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Tag: apple

  • All Hail iPad – Your New Sheriff

    All Hail iPad – Your New Sheriff

    The ‘wonder’ Apple technology has ensured that it’s thief will not go uncaught. Last week saw the house of Mr. Tunde Makhinde, a Lagos based Nigerian visited by some robbers who took his iPad among other things. Little did they know that the iPad will eventually turn out to be the nail to their coffin: The tech whiz had activated the tracking device on his iPad, and within a matter of days, had gone with law enforcement agents to catch the thieves red handed.


    Recently, an amazing app, Find my iphone, was used to track down a stolen iPad and the man who allegedly took it from underneath a family’s Christmas tree in the US. The victim on the ‘Find my iPhone’ app that sends out a signal to the device.Using his computer, the victim was then able to locate the iPad on a map, and alerted police to its whereabouts – just a few houses away.

    Even the burglar who broke into Steve Jobs’ house was caught last year two weeks after the crime thanks to the technology in one of the late Apple founder’s own inventions. He might never have been caught if he hadn’t logged onto iTunes on one of Jobs’ personal iPads. Investigators say they were tipped off about the perpetrator when one of the stolen devices connected to Apple servers.

    What if…?

    ‘But I am no tech whiz!” you might say. That doesn’t matter. How smart would smart technology be if it can’t holler at its owner when it gets stolen? There are simple ways to be two steps ahead of the thief. The ‘Find My iPhone’ application can be used if an Apple device is stolen or misplaced. It does not come installed but can be downloaded for free.

    The user then signs in with their unique Apple ID.a device goes missing, the owner can activate the app on a computer. Signals ‘ping’ the device and its whereabouts can be seen on a map online.can then choose to display a message on its screen, play a sound for two minutes at full volume, lock the device or erase all of its data.can be used on iPhones, iPads, Apple computers and iPods.

    iOS 7 includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which makes it more difficult for anyone to use or sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch once it’s gone missing or has been stolen. And it starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7. Turning off Find My iPhone or erasing your device requires your Apple ID and password. And your Apple ID and password are required before anyone can reactivate it.

    But what happens if you find your device on a location you can’t reach? Go for second best-initiate a remote wipe to delete your personal data and restore your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac to its factory settings. With iOS 7, Find My iPhone can continue to display your custom message, even after your device has been erased. And if you do retrieve your device, you can restore it from your iCloud backup. iCloud is not just for backup, it can help you find your apple device on the map. If one of your Apple devices goes missing, iCloud can help you figure out where it is. Just sign in at iCloud.com or use the Find My iPhone app to see your missing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac on a map.

  • Ultimate Guide to Jailbreak iPad, iPhone and iPod with Sprint

    Ultimate Guide to Jailbreak iPad, iPhone and iPod with Sprint

    Before we proceed to this topic proper, I will like to explain what jailbreaking your device means.Naturally, Apple’s rules for AppStore are way too limiting. Some apps are not allowed to be listed in the AppStore since they break one or more of Apple’s rules. These rules keep control of the device platform in Apple’s control. Some of these rules include: patching system files such as SpringBoard, allowing apps to run in the background, running apps out of the “sandbox”, and simply doing things Apple decided that they don’t want you to do often for reasons to their benefit, not yours (such as tethering).

    Jailbreaking is not unlocking! It is risk free and totally legal. Everything that works before jailbreaking continues to work after. Jailbreaking only adds features. Jailbreaking is risk free and cannot void your warranty. You can simply restore in iTunes at anytime to get back to a factory state. You are not alone, many people are doing it.

    If you ever consider jailbreaking your Apple’s iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch then Sprint should be your prominent choice. It offer the most easiest and quickest jailbreak  ever as Sprint takes the process to a whole new level compare to what other software like JailbreakMe has to offered. After you follow the step below to jailbreak your iDevice you will have the ability to install unapproved, third-party applications which are unavailable in the Apple’s iTunes App Store.

