iOS 4 includes third party app multitasking support, the ability disable Location Services on an app-by-app basis, folder groups for organizing apps, a unified In Box in the Mail app so users can see messages from all of their email accounts at once, and message thread viewing. The new OS also includes support for Bluetooth…
Jeff Gamet
Jeff Gamet is the Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X” from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also hosts TMO’s Daily Observations podcast, co-hosts The iOS Show podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other shows, too. Jeff dreams in HD.
Articles by Jeff Gamet
Checking iPhone Upgrade Eligibility
To check your upgrade eligibility, just dial *639# from your iPhone. AT&T will send you a text within a few minutes detailing how much you’ll pay to move up to the newest iPhone model — excluding the cost of the phone.AT&T’s upgrade eligibility messageIn my case, I’ll be paying US$18 in addition to signing a…
Apple Prepping Magic Trackpad
Support for the idea that Apple has been working on a trackpad version of its Magic Mouse comes from a trademark application for the Magic Trackpad name, although so far there isn’t any evidence that the company plans to introduce the device at WWDC.Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference is scheduled to run from June 7…
TMO Live Event Coverage: WWDC 2010 Keynote
WWDC is a once-a-year event where developers have an opportunity to learn more about developing for the Mac and iPhone, and can also meet Apple’s own developers face to face.The event falls at the early end of Apple’s typical window for introducing new iPhone models, which has led to speculation that the company will use…
New Account Types Hint at Pending MobileMe Changes
The addition of “Full Member” has added fuel to the rumor that Apple is planning on dropping the US$99 annual fee for MobileMe and making the service free. What seems more likely, however, is that a tiered plan is in the works where current MobileMe subscribers will have access to more features than new subscribers…
Checking Your AT&T Data Usage
To see how much data you send and receive through AT&T’s wireless network, do this: Point your Web browser to the AT&T Web site, and log into your account. Choose Bill & Payments. Now Click Create a Billing Report. It’s under the Billing Reports heading. Choose Data Usage Trend from the Report pop-up menu. You…
Intego Reports Spyware Found in Some Free Mac Apps [Updated]
Intego’s OSX/OpenionSpy warning in VirusBarrier In addition to siphoning off personal information and user activity records, the spyware, dubbed OSX/OpinionSpy, monitors activity on all connected drives, opens network port 8254, relaunches itself if quit, and runs with root user-level control. It also adds code to Safari, Firefox and iChat to monitor user activity. The OSX/OpinionSpy…
Analyst: iPad Rocks, But iPhone is Still King
Mr. Marshall is currently estimating Apple will sell some 40 million iPhones by the end of 2010, and another 50 million in 2011.Despite his claim that the iPhone will drive Apple’s stock, Mr. Marshall is optimistic about the iPad’s success. “Amazingly, in its first quarter of introduction, we believe the iPad family will easily exceed…
Apple Shuts Down Lala
Apple plans to issue iTunes Store credits to Lala subscribers with outstanding balances. Subscribers with less that US$10 left in their accounts will receive iTunes Store credits rounded up to the nearest dollar, and subscribers with over $10 left on their accounts will get credits rounded up to the nearest $5.Refund checks are also available…
Skype 2 for iPhone adds 3G Call Support
Skype 2.0 also includes several performance improvements and bug fixes. It’s free and is available at Apple’s iTunes-based App Store.
International iPad Sales Kick Off with Long Lines [Updated]
The overnight line at Apple’s flagship store in Tokyo grew to about 1,200, and shoppers began lining up at the Regent Street flagship store in London about 24 hours ahead of the launch. 19 year old Takechiyo Yamanaka set up camp outside the Tokyo Apple Store Wednesday day night to be first in line. “I…
Half Life 2 Comes to the Mac
The first person shooter-style game has won several awards over the years and has even been called the best game of all time. Valve’s Steam includes a long list of popular games such as Left 4 Dead 2, Counter Strike, Mac Payne and Half Life. The service hosts over 1,100 games and includes more than…
Apple Launches Investigation into Foxconn Factory Suicides
Along with Apple, HP is conducting its own investigation because the facility builds some of its products, too. A company spokesperson said HP is looking into “the Foxconn practices that may be associated with these tragic events.”The facility has seen what appears to be nine suicides and two attempted suicides this year, and is being…
Best Buy Employee Claims iPhone Coming to Sprint
“I work in an electronics store that has a mobile phone store within it. I can confirm that Sprint will be carrying the iPhone beginning in June,” the unnamed source said. “They’ve begun to grease the wheels for advertising. There is no news in regards to a Verizon version however.”The person went on to claim…
Social Networking Service Seesmic Releases iPhone App
Seesmic is free and is available at Apple’s iTunes-based App Store.
iTunes Store Adds Rotten Tomatoes Movie Ratings
Users can check out the Rotten Tomatoes ratings at the iTunes Store via the iTunes application on their Mac or PC, and the iTunes app on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.[Thanks to TUAW for the heads up.]
Apple Patents Social Network Workflow for iPhone
Along with sharing information with social networking services, Apple’s patent includes a system for quickly exchanging data with other people. For example, a user could share their contacts, calendars, task lists, photos and more from their iPhone to someone else’s iPhone, iPod touch and presumably an iPad.The patent also includes an automated system for exchanging…
New iPhone to Sport Higher Resolution Display
The new iPhone will allegedly ship with a 960×640 resolution display that uses in-plane switching (IPS) and fringe-field switching (FFS) technologies, which should offer better viewing angles and improved visibility in sunlight. It will also include a 512MB Arm Cortex A8 processor, doubling the amount of memory available to the device compared to the iPhone…
Ad Agency Said to be Working on Verizon iPhone Campaign
According to CrunchGear, Landor Associates is working on a marketing campaign for Verizon to promote the iPhone on the company’s cell service network.If true, then the notion that AT&T’s exclusive deal with Apple runs through 2012 is off base. The cell service provider struck a five year exclusivity deal with Apple when the iPhone was…
Quirky Intros iPad Lap Desk
The lap desk’s iPad holder is designed to rotate between portrait and landscape views, the bottom of the lap desk is padded, and the desk’s sides are curved to fit over your lap.The Cradle was designed by the Quirky community, and is available for pre-order at the Quirky Web site. It is priced at US$52.50.
Apple Launches International iPad Pre-order Program
If you aren’t sure how much a new iPad will set you back, or if you’re curious how iPad pricing compares between countries, check out TMO’s international iPad pricing chart.Apple plans to begin iPad sales in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July.
Apple Preps iPhone for China’s Wi-Fi Requirements
Wi-Fi capable iPhones have been blocked in China because of government regulations that require smartphones to support the country’s WAPI protocol — a protocol that ins’t included in the iPhone. With WAPI support added to the Chinese version, Apple can begin selling Wi-Fi enabled versions of the iPhone in the country.Government documents indicate that China…
Pogo Sketch Stylus [Updated]
Steve Jobs made it clear he thinks the best stylus is already on the end of our hand, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for a more traditional stylus — especially now that the iPad is available. Ten One Designs is trying to fill that niche with its Pogo Sketch stylus, and it…
Adobe Brings Captivate 5, eLearning Suite 2 to Mac OS X
Adobe Captivate 5 for the Mac The application can build tests into training modules, supports the SCORM database format that’s popular in educational environments, and test results can be stored on Acrobat.com as well. A special Adobe AIR-based application is available, too, for reading test result data that’s stored on Acrobat.com. Captivate 5 lets users…