March 17, 2010

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Apple Seeds Yet Another Build of Mac OS X 10.6.3 to Developers

March 17, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

Apple has seeded yet another build (Build 10D571) of Mac OS X 10.6.3 to developers. iPhone in Canada has the lengthy details, but the nut of it is that Apple is asking developers to focus on things like Graphics Drivers, Fonts, iChat, and Quicktime. There have been a few additional changes too.

- Issues addressed that caused background message colors to display incorrectly in Mail when scrolling

- Issue resolved that caused machines using BTMM and the Bonjour Sleep Proxy to wake unexpectedly

There appears to be one known issue, which involves software update urging a user to upgrade to Safari 4.0.5 when in fact the user is already running the latest version.

As you may have noticed, Apple has been issuing seeds of Mac OS X 10.6.3 for some time now in rapid succession, which is a sign that the update is headed for a public release any time now.

Filed Under All News, Developers, OS X, Software

Multitasking Coming in iPhone 4.0?

March 15, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

AppleInsider is reporting that they have received information that claims iPhone OS 4.0 will likely support multitasking, which is allowing multiple apps to run simultaneously. AppleInsider does not offer any technical details other than claiming it will take advantage of interfact technology used in Mac OS X.

People with a proven track record in predicting Apple’s technological advances tell AppleInsider that the Cupertino-based company has developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking on the iPhone OS but offered no specifics on how the technology would optimize resource conservation and battery life — two of the most critical issues surrounding the matter, alongside security.

From a user-facing perspective, Apple plans to deliver a multi-tasking manager that leverages interface technology already bundled with its Mac OS X operating system, according to those same people. It was requested that specifics be withheld at this time, as the iPhone Software 4.0 remains under development and reportedly has a quite ‘way to go’ before it’s ready for prime time.

There have been similar reports in the past that claimed iPhone OS 4.0 would have multitasking along with a revamped user interface.

I don’t buy into this entirely because it took Apple so long to implement their Push Notification system for developers. Why go through all that trouble and delayed release just to outdate it in a year’s time? That said, John Gruber believes it, and he almost always knows what he is talking about.

Filed Under All News, Rumors, Software

Get Rucksack for FREE!

March 14, 2010 By Justin Rhodes Leave a Comment

RucksackThat’s right! Our friends at Macbuzzer.com want to give you a copy of their great Mac archive for the best price…FREE!

For the next few days grab Rucksack, a great archiving program for nothing. (regular price $29)

This archive allows you to easily drag and drop multiple files into it, then asks you in which format you would like to archive to (zip, rar, tar, etc.). You can easily add a password to your archives as well. When you’re finished setting up your archive just simply drag and drop the file to your selected directory, “easy as pie”.

Head over to Macbuzzer.com now, press the big red button, follow them on Twitter, and grab your FREE license for Rucksack.

UPDATE: It has come to my attention that some email providers may be blocking the license emails from being delivered. Macbuzzer.com is currently working on a solution to the problem. As long as you sign-up within the free license offer trial you should be good though.

UPDATE: If you registered for a free license and have yet to receive it via email, Macbuzzer.com has created a page for you to lookup your license. All is well, enjoy!

Filed Under OS X, Software Tagged With archive, Free, Macbuzzer, Rucksack, Stuff

Apple Releases Safari 4 Update

March 12, 2010 By Alex Jordan 1 Comment

Just a quick note. Apple has released Safari 4.0.5 for Mac and Windows. This update offers a number of fixes including:

- Performance improvements for Top Sites
- Stability improvements for 3rd-party plug-ins
- Stability improvements for websites with online forms and Scalable Vector Graphics
- Fixes an issue that prevented Safari from changing settings on some Linksys routers

This update is recommended to all Safari 4 users and is available in Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Windows flavors. The download is around 35MB in size depending on which system you are running.

I’m someone who lives in Safari, and I can definitely notice a difference in the “Top Sites” and vector graphics performance.

Filed Under All News, OS X, Software

Apple Releases iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 4 to Developers

March 11, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

Apple has released iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 4 to developers. The last release was two weeks ago. There are however a few differences in this release.

Firstly, Apple has added gesture tools for “3Tap” and “LongPress”, which are already used by Apple for turning the iPhone’s display on and off when using the VoicOver feature, and for cut/paste respectively. With Apple adding these features to the SDK, it should be easier for application developers to implement these gestures in future applications.

It has also been noted that Apple has removed several icons in the SDK that suggested the iPad would indeed have a camera either at launch or as an added features in a future revision.

Filed Under All News, Developers, iPad

Apple Removing “Cookie Cutter” Apps from the App Store?

March 9, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

TechCruch has an interesting piece assimilating tidbits from App Store developers that suggests Apple is in the process of cracking down on applications that do little more than a web app could do. This comes just weeks after Apple began it’s purge of cheesy “adult” apps.

Between the developers I spoke to, the consensus was this: Apple doesn’t appear to be opposed to ‘app generators’ and templates per se, but in the last month or so it has started cracking down on basic applications that are little more than RSS feeds or glorified business cards. In short, Apple doesn’t want people using native applications for things that a basic web app could accomplish.

The report goes on to quote Medialets CEO Eric Litman who points out that Apple is in the process of ensuring that the iPhone applications offer higher-quality user experiences that set the iPhone apart from competing devices.

