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- 3 Free iOS Games - Zombies, Zombies, and More Zombies
If you're a fan of the undead then you'll want to check out the three free iOS apps Vern Seward is featurung in this week's Free on iTunes. Call of Mini: Zombies, Zombie HQ, and Into the Dead.
- What’s Black and White and Flat All Over? iOS 7
The first delicious rumors have emerged on what Sir Jonathan Ive is doing to iOS 7. 9to5Mac reported that unnamed sources have described the new look and feel for iOS 7 as "black and white and flat all over," a play on the old-school riddle about newspapers*. The sources also said that iOS 7 will focus almost entirely on this interface change rather than on new features.
- Japanese Rumor Says Apple Prepping Multicolor iPhone & iPhone 5S
Apple is working on an inexpensive iPhone model that will come in multiple colors, according to Japanese site Macotakora. The same story also said that Apple was working on the expected iPhone 5S, and that this device might also be available in different colors. Bryan Chaffin weighs the information.
- Apple’s 1984 ‘Blue Busters’ Marketing Video in Full
When it comes to Apple lore, 1984 is best known for Apple's 1984 Super Bowl commercial, but the company also produced the gem below for its annual sales meeting held in Hawaii. Called Blue Busters, the video is a takeoff of the hit movie Ghostbusters with an Apple-oriented remake of the song by Ray Parker, the artist who recorded the titular Ghostbusters song. Apple's Blue Busters harkens to a time when IBM was the Big Bad and the Cupertino was trying to get Apple II, Lisa, and now Mac computers into businesses. Note the Macs on the Blue Busters' backs. Good times... [Via Wired]
- Apple Drops Prices on Refurbished iPad 4 & iPad mini
Apple quietly dropped the prices on refurbished iPads with Retina Display (4th generation) and iPad minis. The company used to offer them at a 5-6 percent discount off retail, but the new pricing puts the entire at 15-17 percent off.
- 2 Mac Tips for Moving Your Dock & Guarding Your Secrets
Two readers ask Nancy Carroll Gravley questions about the Dock and Passwords.
- Apple Ads Stay Positive Despite Microsoft’s Negative Campaign
Apple has yet another new iPhone commercial out touting the smartphone's features by showing it as a personal device and a part of people's daily lives. In contrast, Microsoft's latest ads take a more negative spin by trying to show Apple's products are inferior.
- AT&T Hits Customers with a New Administrative Fee
AT&T Wireless added a new US$0.61 a month administrative fee in May its customers will pay as part of their regular bill. The fee may be new to AT&T, but it's already standard practice at Verizon and Sprint.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Like it or not, cell service providers can add "administrative fees" and consumers will have to pay. At least AT&T didn't try Verizon's short-lived $2 fee for paying your bill by phone.
- Google, Facebook May be Facing Waze Bidding War
Facebook isn't the only company interested in buying up the community-fed mapping and navigation company Waze. Apparently Google is negotiating with the Waze, too, and that could drive the company's price up over US$1 billion.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Assuming the Waze team really is interested in a buyout, a bidding war would be a great thing. While there is a lot of value in the company, the bigger value in the end for Facebook and Google may be keeping Waze out of competitor's hands.
- Terminal: Using “lsof” When Files Won’t Delete
Got a file that's preventing you from emptying your Trash? Got a disk image that won't eject? Then we've got a Terminal trick you'll like. This command will show you what programs are accessing a file or volume, so you can quickly figure out what to quit to get on with your life.
- Judge Cote Likely to Side with U.S. Against Apple
Judge Denise Cote said on Thursday that she expects the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will be able to prove that Apple conspired with publishers in the run-up to the release of the iPad. The judge issued a "tentative view" to attorneys representing the DOJ and Apple to that effect, adding that the opinion is based on reading through some of the evidence.
The Mac Observer Spin:
This case drives us nuts. On the one hand, Apple mostly likely did act as ringleader in getting the publishers to shift to the agency model for pricing. At the same time, before Apple did so,Amazon had monopoly power in this market and was dumping books to gain that power and shut down competitors.
- Microsoft Commercials Take Swipes at Apple’s iPad
Microsoft is taking pot shots at Apple's iPad in its efforts to promote moribund sales of Windows 8 tablets. In a new series of commercials, the Redmond, WA company harnesses Siri to disparage iPad's one-app-at-a-time nature, and compares specs to show an Asus device is thinner and weighs less than iPad.
- Apple Updates Fuji-Xerox Printing & Scanning Drivers
Apple released Fuji-Xerox Printer Drivers v2.4 for OS X on Thursday. The patch notes don't specify what's new, saying simply, "This download includes the latest Fuji-Xerox printing and scanning software for OS X Mountain Lion, OS X Lion and Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard."
