MacRumors

Responding to Amazon's addition of support for embedded audio and video in Kindle eBooks late last month, Apple yesterday updated its iBooks application for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch yesterday to add similar functionality, as well as several other enhancements.

- Double-tap an image within a book to view it in greater detail.
- Experience books that include audio and video.
- Enjoy substantial performance improvements when reading PDFs.
- Look-up definitions to English words inside books without a specified language.
- Addresses an issue that may have caused some book downloads to not complete.
- Includes many stability and performance improvements.

The iBooks update comes alongside iTunes 9.2.1, which brought several minor enhancements to the company's media management, playing, and syncing application.

Apple owned subsidiary Filemaker has released Filemaker Go ($19.99) for iPhone and Filemaker Go for iPad ($39.99). From the description:

View, edit and search your FileMaker Pro records on your iPhone with FileMaker Go. Whether youre checking inventory in the warehouse, managing event registration on-site, or updating project status while traveling, you can do it all while youre on the go.

The companion app allows users of Filemaker and Filemaker Pro to access and modify their databases on the go. Here's a walkthrough video:

Businessweek reports that Apple has donated the original source code for MacPaint to the Computer History Museum.

Released in 1984 with the Mac, it is fondly remembered not only by those who used it, but also by computer scientists for numerous first-of-a-kind innovations. Those who spend a lot of time using Adobe Photoshop constantly use such features as the lasso tool for selecting non-rectangular shapes, and the paint bucket for filling closed areas with a pattern, and later, color. Both first appeared in MacPaint. The program was unique at the time for its ability to create graphics that could then be used in other applications.

MacPaint was part of the original Macintosh launch back in 1984 and was featured prominently in its advertising. The screenshot above was from an 18 page advertising brochure that was circulated with Time and Newsweek in December, 1983. The ad introduced the concept of using a mouse to click on the screen, and MacPaint was featured as an example application utilize the windows/mouse interface.

The MacPaint source code is now available and clocks in at 5,822 lines of Pascal and 3,583 lines of 68000 assembly. Apple's early QuickDraw library was also released as 17,101 lines of 68000 assembly.

Apple has released a maintenance update for iTunes today. The new version is available via Apple's Software Update and provides a number of bug fixes:

- Disables older versions of some incompatible third-party plug-ins
- Addresses minor issues with dragging and dropping items
- Addresses a performance issue when first syncing to some devices with iTunes 9.2
- Addresses an issue upgrading to iOS 4 on an iPhone or iPod touch with encrypted back-ups
- Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance

The software is also available for download direct from Apple's site.

Engadget reports that a new Apple product has appeared in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's online database, and while it is not possible to positively identify the product from the filings published on the FCC's site, it does in fact appear to be the "Magic Trackpad" or "Magic Slate" device that has been the subject of rumors since last year and appeared in photos just last month.

A device known only by its model number A1339 is the culprit here, described as a "Bluetooth Device" used in conjunction with a MacBook without any associated filings for WiFi or WWAN networks. The ultra-rough label location diagram is definitely the right shape for the accessory, and what's interesting is that the test report was completed way back in October of 2009.

A close look at one of the purported images of the Magic Trackpad published last month does appear to show the device carrying model number A1339, suggesting that Engadget has correctly identified the product in the FCC filing.

The FCC documents reveal that the testing report on the device was completed in October 2009, shortly before rumors of such a "trackpad gadget" surfaced from Daring Fireball's John Gruber. Apple's FCC submission was made alongside a request for confidentiality of certain materials in February of this year, with publication of the non-confidential material occurring today.

A release date for the product is unknown, but could be imminent given the timing of previous FCC approvals for other devices.

ZDNet reports on a new feature article in the August 2010 issue of Wired discussing the relationship between Apple and AT&T and how the success of the iPhone has enabled the partnership to continue despite each company's faults. While the full article is not yet available online, ZDNet's summary provides some interesting details.

