing in the U.K., Australia, and parts of Europe. The music matching service has been exclusive to the U.S. since its launch earlier this fall, but it made its way to Brazil earlier this week. If you can't see it where you are, here's a handy tip to get it working.

The service has already appeared in the U.K., Australia, and France, according to reports this morning. However, it may also be available in other parts of Europe, too. If you don't already see it in the iTunes Store, here's how to get it working:

First, go to the iTunes Store on your desktop Scroll to the bottom of the store and click on your flag, then click on United States to visit the U.S. store Click iTunes Match on the right-hand side and attempt to sign up with your Apple ID You will be presented with an error and taken back to your own store, but you should now have an iTunes Match tab under the "Store" heading on the left-hand side of your iTunes app: [image error] Click on iTunes Match and you should be able to sign up as normal

If you don't see iTunes Match using the steps above, or you can't sign up yet, it would appear iTunes Match hasn't quite reached your territory just yet. However, it should work for those in the countries listed above. It certainly works in the U.K. because I followed these steps to sign up this morning.

For my fellow Brits, iTunes Match costs £21.99 per year. In Australia it's $39.99 a year, and in Europe €24.99 a year.

Can you sign up to iTunes Match where you live?

[via The Next Web]