Archive for March, 2011

Apple has seeded a new 8th version of Mac OS X 10.6.7, termed Build 10J869, to developers for testing. According to those familiar with the new build, Apple doesn’t list known issues keeps asking developers to focus their testing on Safari, Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers. Very little change in file size leads us to think the final release of the OS update is nearing completion.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine Bon Jovi said that he hates iTunes and thinks that Steve Jobs is responsible for killing the music business. Actually, according to Bon Jovi the man just took away the magic of buying physical records and firing up your walkman.

Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it. God, it was a magical, magical time. I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: ‘What happened?’. Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business.

Well-know teardown firm iFixit has recently teardown the Apple’s Smart Cover case for the new iPad 2. The highly publicized case consists of plenty magnets that keep it aligned on the surface of the iPad and turn off and on the device.

There are a total of THIRTY ONE magnets within the iPad 2 and Smart Cover: 10 magnets in the iPad 2, and a whopping 21 magnets inside the Smart Cover. They're the reason why the cover works so well with the iPad 2.

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It seems that the recently released iPad 2 has been jailbroken. iOS hacker, known as Comex,  posted on his Twitter account that the iPad 2 jailbreak is underway. The Jailbreak has yet to be packaged. Comex has yet to say when the jailbreak will made public, and how it works, but we now at least know the iPad 2 is able to be jailbroken. On the shot above you may see the proof – the jailbroken white iPad 2 3G with Cydia ready to launch.

The Independent has reported that Apple informed its European partners that the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology wouldn’t be used in the future iPhones and iPads to allow customers to use those devices to make purchases at retail stores.

The new iPhone will not have NFC, Apple told the operators it was concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry.

Although the fact that Apple isn’t going to implement NFC technology into iPhone 5 does not mean Apple isn’t working on their own NFC service for a 2012 launch.

Apple is understood to be working on its own NFC proposition, which would link payments through iTunes. It hopes to introduce the technology in a handset likely to be released next year.

Apple is taking donations in order to help Japan earthquake and tsunami victims. The company created an option in the iTunes Store that allows everybody to make donation to the American Red Cross for the Japanese victims. To make donation, visit this page and choose to donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200. Everything happens through the iTunes account you already have.

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami through the Pacific. Your support will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters.

iFixit, as usual, prefers not to waste time and has already teardown newly released iPad 2 16 GB Wi-Fi model. The iPad 2 wasn’t easy to open because of tons of glue (not screws) used to seal it. The iPad 2 is very densely packed and has less empty space inside the body comparing with the original iPad. Here are the initials found inside:

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Apple opened its virtual doors around 1AM this morning and now the iPad 2 is available for order on the US Apple Online Store. There is a choice out of 18 models - WiFi, GSM or CDMA; Black or White; 16, 32 or 64GB. All 18 models are available for order and they all ship in 3-5 business days. UPDATE: most of the models are now ships within 2-3 weeks.

Apple’s iPad 2 Smart Cover is available as well, shipping in 1-2 business days. Smart Cover is available either leather ($69) or Polyurethane ($39) option with 5 colors per material. As we were told during iPad 2 presentation - Apple is also selling an HDMI cable ($39) for the iPad 2.

Those who do not want to order their iPad 2 online can purchase one at an Apple retail, AT&T, Target, Verizon, Best Buy, Walmart, or Sam’s Club store starting March 11th at 5 PM local time.

Multiply analysts expect that Apple could sell 600, 000 iPad 2 during this launch weekend. On launch day of the first-gen iPad, on April 3, 2010, the company sold 300,000 units of WiFi-only original iPad. iPad 2 is expected to outpace the original model. Tim Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Strategies, believes that sales of the iPad 2 could reach 500,000 this weekend. Analysts from Romand & Renshaw and Piper Jaffray & Co. also expect the iPad 2 to outsell its predecessor. The two leading reasons for more iPad 2 sales have to do with more stores selling the device on opening day and the addition of the white model. Moreover, early reviews of the iPad 2 have praised Apple for improvements made to the device.