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1) The tweet that made Steve Jobs furious
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/the-tweet-that-made-steve-jobs-furious/
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors, Steve Jobs
Apple doesn't have a huge social media presence. There's an iTunes Facebook page and what can arguably be called a MobileMe blog, but that's about it. However, they do monitor the likes of Twitter, like any self-respecting company would, and a recent tweet reportedly ticked off Steve Jobs but good.
Recently, Steve set up meetings with tech writers and executives from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to promote the iPad. He gathered the group from the Times at Pranna, where he ordered off the menu, wore "... a very funny hat" and reportedly tried to sell them on distribution via the iPad. Having taken place in a public restaurant, the gathering was called "Intimate" and "family-style" by observers.
By contrast, representatives from the Wall Street Journal met Steve and his new device behind closed doors. According to [...]
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2) Rumor: MacBook Pro refresh imminent, SKUs dropped from Best Buy systems
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/rumor-macbook-pro-refresh-imminent-skus-dropped-from-best-buy/
Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Macbook Pro
Update: Commenters point out that our tipster pulled the Best Buy inventory screen image from this thread on the MacRumors forums (he did provide independent confirmation of the SKU deletion). I was not aware of the forum thread at the time the post was written, and there was at the time no corresponding post on the main MacRumors site (although there is now). My apologies to the forum poster for the lack of credit for the image; I should have double-verified where it came from before running it.
In the world of retail computer sales, nothing is quite so deterministic as the disappearance of model SKUs (stock keeping units, store jargon for "the numbers that correspond to the widgets we sell, and how we track our inventory and sales") from a chain's price list or database system. When that happens, no additional orders can be placed for the [...]
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3) Game developers on iPhone outnumber DS and PSP two-to-one
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/game-developers-on-iphone-outnumber-ds-and-psp-two-to-one/
Filed under: Gaming, Multimedia, Apple, iPhone, App Store, SDK, iPod touchGame Developer Research has published its 2009/10 survey of video game developers, and the results are pretty impressive for the still relatively fledgling iPhone platform: The number of developers who are working on mobile games increased by 12 percent, and there are actually twice as many developers working on iPhone games as are working on the Nintendo DS and Sony's PSP handheld consoles.
That's a pretty amazing number, though it's not quite a surprise when you consider it. First of all, Nintendo DS and PSP publishing takes a much larger investment than Apple's $100 developer fee and an SDK download. Second, while the DS and the PSP are certainly selling a lot of games, they're not actually releasing nearly as many as the hundreds of thousands of apps on the App Store. Finally, new DS and PSP games sell for [...]
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4) Plants vs. Zombies coming to iPhone on February 15th
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/plants-vs-zombies-coming-to-iphone-on-february-15th/
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store
Yes, PopCap is at it again -- this time, their crazy addictive (just like all of their games) take on the tower defense genre, Plants vs. Zombies, is headed off to the iPhone. They just tweeted confirmation a little while ago, and released this trailer showing all of the flower vs. undead action that we enjoyed so much in the other versions of the game, squeezed into the smaller screen of the iPhone.
They don't mention a price point, but I'm guessing it'll come out at $4.99, since that's what most of their releases have debuted at (though if you're patient, it'll probably drop down in price after a while). I'll tell you that yes, if you've never played it, the game is more than worth $5, but even if you don't believe me, you can go play it online for free and see what you think. PopCap is the master of dropping colorful [...]
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5) Loopt teams with Mobile Spinach for check-in discounts, Booyah talks about MyTown
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/loopt-teams-with-mobile-spinach-for-check-in-discounts-booyah-t/
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App StoreIf the iPhone has a leading app genre, aside from gaming, I'd say the current surge of "check-in" apps is probably it. Sure, back when the App Store first opened up, Twitter apps were everywhere (and they're still being made daily, it seems), but in terms of a genre that can only exist on a location-aware device like the iPhone, "check-in" apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, and so on, are making their mark right now. Here's news on two such apps continuing to grow on the App Store skyline.
First up, Loopt [iTunes link] has announced a partnership with a company called Mobile Spinach to start trying to monetize this kind of app usage. Mobile Spinach delivers local ads, and Loopt says that it'll be using their location-based social networking service to bring specials and deals to users from wherever they check-in from. Note that while Apple doesn't [...]
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6) Microsoft still beats Apple in cash and investments, for now
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/microsoft-still-beats-apple-in-cash-and-investments-for-now/
Filed under: Apple Financial, Apple
Back during the earnings call a few weeks ago, it was mentioned that Apple has a jaw-dropping almost $40 billion just sitting around in cash. In the chat, we started talking about other companies that might have that much money in the hopper -- Google came up, but I don't think we were able to guess another one. But it turns out Apple isn't even the most flush company out there, and the name of the first might surprise you: According to this chart on Silicon Alley Insider, Microsoft is currently sitting on just slightly more money than even Apple, with Google and Intel coming close behind; although Apple briefly pulled ahead of MS at the end of 2008, the Redmond Revenue Racers had more cash through most of '09 than Apple did.
Well how 'bout that. Of course, the current curves are not so favorable to Microsoft (after the Win7 update push slows down a [...]
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7) Purported pics of next-gen iPhone front face surface
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/purported-pics-of-next-gen-iphone-front-face-surface/
Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, iPhoneiResQ, the iPhone/iPod repair site, has posted pics of what they claim is the front faceplate of the next-gen iPhone. Two things about this piece of hardware are particularly interesting. First, the part is approximately 1/4 of an inch taller than the iPhone 3GS, indicative of a slightly taller form factor for the next-gen iPhone. Second, there's a small, reflective strip directly above the hole for the phone speaker. iResQ believes this is likely to be the new location for the iPhone's proximity sensor rather than an indication of any new hardware; however, moving the proximity sensor to a new location and increasing the overall length of the device could still point to a front-facing camera or other new hardware on the next-gen iPhone.
