We've received a number of reports over the last hour indicating that users have had difficulty accessing the Mac App Store, with some users also reporting issues with the iTunes Store. There were a handful of reports of the Mac App Store briefly going down a few days ago, but today's outage seems more widespread, even if it is inconsistent and affected users are generally able to regain access after a few minutes.
Observers are of course looking for any sign that the launch of OS X Lion may be imminent, as the next-generation operating system will only be available through the Mac App Store. And while the apparent issues with the Mac App Store going on right now can't be directly linked to Lion, it is an intriguing development.
Alt-rock band They Might Be Giants will be playing two free shows at the SoHo and Boylston Street Apple Stores in New York and Boston, respectively. TMBG is promoting its new album Join Us [iTunes], due out July 19th.
The SoHo show will be July 20 at 7pm, and the Boylston Street show will be the next day, July 21, at 8pm. The band advises fans to get a wristband from the stores the day before to ensure they get a seat.
The song above, "Can't Keep Johnny Down", is from TMBG's upcoming album, Join Us.
They Might Be Giants has been around for nearly 30 years, releasing more than a dozen albums. Their most famous work is "Boss of Me", the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle, for which they won a Grammy. The group also recorded "Dog on Fire", the theme song to The Daily Show.
According to a new survey from Retrevo, 34% of iPhone users are under the mistaken impression that they already have "4G" cellular technology on their devices, highlighting the confusion that has resulted from shifting definitions of just what constitutes "4G" speeds.
Maybe the "4" in the iPhone 4 name gives iPhone owners (34%) the false impression that they already own a 4G phone but the fact is Apple doesn't offer a 4G phone at the moment. Coincidentally, a suspiciously large percentage of Android and BlackBerry owners may be suffering from the same delusion. BlackBerry owners (24%) are almost as confused as iPhone owners since RIM doesn't currently offer a 4G phone. At least some Android owners could be answering correctly as Android 4G phones like the HTC Evo 4G or Samsung Infuse 4G have been available for some time. If nothing else this large number of "misinformed" phone owners serves to emphasize the fact that consumers are quite confused about 4G.
Confusing the issue is the fact that the marketing term "4G" is now being used to apply to not only the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology being rolled out by Verizon and other carriers but also HSPA+ networks such as those run by AT&T and T-Mobile. In addition, carriers running HSPA+ and LTE network won't necessarily all be offering the same speeds for a given standard, resulting in a spectrum of data speeds for consumers to compare.
Apple is not expected to offer LTE support in the next-generation iPhone, but has been said to be supporting HSPA+, which would technically make the iPhone a 4G device on GSM carriers that support the HSPA+ standard. But consumers appear willing to embrace the next iPhone even if it doesn't have 4G capabilities, with 40% of current iPhone owners stating they will be buying the next iPhone even without 4G and an additional 21% stating that they would consider purchasing it. Significant percentages of current Android and BlackBerry owners are also registering interest in the next iPhone, with or without 4G.
AMD today announced the launch of its new Radeon HD 6990M mobile graphics processor, calling it the world's fastest single mobile GPU with up to 25% greater performance than NVIDIA's just-announced GeForce 580M.
While Apple typically uses middle-of-the-road GPUs in even its high-end MacBook Pro models in order to meet the requirements of the thin enclosure and thus will not be considering adopting the new Radeon HD 6990M for the notebook line, the company does also use AMD's mobile GPUs in its iMac line, where it has adopted a number of mobile components in order to save space within the desktop machine's sleek all-in-one design.
Apple currently offers AMD's previous top-end mobile GPU, the Radeon HD 6970M, in the highest-level configurations of its 27-inch iMac line, suggesting that Apple may be planning to adopt the Radeon HD 6990M in its next iMac update. AMD in fact specifically touts the improved performance of the Radeon HD 6990M over the 6970M.
The AMD Radeon HD 6990M also represents a significant upgrade from AMD's current gaming notebook graphics solution, the AMD Radeon HD 6970M, raising the bar from both a performance and image quality perspective.
Apple of course just released updated iMacs a little over two months ago, and the company is thus unlikely to refresh the lineup again until late this year or early next year. Of course, depending on how AMD's future GPU development cycle meshes with Apple's iMac update cycle, even newer GPUs could be available for the next iMac, with the Radeon HD 6990M perhaps sliding down into the mid-range iMac models.
For iPod Touch owners looking to add a little oomph to their gaming, we present the Mophie Pulse case. It promises "pulse pounding" stereo sound and "bone-shaking" vibration via some fancy technology called ViviTouch.