- Reuters Traces Apple’s Irish Operations Back to 1980
Reuters has put together a detailed look at Apple's operations in Irelandat the center of the company's tax strategy. As noted by CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer during their testimony in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Apple first started doing business in Ireland in 1980. Reuters explains how the Irish government used generous tax concessions to attract companies like Apple going back to 1956, and how those efforts led to many multinationals using Ireland for their European operations. If you're following Apple's tax story, it's a great read.
- Apple Reportedly Plans WWDC Keynote for Monday, June 10th
Apple has reportedly scheduled its keynote event for its 2013 World Wide Developer Conference on Monday, June 10th. We say reportedly, because while AllThingsD reported the date, Apple hasn't officially announced it and media invites have yet to go out.
- Analyst: iWatch Coming in 2014 with Biometrics
Don't plan on spending your money on an Apple smartwatch this year, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He expects the rumored iWatch will surface later in 2014 and that it will include biometric-related features, too.
The Mac Observer Spin:
It's a pretty safe bet that Apple is experimenting with wearable technology in its labs, and that most likely includes watch-type devices. Whether or not any of those products ever make it to market remains to be seen, and it's also a safe bet they won't make it out of testing if Apple doesn't think they'll be market changing devices.
- Pondering Those Who Dis Apple’s CEO Tim Cook [VIDEO]
Recently, we've seen some articles that claim Tim Cook doesn't really know what he's doing and he'll drag Apple down. It's all nonsense, driven by lack of understanding of the man. John Martellaro refutes the crazy notion based on his own experiences. Plus he presents a video for you to analyze.
- Mailbox, Now with iPad Support
The popular Gmail client app Mailbox started life as an iPhone and iPod touch app, but now has iPad support, too. Mailbox hit the App Store earlier this year and proved to be so popular that users had to sign up on a waiting list to get access to its features. The app has since been bought by Dropbox and the waiting list days are behind us. The app gives users more email organizational control that Google offers, can set reminders to check specific messages later, and more. Mailbox is free and is available at Apple's iTunes-based App Store.
- Apple Says Samsung Galaxy S4 Violates 5 Patents
Apple followed through on a plan to add Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphone to its patent infringement lawsuit this week by filing new documents in the case claiming the device infringes on five patents. The filing also stated that the Google Now search features included with the S4 infringe on two patents.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Apple made it clear it wants Samsung's Galaxy S4 included in this patent infringement case. Judge Koh will most likely approve the addition while cutting one of the other devices Apple is already targeting, especially since denying Apple's motion would most likely lead to yet another patent infringement lawsuit between the companies.
- Jeff Gamet Talks Cool Mac Products on MyMac Podcast
The Mac Observer's Managing Editor Jeff Gamet recently joined the MyMac Podcast team to talk about several cool Mac-related products along with ideas on an Apple-branded television.
- ACM 205: Apple Tax Hearings & Samsung’s Delusions
Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer testified before a U.S. Senate committee on the company's tax practices and the need for tax law reform. Jeff and Bryan dive into that and take a look at Samsung's delusions of relevance in the smartphone market at Google's expense.
- Apple Updates iTunes & QuickTime for Windows, Windows 64
Apple released three updates for its Windows products on Tuesday. The company released iTunes 11.0.3 for Windows and Windows 64, as well as QuickTime 7.7.4 for Windows. The iTunes update brings the new MiniPlayer features released for Mac last week, while the QuickTime update includes security patches.
- Designed by M’s AL13 Aluminum Bumper Is For The iPhone 5 Purist
For all those conflicted souls who say the iPhone is a piece of art that should not be covered by a case, but who wish they could really protect their gear, the AL13 aluminum bumper will allow them to have their cake and eat it too.
- Penguin Agrees to $75M Payout in ebook Price Fixing Settlement
Penguin is a step closer to ending its headaches over ebook price fixing allegations now that the publisher has agreed to a US$75 million settlement with states and consumers. The proposed settlement is part of a deal in a lawsuit that claims the company colluded with other publishers and Apple to artificially raise the price of ebooks.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Spending $75 million to end this civil anti-competition case on top of the settlement Penguin agreed to last year in the DOJ case is a lot of money, which means the publisher was probably facing the prospect of even higher penalties if it lost in court. Ouch.
- An iPhone Veteran Evaluates a Samsung Galaxy Note II
You've heard about the phablets, notably the Samsung Galaxy Note II with a 5.5 inch display, running Android. Unfortunately, not all of the writing about the device, and phablets in general, has been phabulous. Here is an in-depth, no holds barred, technical analysis and detailed review of the Galaxy Note II by John Martellaro. It may not be what you were expecting.
