Cult of Mac

iPhone Augmented Reality App Helps You Find Car, Monuments, Friends

Nicole Martinelli — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:26 +0000

LocFinder is an augmented reality app that boasts it will always let you see which direction is home or find your car, even if you’re halfway across the world. LocFinder costs $0.99 on iTunes and while isn’t the first augmented reality app to tackle parking lot amnesia — we recently wrote about Car Finder — it [...]

Apple Shipping i7 Versions of 27-Inch iMacs

Ed Sutherland — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:17 +0000

Apple has begun shipping the 27-inch iMacs with Intel’s Core i7 processor, according a Cult of Mac reader. The i7 is Intel’s beefier update to its Core 2 Duo, running 2.66 – 2.8 GHz. The i7 27-inch iMac shipped today and is expected to arrive in the U.S. by Nov. 17, according to the email. The [...]

Microsoft: Windows 7 ‘Inspired’ By Mac OS

Ed Sutherland — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:14:48 +0000

We all know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Now software giant Microsoft admits it had Apple’s OSX in mind when creating the Windows 7 operating system. “What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 – whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format – is create a Mac look and feel in [...]

Cult Favorite: FastFinga For iPhone

Giles Turnbull — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:47:52 +0000

Apple Overtakes Nokia As Most Profitable Cell Phone Maker

Ed Sutherland — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:18:50 +0000

Apple is now the most profitable player in the cell phone business, overtaking giant Nokia for the crown, reports said Wednesday. Apple earned $1.6 billion in profits during the last financial quarter, besting Nokia’s $1.1 billion for the same period, according to estimates. Apple also overtook Samsung, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. Although Apple and rival [...]

Interview: A Family Of Macs Get The Love They Deserve

Giles Turnbull — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:56:52 +0000

When I saw this snap in the Cult of Mac Flickr pool, I wanted to find out more. Who is the owner of the little family of Macs old and new, and how did they end up on this desk? Their owner is Aleksandr Kaidanovskij, a resident of Verona in Italy. (Verona is a lovely city, [...]

One Month Later: No iTunes LP Open Specs, No Indies

Pete Mortensen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:50:07 +0000

Since its introduction in September, Apple’s multimedia iTunes LP format has been the subject of constant speculation and teeth-gnashing. I took quite a lot of criticism a month ago, much of it well-deserved, for repeating a Gizmodo-reported rumor that Apple was restricting the format to a handful of titles from major labels only and charging high [...]

Dear Apple: Burn Down the App Store’s Entertainment Category

Pete Mortensen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:35:59 +0000

There’s a lot to like about the iPhone’s App Store. The more than 100,000 programs within its occasionally strict boundaries offer a bevy of experience riches unmatched in the mobile computing space. But it’s also frustrating. Great apps get postponed or blocked altogether, while great ones like Skype have key features removed. All of this is [...]

Psystar: Cocaine, Car Crashes and The Company’s Chances of Beating Apple (Pretty Good)

Leander Kahney — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:25:59 +0000

Psystar, the unofficial Mac cloner, may actually have a shot at beating Apple, the Miami New Times reports in an interesting backgrounder on the two brothers behind the company, Robert and Rudy Pedraza. The six-page profile includes several interesting factoids, including the revelation that their father is a convicted coke dealer. The brothers started their knockoff business [...]

Lots Of Small Fixes In Yojimbo 2.1 Update

Giles Turnbull — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:31:06 +0000

Bare Bones released a Yojimbo update this afternoon, which adds a handful of nice new bits and pieces. Among the changes: You can now view encrypted items by clicking on the large combination lock symbol that covers them up in the viewing pane. AppleScript fans might be pleased to hear that Yojimbo’s Quick Input Panel can now [...]

Why Rumors of Apple Adding RFID to the Next iPhone Is a Big Deal

Leander Kahney — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:28:34 +0000

If rumors that Apple is adding an RFID reader to the iPhone are true, it’s huge! An RFID reader would turn the iPhone into an e-wallet — allowing you to pay for everything, from a cup of coffee to a subway ride. It could also turn the iPhone into an ID card, a security access system [...]

