mercredi 7 avril 2010

Blog Alert for The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), Apr 6, 2010

New Posts to The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Apr 6, 2010:

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1) Enter to win a Fallen Earth item from TUAW
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/enter-to-win-a-fallen-earth-item-from-tuaw/

Filed under: Gaming
Fallen Earth is a pretty popular post-apocalyptic MMO, and as we announced at GDC, not only have they released a Mac client, but they've got a pretty impressive iPhone app to go along with it coming later this year. To celebrate, they sent us a special code for some virtual in-game Brass Goggles -- we're not sure exactly what they do, but we're told that they're a third level item with the stats of a seventh level item, and that they'll provide some protection against piercing, fire, cold, and ballistic damage. So they've got that going for them. Which is nice.

Anyway, if you're a Fallen Earth player and want a chance at some groovy in-game gear, just leave a comment on this post before Friday at 5pm, making sure to use a real email (so we can contact you if you happen to win). If you need something to comment about, tell us how you'll use your favorite Apple [...]

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2) Rogers customers get to keep free tethering and get offered a paid nav app
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/rogers-customers-get-to-keep-free-tethering-and-get-offered-a-pa/

Filed under: iPhoneOur Canadian friends have a couple of new products to look at if they have an iPhone. The first is Rogers Navigator, powered by TeleNav. For $4.99 a month Rogers' iPhone customers get a full featured turn-by-turn solution with spoken instructions.

The app includes real time traffic alerts and rerouting, online pre-planning with the ability to send destinations from the web to your iPhone, iPod integration and an extensive POI database.

The app is similar to the AT&T Navigator app, and has the same feature set.

An even bigger deal is that Rogers has continued its introductory free tethering plan. Rogers customers who subscribe to a data plan of 1 GB or more a month get tethering included at no extra charge. It was expected that Rogers would start charging for tethering, but the company has decided to continue to offer it for free. Are you listening AT&T? Didn't [...]

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3) Former Apple Store employee creates Iron Man's J.A.R.V.I.S. using a Mac mini
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/former-apple-store-employee-creates-iron-mans-j-a-r-v-i-s-usin/

Filed under: Odds and ends
Okay, there's no HUD display like Tony Stark had and it isn't voiced by Paul Bettany, but former Apple Store employee Chad Barraford has created Project Jarvis, a digital assistant that greets him, Tweets for him, and can even tell his family when he has a headache and dim the lights of his apartment before he reaches home.

Project Jarvis is based on the comic book character Edwin Jarvis, Tony Stark's human butler who became an AI construct after he was reinvisioned for a twenty-first century audience in the first Iron Man film. Chad's real life Jarvis may not help him fly an invisible suit of armor, but via RFID tags, webcams, and microphones, Barraford can communicate with Jarvis in a number of ways including tweeting, instant messaging, and speech recognition which allows him to control lights and appliances, notify him of breaking news, Facebook updates, [...]

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4) Verizon CEO: We want the iPhone
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/verizon-ceo-we-want-the-iphone/

Filed under: iPhoneAlmost since the day it was revealed to the public, American customers have been clamoring for the iPhone to be made available on Verizon's network. Many potential iPhone buyers have cited their distaste for AT&T as their primary reason for not jumping on the iPhone train, and the chant has been relentless for almost three years now: "We want the iPhone on Verizon!"

One more voice has joined that chorus: the CEO of Verizon, Ivan Seidenberg, told Apple outright that Verizon wants to carry the iPhone on its network. Nothing coy about it: if Apple will build it, Verizon will come. This is a complete 180 from Verizon's stance in 2005, when Verizon rejected Apple's iPhone offer, saying they couldn't come to a deal that was "mutually beneficial." Seidenberg reportedly brought up his overtures to Apple following the recent Wall Street Journal report on the forthcoming [...]

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5) Speed Download 5.2.15, and a deal to get it $10 off
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/speed-download-5-2-15-and-a-deal-to-get-it-10-off/

Filed under: Deals
The good folks over at YazSoft have released version 5.2.15 of Speed Download, a nice download manager/FTP client that helps me out a lot when I'm browsing for files. This new update brings better YouTube compatibility, a fix to make sure the listed file size is correct on certain FTP servers plus tweaks to performance and compatibility.

But perhaps more importantly, they're running a promotion that drops the price by ten bucks. When you put the "iwantfast" coupon code in at checkout, you can pick up the software for $15 rather than the usual $25. That's a petty good deal on a piece of software that has come in even handier than I expected when I first picked it up.TUAWSpeed Download 5.2.15, and a deal to get it $10 off originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of [...]

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6) iPad tech specs reveal Cortex A8, 256MB Ram, PowerVR SGX 535
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/ipad-tech-specs-reveal-cortex-a8-256mb-ram-powervr-sgx-535/

Filed under: iPadNow that the iPad has been out and tested for a few days, developers have a much better idea of what's exactly under that perfectly-formed hood. Turns out the A4 processor is modeled on the Cortex A8, a fact which was not only expected, but gives a little extra credence to the theory that chipmaker Intrinsity (who are behind the A8) was recently purchased by Apple. Elsewhere on the iPad, you can find the same PowerVR SGX 535 GPU and 256MB RAM that can be seen in the iPhone 3GS.