- Jeff Gamet Discusses Apple Taxes on MacVoices
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer's Managing Editor joined MacVoices host Chuck Joiner to discuss Apple CEO Tim Cook's testimony in a U.S. Senate hearing on corporate taxes, and accusations that the company has been sheltering revenue to avoid tax payments.
- Corporate Tax Reform Needs to Start in the US, not Ireland
Following a U. S. Senate hearing where lawmakers suggested Apple is sheltering revenue from taxes by using a subsidiary company in Ireland, the country is saying the real issue is that companies are working the system across borders and that international cooperation is needed to make real changes. Ireland's government is right, but some of that change needs to happen in the U.S., and there isn't any guarantee politicians want to take on that fight with corporations.
- iOS Mail: Archive or Delete Individual Emails
Getting frustrated with that red "archive" button when you try to delete a message on your iOS device? Melissa Holt is here to report that there's a trick to select whether you want to archive or delete each message, and you can also turn off the archiving feature entirely. Hooray! She also reports that she likes pie, which is somewhat less relevant.
- Apple to Senate: We Comply with the Law - Change the Law
Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer had a straight-forward and direct message for a Senate subcommittee questioning the company about its tax practices: we comply fully the law, we don't hide profits from the U.S., and if you don't like what we're doing, change the law. Note that in this analysis, Bryan Chaffin discusses the politics of the situation.
- Samsung’s Delusions of Relevance
I've been wrestling with the right way to put this for weeks. There was something about Samsung that's been bugging me since the bizarro world GS4 media event, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Yesterday's news about the SamsungSmart App Challenge 2013 helped crystallize it for meSamsung has delusions of relevance.
- Native Instrument Releases Abbey Road 50s Drummer
- Senator Paul: Stop Bullying Apple
While Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI) are accusing Apple of using shelters in other countries to avoid paying U.S. taxes, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is accusing the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of bullying Apple. Senator Paul's comments came on Tuesday during a subcommittee hearing into corporate tax practices in Washington DC.
The Mac Observer Spin:
If Apple is complying with the law, but you think the company should pay more taxes, it's time to change the law. Assuming Apple is in the right and hasn't violated any tax codes, Congress needs to look to itself for change and not big corporations.
- AT&T Opening FaceTime Over Cellular to All
AT&T has reversed its stance blocking FaceTime video chats over cell signals and will begin supporting that, along with all pre-loaded video chat apps, over LTE without any service plan restrictions before the end of the year. Currently, AT&T allows FaceTime video chats on its data network only for subscribers on shared family data plans.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Better late than never, but AT&T should've had this policy in place from the beginning.
- Jeff Gamet Talks Apple Taxes on The Mac Show
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, joined the team at The Mac Show to talk about Apple's tax payment practices and the U.S. Senate hearing where CEO Tim Cook will be testifying.
- Google to Merchants: We’re Killing Google Checkout
Google is still axing services, and this time it's Google Checkout that's on the execution block. The Internet search giant warned retailers they have until November to find a replacement for the feature, although some users can move to Google Wallet.
The Mac Observer Spin:
This time Google already has an alternative in place for the service it's killing, but considering the number of services the company has killed off over the past few months, that probably isn't instilling much confidence in users.
- MGG 450: Don’t Play Ding Dong Ditch on an Airplane
As you have come to expect from your two favorite geeks, this show brought to you with real-time logistics: Dave flew injust in time to make the recording of the show, coordinating with John and prepping the agenda from the car while Dave's wife drove him straight to the studio. Good stuff in this show, too, as you'd expect with the kind of frantic energy that went into the prep! Download today (it's free, after all) and enjoy!
- Apple Hits Another Record in Retail Dollars Per Visitor
Apple's chain of retail stores continue to be the most profitable retail outlets in the world on a square-foot basis. According to Asymco, Apple hit yet another record in the March quarter for dollars-per-visitor, getting US$57.60 on average from the hordes of ravenous Apple fans that frequent Apple Stores.
The Mac Observer Spin:
Looking at these charts, it's hard to fit the Apple-hater narrative that the company is on some kind of downhill trajectory. Maybe we just need more time, and then surely it will come to pass?
- Bipartisan Senators Accuse Apple of Avoiding Billions in U.S. Taxes
A Senate committee investigating U.S. corporate tax rates has accused Apple of using a global network of complex subsidiaries to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. taxes. The accusation represents a rare bipartisan front in the U.S. Senate, with both Democrat and Republican senators issuing statements in the accusation.
