Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1522

October 25, 2011

WeeSpaces Brings iOS Multitasking to Your Notification Center [Jailbreak Only]

While Apple is yet to open its iOS 5 Notification Center up to third-party widgets, developers have been hard at work creating awesome tweaks that can be installed on jailbroken devices. One of the best is a tweak called WeeSpaces, which makes it easier than ever to multitask on an iOS device.

With WeeSpaces installed on your iPhone, you can access the apps that you have running in the background directly from the Notification Center. The tweak presents you with a new widget that features a scrollable list of open apps and makes it easy to switch between them.

It does have its limitations, like you cannot close apps from the widget, or rearrange them, but it seems like a much nicer way of multitasking that constantly double-tapping your home button. The best thing about WeeSpaces, however, is that it's a completely free download from Cydia.

Check out this video from iDownloadBlog to see WeeSpaces in action:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFH-FOgsurk

What do you think of WeeSpaces?

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Published on October 25, 2011 06:54

Apple 'Expected' to Unveil LTE 4G iPhone in 2012 [Report]

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Some Apple fans were disappointed when the iPhone 4S was unveiled without true LTE-based 4G. However, it appears the tech giant could introduce a LTE handset in 2012 as the company's latest U.S. carrier partner also becomes heavily involved in the faster wireless technology.

Apple "is expected to join the LTE club" next year, providing greater pressure for the likes of Nokia, RIM and Sony Ericcsson, which also plan to roll-out LTE devices in 2012, industry publication DigiTimes reports Tuesday. At the same time, Sprint is expected to introduce 15 LTE-enabled producrs by mid-2012.

Despite boasted an improved antenna able to transmit at 14.4Mbps, Apple decided to leave LTE out of its latest iPhone, explaining the networks were just not mature enough. Before becoming CEO, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook told analysts earlier this year that LTE technology was still plagued with battery-life issues.

"The first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises with the handset," Cook said at the time. Apple was unwilling to make those compromises in order to offer LTE speeds.

The release on a LTE 4G iPhone would enable CDMA carriers such as Sprint and Verizon to claim true 4G network speeds, leveling the playing field with the GSM-based AT&T.

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Published on October 25, 2011 06:34

Remove Apps From Your Mac App Store Purchase History [OS X Tips]

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Did you buy an app for your Mac that you later regret having bought? Or did you decide it was so terrible that you don't want to be reminded about having bought it? Well you are in luck because now there is a way to remove purchases now from your Purchased history in the Mac App Store.

If you want to remove an app from the Mac App Store all you need to do is:

Launch the Mac App Store. Click on the Purchased button. Hover the mouse pointer over an app on your purchased list and a small "X" will appear next to the Install button on the right. Click the "X" to remove the app from your purchased history. [image error]

Although the app is removed from your purchased history at this time it isn't uninstalled or deleted from your computer if it is already installed.

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Published on October 25, 2011 06:00

iPhone 4S Outshines Many High-End Compact Cameras, Says Camera+ Creator

[image error]One thing you can be sure that Apple will improve with every iteration of its iPhone is the device's camera. The original iPhone packed a 2-megapixel camera that wasn't all that great at taking photos, but things got significantly better two generations later with the iPhone 3GS. The 5-megapixel camera in the iPhone 4 received a ton of praise, but its 8-megapixel successor in the iPhone 4S is even more terrific.

So terrific, in fact, that the developer behind the hugely successful Camera+ application for the iPhone, Lisa Bettany, says the device "outshines" many of the high-end compact cameras currently on the market.

Bettany has put together a great article on the Camera+ website that shows the evolution of the iPhone's camera, and how each generation takes significantly better pictures than the last. As you can see from the image below, there's a huge difference between the image captured by the original iPhone than that captured by Apple's latest device.

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It's not all that surprising, because it is a 2-megapixel camera versus an 8-megapixel one, however, what is surprising is that Bettany says the iPhone 4S "outshines" many of the high-end compact cameras currently available:

"The iPhone 4S is dramatically clearer and sharper than previous iPhone versions. Using separate focus and exposure in Camera+ on the iPhone 4 & 4S significantly helped create a more balanced exposure.

"While it's not nearing the same quality as a professional level dSLR, it is comparable to a top of the line compact camera and even outshines it in some ways."

I encourage you to check out Bettany's post on the Camera+ website to see the comparison between shots taken on the iPhone 4S and those taken on two high-end Canon cameras. The results are really impressive.

Are you pleased with the new camera in your iPhone 4S?

[via TechRadar]

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Published on October 25, 2011 04:28

Sprint: Our iPhone 4S Data Speeds Match Competitors

[image error]Apple's iPhone 4S has been a huge success for Sprint since its launch on October 14, breaking both opening day sales and activation records. For many customers, however, life with the latest iPhone on Sprint isn't all that fun, with painfully slow data speeds throttling the iPhone's capabilities when away from a Wi-Fi connection. According to the carrier, however, its data speeds match those offered by its competitors.

Although it was rumored that Sprint was working closely with Apple to fix the "issue" causing slow data speeds on the network, Sprint has been quick to quash these reports and insists that its network is no slower than that of its rivals.

In a statement issued to The Next Web, Sprint said:

Overall, iPhone performance on the Sprint network is consistent with our expectations and the rest of our high-end portfolio. Sprint also did bench-marking of Sprint's iPhone against competitor's iPhones and the testing showed little to no performance difference. We are seeing a very low return rate for this device but we are watching the reports of speed issues very closely. We do see opportunities to optimize performance, specifically in high network capacity areas. We see this as typical optimization work and do not have any specific area of concern. Sprint is committed to providing the best possible experience for our customers. We are listening to our customers and working closely with our partners at Apple to ensure optimal performance of iPhone devices on our network.

