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Apple Seeds Yet Another Pre-Release OS X 10.8.4 Build To Developers, Adds New Focus

Rob LeFebvre — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:30:00 -0400

Rather seedy of Apple, don't you think? Apple has just posted a new pre-release developer seed for upcoming OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.4, Build 12E55. In the notes accompanying the seed release, which includes Combo (comprehensive) and Delta (just changes) update installers, Apple notes the same focus areas as the last few seeds: Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers, and Safari. This seed, though, also has Windows File Sharing, a new addition to the list since the last seed, build 12E47, which was released at the beginning of this month. Could this rapid release schedule mean that 10.8.4 is getting closer . . .

Why Your Next MacBook Will Have 50% More Battery Life

Alex Heath — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:20:00 -0400

If history is indeed destined to repeat itself, Intel's next-gen Haswell processors will power the 2013 gambit of Macs. Every year Apple typically puts the newest Intel silicon in its desktop and laptop models, and this year should be no exception. When Haswell desktop lineup specs leaked in December 2012, we got a peak at what will likely power the 2013 iMac. Intel has now said that Haswell chips will offer 50% more battery life for laptops than Ivy Bridge. The main focus of designing Haswell was to lower power consumption for laptops and tablets while also doubling graphics performance. . . .

Grab Five Bucks, And Play Skyward Collapse: A 4X Strategy God Game That Fights Back

Rob LeFebvre — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:11:00 -0400

Build and manage a floating continent while everything fights against you. Sounds like a good weekend. God games tend to be pretty similar: build a little city, tell the inhabitants what to do, and watch them do it. Not in this game, though. Skyward Collapse is a fantastic mashup of a 4X strategy game (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) with a god-game (Spore, Black & White, Civilization). Your task is to create and populate a floating continent called Liminith. You get to create gods, creatures, and artifacts from Norse and Greek myth, and keep them from killing each other off until . . .

EarSkinz for EarPods offer both comfort and style

Cody Lee — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:07:00 -0400

Apple was really proud to unveil its new and improved earbuds, dubbed EarPods, last fall. The company says it spent more than three years designing the headset, and tested a total of 124 different prototypes on over six hundred people, to get the right fit. But even with all of that research, it's inevitable that the EarPods are still not going to fit quite right for some people. And if you happen to be one of those people, you might want to check out these new EarSkinz covers, which promise to fix that for you . . . (...)Read the rest of EarSkinz for EarPods offer both comfort and style . . .

Best iPhone and iPad apps for professional photographers

Leanna Lofte — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:56:00 -0400

As a professional photographer, the iPhone and iPad can be excellent tools for your business. You are probably already aware that there's a lot of great apps out there focused on editing photos, but if we're being real, as a professional, you're not going to use them. However there are many other great apps that can help compliment your business, and we've rounded up some of our favorites. Shoot and Sell If you're a photographer who offers prints and canvas to your clients, then Shoot and Sell is a fantastic app to show off how your clients' photos will look on the wall, even their wall. . . .

iPad shipments could see first ever year-on-year decline in Q2, analyst says

AppleInsider — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:34:00 -0400

Due to a combination of seasonality and heightened competition from Android device makers, shipments of Apple's iPad may see a year-on-year drop for the first time since debuting in 2010, says KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

OS X 10.8.4 build 12E55 seeded to developers

Cody Lee — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:57:00 -0400

Registered OS X developers may be interested to know that Apple has seeded a new build of OS X 10.8.4 today. The update marks the eighth beta of the firmware, and comes just 9 days after the previous release. As before, As before Apple is asking developers to focus on specific areas of the OS, namely Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers and Safari . . . (...)Read the rest of OS X 10.8.4 build 12E55 seeded to developers "OS X 10.8.4 build 12E55 seeded to developers" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

iPhone Game Friday: New Releases

Marius Masalar — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:40:00 -0400

It's that time of year around here where everyone is heading up to their cottage to air the place out after winter, and while there's no shortage of activities once you're there, the car ride up can get pretty boring . . . Needless to say, we can help you out with a new dose of wonderful App Store entertainment. Click through and get ready for some gaming! Like the article? You should subscribe and follow us on twitter. Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode 1 If you hadn't noticed, I'm a big fan of episodic adventure games - not only because they seem to be the modern . . .

