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iPhone 1.1.4 Firmware Update now available, already jailbroken
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Looks like we have new iPhone firmware as well this morning! In addition to refreshing their MacBook and MacBook Pro lines to Penryn processors, Apple has also released the new iPhone 1.1.4 firmware. Go ahead and check for a new update after connecting your iPhone to iTunes. Of course, if you are
unlocked, you may want to wait for a bit while everything gets figured out. Apple is saying this release is all about bug fixes - but we are hoping there is also some iPhone SDK magic in there somewhere.
EDIT: Okay, if you are jailbroken, go ahead and update. ZiPhone still works, and will jailbreak the just-released 1.1.4 firmware update…although the developer recommends waiting until he can fully test. Your call.
Gallery: iPhone 1.1.4 Firmware Update now available, already jailbroken
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Apple bumps MacBook and MacBook Pro to Penryn
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,
Ever since Penryn chips started making their way into mobile computers, we all knew it was just a matter of time before Apple bumped their mobiles to the latest chips from Intel as well. This morning, in their Tuesday update, they did just that. Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro are now rocking the Penryn Core 2 Duo chipset. If you are eyeing the MacBook Pro, those have the added bonus of a 6 MB L2 cache if you choose a 2.5 or 2.6 GHz chip, and Multi-Touch trackpads are now standard . That’s hot.
For the MacBook, pricing starts at $1099 for the base model, which includes a Combo drive instead of a SuperDrive, a 2.1 GHz chip, a 120GB hard drive, and 1 GB of RAM. For $200 more, you get a 2.4 GHz chip, an additional gig of RAM, a SuperDrive, and a 160 GB drive. If you need more hard drive space than that, you can get the Black MacBook, which hooks you up with 250 GB of storage.
Over on the MacBook Pro side of things, $1,999 gets you a 2.4 GHz chip, 2 GB of RAM, a 200 GB hard drive, double-layer SuperDrive, and a 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. If you move up to the $2,499 model, you are bumped up to a 2.5 GHz chip (with 6 MB L2 cache!), a 250 GB hard drive, and a 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. For $2,799, you get all the same specs, but you are bumped up to a 17-inch screen, if that’s your thing.
All in all, we’d say this is a worthy upgrade if your mobile computer is looking a bit long in the tooth.
Read More 
| Apple Press Release
Gallery: Apple bumps MacBook and MacBook Pro to Penryn
Apple Drops iPod shuffle Price to $49
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Hot Deals, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Apple has lowered the price of its 1GB iPod shuffle. The musical mini-player has been reduced to $49.00 to make way for its soon to be released 2GB brother. At a size of about half a cubic inch in volume and a weight of about half an oz., the shuffle will come in silver, blue, green, purple, and a (Product) Red Special Edition, and will carry a price of $69.99. We like the idea that as more products are released, Apple has the sense to lower the old shuffle’s price, rather than charge more for the new one. Maybe they will do the same with their next iPhone.
Read More | Apple
Gallery: Apple Drops iPod shuffle Price to $49
With iTunes 7.6, we got movie rentals, among other things. We also got nice, tight integration between iTunes and Apple TV Take 2. Today, Apple released a small point upgrade in iTunes 7.6.1, which focuses on “several” bug fixes as well as an improving compatibility between iTunes and Apple TV 2.0 software. Here is the full scoop from Apple themselves:
Rent and download your favorite movies with iTunes on your computer or directly to your living room on Apple TV. Enjoy rented movies in sizes up to 720p HD with surround sound on your Apple TV and sizes up to DVD-quality on your computer. Transfer your rented movies from iTunes to your iPod or iPhone and enjoy them on the go.
Also, purchase and download your favorite TV shows, music, and more directly on your Apple TV. Effortlessly transfer purchases made on Apple TV back to your computer with iTunes.
iTunes 7.6.1 includes several bug fixes and improves compatibility with Apple TV software version 2.0.
Anything that eliminates bugs sounds good to us. Fire up Software Update to pull in the new version.
Gallery: iTunes 7.6.1 released
iPod Case Recycles 45s
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Apple, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
What better way to keep your 5th or 6th generation iPod safe and support all things green than with a 45 iPod Case. The Limited Editions are created by taking old 7-inch vinyls and recycling them into covers that will let your buds know just who is on your playlist. Although Pink Floyd, Janet Jackson, Billy Idol, and Donny Osmond have already been sold, don’t fret, for Tiffany is still available. The company also creates cases for 1st and 2nd generation iPod nanos out of cassette shells. Available for £45.00 (~$88.00) with a free TEC1 Modem Extension cable, get someone else to buy one and you get a $5.00 rebate.
Read More | 45
Gallery: iPod Case Recycles 45s
Audiowrapz Gives Sound and Color to iPods
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Apple, Design, Portable Audio / Video,
We didn’t want you to think we had forgotten you on this illustrious holiday for lovers, so we came up with one more gift idea for Valentines Day. iFrogz has a new iPod 2G nano case that comes with speakers. The Audiowrapz Case is made of silicone with passive speaker technology so you don’t need batteries. Choose your wrap from 8 colors for $24.99 and add your choice of screen for $6.00, or get both for $27.99.