    What You Need to Know about Spirit Before Jailbreak

    Spirit is an untethered jailbreak for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch on firmware 3.1.2, 3.1.3, and 3.2.
    Your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad must be activated.
    Your device must not be stuck on the Connect to iTunes logo or emergency call screen.
    It will work on any version of iTunes 9 (including 9.1.1).
    Spirit will not unlock your iPhone.
    If you are currently using a tethered jailbreak, you have to restore in order to use Spirit.
    Do not upgrade if you unlocked your iPhone 3G or 3GS (if you have the SHSH blobs for 3.1.2, you can restore to it).
    While Spirit is stable for all devices, your iPad may act a little funny due to packages that have not been updated for it yet.

    Step by Step Jailbreak Instruction

    • Download the jailbreak application from Sprint.
    • Connect your iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch to your PC using USB cable.
    • Back up your iDevice to your iTunes library, and sync it. (make sure that your iTunes revision is at least version 9)
    • If you are using Windows 7, Right Click on Spirit.exe and Select Compatibility mode to “Windows 98/ME”.
    • Now double click the Spirit.exe and click on “Jailbreak”.
    • In a few seconds your iDevice will reboot and you will be presented with jailbroken “Cydia” icon on your springboard, See Screenshot below. From here, you have access to all the unapproved, third-party applications.

    Congrats, you have just jailbroke your iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch using Spirit.

    Error and Troubleshooting

    Windows Vista or Windows 7 users may get the error code c0000005 while performing the action. To avoid this error, you have to run Spirit.exe in compatibility mode. Follow the step as below:

    1. Right click on Spirit.exe and select Properties
    2. Select the compatibility tab
    3. Check the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” box and select Windows 98 / Windows ME

    Note: Spirit is not a “carrier unlock” which allows the iPhone to be used with carriers other than AT&T. It is a jailbreak only. Source: iPhone Download Blog

  • Apple & Microsoft-Backed Rockstar Consortium Battles Google and Samsung Over 7 Nortel Patents

    Apple & Microsoft-Backed Rockstar Consortium Battles Google and Samsung Over 7 Nortel Patents

    Well, at the moment, it does look like a ‘never ending’ war between this two parties. “The Rockstar consortium is an organization backed by Apple, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Ericsson and Sony. It purchased patents off of the defunct telecommunications company Nortel in 2011, in a bidding war with Google.

    Now, the consortium has filed suit against Google, ASUSTek, HTC, Huawei, LG, Pantech and ZTE over those patents. The suit was filed in a U.S. District Court of Eastern Texas today.

    “Google placed an initial bid of $900,000,000 for the patents-in-suit and the rest of the Nortel portfolio. Google subsequently increased its bid multiple times, ultimately bidding as high as $4.4 billion,” the filing states. “That price was insufficient to win the auction, as a group led by the current shareholders of Rockstar purchased the portfolio for $4.5 billion. Despite losing in its attempt to acquire the patents-in-suit at auction, Google has infringed and continues to infringe the patents-in-suit.”

    Google famously bid some not-so-random numbers before the end, including ‘pi’. The suit also involves a licensee of the ‘Associative Search Engine’ 6,098,065 patent, NetStar, Inc.

    The other patents are US 7,236,969, 7,469,245, 7,672,970, 7,895,178, 7,895,183 and 7,933,883. They’re mostly fairly dry stuff related to database searches, relevance in advertising presentation and data sorting, but exactly the kind of stuff that makes Google’s special sauce work. We can’t speak to the strength of the patents, but they certainly appear to be relevant.” said techcrunch on their website, “Google lost out in a heated bidding war against Rockstar and went on to acquire Motorola, a move that many attributed to a patent grab, but that was also about hardware in a lot of ways.

    Notably, HTC has a cross-licensing agreement with Apple on some patents, but apparently not these. News of the suit was first reported by Reuters today.”

  • Tips for Creating Custom Themes with Growl for OSx

    Tips for Creating Custom Themes with Growl for OSx

    You might install Growl for design purposes or simply by accident. There are numerous applications that provide support to it. There are even some applications that are available along with Growl. It is one of the few applications that many will consider to be usable with OS X only. Growl is perhaps the coolest notification applications for OS X. The application is known to aid many in getting alerts, whether they’re new tweets, software update or new emails. Developers have also considered Growl as a staple application because its API’s are usable by developers for the integration of alerts in their individual applications.