- Bryan Chaffin Talks About Apple Monday at SVMUG
TMO cofounder and copublisher Bryan Chaffin will be speaking Monday evening at the monthly meeting of the Silicon Valley Macintosh User Group. Bryan will be talking about Apple, the high noise-to-signal ratio in coverage of the company, and what we might expect at June's World Wide Developer Conference.
- Apple Asks Congress to Eliminate Tax Loopholes, Lower Corporate Rates
Apple released the testimony CEO Tim Cook will submit to a Congressional hearing on Tuesday, including some of the details of a proposal to overhaul the U.S. corporate tax system. In a 16 page PDF, Apple asked that Congress eliminate all corporate tax loopholes, lower the corporate income tax rates, and to implement a "reasonable tax" on foreign earnings.
- Manage Your Movie Wish List on iPhone with ToDoMovies
Everyone who's into theatrical movies knows the drill: what do I want to see next? What have I already seen? What's available now in theaters? iTunes? What's coming out soon? Let's view the trailer. And so on. ToDoMovies is an iPhone app that manages all that beautifully, and it's a must for movie fans.
- Samsung’s Answer to App Developer Interest: We’ll Pay You, Maybe
Samsung is hoping to draw more developers to the Android OS platform and to spark interest in the Group Play feature on the Galaxy S4 smartphone with a contest that includes US$800,000 in prize money. Group Play lets Galaxy S4 users share content like photos, music and games, and for the feature to take off, Samsung needs some apps that actually take advantage of what it offers. Investing in a contest, however, probably isn't the best use of the company's money.
- Manage Your App.net Account with Passport
The team behind the social networking service App.net has a new app out called App.net Passport that gives users an easy all-in-one tool for managing their account on their iPhone. The app lets users create and edit accounts, find and follow other App.net users, and search for client apps. You can also use the app to sign up for a free-level App.net account. What it doesn't do is let you post to or read your App.net feed -- but that's on purpose, since App.net Passport is all about account management, not posting and reading. App.net Passport for iPhone is free and is available at Apple's iTunes-based App Store.
- Rumor Claims Apple Testing iWatch Display
Rumors out of Taiwan claim Apple is currently testing 1.5-inch OLED displays from RITEK for its smartwatch device. That display will apparently be linked to RitFast sensors to make it touch-sensitive.
The Mac Observer Spin:
If the iWatch is just an accessory to the iPhone or iPad, it doesn't make sense for Apple to release the product. Apple's primary product line is all about stand-alone devices that also happen to interact really well with other Apple gear.
- Dallas Apple Store Loses iPhones in Theft
Apple's Knox Street store in Dallas, Texas, was targeted by a thief over the weekend that made off with about US$2,000 in iPhones. The suspect walked into the store in the evening, grabbed several display iPhones, and ran out before anyone caught him.
The Mac Observer Spin:
It seems the criminals are always on the hunt for iPhones, but never Samsung, HTC, or Motorola smartphones. How about that?
- Jeff Gamet on Singing Astronauts & Whovians Fighting Jedi on The BIG Show
The Mac Observer's Managing Editor Jeff Gamet joined The BIG Show from the British Tech Network to take a look at Commander Chris Hadfield singing from space, along with the mayhem from Star Wars and Doctor Who fans fighting at a convention. Really.
- Yahoo! Buys Tumblr in $1.1B Deal
Internet search company Yahoo! confirmed rumors on Monday with the announcement that it is purchasing the blogging site Tumblr in a US$1.1 billion deal. Yahoo! said Tumblr will continue to operate as an independent company and that it doesn't have any plans to "screw it up."
The Mac Observer Spin:
Yahoo! says the deal is about enhancing user experiences for its users and Tumblr users. That may be the case, but it sure feels like a great way for Yahoo! to build a captive audience for advertising revenue tied to over 50 billion blog posts.
- How to Assign Custom Icons to Desktop Files & Folders in OS X
OS X looks great, but sometimes you need to give your Mac a little personality, or maybe you just need some quick visual cues for your folders files. Sandro Cuccia shows you how to engage in a fun, but Apple-sanctioned method for customizing your Mac desktop icons.
- 3 Free iOS Apps We Hope You Never Need
We hope you never need the apps Vern Seward looks at this week in Free on iTunes, but you'll be glad to have one if you are ever involved in an auto accident. Car Accident Report, Car Accident Sidekick, and Accident Wizard. Check it out.
- Apple’s ‘iRadio’ Streaming Excites Labels, Sony Hung on Skipping
Warner Music Group and Universal Music are both excited about Apple's planned streaming service, but Sony Music is apparently hung up on how much it gets paid for songs that are skipped. Bryan Chaffin is mystified by this kind of myopia and thinks that Sony needs to pull its corporate head out of its corporate behind.
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