Macgasm

Usually there’s a software update available when Apple wants to add functionality or patch a bug in an application, but it seems like the lines are being blurred these days. Apple managed to sneak an update into iTunes without an update.

It’s got me wondering just how that happened. Genius recommendations have been re-added to the iTunes side, but this time it’s available alongside the Ping functionality. It’s much appreciated that Apple returned the Genius sidebar to iTunes. I don’t use Genius playlists very often, but the music recommendations have been handy over the years. While Ping may be the future of music recommendations in iTunes, it’s just not cutting it yet. Not very many of my close friends have joined the service yet.

About that silent update

I try really hard not to be an alarmist about behind the scene updates and patches, and in most cases I’d actually welcome them. Not having to worry about patches and bug updates is the future. If Apple can figure out a way to alleviate the burden on consumers, it will be a pretty successful venture. But, there is a lot of grey area here that needs to be defined. Where is the line drawn in the sand, and what is or isn’t acceptable in such cases is something that we need defined.

How comfortable are you with these kinds of updates? Is it something you’d like to see more of, or something you’d like to see squashed before it becomes the norm?

Web applications have blurred the line, and the expectations when it comes to software updates, and I’m not exactly sure where I stand on this topic. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Article Via Macstories

This past week, we first reported that the white iPhone mysteriously appeared on Apple’s iOS application, sparking rumors that it might finally be appearing. Then we reported that the phone was still delayed due to camera issues. Finally, we reported that Apple had removed all signs of the white iPhone from their website, suggesting that we may never see the white iPhone.

So we got our hopes up this week, only to have them dashed to smithereens. Most of you probably just shook their heads at this news, but there is supposedly a handful of people out there staunchly holding out for the white iPhone. The folks over at JLE posted a YouTube video mocking the whole ridiculous situation, and I’m sorry to say they got in a few good jabs at the white iPhone zealots. The best line in the video: “you’re a stupid human being who has waited five months for a phone that is a different color that you’re just going to put a cover on anyways.” Check out the video below

Article Via Boy Genius Report

Apple has released several updates today:

Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5 is for mid-2010 models, and includes the following fixes:

• Resolves an issue that prevented the firmware password prompt from being displayed
• Resolves an issue that prevented the Boot Picker from being presented if Ethernet is connected to a network without DHCP

The company has also released a new version of its Firmware Restoration CD, which can be used to restore the firmware on the mid-2010 Mac Pros. Previous versions of the Firmware Restore CD are also available for download, for use with other Intel-based Macs.

Apple has also released Logic Pro 9.1.3 and Logic Express 9.1.3. These updates improve Hyper-Threading, which gives the ability for software to use several cores or processors at the same time. These updates require Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later.

Article Via Mac Life

If you’ve read my last two posts about my dealings with installing Windows on my Mac, you’ll know that I’ve been extremely unhappy with the state of disk partitioning and virtualization. After discussing the situation with Adam Christianson and Josh on a podcast that will air next week, I decided that I should try Parallels before completely wiping my disk and starting over with Boot Camp. Luckily, I was able to acquire a review copy of the software. Let me tell you something: You get what you pay for.

I have used Sun/Oracle’s VirtualBox extensively. It is completely free and open source, but it has many issues. The 3D graphics support is beta at best, and the set-up is a bit of a hassle. That isn’t true with Parallels.

Even if nothing else was a success, I would have to praise Parallels for their setup process. Installing Windows 7 was so simple that I would be comfortable letting my grandmother do it. There was almost no tweaking needed. It is smart enough to do all of the heavy lifting for you. This is great engineering, and I thoroughly encourage everyone to try the free trial of Parallels. If it does what you want, the full license is less than $80 USD. That is substantially less cost than the two weekends I wasted trying to get Windows to work with Boot Camp and VirtualBox.

After getting Windows 7 installed and updated, I began installing Knights of the Old Republic 2. Like my previous attempts on other platforms, the installation went flawlessly. I set the app to run as Windows XP SP3 under compatibility mode, and then I launched the program. Much to my surprise, the game launched perfectly instead of throwing errors. Oh, happy day. All of this trial and error nonsense hasn’t been a waste. Finally, I can play my video game without having to buy a $500 Dell machine. Whew!

If I would have known that dropping the $80 would have solved all of my problems, I would have done that in the first place. I didn’t know that then, but now you have the benefit of my experience. Not all virtualization applications are created equal. Please try out Parallels, and see if it serves your needs. It might just save your sanity.

