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27-inch iMacs having performance issues?

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 29th 2009 at 7:17PM

It's not at all clear what the root cause of the problem is, but we've noticed a big uptick in people complaining about performance issues on new 27-inch iMacs on Apple's support boards. The most common symptom seems to be incredibly slow Flash video playback, but people are also claiming that there's a bug forcing the hard drive to spin down, that there's a corrupted Snow Leopard build preinstalled, and even that the problem is bad permissions, which is basically how an OS X user gives up trying to figure things out. Apple hasn't said anything yet, but neither of the 27-inchers we have here are having problems, so we're keeping our fingers crossed while we wait for an official resolution. Video of the issue after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - First Apple Discussions thread
Read - Second Apple Discussions thread

Continue reading 27-inch iMacs having performance issues?

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

by Richard Lai posted Oct 29th 2009 at 4:05PM

Boy, TomTom sure has chosen the worst possible time to release its Car Kit for iPhone, and to make matters worse, its decision to not include the iPhone app is now set in stone. That's right, the hardware alone will set you back the cost of a TomTom ONE nowadays, and the $99.95 app works on the iPhone 3G and 3GS without it. So here's the question: is the car kit worth the extra $119.95? To find out, we got hold of a review unit for a sunny road trip around London. Surprisingly, the car kit uses Bluetooth to connect the GPS receiver and the hands-free function to the iPhone, even though there's a dock connector for charging. Bluetooth connectivity does have its advantages: according to TomTom it can work as a generic Bluetooth GPS receiver for any satellite navigation app -- including Google Maps -- on the iPhone, or any smartphones at all for that matter. TomTom even confirmed that the car kit could potentially compensate for the first-generation iPhone's lack of built-in GPS, but since its app won't run on anything but a 3G or 3GS we'll have to wait and see if that's actually useful. Meanwhile, the company is cooking up a compatible app for the original iPhone and the iPod Touch, which could make the car kit more worthwhile. Read on for our hands-on impression and test videos.

[Thanks for being our driver, Sam]

Gallery: TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

Continue reading TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

iTunes goes 9.0.2: adds support for Apple TV 3.0, kills Pre sync

by Darren Murph posted Oct 29th 2009 at 3:12PM

First comes the Apple TV 3.0 update, and next comes the iTunes update to make the two play nice. It's a beautiful thing, we tell ya. As of right now, iTunes 9.0.2 is available via Software Update, and with that comes compatibility with Apple TV 3.0, an "improved look and feel," and an easier-to-explore iTunes Store. Hop on past the break for the full changelog, and feel free to get your download on now if you're still not scared of blindly installing software from Cupertino.

Update: Looks like it killed Pre sync -- now, act like you're surprised!

Continue reading iTunes goes 9.0.2: adds support for Apple TV 3.0, kills Pre sync

Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 29th 2009 at 2:56PM

Looks like Apple's "hobby" is finally getting the iTunes Extra & LP features it was initially denied, as the Apple TV 3.0 software has just released, featuring a brand new main menu (above) plus Genius Mixes and internet radio access. It took a reboot and a few tries for units around here to start seeing the new software was available, so feel free to give that "check for updates" button a workout, 'til then the official PR is after the break describing what your box is missing.

Continue reading Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow

Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 29th 2009 at 11:00AM

There's just something about Apple that makes people go crazy whenever the company's lawyers do even the simplest things -- whether it's filing routine trademark oppositions, getting patents granted, or, uh, defending allegations that the company is in league with the Mafia, Steve and friends just seem to inspire some strong reactions whenever they end up in the courtroom. So of course things got a little wild last Thursday when Nokia announced it was suing Apple over ten patents related to GSM, UMTS (what you know as 3G) and WiFi -- the pundit class immediately set upon the idea that the lawsuit was some sort of reaction to Nokia's diminishing cellphone marketshare and the perceived dominance of the iPhone, perhaps best exemplified by John Gruber's flippant "If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em." Nokia can't compete against Apple, so obviously it's abusing the hopelessly-broken patent system get a little payback, Espoo-style -- right?

Well, wrong. As usual, the race to hype this dispute as a bitter standoff between two tech giants desperate to destroy one another has all but ignored the reality of how patents -- especially wireless patents -- are licensed, what Nokia's actually asking for, and how it might go about getting it. And as you know, we just don't do things that way, so we've asked our old friend Mathew Gavronski, a patent attorney in the Chicago office of Michael Best & Friedrich, to help us sort things out and figure out what's really going on here -- read on for more.