But apparently the whole is better than the parts -- our buddy Craig Hockenberry sat down last weekend and did some serious benchmarking, and found that the iPad is actually many times faster than the iPhone 3GS at all sorts of tasks. As Craig said, this is doubly remarkable when you think about it: not only did they get these kinds of speed improvements in just a matter of years, but they've [...]

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7) The making of The Elements for iPad
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/the-making-of-the-elements-for-ipad/

Filed under: iPad
Popular Science takes an in-depth look into the makings of The Elements: A Visual Exploration for the iPad, the app that's had many reviewers nearly swooning with giddy geek pleasure. The article is written by the original book's author and Wolfram Research's co-founder, Theodore Gray, who described the experience as the chance to create something that "Harry Potter might check out of Hogwarts' library."

The article is a fantastic read and is definitely worth checking out, especially if you have any interest in getting into media publication for the iPad, and how to design dynamic pages that Photoshop nor InDesign simply can't pull off. They took a library of nearly 350,000 images shot for the original book, combined it with a page layout tool constructed from scratch with Mathematica and added a runtime application code to turn those pages (processed on the fastest [...]

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8) Eight cruel iPad wallpaper tricks
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/8-cruel-ipad-wallpaper-tricks/

Filed under: iPadPranksters, start your engines. Gizmodo lists eight tricks you can play on your iPad-owning, smug and self-satisfied friends to wipe the grins off their mugs. They've got a full gallery of options here; I especially like the SPOD screen, and the Wishful Thinking version shown here (multitasking! Flash! VERIZON!!) is quite funny.

If you like the Blue Screen of Death or the Bloody Hand (which is oddly reminiscent of a certain scene in James Cameron's last big blockbuster), chime in below -- or include links to your own favorite background screens.TUAWEight cruel iPad wallpaper tricks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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9) The Guardian: Apple probably already top tablet supplier
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/the-guardian-apple-probably-already-top-tablet-supplier/

Filed under: iPadThere's a great article at The Guardian today that compares the iPad's introduction to that of the iPod and iPhone, and offers interesting numbers regarding Apple's share of the tablet market.

Last January, IDC analyst David Daoud projected that sales of non-Apple tablet PCs will fall to 1.25 million units in 2010 (down from 1.32 million in 2008). At the same time, projected iPad sales for 2010 range from Piper Jaffray's estimate of 4.3 million to Forrester's 3 million (iSuppli says 7 million, but that seems a bit nuts).

Let's say they're all way off and go with a conservative guess of 2 million units sold. Even that number would make Apple the largest tablet computer manufacturer in the world. Already.
TUAWThe Guardian: Apple probably already top tablet supplier originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see [...]

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10) Hyundai Equus now comes with an iPad
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/hyundai-equus-now-comes-with-an-ipad/

Filed under: iPadIf you're willing to spent 5 grand on an iPad, why not cough up an additional 50 and get one sweet accessory: A Hyundai Equus.

For a limited time, Hyundai is cashing in on the iPad frenzy by offering one to every customer who buys a 2011 Equus. Rather than just tossing it on the back seat, the iPad will contain the car's user manual, which Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik calls, "interactive." There aren't a lot of details on the app (we assume it's an app), but customers will be able to use it to schedule maintenance appointments.

We don't know which model is being offered, so you'll have to call your friendly neighborhood Hyundai dealer to find out. Of course it's free, so you can't really complain. If you get one, please let us know.TUAWHyundai Equus now comes with an iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:00:00 [...]

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11) Like iPad, blistering in the sun: Temperature issues reported
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/like-ipad-blistering-in-the-sun-temperature-issues-reported/

Filed under: iPadWith all deference to the Violent Femmes, there's nothing upbeat about the cases of overheating that some iPad users are facing in the early days with the device. We've heard directly from two readers about the dreaded 'iPad needs to cool down before you can use it' message; Henry in Colorado and John in Tampa Bay both reported that their units went into thermal standby after being used outside. John noted that his iPad was in the (black, heat-collecting) Apple case... perhaps there's a market for reflective or liquid-cooled models.
Both Cult of Mac and Next Web cite similar stories from users who have, in some cases, resorted to popping their iPads into the fridge to chill them out. Of course, the iPhone has sometimes suffered from similar thermal challenges, but there's a difference between roasting your phone in the glove compartment (bad idea) and reading a book on [...]