Hurry! Last Week To Pick Up MacJournal and HoudahGeo In The Mac Sale Bundle

Tim Cox — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:18:37 +0000

This is the last week to purchase The Mac Sale’s newest bundle, so if you were thinking about picking this one up, do it before Friday. For the typical bundle price of $49.99, you can pick up some quality software that would normally cost a lot more. Classic Apps like MacJournal and HoudahGeo make the bundle [...]

Daily Deals: MacBooks for $749, $139 iPod touch, $49 8GB iPhone 3G

Ed Sutherland — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:17:37 +0000

We start off with a hardware trio: The Apple store offers a number of MacBook laptops, starting at $749 for a 2.1 GHz, 13-inch machine. Next up is an 8GB iPod touch for $139 and an 8GB iPhone 3G for $49. Along with hardware, we have several cases for your iPhone or iPod, both of [...]

Standardized Mini DisplayPort Prompts Non-Apple Gear

Ed Sutherland — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:45:20 +0000

The Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA) Tuesday formally approved the Mini DisplayPort standard. The move to standardize the technology first licensed by Apple could prompt low-cost alternatives to displays made by Cupertino. Any devices or cables using the Mini DisplayPort connector must meet DisplayPort 1.1a standards. VESA previously announced the Mini DisplayPort connector would be [...]

Universal Uses iPhone To Promote Christmas Blu-ray Releases

Ed Sutherland — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:16:34 +0000

Universal Studios Home Entertainment Tuesday introduced a bevy of iPhone and iPod touch tie-ins with a number of holiday Blu-ray titles. The DVDs come with the pocket BLU app, enabling iPhone and iPod users to enhance the Blu-ray experience. Another app, social BLU, lets Blu-ray users more ways to interact on Facebook and Twitter using [...]

Will Hilton Hotel App Get Your Business?

Nicole Martinelli — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:30 +0000

Hilton Hotels just launched an iPhone app that lets customers book and modify reservations at over 520 hotels in 76 countries. Offered gratis on iTunes, the Hilton Worldwide app could come in handy for stranded travelers thanks to a feature that lets you find hotels near you, by address or airport, and gives you directions from [...]

Boston iPod Billboard Quietly Removed After Political Questions

Ed Sutherland — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:36:17 +0000

Remember the hoopla over Boston’s giant iPod billboard we reported on back in October? Questions arose whether a mayor’s aide had helped a business group obtain permission to erect the ad, despite the objections of the state’s outdoor advertising board and the mayor’s own historic reluctance for such things? The billboard was quietly removed, replaced [...]

10.6.2 Drops Atom Support, It’s End Of Line For Hackintoshes

Leander Kahney — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:01:12 +0000

From now on, all Hackintoshes may be stuck at 10.6.1. Hackintosh hackers have confirmed that 10.6.2 drops support for Intel’s Atom chips. Writes leading hacker StelaRolo: “The netbook forums are now blowing up with problems of 10.6.2 instant rebooting their Atom based netbooks. My sources tell me that everytime a netbook user installs 10.6.2 an Apple employee gets [...]

CNBC: Apple Could Unseat Microsoft As Tech’s Most Valuable Company In Two Years

Leander Kahney — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:20:41 +0000

Could Apple be catching Microsoft as tech’s most valuable company? CNBC says Apple is already in Microsoft’s rearview mirror, and could unseat the software giant within two years. While Apple is currently valued at $180 billion and Microsoft at $250 billion, Apple’s business is growing fast while MS’s is not. “The biggest overriding reason why the company still [...]

Apple Releases 10.6.2 Update, Fixes Guest Account Data Deletion Bug

Leander Kahney — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:12:49 +0000

Apple has just released the 10.6.2 update to OS X, which includes scores of bug fixes and improvements, including the nasty bug that can delete your data when using a guest account. The “Guest Account Bug” was the big one, but Apple says the update fixes sundry issues, from Exchange contacts not showing up inSpotlight search [...]