Continue reading Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis

Apple's Magic Mouse now shipping: seeks mighty revenge

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 29th 2009 at 5:34AM

Apple's Mighty Mouse was one of the most loved and loathed rodents of all time. When it worked, it was a magnificent productivity booster for Mac users. Unfortunately, over time, even after hours and hours of vigorous rubbing, the top-mounted trackball would become so ensnared in hand-jam that owners were left with two options: delicately splay the mouse for a bit of X-acto home surgery... or smash it with a vengeance hammer until justice was served. So maybe now you can understand all the hopeful fuss made over its successor: the Magic Mouse. It's now shipping to those of you who ordered it separately from its iMac bundle. Snow Leopard (and Leopard) users can even download the software update now so that all those multi-touch and gestural features will be enabled once the bluetooth mouse arrives. Then we'll see if this is the mouse that rights all those wrongs.

Update: Added 10.5.8 Leopard download link.

Read -- Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 (Snow Leopard)
Read -- Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 (Leopard)
Read -- Magic Mouse now shipping

New iMac doesn't play nice with Apple's Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 26th 2009 at 11:59PM

Apple hasn't exactly been making any promises to the contrary, but it looks like anyone hoping to use the company's Mini Display Port to DVI adapter to hook a game console or other device up to a brand new 27-inch iMac is flat out of luck -- for now, at least. That's because the system's exciting (but pricey) ability to be used as a standalone monitor only applies to devices equipped with their own Mini Display Port at the moment, which does limit your options quite a bit. Of course, it's almost certainly only a matter of time before Apple or a third-party manufacturer comes out with an adapter that does work, but we haven't heard anything firm on that front as of yet.

Telus kicks off HSPA+ network with iPhone November 5th, HTC Hero, LG New Chocolate and more to follow

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 26th 2009 at 9:10PM

Telus already announced that it'd be launching the iPhone in November, but it's just now gotten official with an actual date: November 5th -- which just so happens to also be the day that it lights up its brand new HSPA+ network. Unfortunately for anyone hoping that a little competition would spark a price war, Telus is matching Rogers' prices across the board, starting at $99.99 for the basic 8GB iPhone 3G, and moving up to $199.99 for the 16GB 3GS, and $299.99 for the 32GB 3GS (all on a three-year contract, of course). What's more, Telus has also taken the opportunity to offer the first official confirmation of some of the other devices that'll take advantage of its new network, including the HTC Hero, the previously rumored LG New Chocolate (a.k.a BL40), the Blackberry Bold 9700, and the Nokia E71 (plus a USB stick, for good measure). No prices or release dates for any of those just yet, unfortunately, but the Hero and New Chocolate are apparently Telus exclusives.

Verizon chief says offering the iPhone is Apple's call

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 26th 2009 at 2:52PM

Remember how in grade school, you usually made fun of the people you had crushes on? Verizon -- hot on the heels of some surgically strategic anti-iPhone marketing to promote its upcoming Android line -- is singing a very different tune in the corporate boardroom, with CEO Ivan Seidenberg (who has a storied reputation for running his mouth) saying during the company's earnings call today that the company "obviously would be interested at any point in the future that they would be interested in having us as a partner." He went on to say that the decision to bring the iPhone to Verizon is "exclusively in Apple's court," though we doubt that's entirely true -- Verizon has a reputation for putting manufacturers and devices through the wringer, and if any carrier in the world were to spike the iPhone for failing acceptance testing or throw its gargantuan weight and reputation around to put pressure on the contract, it'd be Big Red. Either way, though, it's an olive branch and a potential start to the near-constant cries of "if only the iPhone were on Verizon" that we've been hearing for the past two years; we're still having an awful hard time picturing a CDMA-equipped version ever happening, but with Verizon's LTE network progressively lighting up over the next few years, it might just be the perfect opportunity for these wayward souls to finally find common ground, especially with the tune AT&T's singing these days.

Microsoft borrows Apple Store blueprint, manager (video)

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 26th 2009 at 9:50AM

Anyone who witnessed the opening of Microsoft's first retail store in Scottsdale must have been feeling a bit of deja vu at the whole experience. It started with the camping and the long meandering lines leading to a raucous countdown. When the doors finally opened, customers were greeted with sturdy high-fives from overly-enthusiastic employees dressed in their casual, every-man uniforms. Inside were products placed on tables within easy reach of a curious public as well as an "Answer Bar" where presumed geniuses will tenderly solve customer issues. Failing that, you can always sign-up for the in-store events and training sessions scheduled throughout the day. Sound familiar... maybe a bit too familiar? But the icing on this plagiaristic cake is Lisa Seigneur, a former Apple retail store manager who famously (in our circles, anyway) introduced Oprah to Bono's Product RED iPod nano in Chicago -- the very same Microsoft Store employee who handed out free Zune HDs to those early campers in Scottsdale. Video evidence after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft borrows Apple Store blueprint, manager (video)

