Tag Archive for 'ios'

Apple changes course, allows third-party dev tools

By Iian Kehn at 10:21 am - 09/09/2010

2035019344iOS 4-1You might remember a while back Apple cut out developers from using dev tools other then Xcode for Mac, now it seems Apple has reversed that decision, in spite of ongoing criticisms against Apple for being anti-competitive. Whether this also means that Apple will allow private APIs, and libraries is uncertain.

In a statement, Apple notes,

"In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need."

This is clearly a step in the right direction, for all we know, this might mean a certain someone [hint hint, Adobe] might be able to allow Flash-to-app development for iOS again.

Apple has also made available a copy of the new App Store guidelines for all to see.

via Neowin

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Recap: Apple September 2010 Event

By Iian Kehn at 12:25 pm - 01/09/2010

Apple-logoToday Apple unveiled a revamped line of iPods as well as a new Apple TV. The event highlighted a lot of widely anticipated features and additions the blogosphere have been buzzing about for as long as we can remember.

So what did they announce?

New iPod Shuffle – A lot of people wanted the buttons on the Shuffle, so what did Apple do? They added the buttons back, and made it smaller.

New iPod Nano – Now without a wheel, the new iPod Nano is compleately multi-touch based, with a simplistic UI, similar to that of iOS devices.

New iPod Touch – The new iPod Touch comes with an A4 Processor, front and rear facing cameras, a thinner framework, and iOS 4.1. You can edit HD movies with iMovie as well!

New Apple TV – Even though rumors suggested that the Apple TV would be renamed, Apple did what they always do and keep the existing brand. The new Apple TV is smaller, and storageless with Streaming Video, Music and Photo capabilities including the ability to stream TV Shows and Movies from the iTunes Store.

iTunes 10 – With a enhanced feature set including a hybrid list view, social integration with their very own Ping, and support for iOS 4.1, it brings a whole new way of looking at Movies, TV Shows, and other content.

AirPlay – Formally known as AirTunes, AirPlay allows you to stream content to your Apple TV from your iOS Based device.

So what didn’t make the cut? Apple didn’t announce a new iPod Classic, which seems to suggest that they have moved onto a more portable venture with the Nano, Shuffle and Touch models.

So there you have it folks, stay tuned for the press video!

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Verizon iPhone Speculation Continues

By Iian Kehn at 11:29 am - 09/08/2010

vzw_logo_1024Yes, we’ve all heard it before, we know, but according to some information that Mac Enthusiast site, MacRumors has reported that they have more beef to add to the pile of rumors circulating about the CDMA iPhone.

MacRumors notes that the folks over at TechCrunch, the folks who got a hold of such information that,

Sources with knowledge of this entire situation have assured me that Apple has submitted orders for millions of units of Qualcomm CDMA chipsets for a Verizon iPhone run due in December. This production run would likely be for a January launch, and I’d bet the phone is nearly 100% consistent with the current iPhone 4 (with a fixed internal insulator on the antenna)

However, a more interesting note, according to MacRumors and AT&T, there has been no sign from Apple signaling the termination of the exclusive contract that AT&T and Apple have, nor does it mean that Apple is looking for another carrier to plop the device on here in the United States, but what it does mean is that if things are heading down this path, Apple may in fact end the exclusive contract.

If the information holds to be true, Verizon CEO will be speaking at CES 2011 about the possibility of selling the iPhone on its network.

[MacRumors] via TechCrunch

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Apple: Jailbreaking ‘voids your warranty’

By Iian Kehn at 8:16 pm - 27/07/2010

Apple-logoDespite the decision to allow Jailbreaking/Unlocking for all Electronic Devices, as reported earlier, Apple has made a firm statement noting that if you do so, you would void your warranty, regardless of how you look at it, there’s no way that you would be able to service it if you returned your iDevice back to Apple Jailbroken.

So what did Apple have to say on the matter, according to TUAW, Apple notes

"Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably."

So there you have it folks, if you want to know more, check out Apple’s “mouthful” of information on their website.

via TUAW

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Jailbreakers and rooters rejoice, DMCA exceptions added for jailbreaking and rooting

By Link Tamake at 12:26 am - 27/07/2010

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Jailbreak your iPhone? Root your Droid? Worry about its legality? Worry no more! The Library of Congress in America has added a DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) exception that allows unapproved software on handsets: otherwise known as jailbreaking in the iPhone world, or rooting in the Android and webOS world.

Here’s the full statement by the LoC:

Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

Although this doesn’t mean that these companies will have to jailbreak your phone for you, it means that they won’t be able to sue you or file any legal action against you. So that means that you can jailbreak and unlock your iPhone, and Apple cannot call the practice illegal. And this also allows groups like the iPhone Dev Team and ih8sn0w to continue operating legally. Everyone wins!

As for the Android scene, there isn’t too much scrutiny regarding rooting in Google’s eyes, but maybe it makes the rooted users feel a bit better.

Even better, this means that ripping a DVD is completely legal, as long as you don’t distribute it.

[via LoC]

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Tip: iPhone 3G on iOS 4 running slowly? Turn off Spotlight!

