Apple That

I don’t think I have to remind you just how many apps are available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (over 500,000). If you are an iOS user, you have undoubtedly purchased or downloaded at least one app from the App Store and, in doing so, you have probably noticed that some of them offer the option of purchasing additional content. These apps usually come in the form of apps that have multiple levels, like Angry Birds.

This type of content can be anything, like more levels, character designs in games or added functionality and expansions. However, not all (but a lot) of apps with additional content for purchase allow you to buy from directly inside the application itself.

Unfortunately, not every app that allows in-app purchasing is as up front about the fact that they do this and, sometimes make it extremely easy to “accidentally” purchase in-app content. One of the more controversial apps of late to pull a stunt like this was Smurfs’ Village. Children played the game on their parent’s phone and unknowingly purchased a whole lot of undesired content.

Thankfully, there is an easy solution that makes sure something like this doesn’t happen to you. Just follow these quick and easy steps and you will have in-app purchasing disabled until you say otherwise, making sure your child doesn’t accidentally rack up a huge phone bill with in-app purchases.

STEP 1: Turn on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and from the home screen select the Settings application. From here, select “General”.

STEP 2: Scroll about halfway down the page and find “Restrictions”. Select it and then select “Enable Restrictions”.

STEP 3: Once enabled, you will be asked to create a password. The password locks certain functions on your iOS device. After you enter it twice, you’re on to the next step.

STEP 4: After creating your password, scroll down to the “Allowed Content” section and select it.

STEP 5: Slide the bar next to “In-App Purchases” from “ON” to “OFF” and that’s that! No more accidental in-app purchases will rack up on your phone bill.

Source: Digital Trends – How To: Turn off in-app purchases on Apple products

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If there is one thing that the internet loves to talk about it’s tech rumors, specifically ones involving Apple and its slew of mobile devices. And while the next few weeks will have the internet swimming in rumors about the iPad 3, iPhone 5, iPod 37 and everything else Apple, I think it is ok to talk about some potential changes designated for next year.

iLounge is spewing some information from what they call their “most reliable source”, who claims to have the inside dish on all the upcoming revisions Apple is planning. While there is nothing mind-blowing here, it might be enough to make you start saving up for that new piece of Apple tech.

First up is the MacBook Pro redesign. Some say it is coming in March, which is debatable, though the flatter design similar to the Air is most likely a certainty. The question on everyone’s mind, however, is the details, primarily on the device’s storage, processor, ports and optical drive.

Another report is that the next generation iPad (presumably the iPad 3) will be a bit thicker than the previous one, in order to allow for extra lighting necessitated by the high-res screen that is also supposed to be coming. Many people are drooling over the idea of an HD screen and the increased thickness is only said to be about 0.7mm, which still makes it thinner than the original device.

In terms of size, it is also reported that the iPhone will get an increase in size to a 4″ screen, which will in turn make the entire device 8mm longer. In addition to that, it is rumored that the device will hit next summer. Steve Jobs was always passionate that 3.5″ (iPhone) and 9.7″ (iPad) were always the ideal sizes for the devices, though the company may be acknowledging changes in the market if these rumors end up being true.

There is also a report of the next iPhone coming in a metal case, presumably aluminum. The original iPhone was a wonder to behold, both visually, technically and physically and many people think that Apple should bring back that design. Plus, Apple is probably tired of answering calls about shattered iPhones about now.

These rumors will be determined true or false in the coming months, no doubt about it, even though reveals of these devices are not even going to happen for a while. Regardless, there are many more rumors out there than these so if you are looking for a way to spend your Thanksgiving weekend, you could always compare and contrast different rumors, given you have a couple hundred hours to spare.

Source: Tech Crunch – Apple Rumors: The MacBook Pro Shrinks, iPad And iPhone Grow

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Apple is cracking the whip as the company has just banned security researcher Charlie Miller from its iOS developer program. Mr. Miller’s offense? He publicly demonstrated a proof-of-concept attack that would enable an app developer to execute arbitrary code on any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch that is running version 4.3 of iOS or later.

For this Miller has been suspended from the developer program for one year. According to a recent tweet from Miller, “First they give researcher’s (sic) access to developer programs, (although I paid for mine) then they kick them out.. for doing research. Me angry.” Apple broke the news to Miller via a letter that the company was kicking him out of the program for breaking its terms of service.