    Growl is not only OS X’s primary notification system, it is a well thought out design available with different animations and themes. It comes with its own themes preset, which you can obtain after downloading the application from your nearest Mac App Store. You can simply visit the Growl website to get a hold of the desired themes.

    There are many styles of themes to opt from, including AirMail Classic, Basics 1.3, Portal Growl Style and more. Growl is a cool application because you can customize the notification type you want to be displayed. If you want to customize it further, you can set styles on the screen. Growl was set to get updated by its developers. It is a 3rd party notification system that features Boxcar and Prowl in addition to an enhancement of display and action displays via visual ones.

    This update is a major one because of the support provided to the Notification Center in Mountain Lion. Its functionality and operation is a straightforward one- users can keep on using Growl and consolidating the present visual displays on Apple’s Notification Center. Users can also open Preferences, click on General, and set the OS X notifications to on. By doing so, you will become capable of adding Growl to your apps listed, which is under the System Preferences’ Notifications. It might also be effective to make use of Growl as a major bridge between the Notification Center and the 3rd party apps.

    Growl 2.0 also comes with an additional element where you can separately handle the action and visual displays.

  • Best Android vs. Apple Comparisons for Business Owners

    Best Android vs. Apple Comparisons for Business Owners

    When given a choice between Android and Apple, we start to think and scratch our head. It is difficult to choose between the two since both operating systems offer some of the best and effective smartphone features currently available. As a result, both have a strong and loyal user base. Most of the smartphone programs and apps are compatible on apple and android platforms and users can gain accessibility to vital online projects by using either iOS or Android.

    Online businesses and their operations, especially on a mobile platform, demand the use of a smartphone platform, which is effective and capable of meeting requirements as well as being compatible with the nature of business. You need to make use of a platform that best complements and meets your needs because you will be depending on mobile phones for your business appointments, tasks, deals, etc.

    So, if you are fretting over the decision of choosing between Android and Apple then take these points into
    heed first:

    • Determine the type of apps you make use of most in your business. When accessing online features and programs through mobile phones or other handheld devices, dependency on efficiency is high. Today, you will come across many apps that are made and designed especially for businesses. You can download and install such apps easily. If you are looking for highly innovative apps, an Android platform would be the best option.
    • Stability of OS is another point to lookout for. Apple is the best option for you if you are looking to use a smartphone on a long-term basis or one that keeps up with your fast paced online business and lifestyle. Products from Apple are designed and crafted to become compatible even amidst changes and upgrades in software. Android phones and mobile devices are not as quick moving.
    • If you have a business that is highly dependent on merchant services, such as e-commerce or payment transactions, then making use of Apple would be the best option to choose. You will find specific apps that are merchant-related and designed and created for iOS mobile devices that enable users to process different payments through debit or credit cards and make payments without any hassle.
    • Using smartphones and the latest handheld devices for business purposes are also usable for personal purposes. Apps, like music, entertainment, and gaming are best found under Android.

    Let’s get to the bottom line then. If you are looking for a platform strictly to house your business needs, then the platform of Apple overpowers Android. The sole reason behind this revelation is that doing online business is not only about innovation, but also about prolonged stability. The platform of android does offer features for business purposes but one has to be selective about the apps and features from Android. Remember, business which is done within a stabilized mobile framework flourishes more than a business that is not based on such a platform – making Apple the winner, hands down!

  • A Peep at the New Generation of iPhone 5s: It’s Golden

    A Peep at the New Generation of iPhone 5s: It’s Golden


    We successful predicted the next generation of android phone earlier this year, today EWT will be turning it’s attention to the current giant of smartphone market.

    Until now, Apple’s iPhone has only been available in white and black. New reports have declared that the next generation of iPhone is debuting in gold. The iPhone 5S will not be made of complete gold but a rather subtle and sheer champagne color. It will be almost the same tint as the gold iPod mini.