Blast from the past: The Apple QuickTake 150 digital camera

Richard Devine — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:39:00 -0400

It's possible to forget, but Apple used to have their own line of digital cameras. Back in the mid-nineties they launched three cameras under the 'QuickTake' product banner. What we have here is the second of those; say hello to the Apple QuickTake 150. Launched in 1995, the QuickTake 150 cost new a staggering $700. Granted, this was a time when digital cameras were in the early days, but $700 meant this was not an item for the masses -- much like Apple's computers of the time. So what does an 18 year old camera provide in the way of specs? The QuickTake 150 has an 8mm fixed focus lens, a . . .

AppAdvice Game Of The Week For May 24, 2013

Christine Chan — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:28:00 -0400

Every week, our staff will handpick a game from the past two weeks that we believe is a must-download for your iPhone or iPad. These games will always be from a wide variety of genres, but they are chosen because our own staff members love it and can't quite put it down. So here are this week's picks! Enjoy, and happy gaming! Say the Same Thing Find out how synchronized you are with your friends with our Game of the Week! Looking for a new word game that is unlike anything you've played before? Then our Game of the Week should satisfy your craving: Say the Same Thing. This is a unique . . .

PureShot is a full featured iOS camera app

Mel Martin — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:12:10 -0400

PureShot, a U$1.99 universal app, takes a very shooting-oriented approach to photography on iOS. You don't process your images here, or add filters. Instead, you just use the tools provided to take the very best picture you can, then process it on your iOS device, or get it onto your Mac or PC and use a dedicated image editor. I like that approach, because most do-it-all apps aren't strong in every feature. PureShot is dedicated to taking good pictures, and I think it succeeds at that goal. The app features 2 quality levels for JPEG images, and even something called dRAW TIFF output, which is . . .

Apple Removes Download Options From Quicktime Trailers Website

Juli Clover — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:09:00 -0400

It appears that Apple has begun quietly phasing out its trailer download options from the trailers.apple.com website, effectively eliminating 1080p trailer availability. Previously, the site gave users the ability to stream trailers in 480p or 720p, along with providing download options for 480p, 720p, and 1080p. Trailers uploaded to the site after an approximate date of May 22 no longer have any download options and can only be streamed in-browser at 480p or 720p. Trailer options before 5/22 Trailer options after 5/22 While trailers uploaded before May 22 can still be downloaded, Apple . . .

Google's Motorola issues second appeal of ITC case dismissal against Apple

AppleInsider — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:08:00 -0400

Motorola has given notice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that it will be contesting the International Trade Commission's dismissal of a case against Apple, the second time the now Google-owned company has filed an appeal tied to that investigation.

Google looking to develop wireless networks in emerging markets

Cody Lee — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:07:00 -0400

Say what you want about Google, but the portfolio of its ‘X' lab is quite impressive. The secret department is responsible for churning out Jetson-like projects including self-driving cars and computerized glasses. It even dabbles in TV services, and gigabit internet. And it looks like they're about to take on another ambitious venture: building out wireless networks. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the tech giant is in talks with regulators, in a few different countries, about their plans to go wireless . . . (...)Read the rest of Google looking to develop wireless . . .

Little Viking Dungeon of Doom will make you flip

Lory Gil — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:00 -0400

Dungeon crawl games are a gem for old-school gamers and a joke for newer generations. The old folks love the repetitive, monotony of going room-to-room, unlocking chests and killing baddies with no other distinctive plot. While young whippersnappers think dungeon crawls are boring and a waste of time. Little Viking Dungeon of Doom mixes a bit of the dungeon crawl genre with a more modernized gameplay. Instead of just roaming around killing orcs and collecting treasure, you are solving action puzzles while roaming around killing orcs and collecting treasure . . . (...)Read the rest of Little Viking . . .

Daily iPhone App: Combo Crew does beat-em-up on a touchscreen

Mike Schramm — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:36:14 -0400

Combo Crew is an interesting experiment that just showed up this week on iOS. Beat-em-ups and fighting games are great on consoles, where you've got plenty of buttons and d-pads to pull off various moves with. But while they've appeared on iOS a few times (Capcom's Street Fighter 4 has done fairly well on the App Store), usually these games on a touchscreen tend to just fall back on virtual buttons, which are generally way more clunky and less precise than physical moving parts. Combo Crew, however, is an attempt to make a beat-em-up redesigned from scratch for the iOS touchscreen. It's a game . . .