(Happy Heart Day, Gear Livers!)
Read More | ifrogz
Gallery: Audiowrapz Gives Sound and Color to iPods
MacBook Air SSD review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews, Wireless / WiFi,
First things first - the MacBook Air took no one by surprise. We all knew, based on the reports churning out of the rumor mill, that Apple had a subnotebook up their sleeve, and all signs were pointing at MacWorld 2008 for it’s introduction to the world. Heck, even the name of the product got out there before Steve got a chance to announce it at the event. Of course, that wasn’t the only thing that leaked before MacWorld 2008, as we got our hands on the iPhone 1.1.3 firmware weeks before it was officially announced.
What we didn’t know was how the Air would look. When Steve pulled the computer out of manila envelope, everyone was wowed. The MacBook Air is thin. T-H-I-N. At it’s smallest point, the Air is just 0.16 inches thin. That is thinner than both the iPhone and iPod touch. The larger side is just 0.76 inches. Again, tiny. See for yourself in our MacBook Air unboxing gallery.
As for the rest of the specs, the Air is the same brushed aluminum color that you will find on the MacBook Pro line, and is available in 1.6GHz and 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo speeds. Both models come with 2GB of non-upgradable RAM, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, a 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit display, and Bluetooth 2.1. As far as ports go, you will only find one micro-DVI, one USB, and one audio out jack. That’s it. As for storage, this is where the major choice comes in. You can choose between an 80 GB 4200 RPM ATA hard drive, or a 64 GB SSD (solid-state flash drive). We got our hands on the SSD version of the MacBook Air.
We give you our thoughts on the SSD-based MacBook Air in our full review.
Click to continue reading MacBook Air SSD review
Gallery: MacBook Air SSD review
Apple TV Take 2 finally released!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Broadband, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Software,
If you are like me, you’ve been waiting for Apple TV Take 2 to hit for just about a month now. When it was delayed two weeks ago, I stared at my Apple TV in disgust. In it’s current form, it was nothing more than a YouTube viewer, and sometimes, a nice picture screensaver. However, the wait is no more. As part of today’s Tuesday updates, Apple has finally released the Apple TV Take 2 software, and it is available now for download. Aside from a freatly enhanced UI, here are some of the features:
- Movie rentals in both high definition and standard definition
- Flickr photo browsing and slideshows
- .Mac photo gallery browsing and slideshows
- Purchasing of items from iTunes Store from Apple TV
- Browse and view podcasts in iTunes Podcast directory on Apple TV
If you have an Apple TV, fire up Software Update on the device to get the new hotness, and let us know what you think.
Read More | Apple TV Take 2 Guided Tour
Gallery: Apple TV Take 2 finally released!
Leopard 10.5.2 update now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
Time to fire up Software Update yet again, as the Leopard 10.5.2 update has just been released. We knew this one was meant to fix a ton of stuff under the hood of the OS, and the file size we are seeing is pretty much in line with that. A whopping 341 MB download. 10.5.2 includes fixes for Active Directory, Airport, Back to my Mac, Dashboard, Dock, Desktop, iCal, iChat, iSync, Finder, Mail, Networking, Parental Controls, Preview, Printing, RAW Image support, Safari, Login and Setup Assistant, System, Time Machine, as well as a few other areas. We told you it was big. Hit the Read link to get the full scoop, as this download might take you a few minutes…
Read More | Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update Notes
Gallery: Leopard 10.5.2 update now available
Flash on iPhone is just around the corner
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
EDIT: The Skyfire browser for iPhone allows you to view Flash video directly on your iPhone.
EDIT: Here are the details on Apple and Adobe collaborating on an iPhone Flash player.
EDIT: Here is an update on the whole Flash on iPhone situation.
We’ve been waiting for Flash support to hit the iPhone ever since…well…it launched. We’ve had to make do without Flash for almost eight months, and YouTube even had to convert a bunch of their catalog to H.264 in order for the service to be enjoyed on the iPhone. Well, we’ve just got word from a reliable source that Flash support is on its way to the iPhone, and it should be coming very, very soon. Speculating a bit further on our own, we are guessing that it would be pretty convenient for Flash support to be introduced alongside the iPhone SDK, wouldn’t you say? Now, we know that there isn’t much information here, but you also know how strong our sources are too - Flash on the iPhone is coming, just take our word for it, okay?
EDIT: We already have had a couple people ask about the supposed battery and CPU issues that were holding Flash back from being included on the iPhone in the first place. From what I am hearing, it was a complete fabrication. Flash has not yet made it to the iPhone solely due to business negotiations. As we said, it is now on its way!
Gallery: Flash on iPhone is just around the corner
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