Photo Credit: Quinn Dombrowski

It’s almost that time again. iOS devices should be getting updated in a couple of months (usually January). Release partners and manufacturing plants usually start springing leaks around this time of year. We’ve got a big one today: Omnivision says they’re suppling Apple with image sensors for cameras, expected to ship with the iPad 2, some time during the first quarter of 2011.

You’ll probably remember some of the rage that early adopters felt when Apple released the iPad without a camera. There were plenty of people and blogs that were pretty pissed about it.

This is the first time that investment firm Detweiler Fenton, the originator of the claim, has popped onto our radar, so we’re not completely sure what to expect, or if this is even real. But, to put it into context, Barron’s, a website that’s part of the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, is the original source for the news, and they’re usually pretty hardcore about posting rumors.  Although, to be fair, Barron’s also tossed out the word “reportedly” in their article title, so take this one for what it’s worth.

Personally, I think it’s pretty likely that Apple would include a camera in the next iPad. It just makes sense, the iPad would otherwise be the only mobile iOS device without FaceTime support. Given the emphasis placed on FaceTime during Apple’s recent keynote, it’s pretty hard to not believe that Apple will include the technology in the iPad 2.

Also available in the original Barron’s article are the following claims:

1. 5MP camera and VGA Camera for iPad 2
2. Apple will build 2.5 million iPad 2s in Q1 of 2011
3. Apple will account for a 1/3 of Omnivision’s chip demand

And of course, Omnivision’s stock seems to be up today. I wonder when companies are going to start leaking fake rumors to the press so they can bump their stocks every now and then. Oh, who am I kidding, they’re probably already doing it.

Article Via 9 to 5 Mac, Barron’s

Image Credit: Wired

Have you ever been to Central Park in New York City? It’s home to sprawling meadows, ponds, a John Lennon memorial, and even a castle. Not surprisingly, Central Park is center stage in many romantic moments in film, as well as real life.

Take October 24, 2010 for example. Frank proposed to his girlfriend Kasey on one of Central Park’s most-traveled bridges. To pull it off, he assembled a crack team of friends on iPhones and MacBook Pros to cue up a band playing Kasey’s favorite song—and to record the whole thing.

She said yes! (Of course… who wouldn’t?) Check it out in the video below (and if you’re male, take notes!)

Article Via The iPhone Guru

Photo Credit: Jazz Hostels

Thanks to Brianna for sending it in.

This morning, Macstories reports that ratings and reviews on the iTunes App Store have been missing for over 14 hours.

As you can see from the below graphic, they are nowhere to be found:

Keep in mind that reviews are accessible through iTunes via a web browser. Additionally, both reviews and ratings are still viewable through the App Store application on iOS devices.

Fourteen hours of downtime is quite unusual for Apple, with no comment or ETA on a fix. It should be noted, however, that iTunes Connect was down for maintenance last night. As Apple usually “locks down” the App Store to developers over Christmas (and this year, Thanksgiving as well), we expect this missing feature to soon reappear.

In the meantime, we at Macgasm advise those of you needing your review fix to access them through the App Store on your iOS device. That’s what everyone does anyway, right?

We’ll keep you posted when reviews and ratings return to the iTunes App Store.

Article Via Macstories

Photo Credit: Lisette Voytko

The iPad has a stellar battery. I love not having to think about charging my device every day. If there’s one piece of technology that has convinced me that there is space for the newly released MacBook Air, it’s the iPad and its battery life.

Mophie seems to have decided that the iPad has enough juice on its own, because they just released a case without a battery pack. What’s up with that?

The Mophie Workbook looks great (59.95), and they’ve clearly taken their inspiration from the Moleskine-like movement that’s been going on with iPad cases.

But, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit saddened by the lack of a built in battery pack with this case. There’s no such thing as too much battery life these days. It’s easy to understand why it wasn’t included by looking at the design, but I would have been “all in” immediately had they included a battery.

Mophie hasn’t completely left iPad users out in the cold. They do have a Juice Pack Powerstation ($99.95) available for the iPad. But, I’m probably not alone in saying that an integrated battery pack would have been the optimal solution for the case.

Hopefully we’ll see one in the future. You can buy both products directly from Amazon.

Article Via Just Another iPad Blog