iPhone 3GS coming to Orange UK on November 10

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 26th 2009 at 8:43AM

So you've been lusting after that spit-shined touchy-swipey device from Apple, huh? If you're in the UK, come November 10 you'll finally have a choice of iPhone provider (both for 3G and 3GS flavors), with The Guardian confirming the date as Orange's launch of the coveted handset. O2's exclusivity runs out on the ninth of that month, but we shouldn't be too quick to rejoice, as Orange will seek to "add value" rather than undercut O2's pricing. Independent retailers Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U are also expected to stock the iPhone on behalf of Orange, and lest we forget Vodafone will be joining in with its own offering in early 2010. The CEO of 3 has also indicated a strong desire to bring Cupertino's baby onboard, though that's unlikely to happen before the midpoint of next year. So it'll get cheaper, just very... very slowly.

Apple Tablet rumor roundup: NYT speaks of 'impending Apple slate,' new SIM tray leaks (video)

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 26th 2009 at 5:14AM

Bear with us as we bring you the latest rumors related to the most important product that never was: the Apple tablet. Today we have a pair of rumors bubbling to the surface of a delicious tattle brew. First, the SIM card tray pictured above said to be procured from Foxconn (the rumored Apple tablet manufacturer) and available for $14.05 starting October 23rd for the 4th generation iPhone / iTablet... whatever the mythical host device might ultimately be named. It's certainly different than the tray found in previous gen iPhones and its chunkier appearance would be suitable for a larger GSM device. Plausible yes, though really, such a SIM tray could be used anywhere.

There's also a pretty big fuss being made this morning over remarks made by Bill Keller, executive editor at the New York Times responsible for the NYT's web presence. Speaking at an all-hands meeting with the Times' digital staff, the supposedly off-the-record speech somehow made its way to Vimeo. Here's the quote that has Apple fanatics and old-media revivalists in a tizzy:

"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."

Now, it's hard to tell if Keller is speaking from insider information or if he's just another member of the media convinced that Apple's tablet will be launched in the New Year. Then again, as Keller himself points out, Apple has always had a special relationship with his paper as routinely demonstrated in Apple's ads that use the New York Times landing page as proof of the "real internet" browsing capabilities of the iPod touch and iPhone. And with Apple supposedly in content delivery talks with the nation's newspaper of record, well, the remarks that begin at about 8:15 are certainly suspicious. Listen for yourself after the break.

[Via Gawker, thanks Robert S.]

Read -- SIM Tray
Read -- NYT 'impending Apple slate'

Continue reading Apple Tablet rumor roundup: NYT speaks of 'impending Apple slate,' new SIM tray leaks (video)

Fully-functional iPhone 3GS costume is expensive, bulky, and better than your Halloween idea

by Ross Miller posted Oct 26th 2009 at 2:22AM

What could possibly convince you that strapping a 42-inch LCD TV to your body is a great idea? We don't know, but somewhere between concept and the $2,000 total expenditures -- with "no regrets," mind you -- Reko Rivera and John Savio, with the help of John Matthews, outfitted themselves with the displays used to project images from their iPhone 3GS. Unfortunately, the large screens themselves aren't touch screens, but we probably can't be that picky. Their reward? First prizes at costume parties and minor internet celebrity, which we're happy to oblige. Video after the break.

[Via TUAW]

Continue reading Fully-functional iPhone 3GS costume is expensive, bulky, and better than your Halloween idea

TomTom iPhone kit now being sold through US Apple Store

by Ross Miller posted Oct 25th 2009 at 5:07PM

American TomTom loyalists, we know what you've been thinking: how dare those fine folks across the pond get first dibs to pick up the iPhone car kit? Well, steam to yourself no longer, it's now for sale online via Apple's US store for the previously-disclosed price of $119.95. Alas, no software's included, but you've had enough time to cope with that. Also, it's iPhone 3G and 3GS only -- iPod touch need not apply.

[Via App Advice]

ZFS open source project abruptly shuts down, Snow Leopard weeps icy tears

by Darren Murph posted Oct 24th 2009 at 2:09PM

The on-again / off-again love affair between Apple and ZFS seems to be all but over, with a brief but potent message on the Mac OS Forge project site stating the following: "The ZFS project has been discontinued. The mailing list and repository will also be removed shortly." If you'll recall, the implementation of the ZFS file system within Snow Leopard server was so close to happening that Apple actually published it as a feature of the forthcoming OS back in June of 2008. Now, however, all hope has presumably been lost. We'd bother explaining the rumors behind why all of this has suddenly crumbled, but honestly, will knowing the reasons really help the pain? No, no it won't.

[Via TUAW]