Apple and AT&T fell in love and quickly got hitched. Then after the honeymoon was over they started noticing each other's faults. Apple was staunch and unwilling to restrict the iPhone's Internet access, AT&T couldn't build its network out fast enough to accomodate them. Then came the finger pointing. But the two couldn't divorce, for the the sake of the kids. So they ended up tolerating each other, for the time being.

The report points to Apple's choice of Infineon for the cellular communication hardware in the original iPhone as an example of the tensions between the two companies. Infineon had traditionally been focused on the European market where cellular towers are located more closely together than they typically are in the U.S. But when AT&T asked Apple to work together on making Infineon's hardware in the iPhone work better with AT&T's U.S.-style cell site configurations, Apple reportedly declined, saying "No, you resolve them. They're not our problem. They're your problem."

An Apple source also indicated to Wired that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has suggested at a least half a dozen times that the company consider dropping AT&T for another carrier. Apple's team went as far as visiting Qualcomm's facilities in late 2007 to investigate the possibility of switching the iPhone over to Verizon's network, but size difference between the chips used for the different carrier technologies would have meant a significant redesign for the iPhone, something the company was unwilling to undertake given other possible issues with the move.

Apple also heavily considered switching to Verizon numerous times. Around the end of 2007, at Jobs' behest, Apple engineers (including Scott Forstall) visited the headquarters of Qualcomm - the primary supplier of the chips in Verizon's phones. It concluded that switching to Verizon would be too complicated and expensive because the chips were different sizes and would necessitate rebuilding the iPhone from scratch. Apple also wasn't convinced that Verizon's network would fare much better and let's not forget the nasty lawsuit that voiding its exclusive pact with AT&T would invite.

Interestingly, the Wired article also suggests that a hybrid chip from Qualcomm capable of running on both Verizon's CDMA2000 network and the UMTS network of existing iPhone carrier partners previously rumored for the iPhone is the result of a partnership seeing Qualcomm working with Apple on the chip.

The most recent rumor regarding a Verizon iPhone comes from Bloomberg, which late last month cited sources claiming a January 2011 launch for the device.

Update: The Wired feature article has now been posted.

Engadget summarizes reports in the Chinese-language media claiming that the delays experienced by the white iPhone 4 are due to issues with the paint application process for the device's glass front and back panels. In particular, the company behind the production process, Lens Technology, is working out kinks in its screen printing process to achieve proper paint thickness and color consistency.

Now, a worker from Lens' quality control department has allegedly admitted that the company's screen-printing workshop may currently be dealing with some issues with the white iPhone 4 covers. Specifically, the factory's still working out the perfect combination of paint thickness and opacity -- the former to ensure the next sub-contractor has enough clearance for the digitizer overlay, and the latter for the absolute whiteness that Jony Ive and co. strive for. As we pointed out before, the prototype white covers we acquired appeared a touch darker than the iPhone 4 dock, so here's hoping that we'll see a better result when the official white phone comes out later this month.

The report seems to corroborate a claim made by a Gizmodo reader back in June when Apple announced that the white iPhone 4 models would be delayed until the second half of July.

I cannot say who I am as Apple does have a non-disclosure in effect for this, but: The color specifications for the white on the new iPhones are just crazy. The tolerances they are trying to achieve with the white really is the cause of the delay. As screen printing goes, it is somewhat controllable, doesn't have the tolerance that Apple is wanting to hold the color specification of the white too. Talk about anal...

Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed at last Friday's press conference that white iPhone 4 models will begin shipping in limited quantities at the end of this month.

Apple today issued a media alert announcing details for tomorrow's release of its financial results for the third fiscal quarter and second calendar quarter of 2010. The results will be released after the close of tomorrow's trading at approximately 4:30 PM Eastern / 1:30 PM Pacific. Apple's conference call discussing the results will follow at 2:00 PM Pacific and will be available via a live audio webcast. MacRumors will provide running coverage of the conference call highlights.

