Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1508

Angry Bird Addicts Topple Half-Billion Download Mark

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Credit: Susanti Chandra

Are you being taunted by the sneering pigs? Does the Bluebird of Happiness never seem to come your way? Then you -like I – are an Angry Bird addict and responsible for the infuriating entertainment becoming the world's most popular game, topping half a billion downloads.

Just how deep is the addiction to flinging birds to destroy the homes of pigs, apes and other snide animals? Massive, says Rovio, the evil geniuses behind what has become an Angry Bird Empire. As of now, fans have played 200,000 years of Angry Birds at an average of 300 million minutes each day. Some 400 billion birds have been sacrificed in the name of obtaining more than 44 billion stars.

"This is a fantastic landmark achievement for us, and we're extremely delighted to see such an incredible amount of people enjoying our games," says Mikeal Hed, Rovio CEO. But it's not so much enjoyment as addiction, Mike. I've flung through all the titles – Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio – to the point where my wife sends me out of the room when she hears the hypnotic background music.

And if you are reading this while wearing your Angry Birds t-shirt, you are just the tip of Rovio's very lucrative merchandizing bonanza – everyone wants a piece of the Birds. Along with being on the iPad, iPhone and Mac, the games have made it to the PC and even Nokia. The company has sold more than 10 million Angry Birds toys – just in case you don't have a plush red bird for you office.

You can't even escape Angry Birds on television. The company's new Helsinki-based animation studio is churning out cartoons. And if you had any time for reading, drop Steven King for a real killer: Angry Birds in print. All that's left is an Angry Birds theme park. If one ever materializes, sign me up.

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Apple Stores' New "EasyTheft" System Will Revolutionize Shopping All Over Again

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Apple revolutionized retail shopping when it opened up its first brick and mortar store back in 2001, and it's about to do it all over again — using an iOS app. The Cupertino company will reportedly issue a major update to its Apple Store app for iOS devices this Thursday that will change the way you buy Apple products forever.

According to a Boy Genius Report that cites a "trusted source," Apple will launch a new Apple Store app for iOS on Thursday that will offer two major features: First, it will introduce online ordering with retail store collection. This is a service that has already been available at some San Francisco and New York Apple stores for over a week, but even more stores will be supporting the service later this week, it is claimed.

When you order an Apple product online, you can pick it up in-store after 12 minutes of making your order, providing it's in stock. That gives the order enough time to make its way through Apple's system, and the store enough time to prepare your item. All you have to do is go in and sign for it.

For items that aren't in stock, you be given a pick-up date after your order is complete and you'll be sent a Push Notification when it's ready to be collected. Those that order online will, apparently, be given priority in Apple stores over those waiting to see a specialist, according to the report.

What's more, orders made online can finally be returned to a retail store if necessary, and no longer have to be sent back by courier.

The second feature, however, is quite possibly the most exciting; the new app will allow you to self-checkout at Apple retail stores. "This is a huge deal and Apple is the first to be able to put it together," the report notes. We all know how busy Apple Stores can get, and how long you can be waiting for a member of staff to purchase a product, that will no longer be the case.

When you find a product you'd like to purchase in the Apple Store, you can simply load up the new iOS app and select the option that allows you to buy a product in-store, then scan its barcode using your iPhone or iPod touch's camera. You can then tap purchase, and the item will be charged to the credit card linked up to your Apple ID.

Once you've made your purchase on your device, you're free to walk out of  the store, according to the report. However, it's a little unclear how Apple will monitor this. The source of this information claims purchases will not be checked, but there are all sorts of obvious issues that will arise with this, and even the report finds it a little hard to believe.

Hilariously, 9to5Mac claims this new system is being referred to internally as "EasyTheft", a gag at the expense of Apple's EasyPay system. Let's hope EasyTheft doesn't turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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Watch Out! Scammers Want To Sell You A Fake iPad This Christmas. Here's How To Avoid Being Ripped Off

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Fake iPads (Credit: Flickr/ukhomeoffice)

You want to buy an iPad for Christmas. The problem: scammers know it too and are waiting in prey for you this holiday season. Here are some tips on how to safely shop for tablets online without falling victim to hoax high-tech Santas.

Fake iPads often originate in China — that's the word from MarkMonitor, a firm warning consumers of something called "brandjacking." This scam essentially relies on harried consumers who spot a photo of an iPad, but miss that the online ad fails to mention "Apple" or even the product name.

"As we head into the holiday shopping season, consumers should beware these 'brand impersonators' who are hidden in plain sight while brands need to be extra vigilant in foiling those who seek to profit at their expense," says company CMO Frederick Felman. Such scammers track hot trends — such as everyone and their mother wanting an iPad — and pounce.

But you would never fall for such tricks, right? According to MarkMonitor, there is a minefield of fakes online that can be difficult to avoid. In July, the company found 23,000 iPad clones, counterfeits or illegally-imported gray market tablets. More than 8,000 sellers were hawking iPad clones from 15 manufacturers. The group also found 6,600 counterfeit sites visited more than 75 million times each year.