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12) Review: <strike>Hey, That's My Fish</strike> Honey, That's Mine!
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/review-hey-thats-my-fish-honey-thats-mine/

Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App ReviewBoard gamers looking for ported game apps on the iPhone (and now, finally, the iPad) might overlook the just-released offering Honey, That's Mine [$1.99]. The game uses little honeybee characters that fly across a board of hexagons to collect drops of honey. As they leave a location, that hex is removed from the board. Even though the bees fly, they can't cross an open space; this rule sets up a game that is much, much more than meets the eye.

Honey, That's Mine can be played in three flavors: simple, normal, and advanced. The simple game is almost an exact clone of Hey, That's My Fish, a 2003 game designed by Günter Cornett and Alvydas Jakeliunas that used penguins jumping around ice floes. Honey, which claims to be the design of Jeffery Vanneste, does have a few alternative rules for different bees, but the fact that it fails to mention its [...]

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13) Targus tempts the wallet with a new line of iPad cases
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/targus-ipad-cases/

Filed under: iPadTargus has been making cases and accessories for Apple products for 25 years, so it's not surprising that, today, the company has announced a line of iPad cases, all of which look very nice.

The top of the line case is the Hughes Leather Portfolio Slipcase (at right) for iPad, which is made of beautiful oil-tanned leather and has a soft twill inner lining. It uses a magnetic closure, and comes in black and brown. This executive-styled slipcase is going to run US$59.99.

Next, Targus announced the Crave Slipcase for iPad (below). It's made of a durable and weatherproof material, and has a stain-guard coating for protection. The Crave is available in black and silver, and has stow-away top handles as well as an accessory pocket for other goodies. This slipcase has a midrange price of $34.99.

Finally, the third new case for iPad from Targus is the A7 Neoprene Sleeve. The [...]

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14) iPhone 101: Save space on your iPhone without removing a thing
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/iphone-101-save-space-on-your-iphone-without-removing-a-thing/

Filed under: iTunes

A little-heralded feature of iTunes 9.1 is the ability to convert higher bitrate songs to 128kpbs AAC files for iPhone or iPod touch sync with iTunes. How do you do it? It's a simple check box option in the Summary tab when your iPhone appears in the iTunes source list. When the box is checked, on the next sync, all your songs on your iPhone that are not 128kpbs AAC files will be removed and then re-added, being converted on the fly.

The first time I did it, about 400 songs on my iPhone needed to be converted. It took about ten minutes to do the conversion. Once the first large conversion is done, the iPhone syncs your music as fast (or slow) as it ever did (unless you're refreshing your iPhone's library every time you sync). If you keep "convert higher bitrate songs to 128kpbs AAC files" checked, any new songs added to your iPhone will automatically be [...]

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15) Facebook Connect coming to iTunes?
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/facebook-connect-coming-to-itunes/

Filed under: iTunesTechCrunch is reporting that iTunes will be integrating Facebook Connect "quite soon." Facebook Connect is an API that, among other things, allows developers to let users log into their site/app/system with their Facebook ID. The benefit for users is one ID across multiple sites and for developers is access to Facebook's 300 million-plus user base plus the users' ability to quickly share something they find interesting with all their Facebook friends.

With Facebook's seemingly unstoppable progression, Apple has realized the importance of offering easy Facebook integration. With iLife '09, Apple introduced automatic photo uploads to Facebook from within the iPhoto app. iTunes 9 introduced the "Share on Facebook" link for every item in the iTunes store. An iTunes fan page went live on Facebook last September and just last month the App Store came to Facebook.

It's not [...]

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16) iPads selling on eBay for as much as $5000
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/ipads-selling-on-ebay-for-as-much-as-5000/

Filed under: iPad

There's this thing called patience. Then again, if you have money you can afford not to have patience. Bloomberg has pointed to the rapid increase in the number of iPad listings on eBay since the device launched on Saturday (before Saturday, many people were listing their pre-orders for sale). What's astonishing is not that people overseas are snapping up iPads via eBay, it's that some are going for ridiculously large sums of money. One person bought an iPad for $5000 and another UK buyer reportedly spent $5500 on his iPad. Note to that person: all signs point to an international iPad launch two and a half weeks from now.

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In an email to Bloomberg, eBay stated that almost 80 percent of iPad purchases came from outside the U.S. and that the average [...]

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17) Data Robotics announces new Drobo FS
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/data-robotics-announces-new-drobo-fs/

Filed under: HardwareData Robotics has just announced a new member of the Drobo family -- the Drobo FS.

The new device is designed to serve as Network Attached Storage with all of the advantages of the Data Robotics BeyondRAID technology, with the added bonus of drop-dead simple setup. In a pre-release interview with Mark Fuccio of Data Robotics last week, he noted that setup on the device is as easy as installing the Drobo Dashboard software on a computer on the network, and then letting it handle all of the setup decisions for you.

The device features a dual core processor, with one core running the embedded proprietary OS and the other core running Linux. The processor brings a lot of speed to the Drobo FS -- in testing, the device had about four times the speed of the former Drobo NAS solution, which was a Drobo plus the DroboShare device. Data Robotics noted that using Jumbo [...]

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