Apple's third fiscal quarter saw a number of significant product introductions, beginning with the iPad very early in the quarter to begin a multi-stage roll-out across a number of countries. The company followed with revised MacBook Pros just ten days after the initial iPad launch and a MacBook update in mid-May. A redesigned Mac mini made its appearance in mid-June near the end of the quarter, with the iPhone 4 launching in several countries just three days before the end of the quarter. The company did announce, however, that it sold over 1.7 million iPhone 4s in those three days.

For the quarter, analysts are predicting net earnings of $3.10 per share on revenue of $14.74 billion, above Apple's guidance of $2.28-$2.39 profit on $13.0-$13.4 billion of revenue. Apple's year-ago results for the third fiscal quarter of 2009 initially included net earnings of $1.35 per share on revenue of $8.34 billion. Those calculations were based, however, on earlier accounting methods that utilized "subscription accounting" for iPhone and Apple TV revenue. Apple adopted revised accounting standards at the beginning of fiscal 2010, and after retrospective application (PDF) of the new standards, the year-ago quarter yielded net earnings of $2.01 per share on revenue of $9.73 billion.

Apple today announced that the next round of international iPad launches will take place this Friday, July 23rd. All iPad models will be available at launch, with pricing information available through Apple's country-specific sites and stores.

Apple today announced that iPad will be available in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore this Friday, July 23.

The company notes that the iPad will be made available in "many more" countries later this year, with launch dates and pricing being announced close to those launches.

Apple first launched Wi-Fi-only iPad models in the United States in early April, with 3G-capable models following later that month. The first round of international iPad launches, encompassing nine countries, occurred in late May and today's announcement marks the second round of such international launches.

On Friday, Apple held a press conference where they defended the iPhone 4's antenna design and presented data suggesting the issue was blown out of proportion. During a portion of their presentation, they demonstrated signal loss in other major phone manufacturers including devices made by RIM And Nokia.

Neither company took too kindly to the demos and both issued responses. RIM issued a statement to Crackberry.com which begins:

Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation.

RIM claims Apple made design decisions they should stand by rather than pointing the finger.

Meanwhile, Nokia responded on a blog with a similar sentiment:

In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. Thats why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design.

Finally, this crazy Taiwanese video recreation of the entire "antennagate" incident provides a humorous look (via Gizmodo):

Update: The Wall Street Journal reports that HTC and Samsung, two of Apple's other targets at its press conference, have also responded regarding the situation.

"The reception problems are certainly not common among smartphones," HTC chief financial officer Hui-Meng Cheng said. "They (Apple) apparently didn't give operators enough time to test the phone."

Samsung simply noted that it "hasn't received significant customer feedbacks" regarding signal issues with its Omnia II handset featured by Apple CEO Steve Jobs in his presentation of iPhone competitors also exhibiting signal attenuation when held.

Earlier today, Apple posted a video of today's press conference addressing antenna issues with the iPhone 4, also adding to its website a section dedicated to antenna design and testing as highlighted during the press conference.

While the new section of Apple's site provides an interesting glimpse into the company's $100 million investment in antenna design and testing labs, Apple went one step further and invited 11 members of the media on a brief tour of the previously-secret labs following today's event. Macworld reports on the tour, which was led by Apple engineer Ruben Caballero, who was the subject of a Bloomberg report yesterday claiming that he had warned Apple CEO Steve Jobs early in the iPhone 4 design process that the antenna design could cause reception problems, a claim Jobs today called a "crock" and "total bullshit".

The point of the tour was clear: to show that Apple takes the testing of wireless issues very seriously, and that suggestions that the company was simply sleeping on the job when it came time to test the iPhone 4 are misguided.

The report highlights the secrecy of the facility, noting that even Apple's PR representatives on the tour had never visited it before and that the lab's workbenches were covered with black cloths, a security procedure followed even when other Apple employees enter the facility.