ViviTouch technology doesn't require developers to use an API to generate vibrations. Instead, it converts game audio into a variety of different effects. For example, clicks or the sound of a pinball bouncing off a wall, will make one "feeling effect", while shooting a gun might make a different one. There is also a subwoofer mode that creates a vibration when low-frequency rumbles are heard. There IS an API that developers can use to optimize their games for ViviTouch.
Mophie, the company actually putting the technology into production, is the same outfit behind the excellent Juice Pack extended battery cases. The company has a sign-up page to get notified when the Pulse launches. Mophie promises the Pulse is "coming soon."
Apple's forthcoming iOS 5 contains code that, if activated, would allow users to connect a Bluetooth wireless keyboard to the second-generation Apple TV. The new Apple TV contains a combination Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip, but the Bluetooth functionality is not enabled in its present state.
Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in second-generation Apple TV (Source: iFixit)
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, the Apple TV iOS 5 beta contains Bluetooth activation strings such as:
- "Your Apple TV is paired with this %@" - "The pairing attempt was unsuccessful. Make sure your device is in range of this Apple TV, turn on and 'discoverable.' When ready, click Continue to try again."
The ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with the Apple TV would obviously make for significantly easier text entry, simplifying such tasks as initial setup with iTunes Store accounts and Wi-Fi network passwords as well as day-to-day content searching.
But activation of the Apple TV's Bluetooth capabilities could also open the door to a host of other developments on the platform if Apple were to allow third-party apps on the Apple TV. Such possibilities include the ability to use other Bluetooth peripherals such as gaming controllers.
With the Apple TV running on the same iOS code base as the company's mobile devices, app development for the Apple TV should be a relatively straightforward process once design considerations for the lack of direct touch input and other differences in usage are accounted for. Apple CEO Steve Jobs even acknowledged at the time of the Apple TV's debut last September that the company could launch an App Store for the device when the time is right.
Morris Lessmore is a charming interactive iPad book that follows the journey of Morris and his flying books as they travel through a world of words. But, rather than simply following along or watching illustrations, the app includes enough mini-games and other interactivity to engross any reader.
The book is a companion to the short film of the same name, "a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor." Both the book and the app were created by Moonbot Studios, led by ex-Pixar animator William Joyce.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is available as an iPad App for $4.99 [iTunes] and as a short film for $1.99 [iTunes].
AT&T today announced (via Engadget) the forthcoming launch of two new LTE-enabled wireless access devices: the USBConnect Momentum 4G and the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G. Both devices are coming "this summer", will support LTE, HSPA+, and earlier technologies, and will offer support for Mac OS X Leopard or later.
With plug-and-play installation that takes about 60 seconds to complete on Windows computers, AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G customers can access 4G LTE speeds, where available, and when out of range have access to AT&T's nationwide HSPA+ network, delivering 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul. They can also take advantage of unlimited usage on AT&T's entire national Wi-Fi network if using a post-paid data plan, and manage their connections and data usage with the preloaded AT&T Communication Manager.
The company's first 4G LTE mobile hotspot device, the AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, allows access to 4G LTE speeds on up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices in select markets. Email, browse, download presentations and more when you're out and about - without skipping a beat no matter if you are on LTE or AT&T's nationwide HSPA+ network. With no software to install and an LCD screen to guide you, setting up AT&T Mobile Hotspot is fast and easy. Just power it up and connect your laptop using the Wi-Fi network name and security key displayed on the screen. Easily view device and connection status on the LCD, including battery status, signal strength, and data usage.
Pricing is set at $49.99 for the Momentum 4G and $69.99 for the Elevate 4G after $50 mail-in rebates and with two-year contracts.
AT&T is launching its LTE in five markets this summer: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Diego. The carrier plans to expand the network to at least 15 markets and cover 70 million Americans by the end of the year. AT&T has yet to announce, however, expected real-world data speeds for its LTE network.
While Apple finds itself embroiled in a number of intellectual property disputes both on both offensive and defensive fronts, Reuters reports that Chip Lutton, who oversees the company's significant patent portfolio, will be leaving the company. Lutton is apparently being replaced by HP lawyer BJ Watrous.
It was unclear why Richard "Chip" Lutton Junior, who manages the iPhone maker's patent portfolio, is leaving the company.
However, BJ Watrous, a former deputy general counsel with Hewlett Packard, is now listed as Apple's chief IP counsel on Watrous's LinkedIn web page.