How To: Change Your iPhone’s Default SSH Password

Sayam Aggarwal — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:17:42 +0000

If you jailbreak your iPhone, the first thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO is change the default filesystem password. When you jailbreak, the filesystem’s password is set to the common password “alpine.” As people usually don’t bother changing this password after performing a jailbreak, it’s really easy for hackers to get access to any jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch [...]

Apple Begins Shipping 27-Inch iMacs With Core i5 Quad-Core Chips

Ed Sutherland — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:51:54 +0000

Apple reportedly has begun shipping its 27-inch iMacs with Intel Core i5 quad-core processors to consumers who ordered the new desktop Macs in October. The company is now notifying buyers the iMacs have shipped from Shanghai. Apple had said it would ship the new Core i5 and i7 quad-core Macs in November. The new iMacs include [...]

Review: The iHome iP1, Sexy Italian Sports Car Of Docks

Eli Milchman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:44:48 +0000

We’ve seen this before: A company that’s built a reputation offering stuff to the budget-minded shopper suddenly does an about face and starts wooing the uptown crowd. Sometimes it works brilliantly; often it’s a misfire. Earlier this year, it was iHome’s turn at bat. The company, well-known for their cleanly simple, inexpensive line of iPod/iPhone accessories, [...]

Daily Deals: $999 MacBook Pro Laptops, iTunes Gift Cards and FM Transmitters

Ed Sutherland — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:41 +0000

We start another week with more deals on MacBook Pro laptops. This time we feature a 2.26GHz 13-inch machine from the Apple Store, starting at $999. Also available: 2.53GHz and 2.66GHz MacBook Pro laptops with prices ranging from $1,299 to $1,949. You can also get a $10 extra gift card when you bundle a $25 [...]

O2 To Unlock iPhones After Contracts Expire

Ed Sutherland — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:46:42 +0000

UK carrier O2 will unlock iPhones once subscriber contracts expire, allowing customers to use the Apple device on rival networks. The decision by Telefonica chairman and CEO Matthew Key could preview how carriers respond to the shrinking number of exclusive iPhone contracts. “Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks, we will allow O2 customers [...]

Verizon Targets AT&T, Labels iPhone a ‘Misfit Toy’

Ed Sutherland — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:46:32 +0000

Verizon has released three new ads attacking AT&T, the latest labeling the iPhone as a “Misfit toy.” The ad charges the handset belongs on the “Island for Misfit Toys” because of AT&T’s lack of widespread 3G coverage. Two other Christmas-themed ads take aim at the rival carrier’s coverage. This latest round of ads differ from Verizon’s [...]

First iPhone Worm Found: Australian Jailbreakers Targeted

Ed Sutherland — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:39:07 +0000

The first worm aimed at the iPhone has appeared. The worm is described as mostly innocuous, initially targeting unsecure jailbroken iPhones in Austrialia. The worm’s creator, a hacker identified as “ikex” switches your wallpaper for an image of Rick Astley, a 1980-era pop star. Astley, who sang the 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up,” [...]

iPhone Bus and Train Tickets? The Swiss Have an App for That

Nicole Martinelli — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:29:08 +0000

Transport in Switzerland not only runs on time, but you can buy tickets with your iPhone. The latest version of the SBB mobile app lets travelers buy e-tickets for trains and all public transport, so you can get off the train in Lugano and catch a bus for Mendrisio without missing a beat. Users first register with [...]

Cult of Mac Contest: Name Mystery Apple Object, Win T-shirt

Nicole Martinelli — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:37:51 +0000

This is your last chance to correctly name a mystery Apple item to win a T-shirt. Not just any T-shirt: choose from the Apple-inspired designs at might tees, which include the I Love Lisa we wrote about, a retro-style logo and Steve Jobs in typeface. The tees are made with water-based eco inks screen printed on high [...]

How To: Hot Rod Your Mac Pro Into A HD-Editing Beast

Tomás Hernández — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:59:12 +0000

Convert your mild-mannered Mac Pro into a hard drive speed demon. Stuff it with drives fast enough to work with full-quality, uncompressed video. Get more than 300 MB/s on your internal drives! It’s so easy even I can do it! I’ve been working in video production for the last 20+ years. When you’re working with video [...]