Tag Archives: opinion

Adobe Launches Creative Cloud and Muse, Augments iOS App Offerings

Posted on May 11, 2012 by admin

In line with its Creative Suite 6 announcement from earlier this week, Adobe today launched its Creative Cloud subscription service . As part of the Creative Cloud debut, Adobe has also publicly debuted Muse, a subscription-based website creation package that allow users to easily create websites without needing to know HTML. Muse has been in public beta since last August . Adobe Creative Cloud Membership Delivers: – Access to download and install all CS6 applications, new HTML5 desktop products – Adobe Muse and Adobe Edge preview – and integration with Adobe Touch Apps – Easy storage and sharing of content across desktop, mobile devices and the cloud – Integrated website publishing and hosting – Ongoing innovation that provides members with the most up-to-date products and services Individual pricing for Creative Cloud is set at $49.99 per month with an annual commitment or $74.99 on a month-to-month basis. Muse is included in that package, but is also available as a standalone subscription product priced at $14.99 per month with an annual commitment or $24.99 on a month-to-month basis. Adobe’s Creative Cloud launch has also seen several improvements to the company’s suite of iOS applications, including the launch of two new iPad apps: Adobe Proto [ App Store ] and Adobe Collage [ App Store ]. Plans for the two apps were announced last October as part of Adobe’s push into tablet apps. Proto is a protoyping tool that allows users to create wireframes of websites and apps right on their iPads using touch gestures, while Collage is a mood board app allowing users to combine images, video, and text to help define creative concepts and share them with others. Adobe has also updated its existing Photoshop Touch [ App Store ] and Ideas [ App Store ]. All four iOS apps, which are priced at $9.99 each, integrate with the new Creative Cloud services, including the free level of support which offers 2 GB of cloud-based file storage to allow for syncing of documents across applications. Continue reading →

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Concept Video Suggests Means to Vastly Improve Text Editing in iOS [iOS Blog]

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

iDownloadBlog points to a new YouTube concept video showing one user’s idea of how Apple could vastly improve the text editing functionality on the iPad and other iOS devices. While the current method of text selection involves tapping and dragging around the screen to select cursor position and highlight text, Daniel Hooper suggests that Apple could make use of gestures in the keyboard area of the screen to easily move the cursor in text fields. Simply holding down the keyboard’s shift key while gesturing would easily select sections of text for editing. The suggestion is of course not an official product of Apple’s software designers, and so Hooper has also provided instructions on how to use Apple’s bug reporting system to suggest the feature to the company’s engineers. Apple maintains a policy discouraging users from submitting unsolicited ideas, but notes that it retains the full rights associated with ideas that are submitted to the company. Continue reading →

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Oracle Releases Java Development Kits for OS X as Work on Java SE 7 for Mac Continues

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Back in late 2010, Apple announced that it would cease supporting Java for OS X, with Steve Jobs noting that Apple was always a version behind that being distributed by Sun/Oracle, which handled Java for all other platforms. Confusion about whether Oracle would step into the Java void created by Apple’s removal of support was addressed several weeks later when Apple and Oracle announced plans to expand Oracle’s OpenJDK project to include OS X as a means to deliver Java SE 7 to Mac users. Oracle today announced that is taking the next step toward OS X compatibility with the release of Java SE 7 Update 4 and JavaFX 2.1 . For Java developers, the update marks the first release of the Java Development Kit (JDK) and JavaFX Software Development Kit for OS X. The OpenJDK community is continuing its work on a consumer version of Java SE 7 for OS X, and Oracle says that a public release for consumers will be coming “later in 2012″. This release marks Oracle’s first delivery of both the Java Development Kit (JDK) and JavaFX Software Development Kit (SDK) for Mac OS X. – Java developers can now download Oracle’s JDK, which includes the JavaFX SDK, for Mac OS X from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). – Oracle plans to release a consumer version of Java SE 7, including the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Mac OS X later in 2012. While the transition to Oracle/OpenJDK for Java support on OS X continues, Steve Jobs’ comments about Apple’s Java packages always being a version behind and how that arrangement “may not be the best way to do it” proved prescient in recent weeks with the appearance of the Flashback malware. The latest incarnations of Flashback managed to infect over 600,000 Macs by taking advantage of a vulnerability in Java that had been patched by Oracle in February but which had not yet been patched on OS X. In response, Apple released several updates to Java for OS X, including one that disables the automatic execution of Java applets. As an additional layer of security, once a user manually turns on automatic execution, the system will once again disable it after a period of time if no applets have been executed. Continue reading →

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Apple Working on Local Backup Servers for iOS Devices Needing Genius Bar Replacement?

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin

9to5Mac reports that Apple is working on a new hardware solution for its retail store Genius Bars that would allow staff to quickly back up devices requiring replacement and move that data back onto the the replacement devices. While users are always encouraged to back up their devices before bringing them to a Genius Bar appointment, users who fail to do so and then learn that their devices require replacement can lose valuable data. According to the report, the systems would essentially be a local wireless backup system capable of quickly obtaining an iCloud backup from a device and temporarily storing it while the device is swapped out for the user. Once the replacement device is powered on and activated if necessary, Genius Bar staff would be able to quickly pull that data onto the new device to provide the user with a fully-updated and functional replacement device. A user brings in their iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to the Genius Bar to be swapped for a fully working unit. The person didn’t back up their device. Now, instead of having to conduct an iCloud wireless backup or go home for a tethered iTunes backup, the Genius Bar will have the ability to mirror an iCloud backup, but onto a local store server. After the device is swapped, the Genius can pull the content right back from the server onto the new device. The content is then automatically wiped from the store server. While users could presumably use their existing iCloud accounts and Apple’s in-store Wi-Fi access to accomplish similar backups in the event that device replacement is needed, the local systems are said to operate more efficiently and can assist users who have not signed up for iCloud accounts. The report’s source indicates that the project is still in the early prototyping phase and may not ever be released, but if Apple does decide to bring it into the field it may begin appearing in retail stores in mid-2013. Continue reading →

