MacHeist is back with a FREE nanoBundle!

MacHeist is back! Yes, the ever-popular Mac software-bundling program that incorporates puzzles and missions to get free apps (and discounts for the bundle) over a period of time, with the series-closing software bundle (of top-quality apps, some normally in the expensive-range) that is heavily discounted for participants. 

Just recently there was a small activity to visit coordinates on MacHeist's site to get a free license for DaisyDisk, and today they have released the nanoBundle. The nanoBundle contains: ShoveBox (small clippings management system), WriteRoom (distraction-free writing), Twitterrific (one of the original Mac Twitter clients), TinyGrab (screenshot capture), Hordes of Orcs (tower-defense game), and Mariner Write (fast and streamlined Mac word processor) which will be unlocked when they reach 500,000 participants/downloads.

Yes, these 5 + bonus apps, worth $154, can be yours today, for FREE!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to MacHeist and grab your free apps now!

This will end in 6 days (Nov. 11)!

Adobe bites back at Apple

If you go to Adobe's 'getflash' page (http://www.get.adobe.com/flashplayer) you will be greeted with the image you see in this post - a snarky remark about Apple's lack of support for Flash on the iconic iPhone.

However, as I stumbled upon Cult of Mac's article, it seems that a Reddit comment points out that Flash on the iPhone would reduce the iPhone's battery life to beyond abysmal.

From Reddit:

About six months ago, a friend who was working closely along side adobe’s flash application development team told me that they received a prototype of Flash for iPhone. The prototype allowed the iPhone to have less than half an hour of battery life using flash. They then sent the prototype to apple and suggested incorporating this prototype iPhone flash into the iPhone OS in the next update.

Apparently apple sent this letter back thanking them for being interested in developing a working version of flash for the iphone but because the prototype is so processor intensive, and awful for battery life, they would not include it with their OS because it is just not good enough. They suggested using the gpu instead of the processor to render flash. Then they suggested building a seperate app for flash and web browsing because there was no way apple could endorse flash integration on the iphone in its current state.

Adobe apparently didn’t want to release the app under their name either and it never showed up in the app store.

So Adobe sucks at programming and Apple won't allow such poor code, and now Adobe is trying to point fingers at Apple?

Hmmmm...

But to be honest, I don't miss Flash at all. How about you?

Apple makes changes to stores in time for holidays

Image source: Tony Shi's flickr photostreamAs Microsoft begins rolling out their retail stores, Apple is allegedly preparing to make some changes to their own store, just in time for the holiday season.

The first reported change is phasing out multiple shirt colors that employees wear in order to differentiate themselves by their roles. These color coded uniforms tend to confuse shoppers as to who handles each task. Allegedly there will be only one color of uniform for all employees, although ifoAppleStore reports that the color may change every few months just to keep things fresh. 

The other change will involve the checkout system, which will be switching from the Microsoft EasyPay handhelds to iPod touches that will be custom-equipped with a barcode reading accessory. This checkout system will also allow customers to pay with cash on the spot, rather than having to maneuver to the cash register. Apparently, the Windows CE-based devices were "prone to crashes and non-responsiveness by employees." 

Surprise!

So in the near future, you'll be able to go in and out of an Apple Store even faster with all your shiny new goods!

via MacLife.com

Apple TV 3.0 software now available

Source: MacLife.comIn addition to the iTunes 9.0.2 software update today, Apple has released the 3.0 software for the Apple TV. This update will allow the device to have the current iTunes features, iTunes LP and Extras, and Genius Mixes.

So if you have an Apple TV, go update the thing. Unfortunately, I don't, so I'll be out for the count.

Here's Apple's press release:

Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface




Enjoy iTunes Extras, iTunes LP & Genius Mixes on Your HD TV


CUPERTINO, California—October 29, 2009—Apple® today introduced new Apple TV® 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes® Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.


“The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio.”


The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives you instant access to your favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy stunning fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as “Star Trek” or classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and albums such as Taylor Swift’s “Fearless (Platinum Edition)” and Jack Johnson’s “En Concert.” iTunes Extras gives movie fans great additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP is the next evolution of the music album, delivering a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.


Now Apple TV users can enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Customers can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV’s support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding your favorite photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto® Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.


Apple TV users have direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in stunning HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their Mac® or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones.* iPod touch® or iPhone® users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.


Pricing & Availability 
The new Apple TV software is available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers. The 160GB Apple TV is available from the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US). Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. Video availability varies by country.


Apple TV easily connects to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed Wi-Fi, Apple TV automatically plays your iTunes content without setup or management.

iTunes 9.0.2 update available

Check Software Update recently? You may want to do that now, as an update for iTunes - 9.0.2 - is out now.

Here's what it does:

iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility.


iTunes 9 comes with many new features and improvements, including:


• An improved look and feel, including a new Column Browser for easily browsing your artists or albums, movies, TV shows, and more.


• iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.


• iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more — available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.


• Home Sharing helps you manage your family's iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.


• Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.


• iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.


• iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.


• Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009).


• iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.

Happy updating :)

Update on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 2:42PM by Christine Chan

I should note that this update does again kill the Palm Pre sync.

With the USB-IF siding with Apple on this one, isn't it about time Palm try something new instead of continue a frivilous cat-n-mouse game that is pointless?

There are many options. DoubleTwist and other syncing programs, or Palm can, I don't know, create their own syncing solution?