Before getting an app to the Apple App Store, Apple first vets the app. If approved, the company then signs the code to ensure that the app cannot be changed. However, the flaw that Miller discovered essentially breaks the iOS application security walled garden, allowing malware attacks to be launched.

According to a statement from Miller in his unlisted YouTube video that demonstrates the attack, Miller said, “The flaw I found is in the way that Apple handles code-signing. Code-signing is important because that’s the way that Apple protects you from malware.” Here is a link to Miller’s video because unlisted videos can only be viewed by someone who already has a link to the video itself.

In order to test the vulnerability he had discovered, Miller created Instastock, a fake stock market app that Apple accepted. “It doesn’t do anything weird or funny, it just checks the stocks,” said Miller in the video. At least, that’s what it appears to do. After being  downloaded from the Apple App Store and first run, the app contacted an attacker’s server.

For the purpose of the test, the server (in this case) was located at Miller’s home in St. Louis and he didn’t have to push in any code to the app while it was being reviewed by Apple. However, after it was approved, Miller was able to open a shell with the device and issue remote commands, making the iPhone do everything from listing directories and processes to making the phone vibrate or download the user’s address book for the attacker.

Miller added, “You can imagine downloading a nice app like Angry Birds, but instead of just being Angry Birds, it actually could download and do anything it wants, and Apple would have no idea that had happened.” In addition to that Miller disclosed the code-signing vulnerability to Apple several weeks ago, although he did fail to mention the proof-of-concept app that he’d uploaded to the App Store, the same app Apple approved and made available in September.

Miller also demonstrated the exploit in his video, which was also posted in September. However, Apple apparently did not hear about the proof-of-concept attack demonstration until Monday, the same day Miller detailed the flaw and provided a link to his YouTube video to Andy Greenberg at Forbes.com. A mere hours after the story hit the web, Apple canceled Miller’s iOS developer account.

By day Miller is a simple principal consultant at the security research firm Accuvant. However, it appears as if Miller is now best known for “hacking” Apple wares. At the Black Hat Conference over the summer, Miller demonstrated how to hack Apple laptop batteries by reprogramming the firmware. This would allow a hacker to brick the battery or even make it serve malware.

Miller isn’t letting this ban phase him, however, as he intends to demonstrate his code-signing attack next week at the SyScan Conference in Taiwan and then again at the Infiltrate Conference in Florida in January. Is Apple’s reaction a bit extreme? Especially considering the fact that Miller found a major fault in Apple’s programming and then proceeded to tell the company about it? This writer thinks so, but what do you think? Sound off in the comments.

Source: Information Week – Apple Excommunicates iOS Cracker

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Early this morning Apple unveiled updates to the company’s entire MacBook Pro lineup, which is said to bring faster processors, improved performances and bigger hard drives without increasing the price. The unannounced updates have been expected since around the middle of September with faster MacBook models available in time for the 2011 Christmas season.

The 13″ MacBook Pro comes in two different configurations, the first being an entry-level configuration with a retail price of $1,199 comes with an Intel Core i5 processor. The second model is slightly faster and comes with an Intel Core i7 processor for $1,499.

Both models have received slight increases in speed as well as bigger hard drives. The 13″ entry-level model comes with an all new 2.4GHz processor and increases its storage space from 320GB to 500GB. The faster model gets a newer version of the Core i7 at 2.8GHz and also receives a larger 750GB hard drive, a bump up from the original 500GB.

The 15″ MacBook Pro also comes in two iterations, the cheaper being $1,799 and the more expensive one costing $2,199. Both of these models take advantage of the quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and both have received an increase in processor speed with the slower of the two increasing from 2.0GHz to 2.2GHz and the faster increasing from 2.2GHz to 2.4GHz.

In addition to that, the graphics processing hardware has also been upgraded with new discrete graphics cards from AMD. The $1,799 model gets an upgrade to the AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB of dedicated memory and the $2,199 model upgrades to the AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB of dedicated memory.

Finally, the 17″ MacBook Pro is also getting upgraded in terms of processing and graphics. This model, which will run you $2,499, comes with a new quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and the new AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of dedicated memory. In addition to that, the 17″ MacBook Pro, as well as the 13″ and 15″ models, can be purchased with an additional 512GB of solid-state drive storage.

All of these new models are listed on Apple’s site as being in stock with free shipping, though the new models may not yet be available. While these five models have received an incremental upgrade, the improved performance and hardware, along with the price remaining the same, is definitely something that will please customers and something that will keep Apple in better competition with new Windows devices soon to receive Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors in the early part of next year.