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Purported_Pics_of_Next_Gen_iPhone_Front_Face_Surface'; It's worth mentioning [...]
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8) Dev team releases PwnageTool 3.1.5 to jailbreak iPhone 3.1.3 firmware
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/dev-team-releases-pwnagetool-3-1-5-to-jailbreak-iphone-3-1-3-fir/
Filed under: Hardware, iTunes, Apple, iPhone, SDK, Jailbreak/pwnage
Jailbreakers ahoy! Yesterday brought the release of the Dev Team's pwnage tool for jailbreaking and unlocking iPhones equipped with the new 3.1.3 firmware. As usual, though, there are a few catches: first, if you don't need to update to 3.1.3, the dev team says you shouldn't bother anyway -- it doesn't do much that the old versions of the firmware doesn't, so if you don't need to upgrade, just leave your jailbreak as is.
3G and 3GS users especially should be leery of this one, since if a mistake is made, there's a chance you could upgrade your firmware and then not be able to unlock it again. They also have all sorts of other warnings and exceptions on their blog post. As they say, don't download and run those files without seriously thinking about what you're doing with your iPhone.
If, after all of that thinking, [...]
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9) Could iPad prices drop the way the iPhone did after launch?
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/could-ipad-prices-drop-the-way-the-iphone-did-after-launch/
Filed under: Hardware, RetailLooks like they might. That's the opinion of a note out last night from Credit Suisse quoting meetings with Apple executives. The Wall Street Journal this morning quotes Senior Analyst Bill Shope as saying "While it remains to be seen how much traction the iPad gets initially, management noted that it will remain nimble (pricing could change if the company is not attracting as many customers as anticipated)."
This is a similar situation to the original iPhone launch in 2007, where the original price quickly dropped US $200 from the original $599 retail. Agitated early adopters got a $100 Apple store credit from Apple.
Apple will be watching sales of the device carefully in the early days, and the company appears to have enough margin built into the iPad to take some hits if it is slow moving.
On the other hand, if the iPad blows the doors off Apple [...]
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10) Hutchison offers discounted iPad in Austria
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/hutchison-offers-discounted-ipad-in-austria/
Filed under: Hardware, iPhoneHutchison Austria is following in the wake of the iPhone and is offering a subsidized iPad to users willing to commit to a 2-year data contract, Engadget reports. When you sign up for a €29.90, 5GB monthly contract, you'll get a €333 markdown on the iPad -- which may or may not be all that much since we still don't know how much an iPad is going to cost overseas. Instead of built-in 3G service, a Huawei i-Mo 3G modem will be provided.
It's not a bad idea, and we're likely to see more carriers jump on this particular bandwagon as the iPad gets closer to release. What I would love to see from carriers is a way to extend existing service for iPhone customers to those who want an iPad plus iPhone. AT&T already gets close to $100 a month from me for basic cell service, plus iPhone data and a text messaging plan. I wouldn't mind paying an additional [...]
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11) Turn your old Macs into clocks, lamps and more
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/turn-your-old-macs-into-clocks-lamps-and-more/
Filed under: Cult of Mac, Odds and endsWe've written about the recycled Mac clocks that pixelthis on Etsy has created before, but this one is definitely worth a mention. This particular piece combines an old iBook G4 with an Apple mouse to create a time piece that's complete with a working pendulum. Current pieces include a clock made from a recycled iMac G4 motherboard.
Looking for other handcrafted Apple goods for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day? How about a cap honoring Apple of a bygone era? Or an Alfred Hitchock decal for your MacBook? Or if you want a custom-made laptop case, here's one made out of denim. If you need a new lamp for your desk, try one made from an old G4 iMac. If your special someone really desires jewelry, you can always get some Apple cufflinks or earrings.
[Via The Daily What]TUAWTurn your old Macs into clocks, lamps and more originally appeared on The [...]
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12) TUAW Giveaway: iCamcorder for iPhone EDGE, 2G, 3G
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/tuaw-giveaway-icamcorder-for-iphone-edge-2g-3g/
Filed under: iPhone, App StoreIf you don't have an iPhone 3GS, there are now apps available to enable video recording capabilities on the older phones. One of those apps, Drahtwerk's iCamcorder [US$0.99, iTunes Link], has a ton of features that might make 3GS owners jealous. Some of those features include:
Quad-cam, mirror, pop-art, old movie,color-flip and four more special effects
Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube sharing of recorded videos
Adjustable recording frame rate
Bonjour sharing for downloading videos from your iPhone
Drahtwerk wanted to give away some promo codes for this app, and now 20 lucky TUAW readers are going to walk away with a free copy of iCamcorder. Here's how to enter:
Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
To enter, leave a comment telling us what you'd like to record with iCamcorder.
The [...]
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13) iPad in the family: What it'll take
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/08/ipad-in-the-family-what-itll-take/
Filed under: Hardware
When Steve Jobs announced the iPad, I thought it was neat, but I didn't see how it would really fit into my life. What could it do for me that my iPhone or MacBook Pro couldn't? It seemed like that gap Steve Jobs said the iPad filled was targeted at a group of people I didn't belong to. So I asked the TUAW readers if you'd be getting one. Then I began talking to my family about the iPad and discovered some surprising things: the very people I thought would never buy one plan to, and the people I thought would jump at it are holding off.
So here's a rundown of four very different people in my family and if/why they will be getting an iPad:
Person: My mother. 62. Queen of the Luddites.
Computer proficiency: Absolutely none.
Will she be getting the iPad? Yep. The 16GB 3G model.
Why? My mom has never owned a computer. She doesn't have an internet connection. She [...]
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