Apple will be hosting a special media event today at 10AM pacific time at the Yerba Buena Center. Rumors and alleged leaks suggest the company has been working on a tablet device that runs the iPhone OS, sports a 10-inch multi-touch display, includes a front-facing camera for video chats, supports Wi-Fi and 3G wireless networks,…
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
Apple Scores pan-European iTunes Licensing Deal
PRS for Music managing director Broadcast, Online & Recorded Media, Andrew Shaw commented, “In our view the deal demonstrates that PRS for Music provides a compelling pan-European offering and leads the market in enabling digital music growth, whilst delivering vital royalties to our members.”The deal apparently also creates a licensing framework for performance rights from…
Analyst: AAPL Accounting Changes Cloud Guidance
“Given the change in accounting, the key questionis how conservative this guidance is given the difficulty of using historical outperformance to judge future potential performance,” Mr. Um said.Apple previously used subscription accounting to report iPhone and Apple TV sales, which spread the per-unit revenue out over 24 months to account for major software upgrades. The…
Apple Aluminum Keyboard Update 1.1 Improves Battery Life
The installer will update the USB version of the keyboard to 0.69 and the Bluetooth version to 321. You can check to see if your Apple Aluminum Keyboard already has the new firmware installed by doing this: Make sure your keyboard is connected to your Mac. Choose Apple menu > About this Mac Click More…
Apple Goes to Bat for AT&T During Q1 Earnings Report
Apple COO Tim Cook replied “AT&T is a great partner.”He added ” I think it is important to remember they had more mobile broadband usage than any other carrier in the world. And in the vast majority of locations we think that iPhone customers are having a great experience from the research that we have…
TMO Opens 2010 Editors Choice Awards Submissions
Award winners will receive notification during the expo, and will also be highlighted in our Editors Choice Awards round up. Our 2009 Award winners included products from Cultured Code, FileMaker, SmileOnMyMac, Google, Roxio, Softpress, The Omni Group, HP, and Ambrosia Software.”I am so pleased with how well our TMO 2009 Editors Choice awards were received…
Wintek Factory Strike Ends, Back to Business As Usual
Wintek has been claiming that the strike didn’t impact production despite reports that some machinery was damaged during the multi-day incident.Some reports claimed workers were striking because they had been told promised bonuses had been cancelled, but others said factory workers were reacting to a government investigation that found no wrong doing on the part…
Apple Negotiating with AT&T, Verizon for Tablet Wireless
If true, that means Apple is planning on releasing two versions of its tablet device since AT&T and Verizon rely on different technologies for their wireless data services.According to Verizon’s unnamed source, Apple’s tablet will offer Wi-Fi support, along with wireless data over the company’s cell network, and free Wi-Fi at Verizon hotspots.There isn’t, however,…
Amazon Opens Kindle for Developers
The Kindle developer program will include the Kindle Development Kit, or KDK, developer support, sample code, documentation, and a software-based Kindle simulator for Mac, windows and Linux. Amazon will support free, one-time purchase and monthly subscription options for active content.Until now, the Kindle was off limits to developers, but that could be changing thanks to…
WSJ: Apple Tablet Ready to Change Print, TV
The WSJ sources claimed Apple is in negotiations with several publishers and media companies to offer tablet-based books and TV shows, and has been discussing a “Best of TV” subscription service. Apple has apparently also been working with EA to produce some tablet-based games.If Apple goes after the education market with its tablet, that could…
Apple May be Considering Bing for iPhone's Search Engine
If Apple and Microsoft reach a deal to make Bing the default iPhone search engine, Google could find itself missing out on revenue from the most popular mobile search platform, and Microsoft could gain traction and marketshare with its new search tool.Changing the iPhone’s default search engine wouldn’t, however, be a move to offer customers…
iPhone OS 4 to Include Multitask Support
Along with multitasking for background apps, iPhone OS 4.0 will allegedly include system-wide multi-touch support, OS interface improvements that make navigation easier, and improved contacts and calendar syncing. Apparently the 4.0 update will be compatible with the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, but not the original iPhone model.Boy Genius Reports claimed the information came from…
Touch Screen iMac May be In Development
The report claimed that Apple will add touch screen support to the iMac in order to better compete with all-in-one style PCs.Additional details on what features the alleged new iMac will sport are thin, but hopefully if the China Times report is accurate, the touch sensitive iMac will include a display that doesn’t show finger…
Acrobat.com Comes to the iPhone
Acrobat.com is a service from Adobe that lets users create PDF documents, share files, collaborate on projects, and more. Acrobat.com is free, but requires an Adobe ID to use.Acrobat.com Mobile is free and available for download at Apple’s iTunes-based App Store.
