Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1517

October 27, 2011

Sleep In By Telling Siri To Turn Off All Alarms [iPhone 4S Tip]

Fancy a break from the constant tintinnabulation of your iPhone? Here's a great Siri tip spotted by the guys over at OS X Daily: just press down the hold button and tell Siri to "turn off all alarms."

Once you've been able to catch your breath, turning your alarms all on again is as easy as saying "turn on all alarms."

[image error]

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 27, 2011 09:00

Photoshop, Fear! Pixelmator 2.0 Is Now Available On The Mac App Store

[image error]

We reported yesterday that our favorite Photoshop-on-a-budget app, Pixelmator, was hitting the big two point oh today, and so it has.

It's available now on the Mac App Store as a free upgrade to previous users, or a $29.99 purchase new.

The biggest additions to Pixelmator 2.0 are content-aware fill, vector drawing and editing tools, wrinkle, blemish and damage repair tools for photos, new retouching tools such as smudge, sponge, burn, and more. In addition, Pixelmator 2.0 gets full OS X Lion support, a new interface and some impressive speed and stability improvements.

For 90% of us, Pixelmator was already a better and cheaper replacement for the industry standard, Adobe PhotoShop. With 2.0, closes the gap another few percent, and becomes even more of a no-brainer to recommend to just about everybody.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 27, 2011 08:42

Sprint CEO: Android Phones Are The Data Hogs, Not iPhones

[image error]

If Apple needed another argument in favor of the iPhone, Sprint's CEO Wednesday offered up a whopper: iOS devices are 50 percent more efficient than Android handsets when it comes to slurping up 3G data. The comment seems to confirm previous reports that devices running Google's mobile operating system are the data hogs, not iPhones.

In a conference call, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said iPhones will likely use half the 3G data than typical Sprint 3G/4G devices. Sprint recently became the third U.S. wireless carrier to offer the Apple smartphone, joining AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Although BTIG Research analysts said they had heard anecdotal reports which echoed Hess, the numbers "never sized to this magnitude." However, if the claim holds up, the factoid "could become a new key differentiator in Apple's relationship with the operators that subsidize versus its competitors HTC, Samsung, Motorola, etc.," the analyst firm announced.

Despite the iPhone's purported heavy use of data being used to justify throttling by carriers, in 2010 a study found non-Apple and non-Blackberry smartphones on Verizon used more data than the iPhone.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 27, 2011 08:30

LG & Samsung Struggle to Meet Apple's Demands for iPad 3 Retina Display [Report]

[image error]

If there's one feature we're all anticipating for the iPad 3, it's a Retina display. We've become accustomed to high-resolution displays on our mobile devices since Apple first introduced the Retina display to the iPhone and the iPod touch, and we all want one on the iPad 3.

According to one report, the third-generation device will indeed boast a 2048 x 1536 resolution display, but LG and Samsung are struggling to produce enough of them to meet Apple's demands.

Sources for CNET claim that Apple certainly has plans to introduce a better display to its iPad 3 — with a PPI of 264; double that of the iPad 2 — but the struggle will be getting manufacturers to make them in the huge volumes that Apple demands.

"They have production plans for 2,048×1,536 displays. Starting in November. But those are only plans at this point," said the source, referring to LG and Samsung.

"It's not a question of making just one. That, of course, can be done. The challenge is making lots of them," the source said. "This is a quantum leap in pixel density. This hasn't been done before."

What's interesting is that CNET's source indicates Apple does have a backup option: a 1600 x 1200 resolution display. It's not quite a Retina display, but it does boast a higher resolution that that currently features in Apple's iPad 2, and could be built into the iPad 3 if LG and Samsung cannot make enough 2048 x 1536 resolution displays.

However, using this fallback display may be out of question for Apple, as MacRumors notes:

Such a move would seem to run counter to Apple's strategy for increasing display resolution, as it would not be a clean multiple of the current 1024 x 768 display and would thus cause issues for developers who have already produced apps for the current iPad models.

Of course, Apple's other plan may be to delay the Retina display until the fourth-generation device and use the same display it currently uses in the iPad 2 in the iPad 3. Though this will undoubtedly make for some unhappy customers.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 27, 2011 04:36

Adobe Releases Free iOS & Mac Apps for 'Carousel' Photography Service

[image error]

Adobe has today launched a set of new applications for its Carousel photography service that allow users to gain access to their images, and edit them, from their Mac and iOS devices. Both applications are free and are available now in their respective App Stores.

Adobe says its new Carousel applications are the "only photography solution that gives you access to your entire photos library from all your iPad, iPhone, and Mac." Some of its features, as listed by Adobe in its App Store description, include:

- Simply add photos to your Adobe Carousel photo library on your iPad, iPhone, or Mac, and you'll instantly have access to them in Adobe Carousel on your other iPad, iPhone, and Mac devices.
- Easily crop, rotate, adjust exposure, and make other corrections, or lend your photos serious style with unique looks.
- Create a family photo library without the hassle of sending emails, handing off drives, and trying to figure out which photos to touch up or use in special projects. Simply invite family members to add photos to your library via their own Adobe Carousel apps, and let them flag their favorites so everyone can quickly find the best-loved shots.
- Share those moments that matter by sending your photos straight from Adobe Carousel to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.
- Snap new photos right from Adobe Carousel on your iPhone or iPad, and they'll instantly appear in your photo library on all your devices.

The Adobe Carousel service was first announced back in September, and it gives photographers a "new way to enjoy their photos." There's no manual syncing and no storage limits — your photos are just there when you want them, on your Mac and iOS devices.