Two of Apple's highest-profile patent disputes involve HTC and Samsung, major players in the smartphone market who primarily rely on Google's Android operating system. Apple and HTC have been embroiled in a dispute dating back well over a year, but several developments over the past week indicate that the situation is heating up. Last week, HTC agreed to acquire S3 Graphics, a firm which just days earlier had won a preliminary patent judgment against Apple, potentially giving HTC more ammunition in its fight against Apple.
And just two days after that, Apple filed a new complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to blocking imports of HTC's Flyer tablets and Droid smartphones over alleged patent infringement. As noted by AFP, HTC has denied the allegations and expressed its displeasure that Apple has chosen to compete in the courts rather than letting things play out in the market.
"HTC is disappointed at Apple's constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market," said HTC general counsel Grace Lei in a statement.
"HTC strongly denies all infringement claims raised by Apple in the past and present and reiterates our determination and commitment to protect our intellectual property rights," she said.
The situation with Samsung continues to escalate as well, with the two sides filing opposing complaints with the ITC over the past couple of weeks seeking to have imports of each others' mobile products blocked. Samsung has also asked that at least some of Apple's lawyers be removed from the case due to potential conflicts of interest and confidentiality concerns given that a number of Apple's lawyers had previously represented Samsung.
The dispute between Apple and Samsung, one of Apple's major suppliers in addition to being a significant competitor, holds major implications for both companies, with Apple reportedly considering a shakeup of its suppliers in order to reduce its reliance on Samsung.
The backlit keyboard will reportedly be making a return to the MacBook Air with the new 2011 models that are quickly approaching release. The seemingly minor feature omission for the 2010 MacBook Air has generated a good bit of backlash on Apple's own support forums.
AppleInsider claims that the imminent MacBook Air refresh will bring back this popular feature:
According to people familiar with the matter, backlit keyboards will join the string of hardware enhancements planned for the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch notebooks, which are also expected to adopt high-speed Thunderbolt ports, an upgrade to Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture, and possibly high-speed 400MBps flash memory.
The backlight provides illumination to the keyboard in the dark (as pictured above). The feature is also present in all of Apple's current MacBook Pro notebooks.
The MacBook Air is expected to be released soon with part numbers already leaked on Monday. Apple is rumored to have delayed the MacBook Air release until OS X Lion was ready and shipping.
Apple has started soliciting developers to submit Mac App Store submissions for OS X Lion. In an email sent out to developers this evening, Apple says that OS X Lion will "soon be available to millions of Mac users around the world." They are asking developers to submit their OS X Lion compatible applications so they can be on the Mac App Store when Lion ships "this month".
The request for OS X Lion specific applications seems a bit late for the rumored release this week. Last year, Apple began accepting iOS 4 apps into the App Store 11 days ahead of iOS 4's public release. While App Store approvals typically run about a week, Apple has been known to prioritize new release submissions, so the timeframe for OS X Lion App approvals could be much shorter.
OS X Lion is known to be on track for release sometime in July. Lion, itself, will be an App Store only release.
This $17 t-shirt sums up most visits to Apple's corporate headquarters in Cupertino. Available only at Apple's Company Store, it's a bit more classy than "I visited Apple HQ and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" -- but sends the same message. The shirt reads:
I visited the Apple campus. But that's all I'm allowed to say.
Apple's corporate store, open to the public just inside the entrance at 1 Infinite Loop, hosts a wide array of merchandise with the famous Apple logo emblazoned on them: hats, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more. It's the only place in the world to purchase official Apple merchandise. Don't expect to stop by the Genius Bar though -- the store doesn't sell computers or offer service: it's strictly souvenirs.
In the latest iOS 5 beta just released today, Apple has activated the new "Assistive Touch" features for the iPad. The Assistive Touch settings were in place in iOS's accessibility settings in previous betas, but is only now active. The new features are meant to provide additional interactivity for those who might have trouble using the traditional gestures and buttons on the iPad.
The new settings allow users to activate a menu overlay on the iPad with by pressing on a designated corner. The menu allows one-tap access to all of the iPad's functions including rotation, shaking, volume changes and even gestures. Known gestures such as pinch and swipe can be recalled by a tap, and custom gestures can even be recorded and played back on command.
9 to 5 Mac reports that reliable tipster "Mr. X" has revealed that Apple will be releasing new MacBook Air and Mac Pro models this week alongside OS X Lion.