    Across the internet, many sites have already published pictures of champagne colored iPhones. In the meanwhile, Ming-Chi Kuo, analyst of KGI Securities, has put all rumors to rest by offering accurate and legit details about the product plans of Apple and also published a note where he claims that the iPhone 5S devices will most definitely be available in gold.

    Kuo made forecasts about the new model, which will be available with a new look and enhanced features, like 128GB storage. Apple unveiled the iPhone 5S on September 10th at a media event.

    The new iPhone 5S will be inclusive of an A7 system on a chip or SOC, which will be on the basis of 64-Bit ARMv8 architecture of ARM. The 64-bit chips generally offer more memory and is more enhanced than the other software in demand. The A7 will also boost and enhance the performance level of the A6. The iPhone 5S will be built with a rear camera, kept with a 8MP sensor and will also have a large aperture of f/2.0. The camera is said to match the efficiency of HTC One and will be available with dual LED Flash!

    Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed that the iPhone will come with a sapphire home button, built with a fingerprint sensor. With rumors of iPhone 5S being made available in different colors, including golden color, as well as green, pink, white and blue, the eagerness is increasing more than ever.

    This will be the first time that the tech giant will launch a smartphone in color, aside from black or white. Reports are also citing that Apple further plans to offer many variation as well as cheaper series of the expensive iPhone, in order to expand the market and rake in more customers.

  • Apple device IDs hacked: What you need to know

    Apple device IDs hacked: What you need to know

    A hacker collective known as AntiSec has published over a million Apple device IDs that it claims were captured from the laptop of an FBI agent. If you own an iPhone or iPad, you might be wondering what this hack means to you, and you might also be curious about why the FBI had your Apple UDID in the first place. The information was acquired and released by the hackers as a political statement. The lengthy diatribe posted on Pastebin along with the hacked Apple ID info rants about government oppression and hypocrisy.
    Why does the FBI have 12 million Apple device UDIDs on a laptop?While the group has published one million and one hacked Apple device IDs, it should be given at least a little credit for restraint. The details stolen from the FBI laptop included more personal information as well—such as full names, cell phone numbers, addresses and zip codes.
    According to the letter from AntiSec, there were approximately 12 million Apple device IDs stored in the file on the FBI laptop. It chose to release just a portion rather than publishing all 12 million. AntiSec could have simply published the data it acquired without scrubbing it first, but the point it’s trying to make is against the government and the FBI—not the individuals whose information happened to be in the hands of the FBI.

    Andrew Storms, director of security operations for nCircle, stresses that the Apple device UDID information itself doesn’t really pose a risk to users. “UDIDs in isolation aren’t a big deal. In fact, Apple used to permit apps to spew UDIDs all over the place, so there’s a lot of UDID data already in the public domain. For a while, there were a lot of apps using UDID and personal data to track users activity and selling it to advertisers.”
    But, the hack of an FBI laptop yielding information on 12 million Apple devices does bring up another very valid question. As Storms puts it, “This release does make you wonder what the heck the FBI and the DOJ were doing with 12 million UDIDs. Are they working on a case involving Apple or an app maker? And, assuming there is a legitimate reason for the FBI to have this data, why wasn’t it better protected?”
    I have reached out the FBI Office of Public Affairs seeking an official explanation or statement regarding why the FBI was in possession of the Apple device UDID information at all, as well as whether or not there should have been stronger protection in place to guard such sensitive data. As of this moment, the FBI has not yet responded.
    [Update]
    The FBI has issued a statement flatly denying that the hacked Apple device IDs published by AntiSec came from an FBI computer, or that the FBI is in any way involved in collecting such data in the first place:
    “The FBI is aware of published reports alleging that an FBI laptop was compromised and private data regarding Apple UDIDs was exposed. At this time, there is no evidence indicating that an FBI laptop was compromised or that the FBI either sought or obtained this data.”
    The FBI statement puts the ball back in AntiSec’s court. One side or the other isn’t being completely honest here. AntiSec does seem to be in possession of vast quantity of Apple device ID data. The question is, if the data didn’t come from a hacked FBI laptop, where did the information come from and how did AntiSec acquire it?