By Link Tamake at 5:19 pm - 25/07/2010

dead_iphone_3g

Have you ever wondered why iPhone OS 3.0 suddenly killed the iPhone 3G? And Apple’s real reason to disable multitasking and wallpapers on iOS 4 iPhone 3G edition? Well, the ancient device has had trouble indexing through integrated Spotlight ever since 3.0.

Those on iOS 4.0 have noticed how slow the mobile operating system runs on the ancient iPhone 3G, and here’s a way to make it just a pinch snappier. You know of Spotlight, right? That search system that Apple introduced in 3.0, that allows you to search for everything on your iPhone? Due to the minimum specs of the 3G, indexing is a bit of a bugger for the phone. You see, Spotlight indexes everything on the phone…as you use it. It’s not a noticeable thing on the 3GS or 4 (obviously), but 3G users suffer.

You probably don’t use Spotlight at all, though. So let’s disable it altogether.

Go to Settings.app, and then to General, and finally to Spotlight Search. Uncheck everything you don’t use (or uncheck it all, like I did). Reboot. There you go!

I tried this out with little belief, but I noticed that both the iPhone and apps launched quite a bit faster than they used to. It’s not 3GS iOS 4, but it’s better than nothing, right?

We have a video of iOS 4 vs 3.1.3 on the 3G after the break!

Read More

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iPhone 4 ‘Antennagate’ issues don’t exist in good signal areas

By Iian Kehn at 8:48 pm - 21/07/2010

Apple-logoDespite a lot of claims people have made about the antenna issues with the iPhone 4, contrary to the testing I did personally at the local Apple Store and the information I gathered from one of the employees there, this issue seems non-existent in areas with good AT&T coverage, which goes to suggest that maybe it isn’t a hardware issue, but a carrier issue.

While I can’t say, nor speak for Apple on behalf of the issues that real customers have had, I can speak as a person who has tested this very same procedure on not one, but multiple iPhone 4s, below is a video that I captured from one of the phones used to demonstrate the very same procedure, and how [typically] the signal would drop.

Read More

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iOS 4 reception issues, more then just a coincidence?

By Iian Kehn at 9:55 pm - 24/06/2010

ios4 You might have heard the onset of issues that have come up about the reception issues that plagued the iPhone 4, especially those who are left handed. According to various reports, from AppleInsider, Ars, and BGR it may not just be the newly launched iPhone 4, but a software flaw.

Rory Sinclair, a concerned and frustrated customer, being the good semeritian that he is, sends Steve Jobs an email asking whether this is an intended issue, or if this is a potential problem. He goes by saying:

So, um, just got my iPhone 4. It’s lovely and all, but this ‘bridge the two antennae to kill your reception’ thing seems to be a bit serious. If I bridge them with my hand or with a piece of metal the bars slowly drop to ‘Searching…’ and then ‘No Service’.

It’s kind of a worry. Is it possible this is a design flaw?
Regards – Rory Sinclair

Steve’s reply on the matter?

Nope. Just don’t hold it that way.

Coincidence? I don’t think so. Have you had issues with reception on your new iPhone 4, or existing 3GS or 3G? Let us know.

via Ars Technica, TUAW and BGR

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Apple offers an iAd opt-out option

By Link Tamake at 8:43 pm - 21/06/2010

Those updating their Pandora in the App Store today (backgrounding is finally here!) may have noticed the Terms of Service update that Apple updated. It has a couple of interesting bits to it, actually. You probably didn’t read it though (after all, who would rather actually read 45 pages than just buy the app and get on with life?).

The terms of service talks about an option to opt-out of Apple’s new iAd service, among other things. Here’s the exact text:

Apple and its partners use cookies and other technologies in mobile advertising services to control the number of times you see a given ad, deliver ads that relate to your interests, and measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns. If you do not want to receive ads with this level of relevance on your mobile device, you can opt out by accessing the following link on your device: http://oo.apple.com. If you opt out, you will continue to receive the same number of mobile ads, but they may be less relevant because they will not be based on your interests. You may still see ads related to the contrent on a web page or in an application or based on other non-personal information. This opt-out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect interest-based advertising from other advertising networks.

OK, so you don’t actually get to opt out of it all, but at least Apple’s thinking about your privacy, right?

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iPhone 4 Pre-order meltdowns, and Apple Cancelling orders

By Iian Kehn at 8:06 pm - 20/06/2010

Just when you couldn’t hate the phone company anymore then you already did, according to various sources around the Web, problems from both sides of the front have been popping up, and not the kind of problems anyone wants to experience.

According to AppleInsider, Apple has gone as far as cancelling pre-orders on iPhone 4 devices, noting that the demand for the iPhone 4 is 10x greater then the demand for the 3GS was when it came out. Interestingly enough, this is the same kind of issue they ran into with the launch of the iPad, forcing customers to get only 2 iPads per person, per account. AT&T has also suspended pre-orders for the iPhone 4.

One thing is for certain, the device is quite the talk, despite the Gawker leak. We’ll keep you posted on the status of the iPhone 4 pre-orders.

via AppleInsider

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