Source: PC Mag – Apple Sneaks Out MacBook Pro Updates

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What’s this? Apple may be working on a new tablet? And it’s not the iPad 3!? That’s right, many rumors have begun making their rounds on the internet recently that Apple may possibly be working on a brand new entry-level tablet scheduled to launch early next year.

In a note sent out to investors on Wednesday by Brian White, analyst for Ticonderoga Securities, White relayed a plethora of meetings with technology supply chain companies at a recent trade show in China earlier this week. White made a point to note a general ominous environment where most of the companies were commenting on weakening demands across the entire tech industry.

According to one representative, “The whole world is shrinking”. In addition to that, a meeting with Apple suppliers has also turned up some very interesting information according to White. In a recent posting White states, “Our research is pointing to the unveiling of  a lower priced iPad in the first few months of 2012 that is aimed at expanding the company’s market potential by tapping into a more price sensitive consumer segment.”

White went on to write, “Essentially, this ‘iPad mini’ will also fend off the recently announced Amazon Kindle Fire that addresses the low-end tablet market with a $199 price tag but could lead to bigger tablet ambitions from the online retailer in the future.”

White was quick to point out that the title of the iPad Mini refers to the lower price of the tablet and not necessarily a smaller physique. According to White, “We believe this lower priced iPad could be priced in the mid-to-high $200 range. We expect this will be followed by a much more powerful, feature rich standard-priced iPad 3 in 2012.”

Source: Fox News – Apple to Launch ‘iPad Mini’ in Early 2012?

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On October 4, 2011 Apple fans from around the world will cry out in triumph and amazement as that is the day of the next big media event from Apple. It is also the day that the company, known for its popular iPad and Mac computers, will unveil the next installment in its other popular franchise, the iPhone 5.

There have been a lot of differing opinions about the exact timing of the event, some of which even suggested that it would take place this month. However, it has generally been assumed that the event, as well as the unveiling of the iPhone 5, would take place in October.

And while it is true that Apple could change its plans whenever it feels like it, multiple sources have said that October 4 has definitely been selected by the company as the unveiling date of the iPhone 5. In addition to that, sources added that the plan, as it stands right now, is to make the device available for purchase within a few weeks after the announcement.

While the unveiling of the iPhone 5 is definitely the highlight for fans and consumers, the event itself holds more importance for the company. This event will mark the first big event for new Apple CEO Tim Cook, who took over for Jobs when he resigned last month for personal reasons.

It is this fact that also alludes to the fact that Cook himself will preside over the unveiling, much like Jobs did when he was in charge. If Cook were to pass the event off to another Apple employee, even one as trusted as key executive Phil Schiller, it would undermine his entire position and present an image to the Apple public that the job may be too much to handle.

I can find no better event to mark the first for Cook than the unveiling of Apple’s most anticipated product in the iPhone 5. So stay tuned for all the information and details that are sure to arise from the event on October 4, it should be one to remember.

Source: All Things D – Apple’s Next Event to Be Held on October 4, Starring Its New CEO

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According to a new report from Apple, the company’s new MacBook pro Series could be the next Apple product in line for a hardware upgrade. AppleInsider, who cites multiple anonymous sources that, according to the site, have “proven insight into Apple’s future product plans”, states that Apple plans on introducing new models of the MacBook Pro with faster Intel processors.

These new models are said to be shipping in time for this year’s holiday shopping season though the source has stated that we may see these new MacBook Pros as early as this month. Regardless of when we get them, a lot of questions are being raised about these new models, especially in terms of how much of an improvement we are getting.

AppleInsider has stated that Intel’s latest series of quad-core Core i7 chips will be added to the new MacBook Pros. These chips come in at 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz or 2.7GHz and are sure to mesh well with Apple’s popular notebook. These processors are also an improvement over the current 2.0GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz in the current 15″ and 17″ models.

The last update Apple performed on its MacBook Pro line occurred back in February which brought Intel’s Sandy Bridge CPUs to the entire fleet of MacBook Pro computers. In addition to that, the update also added Thunderbolt, the impressively fast new port that came from a technical collaboration between Apple and Intel.

Aside from that, other changes to the MacBook Pro line consisted of the move to Intel’s integrated graphics and GPUs from AMD as well as a jump to FaceTime HD cameras. However, despite the somewhat recent update, interest in a complete MacBook Pro overhaul remains.