We toured several different chambers, and they're pretty eerie places. Caballero would occasionally step into a chamber, leading in a few reporters (they're generally far too small to fit more than a handful of people inside), and the moment he entered the chamber his voice became nearly inaudible, due to most of his sound being absorbed by the foam on the chamber's walls. Even the handles of the heavy doors are made of Fiberglas, and the doors are lined with copper to ensure the entire room is a Faraday cage.

Apple's tests, which can take up to 25 hours to run across all frequencies, are conducted in a variety of settings in the company's testing chambers, including positioning the device on styrofoam blocks, in human hands, and in the vicinity of realistic "phantom" mannequin body parts.

Finally, Apple showed off its CT scanner purchased for scanning products for defects without requiring them to be opened and changing their electromagnetic properties, as well as a field-testing van that allows engineers to test reception in real-world settings.

Update: Engadget has also posted a description of the behind-the-scenes tour, offering a similar perspective.

Consumer Reports, the prominent ratings and reviews magazine, is still declining to recommend the iPhone 4 following Apple's offer of free cases for all iPhone 4 customers through September 30th.

Consumer Reports believes Apple's offer of free cases is a good first step. However, Apple has indicated that this is not a long-term solution, it has guaranteed the offer only through September 30th, and has not extended it unequivocally to customers who bought cases from third-party vendors. We look forward to a long-term fix from Apple. As things currently stand, the iPhone 4 is still not one of our Recommended models.

The magazine touched off a firestorm in the mainstream media earlier this week by not recommending Apple's iPhone 4 due to antenna issues despite the device topping its rankings of smartphones. The uproar led to today's press conference at Apple's headquarters where the company addressed the antenna issues and made its offer of free cases for users.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reports that the San Mateo County District Attorney's office has been granted a withdrawal of its controversial search warrant used to seize items from the home of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen in the wake of the site's purchase of and publication of details on an iPhone 4 prototype lost in a bar earlier this year.

As EFF repeatedly noted at the time, the warrant-backed search of Chen's home was illegal as it violated California Penal Code section 1524(g)'s prohibition against the issuance of warrants for "unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for communication to the public."

As a result of the withdrawal, all information and equipment must be returned to Chen. This does not, however, mean that the potential case has been dismissed. In addition to evidence gathered through other means, the District Attorney's office could skirt around the questionably-issued search warrant and request a subpoena for access to the same items, but it is unclear whether it intends to do so.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs noted early last month that he had received advice from acquaintances urging him to "let it slide", but that his belief in the values of Apple compelled him to pursue the issue and report the iPhone's disappearance and subsequent resurfacing to the authorities.

Update: According to The Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo has agreed to cooperate with authorities, paving the way for withdrawal of the search warrant.

The San Mateo County judge overseeing the Gizmodo case on Friday ordered the search warrant to be withdrawn and the materials taken from Mr. Chen to be returned to him. Gawker Media Chief Operating Officer Gaby Darbyshire said Gizmodo has agreed voluntarily to give the district attorney materials that a court appointee "deems relevant to the case."

Chris Feasel, deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, said Friday that the investigation into Gizmodo is ongoing. "Mr. Chen and Gizmodo have agreed to cooperate with our investigation," he said.

Apple has posted video of the iPhone 4 press conference held today at its campus in Cupertino, California. The company has also posted several new pages on its website dedicated to explaining the antenna issue and showing off the company's antenna design and testing facilities.

The press conference offered a presentation from Apple CEO Steve Jobs outlining the company's belief that antenna issues with the iPhone 4 are common to nearly all smartphones and that only a very small fraction of iPhone 4 customers have reported the issue. He noted, however, that Apple is committed to making sure that every customer is happy and to that end announced that the company will be offering free cases to all customers purchasing iPhone 4s through September 30th.

The company also acknowledged issues with the device's proximity sensor and reported that they will be addressed in a future software update.

Following Jobs' presentation, a Q&A session was held with Jobs, Tim Cook, and Bob Mansfield. The Q&A session is not, however, included in the video posted by Apple.