That was one day in July. You can guess how many fake sites will be selling faux iPads now.

Another tip is to stay with known sites, such as Apple.com or Amazon.com. Of course, this requires you to plan ahead and not wait until the last moment – which is what the scammers count on. Phishers hope you'll be too busy entering your bank's url to notice the typo sending you to a fake site. Scammers also count on you being too busy looking for an iPad to never notice the Apple brand never appears in the online ad.

It is ironic most of these fake iPads originate from China, because the country is also Apple's second-largest market. So, while it is making money assembling iPads in China, Apple is losing money to that nation's counterfeiters selling fake iPads. While fake iPads for Apple may just be a cost of doing business in China, it could ruin your holiday – so beware, and make sure you're only buying the real thing!

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Samsung Seeks Depositions From Jony Ive and Other iPhone Designers

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As the legal battles between Apple and Samsung continue, the Korean electronics giant is seeking depositions from a number of Apple designers behind the company's revolutionary iPhone, including its Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, Jony Ive.

The team was initially scheduled to submit their depositions by November 1, but the deadline was extended last month when Samsung revealed that its witness would be unavailable before that date, according to AppleInsider. The deadline has now been shifted to December 1, with the depositions will be used in a trial expected to begin on July 30, 2012.

Jony Ive is undoubtedly Apple's most famous designer, credited with transforming the look of company's iconic computers and mobile devices, with over 200 patents to his name shared with the company's former CEO Steve Jobs. Ive shared a close relationship with Steve before he passed away, and is now rumored to be the most powerful man inside the company short of Tim Cook, with no true boss. However, he isn't Samsung's only target.

In addition to Ive, designers taking part in the depositions include Christopher Stringer, a designer part of the original iPod; industrial designer Shin Nishibori; and Doug Satzger, who worked with Apple for 12 years before leaving in 2008.

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Like Mighty Mouse Beating Up Superman, Small Spanish Tablet Maker Wins iPad Lawsuit

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Despite a number of recent courtroom victories which have seen Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned in both Australia and Europe, one small Spanish firm has proven Apple doesn't always get its own way in front of a judge.

The Cupertino computer giant just lost a case against NT-K, which makes Android tablets in Spain, after it pulled the company into court and claimed that NT-K's device rips off the iPad.

But it was the smaller of the two companies that was triumphant this time around. A FOSS Patents report points to a blog post on NT-K's website that announces the victory (Google translated):

Needless to clear all the damage it has caused this unjust accusation, both economically and emotionally to our company. We are a small company like many others in these times of crisis we are trying to get ahead, and it seems grossly unfair that a company the caliber of Apple has to use its dominant influence. Parallel to this, start the corresponding civil suit against Apple for consequential damages, lost profits and moral damage.

According to reports, Apple filed its lawsuit against the Spanish firm back in November 2010, several months after the first-generation iPad made its debut, seeking a customs ban on the budget Android device for "copying" the iPad. Spanish customs then seized NT-K's shipments from China and listed the company on the European Union of product pirates, before Apple made criminal charges against the company a month later.

FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller believes Apple's actions against NT-K were "outrageous":

Considering that this was not a case of product piracy but just a dispute over whether or not Apple has exclusive design rights covering n-tk's Andoid-based [sic] products, I think it's absolutely outrageous that Apple tried to attack its rival under criminal law. Having a commercial dispute is one thing, but going down the criminal law avenue is totally unreasonable.

NT-K is now suing Apple for compensation of monetary damages, lost profits, and "moral damages."

[via 9to5Mac]

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Apple Promotes Former Store Manager To Head Of Retail [Update]

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Steve Cano has been promoted to Apple's SVP of Retail, Cult of Mac has been told.

UPDATE: Apple just sent us a statement saying Cano has not been named head of retail. A spokeswoman said: "The search is underway with lots of interest and we are carefully selecting Ron's successor. We have nothing to announce today."

Although an official announcement has yet to be made, Cult of Mac has learned that Apple has already replaced its outgoing head of retail, Ron Johnson.

Reports on Monday suggested that Apple hasn't found a replacement for Johnson, its highly-regarded Senior Vice President of Retail. But we've been told by a source that Apple has already promoted an internal candidate to Johnson's job.

Apple's new retail boss boss isn't just some suit, though. He's one of the first retail employees Apple ever hired, a California surfer dude who has climbed from the sales floor to the very top rung of Apple management.

It's a real rags-to-riches story that should be inspiration to every stressed out Apple Store sales associate or overworked Genius: your work can be noticed, and you too can go to the very top.

According to our source, Apple is replacing Johnson with his long-time lieutenant, Steve Cano.

It's a great promotion for Cano, who started with Apple ten years ago as the manager of the flagship Palo Alto store, Steve Jobs's local Apple Store.

Cano was previously tipped as a top candidate to fill Johnson's shoes by the Apple Retail Workers Union.

Johnson will be a tough act for Cano to follow. Johnson was recruited from Target by Steve Jobs in 2000 to build a chain of retail stores, which Apple desperately needed in order to put its wares in front of skeptical consumers. Johnson is credited with making the retail chain one of the most successful in the world. It is showcased by glittering flagship stores in plum locations, and innovations like the Genius bar, the world's friendliest computer repair service.