As you can see from the screenshot below, however, some users are suffering with dreadfully slow data connections on the Sprint network, even when they have full signal on the 3G network.

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It's reassuring for these users that Sprint is "watching the reports of speed issues," and hopefully it will identify the issue and rectify it before too long.

Have you been suffering with slow data speeds with your iPhone 4S on Sprint?

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Published on October 25, 2011 04:08

October 24, 2011

Apple TV Set Project Allegedly Headed by iTunes Creator Jeff Robbin

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Bloomberg reports that the original creator of iTunes, Jeff Robbin, is allegedly working on Apple's upcoming TV set. Robbin also helped co-launch the original iPod with Tony Fadell.

The report cites "three people with knowledge of the project" and notes that Robbin's involvement is "a sign of Apple's commitment to extending its leadership in smartphones and tablets into the living room."

Jeff Robbin, who helped create the iPod in addition to the iTunes media store, is now guiding Apple's internal development of the new TV effort, said the people, who declined to be identified because his role isn't public.

A famous quote from Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography tells of how Steve Jobs "finally cracked" the Apple TV set before he died:

'I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use,' he told me. 'It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.' No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. 'It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.'"

Robbin is a very influential person from Apple's history who helped make many of the fundamental decisions regarding the beginning of iTunes and the iPod. He understands the consumer market, and there is perhaps no better person for Apple to put in charge of creating a compelling television that's integrated with iTunes and iCloud.

Analyst Gene Munster recently said that prototype Apple TV sets are already in the works, with Apple reportedly "investing in manufacturing facilities and securing supply for LCD displays."

While a full-fledged Apple television would definitely be welcomed, there has yet to be any concrete evidence that Apple is working on such a project. The thought that Jeff Robbin is working on such a product definitely says something about the project's importance to Apple if it does indeed exist.

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Published on October 24, 2011 20:42

Apple Releases MacBook Pro Video Update 1.0

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Apple appears to have resolved the problems where 15-inch Mod 2010 MacBook Pro computers may intermittently free or stop displaying video.

The resolution has appeared in the form of a software update that is available now.

The symptoms of the problem described by Apple are:

Apple has determined that a small number of MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) computers may intermittently freeze or stop displaying video on the built-in display or on an external display connected to the MacBook Pro. In this situation, you may also see a restart warning message before the video is lost or the display turns black or gray. Affected computers were manufactured between April 2010 and February 2011.

Additional information about the update can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4088.

Download the update directly or check for it in Software Update on your Mac.

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Published on October 24, 2011 19:30

Apple Releases iOS 4.4.2 For Apple TV

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Apple has updated the firmware for Apple TV to version 4.4.2 about a week after pulling and releasing for a second time the earlier 4.4.1 update. The earlier update provided a some bug fixes and if we were to guess this one probably does too.

It looks like Apple is also offering an Apple TV tip for updating which I hope isn't the normal thing to expect going forward. I've had a lot of trouble getting my Apple TV to find and install new updates. I hope that 4.4.2 resolves that problem for good.

The part that I hope isn't normal going forward is documented in Apple support document TS4107.

That document tells you to reset all the settings on your Apple TV which will effectively clear out all your login ids, passwords, etc. This will force you to reconfigure everything after the update. Apple apologizes for the inconvenience so I'm thinking we won't see this problem again.

I recently used iTunes to update my Apple TV to 4.4.1 and I attempted to update my Apple TV to 4.4.2 before I reset it and it installed. Therefore I recommend that if you are running 4.4.1 already try and update first before performing the reset. That worked fine for me.

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Published on October 24, 2011 18:57

Use HDR And Save Space On Your Camera Roll At The Same Time [iOS Tips]

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Apple introduced High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography along with the iPhone 4 and iOS 4. HDR will automatically produce improved camera shots by combining three camera shots into one image. The HDR setting in the Camera app remains in iOS 5 and the new iPhone 4S.

That isn't necessarily a good thing if you are prone to using the camera in your iPhone and HDR a lot, because HDR produces two images which are stored on your camera roll: the original and the HDR enhanced one. If your device has limited storage space this could start to be a problem.

If you have an iPhone 4S the images produced by the 8 Megapixel camera are larger than the ones produced on the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3Gs. Luckily there is a way for you to force the Camera app to only save the HDR image.

Launch the Settings Apps Tap on Photos Locate Keep Normal Photo and set it to Off

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Now when you take photos using HDR only the enhanced HDR image will stay on your camera roll. The normal photo is discarded.

You'll be saving a lot of storage space and reducing clutter on your iPhone with this tip.

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Published on October 24, 2011 17:00

The Day Steve Jobs Called AT&T with iPhone Woes

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Photo: Lacy Atkins / The Chronicle

David Kelley and Steve Jobs have a lot in common. Kelley, the designer of Apple's original mouse, was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2007.

In addition to working with Apple on the mouse project, Jobs introduced Kelley to his wife. When Kelley was in the hospital, Jobs came to visit his old friend. And just like any well-wisher, he didn't come empty handed.

Instead of flowers or candy, Jobs brought Kelley, who went on to found seminal design firm IDEO, the very first iPhone as a "get well" present. There was just one small problem: Jobs couldn't get the iPhone to work. "When I was sick in the hospital, Steve brought me the very first iPhone, and he sat there bedside," Kelley recalls. "He was trying to get it connected to AT&T. There he was, on the phone with someone at AT&T, who probably had no idea she was talking to the real Steve Jobs."

Kelley, photographed for the long feature in the SF Chronicle looking vaguely like a cross between Steve Jobs and film director