  • iPhone App Cardiio Can Tell Your Heart Rate With Nothing But A Video

    iPhone App Cardiio Can Tell Your Heart Rate With Nothing But A Video

    [Credit: Cardiio]

     Ming-Zher Poh, a PhD Student at MIT’s Media Lab, is the creator of what may be the most interesting thing on the iOS App Store today: An app called Cardiio that makes use of the iPhone’s camera and nothing else to produce a estimate of your heart rate.
    The science behind the Cardiio is almost as fascinating as the concept itself. Poh’s algorithm captures a video of the user’s face with the help of a tracking software before distilling it into RGB channels which are, in turn, analyzed to determine a rough BPM based on reflectivity.
    And it’s surprisingly accurate. At least one study has shown that the technology behind Cardiio is accurate to within three beats per minute. You
    might not see it at your doctor’s office, but it could be useful for tracking your heart rate when you exercise.
    Cardiio isn’t Poh’s first attempt at using light to measure heart rate, but it’s probably the most popular. According to Co.Design, even though it’s only been around for a few days, Cardiio is already one of the most highly rated health and fitness apps on iTunes. Arguably, it’s also one of the creepiest–Cardiio will, among other things, attempt to provide you with your estimated life expectancy. Eek.
    [Cardiio via Co.Design]

  • Funny! Samsung-Apple Rivalry Spreads to Retail Stores

    Funny! Samsung-Apple Rivalry Spreads to Retail Stores

     

    Apple and Samsung have been locked in unceasing patent battles over their offerings, and now some people are accusing Samsung of even ripping off the design of Apple’s retail stores. But Apple doesn’t own the corner on using an open floor design and it certainly didn’t invent the idea of minimalism. And any retail store that sells phones and gadgets is going to have tables for playing with them. Microsoft stores do. Samsung recently opened its first North American retail store in Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown, Vancouver, British Columbia and it can’t be denied that it does resemble an Apple Store with its open floor space, demo tables, and blue-shirted staff. But is Samsung intentionally copying Apple Store design?

    Image compilation from Apple/Vancouver, B.C. SunImage from BetaNews.com Apple uses wood tables and Samsung has gone with white. Big deal? Not really. From what I’m seeing, Samsung’s store looks similar to countless exhibits you’d see at CES. As for the blue shirts that both Apple Store and Samsung Store employees wear, it’s worth remembering that Samsung’s company color is blue. This is hardly the first time Apple and Samsung have tangled. The former managed to get the latter’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone and Galaxy Tab 10.1 pulled from store shelves recently. A graphic from BetaNews’ Joe Wilcox is a great summation of the attitude many people have regarding Apple’s incessant insistence that other companies, Samsung in particular, are ripping it off. What’s your impression? Does it look to you as if Samsung intentionally cloned the Apple Store in its new retail location?  

  • HTC Fends off Apple in UK Patent Lawsuit Involving ‘Slide to Unlock’ Feature

    HTC Fends off Apple in UK Patent Lawsuit Involving ‘Slide to Unlock’ Feature

    A High Court in the U.K. has ruled that HTC did not infringe on Apple’s photo management patent, while stating that three other patents Apple claimed in the lawsuit were invalid, according to HTC.
    The three patents declared invalid, include Apple’s “slide to unlock” feature, which Apple alleged HTC had infringed on in its smartphones and tablets.
    A multi-touch software that Apple had claimed certain HTC devices using Android 2.3 had infringed on was also found not to be patentable, with the Judge declaring it to be computer program.

    ” HTC is pleased with the ruling, which provides further confirmation that Apple’s claims against HTC are without merit,” the company said in a statement. “We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favor competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace.”
    Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.
    The ruling, which was issued on Wednesday, gives HTC a victory as the company faces ongoing patent battles with Apple across different countries.
    Both companies are fighting legal battles against each other in the U.S., and have sought for import bans on products allegedly infringing on their patents. Shipments of HTC smartphones to the U.S. were recently delayed, as a result of a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission that went in favor of Apple. Apple was denied an emergency ban on HTC phones earlier this week by the U.S. International Trade Commission. ITC said it found that Apple had not demonstrated the propriety of temporary emergency action.