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Verizon’s LTE Network to Reach Two-Thirds of U.S. Population This Week

Posted on April 17, 2012 by admin

Marking yet another milestone in its rollout of 4G LTE connectivity, Verizon today announced that with another major expansion coming later this week, the carrier’s LTE network will now cover two-thirds of the United States population. This week’s expansion, officially going live on Thursday, will see coverage in 27 new markets and expansion of coverage in 44 existing markets. Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s largest 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, today announced that it will cover more than two-thirds of the U.S. population when it introduces its 4G LTE network in 27 new markets and expands in 44 markets on April 19. With the new and expanded markets, Verizon Wireless continues to lead the industry in 4G LTE deployment, offering network coverage in 230 markets across the United States. By the end of the year, Verizon expects to have LTE coverage available in over 400 markets, making the next-generation data speeds available for 260 million people, or well over 80% of the U.S. population. Verizon, which is leading the major U.S. carriers in LTE deployment, boasts real-world speeds of 5-12 Mbps download and 2-5 Mbps upload. AT&T is also rapidly building out its LTE network, and while it is behind Verizon in its rollout, it does offer faster fallback 3G speeds than Verizon does. Sprint, the third major U.S. carrier to offer the iPhone, has yet to officially launch its LTE services as it seeks to migrate away from WiMAX as its 4G technology, although its LTE network should debut in its first round of markets in the near future. Apple currently offers LTE compatibility through AT&T and Verizon on the new iPad, with separate models offering the support on each carrier. The company has, however, been embroiled in some controversy in international markets, where its “4G” claims have been targeted by regulators seeking to determine whether Apple has been providing adequate disclosures that the devices will not be compatible with LTE networks in those countries due to differences in the frequencies being used by the carriers. Continue reading →

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Forum roundup: Flashback Trojan still prevalent?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by admin

Yesterday in the MacNN forums Junior Member porrid asks if the Flashback Trojan is still prevalent after downloading some questionable files, read more here. Also yesterday Forum Regular wetstuff started a thread looking for ways to transfer files from 10.7 to an older computer, join in here…. Continue reading →

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Apple Online Store Updates Sales Chat Support, Testing Screen Sharing Virtual Tours in Brazil

Posted on April 11, 2012 by admin

As part of today’s Apple online store downtime , the company appears to have rolled out an enhancement of its sales chat support services for those looking to purchase an Apple product. While sales chat has been available for quite some time through individual product pages, the changes include a revamped chat window with a more modern appearance. As has long been the case, sales chat support is available only during certain times of the day and dependent on availability of chat agents. Even more interestingly, Apple appears to be using its Brazilian store as a test market for even further enhancements that allow sales specialists to share their screens with potential customers to help walk them through a product’s features. MacMagazine.com.br provides an overview the process [ Google translation ], showing how users can participate in a virtual tour with the chat appearing along the right side of the browser window while the specialist shares his or her screen to walk through the product’s features. The report indicates that the screen sharing virtual tour feature is limited to the iPad 2 for the time being, but that the company has plans to extend it across its product lines. Continue reading →

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Apple to Utilize Anti-Reflective Glass in Next-Generation iMac?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

In a roundup of touch panel supplier news , Digitimes reports that G-Tech Optoelectronics is not only ramping up production of cover glass for the new iPad but is also working with Apple on anti-reflective glass for the next-generation iMac. The iMac is due for an update in the near future as Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors become available later this month. G-Tech is ramping up its production capacity of cover glass from 1.8 million units a month currently to three million units in 2012 as the company is likely to take up 25-30% of total cover glass orders for Apple’s iPads in the year, according to an industry estimate. G-Tech is also expected to supply AR (anti-reflective) glass solutions for Apple’s all-in-one (AIO) PCs with the new products to also serve as a growth driver for G-Tech, indicated industry sources. Apple’s iMac has utilized a glass front for a number of years, leading to some user complaints due to the reflectivity interfering with usability in bright environments. An anti-reflective glass would likely help alleviate some of these complaints. Apple utilizes a similar glossy display glass standard on the MacBook Pro, but offers a build-to-order option of an antiglare matte display on 15-inch and 17-inch models. Continue reading →

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RIM rumored dropping BlackBerry access fee to boost sales

Posted on March 30, 2012 by admin

RIM might counteract its recent poor results by dropping its longstanding BlackBerry server access fee. A rumor from a “senior source” at RIM speaking to BGR had the company exploring the possibility of dropping the cost it normally passes on to carriers in order to get wider adoption. It would cost over $1 billion in revenue a quarter, but the gamble would be that carriers would drive more sales without that fee to pay or factor into their prices…. Continue reading →

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‘Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition’ Also Coming to Mac

Posted on March 30, 2012 by admin

Last week Overhaul Games announced that Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition would be making its way to the iPad later this summer. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition is a recently announced remake of the original 1998 game and Tales of the Sword Coast expansion pack. The original game was well received and sold over two million copies worldwide. The company has now announced that the game will also be available for the Mac in summer 2012 in the Mac App Store. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition™ runs on an upgraded and improved version of the Infinity Engine. It includes the entire Baldur’s Gate adventure, the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion pack, and never before seen content including a new adventure and a new party member. The company reports that there will be a variety of Mac OS X specific features “including widescreen and iCloud support”. Continue reading →

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