Kodak Sues Apple, RIM Over Digital Camera Tech
“Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology,” said Kodak Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Laura G. Quatela.Despite Ms. Quatela’s comments, Kodak is looking to for the ITC to block the import of iPhone and BlackBerry models that…
iPhone 4G to Get Touch Sensitive Case
News of a Magic Mouse-like touch-sensitive case for the fourth generation iPhone came through an anonymous source speaking to analyst Robert Chen of Goldman Sachs. Apple’s Magic Mouse includes a multi-touch surface that supports taps and gestures for navigation and selection instead of traditional buttons.Should Apple actually include touch support in the case, the entire…
Piracy May Have Cost Apple, iPhone Devs $450 Million
The group based the loss figures on the number of applications sold through Apple’s iTunes-based App Store since its launch in July 2008, and an average $3 app price.So far, pirating iPhone and iPod touch applications first requires jailbreaking, or hacking the device to allow the installation of applications that haven’t gone through Apple’s review…
Tablet Launch Delaying iPhone OS Update
The site’s anonymous source was described as a “close Apple connect,” who also offered up a few tablet details. The rumored Apple tablet device will allegedly run an iPhone-based kernel on an ARM processor, sport enhanced multi-touch gesture support beyond what’s currently available on the iPhone and iPod touch, and is essentially “an iPhone on…
Intel Leaks Core i5 MacBook Pro Info
If Apple is planning on releasing MacBook Pro models with Core i5 chips, users can expect to see substantial performance improvements compared to the current Core 2 Duo-based models without sacrificing battery life.Apple is rumored to be planning a special media event for the end of January where it may be introducing a new tablet-based…
Apple Breaking iPhone Launch Cycle with May Release
Along with an earlier launch time, the fourth generation window will allegedly sport a 5 megapixel camera and LED flash, and possibly an RFID chip as well.Apple hasn’t offered up any indications that it plans to update its iPhone line up earlier than it has in the past, but a May rollout for the fourth…
Apple Remote Desktop Client, Admin 3.3.2 Improve Stability, More
Apple Remote Desktop Client 3.3.2 and Apple Remote Desktop Admin 3.3.2 are free updates and are available via the Software Update application or as downloadable installers from Apple’s Support Web site. Both require Mac OS X 10.4.11, 10.5.7 or higher, or 10.6 or higher.
Android Users Hit with Malware App
While Droid09 is a bad mark for the Android platform and the Android Marketplace, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Google’s smartphone operating system is unsafe. It does, however, show that there’s room for improvement in the app screening process at the Android Marketplace.Droid09 also serves as a reminder that other companies, including Apple, need to…
XtremeMac Unveils Light Weight iPhone Battery Case at CES
XtremeMac’s InCharge Mobile for iPhone 3G and 3GS”It really is that thin and light,” said Katie McCormick, XtremeMac’s marketing manager. “It’ll be out this spring, and we’re really excited.”The case’s built-in rechargeable 1200mAh battery is slim enough that it adds very little bulk to your iPhone, and adds up to four additional hours of talk…
Quattro Confirms Apple Acquisition
The deal mirrors Google’s earlier purchase of AdMob, a company that offers similar services to Quattro Wireless. It also puts Apple in a better position to manage the in-app ads iPhone, iPod touch, and other smartphone owners see.The company didn’t say how much Apple is paying, but earlier rumors set the price tag at about…