    Important Notice: Tweet this article with the bookmark social media share below to stand a chance to win an ipad or start making money with your twitter account (it works only with your twitter account and the more articles you tweet the more you stand a chance to win an Ipad)

  • Apple’s Facebook Integration Will Help Both Companies, Analysts Say

    Apple’s Facebook Integration Will Help Both Companies, Analysts Say

    Apple announcement that it’s integrating Facebook into its operating system software should be welcome news for a social network that’s taken a lot of hits in recent weeks.
    “Facebook is a company that could use some good news or could, at the very least, use a break from the seemingly non-stop drumbeat of dismal press,” said Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group. “This isn’t going to be any sort of miracle for Facebook, but it is a nice feature. And it’s [a change from] the ‘Facebook Cavalcade of Crappy News’ headlines.”

    Apple announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference this week that Facebook will be integrated into the iOS software that runs the iPhone and iPad, as well as into the latest OS X version, code-named Mountain Lion.
    Apple said the integration of Facebook into its operating systems will enable users to easily and seamlessly post photos, videos and updates to their Facebook accounts. The updates will let users update their Facebook status by talking to their phones, Apple added.
    The integration puts Facebook at the fingertips of Apple device users without having to use the social network’s own apps, which many experts call mediocre at best.
    While Apple’s move doesn’t offer an answer to Facebook’s problem of figuring out how to make money from mobile users, it may increase the time that millions of users spend on the site when they are on the go.
    “Apple caters to the masses and Facebook is the social media hub for the masses,” said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy.
    “This sounds positive for Facebook, which needs any kind of win. This will undoubtedly increase Facebook interaction but it still doesn’t address the mobile monetization issue. And until Facebook figures this out, not much else matters,” he added.
    As for Apple, offering integration with a wildly popular social network is a good way to keep users from drifting to other platforms, noted Rob Enderle, an analyst at the Enderle Group.
    “In general, this is a nice feature which should help prevent customer moves to Android or Windows Phone,” he added. “It showcases their increased advantage in speech in what is a speech optimized device and perhaps anticipates the long-rumored smaller iPhone, where text entry would be more difficult.”
    Olds agreed that the integration is as good for Apple as it is for Facebook.

    “There are almost a billion Facebook users. That’s a big, big number, even for Apple,” Olds said. “Down the road, there might be a mechanism where Facebook users can buy and view Apple content via the Facebook interface with friends. So there’s a lot of potential synergy here.”
    He added that it’s wise not to forget the adage, ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’
    “Both companies are arrayed against Google on several fronts,” said Olds. “A combined effort, or at least a loose relationship, helps both.”

  • Apple Releases iTunes 10.6.3 Update

    Apple Releases iTunes 10.6.3 Update

    The new iTunes update, released Monday, adds support for iOS 6 beta and fixes several bugs.


    Alongside new MacBooks, an iOS 6 preview, and a Mountain Lion ship date, Apple also issued a minor update to iTunes on Monday.

    iTunes 10.6.3 (for some reason Apple skipped over 10.6.2 in its updating) offers a number of bug fixes:

    • Addresses a problem where iTunes may become unresponsive when syncing a first-generation iPad that contains an iBooks textbook
    • Fixes a problem where photos synced to a device may appear in an unexpected order
    • Resolves an issue where iTunes may unexpectedly delete playlists created on a device
    • Fixes issues where iTunes may unexpectedly delete apps on a device
    • Improves overall performance and reliability

    iTunes 10.6.3 is also required for developers running the iOS 6 beta also released on Monday.
    When this story was published, the iTunes update wasn’t showing up in Software Update, but is available on Apple’s iTunes download page.


    For more Macintosh computing news, visit Macworld. Story copyright © 2011 Mac Publishing LLC. All rights reserved