According to Mr. X, Apple will be releasing four new MacBook Air models, appearing to match up with the current lineup of two stock configurations each in the 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. MacBook Air updates have been expected within this general timeframe for some time now, and Apple is said to have been holding the release until it can ship the new machines with OS X Lion preinstalled. The new models include:
On the Mac Pro side, Apple again appears to following its existing lineup with three standard stock configurations alongside a dedicated "Server" configuration. Reports had been suggesting that the Mac Pro would see a refresh in late July or early August, so Apple's appears to be a bit ahead of that schedule provided that it is indeed shooting for a release this week.
MC936LL/A - J40, ULTIMATE - USA MC815LL/A - J40, BETTER - USA MC816LL/A - J40, BEST - USA MC914LL/A - J59, BEST - USA
Mr. X has not offered a specific release date for the new machines, but it appears that Apple may be targeting this Thursday, July 14th for the hardware launch alongside OS X Lion.
Apple recently noted that more than 15 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store, an average of 13.7 million apps per day.
Pangea is giving away:
- Networked racing game Cro-Mag Rally (formerly $3.99) - The phenomenal and award-winning puzzle games Enigmo ($2.99) and Enigmo Deluxe for iPad ($2.99) - Sequel Enigmo 2 ($2.99) - Physics arcade game Antimatter ($0.99) - Alien 3rd-person RPG Otto Matic ($2.99) - Pilot a flying dinosaur from the future with Nanosaur 2 ($3.99) - 3D Action-Adventure title Bugdom 2 ($2.99) - Space cowboy game Billy Frontier ($2.99)
The free pricing is only through 9 PM EDT tonight. That's a ton of free games. After that, pricing goes up to $0.99, which is still a deal, but not nearly as good as free. Grab 'em while you can.
It's All Tech posts an extensive list of changes discovered so far in the third beta version of iOS 5, which was seeded to developers just a short time ago. Among the interesting new features and tweaks are:
- Enhanced location services controls: Aside from a prominent new screen in the iOS 5 setup process outlining how location services work, the new beta also includes finer granularity of controls, allowing users to specify whether such functions as cell network searching, diagnostics, iAds, time zone setting, and traffic information may make use of the device's location information. This is of course in addition to the per-app location controls that are already available.
- Speed enhancements: User reports indicate that performance is significantly improved under the new beta, with a considerable reduction in lag.
- Voice roaming: In addition to the existing ability to turn off data roaming in order to avoid hefty data charges, the new beta adds a "voice roaming" toggle that will allow users to prevent their phone from connecting while on roaming networks not included in their carrier's service package and thus subject to extra fees.
- Prompt for moved video content: With iOS 5, Apple has rebranded the "iPod" app on the iPhone and iPad as "Music", in line with what is found on the iPod touch. The new beta now issues an initial prompt informing users that video content such as movies, TV shows, and music videos have been moved to the "Videos" app.
- Safari preferences: The ability to clear cookies and data has been restored in the new beta, and a new "Advanced" page has been added with additional tools for removing data and debugging.
- Other assorted tweaks: A new icon for the "Reminders" app that is being added in iOS 5, an iTunes Store button in the "Music" app, the Wi-Fi Sync setting renamed to "iTunes Wi-Fi Sync", and mailbox creation from within Mail.
Alongside today's release of iOS 5 beta 3, Apple also seeded the golden master (GM) version of Xcode 4.1 to developers. The release comes ten days after Apple seeded Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 7 with the OS X Lion GM build, and signals further readiness for the public launch of OS X Lion.
Xcode is Apple's package to help developers create applications for OS X and iOS. The software saw a major revamp earlier this year, and is now being updated for Apple's forthcoming OS X Lion and iOS 5 releases.
Reuters reports that judges in the United States and Canada have approved the $4.5 billion sale of 6,000 Nortel patents to a consortium of bidders led by Apple. Microsoft, Research in Motion, EMC, Ericsson, and Sony were also part of the winning group, which beat out Google for the patents.
Several large technology companies such as Verizon Communications Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co objected to the sale. Most objections were resolved by reiterating the sale did not negate licensing agreements involving the patents included in the sale.
Delaware bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross said it would be a "$4.5 billion mistake" not to approve the sale.
Antitrust regulators are also said to be looking into the sale to determine whether the winning consortium's bid amounted to an unfair coalition effort to shut out Google from key wireless patents. Those concerns have apparently not yet been satisfied, with today's ruling simply pertaining to proper disposition of Nortel's assests with respect to the bankrupt company's creditors.
Alt-rock band They Might Be Giants will be playing 
AMD today 
For iPod Touch owners looking to add a little oomph to their gaming, we present the 