Memorial Day brings lots of great sales on iOS games

Mike Schramm — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:12:15 -0400

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Here in the US, most of us are celebrating a three-day weekend that also serves as the start of summer, which means BBQs, poolside hangouts, and lots and lots of time in the sun. Oh, and it means one more thing these days: iOS game sales! Card game maker Playdek has an awesome sale on, including Ascension (and its IAP), Nightfall (and its IAP), Penny Arcade: The Card Game, and Fluxx all for just 99 cents each. You should definitely pick up one or all of those -- Nightfall is complicated, but it's probably my favorite. Puzzlejuice is on sale for 99 cents; it's a . . .

Best travel and vacation companion apps for iPhone and iPad

Allyson Kazmucha — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:04:00 -0400

iMore takes a look at the best apps for planning your next vacation or business trip, and the ones you should always have while away. Whether you're planning a vacation or travel frequently for pleasure or business, there are literally hundreds of apps available in the App Store that deal with all aspects of travel. Everything from airport and transit guides to vacation home finders and more can be found. If you're looking for the absolute best ones, here's a list of the ones we'd highly recommend checking out. TripIt for iPhone and iPad If you travel frequently, TripIt is an absolute must . . .

Daily Update for May 24, 2013

Steven Sande — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:15 -0400

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS Daily Update for May 24, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 17:50:00 EST. Please see our . . .

The TouchArcade Show - 105 - A Sports Bro With a Family

Brad Nicholson — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:00 -0400

This week on the TouchArcade Show, we spit some more game about the next-generation. At the top, we discuss the reveal of Microsoft's streaming TV box that also happens to play video games, Xbox One. Topics include: streaming TV and how you won't be able to do that with a smaller ISP, the need for an always-on connection, NFL Sunday ticket, and a bunch of other stuff relating to next-generation gaming. In the second segment, we do manage to bring it back to iOS. Poker Night 2 leads off our games section, while other titles like Warhammer Quest, Combo Breakers and more bring up the rear. Oh -- . . .

How to Change the Country for iTunes & App Store Accounts

Paul Horowitz — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:55:00 -0400

Country association with an Apple ID, and thus the App Store and iTunes Store, can be changed easily. This allows access to content and apps that are country or region specific, and it's extremely helpful for a variety of situations, whether for travelers, expatriates, or for anyone who is trying to view, download, or purchase items on another countries App Store or iTunes Store. While switching is easy, there are a few caveats to consider when changing the Apple ID country. Change the Country Associated with an Apple ID from iOS This can be done on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Open . . .

iPhone urinalysis app draws scrutiny from FDA

AppleInsider — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:54:00 -0400

Biosense Technologies' uChek system turns Apple's iPhone into a capable urinalysis device, and now the Food and Drug Administration is saying that it may need to clear the medical app lest developers risk violating federal law.

Propellerhead to stop selling ReBirth for iPhone

John-Michael Bond — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:36:14 -0400

Act quickly mobile music producers. Propellerhead, makers of the recording software Reason, have announced that they will stop selling and supporting the iPhone app ReBirth on June 1. ReBirth is a iOS version of the company's Techno Micro Composer that started as a Mac program. The app emulates a Roland TB-303 bass synth and TR-808 and 909 drum machines. Using FX and sequencers the app allows users to create whole songs. The more expensive iPad version of ReBirth isn't going anywhere, so home producers will still have that option. Ultimately the iPad version of the program is the strongest . . .

Today's Best Apps: Viewmatic And Better Than Budgeting

Casey Tschida — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:31:00 -0400

The App Store takes delivery of hundreds of new apps per day. The overwhelming scene makes it possible to easily overlook an exciting game, valuable productivity suite, etc. However, we have a solution. Today's Best Apps tackles this problem by providing you with a handpicked and tested list of apps that are truly worth your consideration each and everyday. Remember: Even though in-app purchases typically require your iTunes Store password for processing, you can further prevent them and other unauthorized actions by enabling local restrictions using the passcode locked iOS parental . . .

South Australia's first Apple Store draws line hours ahead of opening

AppleInsider — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:26:00 -0400

While Apple's latest retail outlet in Australia isn't scheduled to open for another three hours, customers eager to get into the region's first Apple Store are already queuing up, some have been there for nearly 12 hours.