Apple wants iPhone apps to be superior to Web experiences because they are extremely sticky and drive people specifically to buy the iPhone over competing smartphone platforms. Apps that are too simple or largely indistinguishable from the Web, other apps or particularly other apps on other platforms send the message to end users that the iPhone app ecosystem might not be particularly special.

It appears Apple is narrowing their focus to app-building services that simply use basic app templates to build apps that present web content.

To me, Apple should have had this mentality in the first place, and not after they allowed this junk into the store. Because the App Store is a very public facet of the iPhone — that is to say it is a major selling point– Apple is trying to tie it in with it’s own (“premium”) image more closely than they ever have before to differentiate themselves from the sea of junk phones.

So why did Apple allow these in the App Store in the first place?  I think it was out of good faith, or more likely a side effect of pioneering a mobile software store. Another reason might have been to help buffer the app store numbers. I would wager these kinds of apps make up a significant number of the apps in the App Store. They’re easy to make, and thus any profit they see off of these is easy earned money.

Filed Under All News, Developers, Software, iPhone Apps

Confimred: Valve to Bring Steam and Games to the Mac in April

March 9, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

Valve Software has officially announced their plans to bring their Steam game delivery system and many of their games to the Mac sometime in April. This official announcement comes only days after Valve leaked a series of teaser images to various media outlets.

Steam and Valve’s library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life series will be available in April.

“As we transition from entertainment as a product to entertainment as a service, customers and developers need open, high-quality Internet clients,” said Gabe Newell, President of Valve. “The Mac is a great platform for entertainment services.”

Valve goes on to confirm reports that Portal 2 is coming to Mac in a simultaneous release for Windows.

Portal 2 will be Valve’s first simultaneous release for Mac and Windows. “Checking in code produces a PC build and Mac build at the same time, automatically, so the two platforms are perfectly in lock-step,” said Josh Weier, Portal 2 Project Lead. “We’re always playing a native version on the Mac right alongside the PC. This makes it very easy for us and for anyone using Source to do game development for the Mac.”

It is widely expected that third-party game makers that sell their titles through Steam will be making Mac compatible versions in the future. This press release also mentions “Steam Play”, a feature that will allow purchasers of Valve’s games for either Mac or PC to play on the other system free of charge.

One of the few things I missed after switching from the PC was the ability to play Counter-Strike: Source.

Filed Under All News, Software

Apple Seeds Yet Another Build of Mac OS X 10.6.3

March 8, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

Apple has seeded another build (Build 10D567) of Mac OS X 10.6.3 to developers. iPhone Canada gives details on this seed:

-Compatibility issues with OpenGL-based applications

-Performance improvements for 64-bit Logic

-Changes to QuickTime X that increase reliability and improve compatibility and security

-Printing reliability and compatibility with third party printers

-Issues patched that prevented files from copying to Windows shares

-Issues patched with recurring events in iCal when connected to an Exchange server

-Issues patched that prevented files with the “#” or “&” symbols in their names from opening in Rosetta

You may notice that there aren’t many changes in this seed compared to the last several builds. As we’ve said before, with few changes, and increased speed in which these build are being seeded suggests Apple will be releasing this update to the public any time now.

Filed Under All News, Developers, Software

Apple Removing ‘Wi-Fi Scanner’ Apps from App Store

March 5, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has begun removing “Wi-Fi Scanner” (help you find Wi-Fi access) applications from the App Store. Apple claims they are removing these apps due to “minimum user fuctionality. ”

AppleInsider quotes Three Jacks Software, the publisher of “Wi-Fi Where” as saying the following about their app’s removal from the store:

“I find it quite ironic that Apple removes these very handy, very useful apps from the app store when there are so many useless gimick apps that just pollute the App Store pages,” the developer wrote. “I’m not going to list any names, but its not hard to see that this trend.”

The way I see this, is that Apple is just now coming to terms with the fact that most of the apps in the App Store are in fact, tacky, tasteless junk apps. Apple is in a curious situations. Leave all of the junk apps in (that they should have never admitted in the first place) and choke out all the outstanding apps that are made, or remove all of the junk apps from the store and look like control freaks. Either way looks like a misstep for Apple.

Filed Under All News, Developers, Software, iPhone, iPhone Apps

Valve’s Steam Game Delivery System Coming to the Mac

March 4, 2010 By Alex Jordan Leave a Comment

MacRumors has aggregated a series of images leaked to several tech sites today seemingly proving previous rumors suggesting that Valve (a Washington based-game company responsible for such titles as Half-Life and Counter Strike) will be bringing it’s Steam game delivery system to the Mac.

MacRumors received this image of Gordon Freeman (the protagonist of the Half-Life games) in his HEV suit, except this time it has an Apple logo on it. MacRumors also reports that the image was accompanied with the line: “In anticipation of an upcoming announcement from Valve.”

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MacNN received another image that parodies the “Get a Mac” ads with turrets from two different Valve games.

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Shacknews received an image with Team Fortress 2 character in it.

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Another image popped up at Eurogamer featuring a character from Left 4 Dead

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun received another image confirming Steam for the Mac.

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Lastly, Macworld posts an image parodying the famous 1984 Macintosh ad.

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Filed Under All News, Software
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