In addition to online storage and syncing, Adobe Carousel gives users the opportunity to edit their images using the same photo-processing technology found in the company's Photoshop Lightroom software. However, access to the service isn't free. Subscriptions start at a discounted $59.99 per year, or $5.99 per month. Normal pricing is $99 per year, or $9.99 per month. Users can enjoy a free 30-day trial before they choose to sign up.

[via MacRumors]

[image error]

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 27, 2011 04:14

October 26, 2011

Social Chess Is The Best Way To Get Your iCheckmate On [Daily Freebie]

[image error]

Let's face it: Chess is pretty geeky. Then again, so is the iPad (c'mon, it is). Blend the two though, and you've got…well, let's just say that playing chess on an iPad at your local coffee hangout is a Wookie's fingernail-width less geeky than insert-hyperbolic-geek-stereotype-here.

Who cares though; with its portability, large screen and potential to reach all 600 million chess players around the world, the iPad is the ultimate gadget for playing electronic chess, and the free Social Chess app is the way to play.

As its name probably suggests, Social Chess addresses the social aspect of chess (yes, there is one) better than any other chess app for the iPad — the most important facet of this socialness being the integration of the sophisticated Elo rating system that ranks players based on the value of their wins and losses; for instance, wins against a lower-ranked player would count less than a win against, say, IBM's Deep Blue. That's probably the biggest draw, but there're a lot of other little nuggets that make the app worth checking out. No iPad? No problem — Social Chess works just as well on the iPhone.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 26, 2011 20:50

Apple Updates Mid-2011 MacBook Air And Mac Mini EFI Firmware

[image error]

Hot on the heels of the early 2011 iMac firmware update comes an EFI firmware update for the mid-2011 MacBook Air and Mac Mini. The new updates are labeled version 2.2 and 1.4 respectively. The updates are available via Software Update or direct download.

The updates address the following issues:

MacBook Air

This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of MacBook Air (mid 2011) computers and is recommended for all users.

This update includes fixes delivered in MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.1 that enhance the stability of Lion Recovery from an Internet connection, and resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility and Thunderbolt Target Disk Mode performance on MacBook Air (mid 2011) models.

Mac Mini

This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of Mac mini (mid 2011) computers and is recommended for all users.

This update includes fixes delivered in Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.3 that enhance the stability of Lion Recovery from an Internet connection, and resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility and Thunderbolt Target Disk Mode performance on Mac Mini (mid 2011) models.

You can directly download the firmware update for the MacBook Air or Mac Mini if you need to upgrade multiple computers.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 26, 2011 18:31

Another iTunes Match Reset Scheduled for Tomorrow, Public Launch Draws Near

[image error]

Apple is issuing another reset of iTunes Match for tomorrow, October 27th. The wipe applies to developers that have been beta testing the service for the last couple of months.

Beta testers are asked to disable iTunes Match on their iOS devices and computers for the reset tomorrow. All saved libraries will be erased. Apple is expected to launch iTunes Match to the public very soon.

[image error]

Apple promised an iTunes Match public launch "by the end of October" at its last media event, and we're approaching the last weekend of October.

A toggle for iTunes Match also appeared publicly in iOS 5 recently, but regular users are still unable to sign up for the service. Apple currently has a page for iTunes Match in iTunes that says "Coming Soon."

iTunes Match is a $25 per year subscription service that scans a user's library and offers those tracks in the iCloud for streaming and multiple downloads on any authenticated device.

This isn't the first time that Apple has reset iTunes Match, and this activity suggests that a public release is drawing near. Expect iTunes Match to go live this weekend or by Monday at the latest.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 26, 2011 17:57

Why Steve Jobs' Mercedes Never Had a License Plate

[image error]

Jobs would regularly park his Mercedes in a handicap spot on Apple's campus

Besides his signature black turtleneck, New Balance sneakers, and blue jeans, Steve Jobs was known for his silver Mercedes SL55 AMG. What was perhaps most interesting about Jobs' ride was the fact that it never had a license plate.

Jobs' Mercedes was photographed many times over the last several years, but the car was always plate-free. How did he do it? Did he pay the fine every time he was confronted by the police? Did he obtain a special permit? Did he just get lucky?

The answer is actually very simple.

ITWire explains (via The Loop):

Steve (or someone close to him) spotted a loophole in the California vehicle laws. Anyone with a brand new car had a maximum of six months to affix the issued number plate to the vehicle.

So Jobs made an arrangement with the leasing company; he would always change cars during the sixth month of the lease, exchanging one silver Mercedes SL55 AMG for another identical one. At no time would he ever be in a car as old as six months; and thus there was no legal requirement to have the number plates fitted.

One might also assume that the leasing company was happy – they had an endless supply of luxury cars to on-sell with the previous driver being none-other that Steve Jobs.

That would be a win-win-win situation for Steve, the leasing company and for the subsequent buyer.

Genius.

View more on Leander Kahney's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 26, 2011 17:11

Apple Updates Early 2011 iMac EFI Firmware To Enable Lion Internet Recovery

[image error]

Apple has released an update to the early 2011 iMac EFI firmware. The new update is labeled version 1.7 and it is available via software update.

The update addresses the following issues:

This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection and includes fixes that resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility and Thunderbolt Target Disk Mode performance on iMac (early 2011) models.

For more information about Lion Recovery, please visit http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm surprised that Apple enabled Lion Internet Recovery on the iMac I purchased in June. I thought they'd hold out and only offer it on a refreshed model as an incentive to upgrade our iMacs.