Johnson quit Apple in June for the challenge of turning J.C Penney around. "I've always dreamed of leading a major retail company as CEO, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help J. C. Penney re-imagine what I believe to be the single greatest opportunity in American retailing today, the Department Store," he said in a statement announcing his new job.

Cano sounds like a good replacement. He's ambitious and steeped in Apple's culture, living and breathing the Apple Store for over a decade now. He joined Apple in 2001 as manager of Steve Jobs' local store in Palo Alto, Calif., according to Gary Allen at IFOAppleStore. Cano later moved to New York's store in SoHo, and in 2004 he was appointed manager of the Ginza store in Tokyo, Japan, Apple's first store overseas. As the company opened more stores in Japan, Cano was appointed regional director. He was named Apple's first Sr. Director of International Retail and moved to London, where he oversaw a string of new stores in Europe.

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Why Does Safari On My Mac Keep Saying "Missing Plug-in"? [Ask MacRx]

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On a Mac everything is supposed to "just work", and usually it does. However, sometimes a missing internet plug-in or other component may be required for correct operation:

I have been a Mac user since the first home/small Mac computers were available. My recent eMac was 9 years old, so I was out of sync with EVERYTHING. Just bought a new iMac and I have Safari. Sometimes I click on a document on the Internet, and I get a basically blank page that says "Missing plug-in." So I can't open everything I need.

I don't know what this means or if I should download the Firefox browser? Read a lot of complaints about it though. What do I need to do about "Missing plug-in"?

Clueless in Kansas City, Betty

Hi Betty,

The "Missing Plug-In" message can refer to a number of things, it depends on the document or media you're trying to access. Adobe Flash and the Adobe PDF Reader are both commonly needed items; you can get both of these plugins from Adobe's website (adobe.com). Also if you are running a Mac with Lion you may not have Java installed by default. Safari should prompt you to install this when it's needed, go ahead and do so, then restart Safari.

Hi Adam!

Thanks a million for your advice! I downloaded Adobe Flash Player and now I can get videos! You're the best! Will also check to see if I have Adobe Reader (I think I do…) as well as Java by default. I'm just loving my new Mac and I am high on Mac SPEED! So fast! ;-)

• • •

Got a question about your Mac or iOS device? Email (sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)

Format A Flash Drive To Work With OS X And Windows [Video How-To]

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For users who work with both Macs and PCs, having a flash drive that can work between both and seamlessly transport files can be critical. The tricky part is choosing the filesystem that provides the best interoperability between both computers. In this video, I'll show how to format a flash drive for both Macs and PCs the right way.

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Police Seek "Baby Faced" iPad Bandit

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Sure, you don't have to be particularly well-endowed upstairs to swipe an iPad out of a big box store, but the police reports make this guy sound like an Arsène Lupin III 2.0.

For three days in a row, a "baby-faced young white male, in his late teens or 20s, who wears a dark baseball cap turned backwards," has stolen iPads from three different Pennsylvania Target stores. He made off with at least three iPads in the Hempfield store alone, the report says.

"I don't know whether he cuts them from security lines, or breaks through the cabinet locks, but he gets in there and grabs them and then runs out of the stores," said Trooper Steve Limani, adding to the mystery.

The getaway car?  Sounds like mom may be wondering where he's at: police are searching for a dark, four-door sedan.

Via WPXI

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White House Lauds iPhone Apps in Safety Contest

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iPhone apps won the top two spots in a national challenge on safety and emergency for young adults.

There were a total of 33 entries in the "Apps Against Abuse Technology Challenge," but the top two places went to iPhone apps. Both will be available for free download in early 2012.

OnWatch, the first-place winner, is designed to help young adults "most at risk for sexual violence and dating abuse," it promises to "instantly and discreetly" connect them with trusted friends or family.

One standout feature is called "Watch my Back." Users set up a message with a timer which they can then disable if it turns out to be unnecessary.

The sample message, set to go off in four hours, reads: "Partying at Alpha-Beta-Delta, I may be in trouble. Call me, then call campus security." (If you're partying, how reliably will you to remember to turn it off? Too many raver-who-cried-wolf episodes could reduce the efficacy considerably.) The app also features a direct dial icons to 911 and campus police. It will be available for other smartphones in a second iteration.

Second-place winner Circle of 6 aims to help college-age students "stay close, stay safe and prevent violence before it happens." The name was inspired by the statistic that 1 in 6 young women report having experienced sexual assault in college. Users add a circle of supporters to send SMS messages to in case they need a ride home, a phone call or advice. The icons make it quick and easy to get help and can send Google maps location to the circle if necessary.

"With these applications, a personal electronic device becomes a powerful tool to help young women and men protect themselves, and their friends, from becoming victims of violence," said Vice President Biden, who encouraged college and university leaders to make students on their campuses aware of the applications when they become available for download. "Thanks to the creativity and vision of these developers, young men and women now have a new line of defense against violence."

The contest was sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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