Apple’s MacBook Air saw a nice new overhaul last October which brought the laptop the title of Apple’s “Next Generation of MacBooks”. Multiple reports that surfaced back in July suggest that Apple is working on potentially expanding the MacBook line to include a bigger 15″ model. However, it is still unclear as to whether or not that means a 15″ MacBook Air or a new design on the MacBook Pro line.

Source: CNET – MacBook Pros to get a pre-holiday speed bump?

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In a shocking and unexpected turn of events, Steve Jobs has decided to resign as CEO of Apple. Jobs, who has been battling an undisclosed medical illness for the past couple of months, has officially stepped down as the head of the world’s largest technological empire, Apple, the company he co-founded over 35 years ago.

In regards to his resignation, Jobs released a letter to everyone explaining his motives.

August 24, 2011 – To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you for all the many years of being able to work alongside you.”

Cook has been acting CEO for Apple ever since Jobs took an indefinite leave of absence from the company a while back due to medical issues. For those of you who remember, Jobs took a previous leave of absence whilst battling pancreatic cancer. Jobs has made appearances at certain events, showcasing some of the newest Apple products, like the iPad 2, but hasn’t done much else.

Many consumers, as well as investors, are worried about Apple no longer being under the direct direction of Jobs. However, Cook seems to have proven his worth in the last few months and Jobs would not have left him in charge if he himself didn’t have full confidence in his abilities and skills.

Needless to say, the next couple of months will be tough as well as crucial for both Apple and Cook as both have to prove that the company can survive despite the absence of Jobs. Nevertheless, my prayers for good luck and good health go out to Mr. Jobs. I hope that whatever ails him is something that he will be able to overcome.

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Apple has partnered up with coffee superstar Starbucks to include giveaways of paid iPhone applications as part of the “Pick of the Week” promotional program. This program, as many of you may remember, offered iTunes songs to in-store customers at Starbucks.

Starbucks has tag-teamed with Apple for the “Pick of the Week” program since 2008. Since then, both companies have provided users with iTunes Music Store content via cards. However, those cards will now also offer free downloads of paid iOS applications.

The first application that was made available this week was Shazam Encore. This app typically goes for $5.99 in the Apple App Store so the fact that users can get it for free is a pretty sweet deal. Starbucks has yet to comment, however, on whether these free applications are replacing iTunes songs permanently or if both will be offered in the future.

In-store customers of Starbucks will be able to acquire free “Pick of the Week” cards at the register. These cards will contain codes redeemable in the App Store towards the purchase of iOS apps. The promotion previously allowed customers access to a free song every week with songs priced at $1.29. With the inclusion of Shazam Encore, the value for users has increased.

This promotion from Apple and Starbucks has brought coffee fanatics millions of free iTunes downloads as well as access to other in-store content. This dynamic duo began working together in 2007 when Starbucks began allowing customers to browse, search and freely preview millions of songs on the store’s WiFi connection.

The reason Shazam Encore may have been chosen as the first free app giveaway may be due to Shazam’s collaboration with Starbucks in the recent SRCH by Starbucks promotion. The contest consisted of a two-week scavenger hunt involving Lady Gaga. Customers had to identify one of her hit songs with their iPhone.

Starbucks also partnered with Apple last year, in addition to Yahoo, to offer digital content to in-store customers. Starbucks’ network allows customers exclusive access to free e-books, movies and music.

Source: Apple Insider – Apple, Starbucks team up to give away free iPhone Apps

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Everybody knows that the iPad 3 is coming and Apple may be pitting suppliers against each other to assemble the next generation product. Apple is said to have awarded a contract to manufacture the iPad 3 to Taiwan-based Pegatron, according to a report from the Taiwan Economic News.

If this turns out to be true and not a rumor (yeah, cuz rumors always end up being true), then this would mean that Apple is looking to reduce its dependence on long-time partner Hon Hai as the only supplier of the award-winning tablet that is dominating the market at the moment.

Pegatron is already doing business with Apple actually. The company is responsible for building and shipping the iPhone 4 and has reportedly already landed a contract to construct the iPhone 5, whenever that may be.

Hon Hai has been the predominant supplier of the iPhone and the iPad in the past, though Apple has been looking for an additional partner to take on the production of the device. This may be due in large part to the devastating explosion that took place at Hon Hai’s Chengdu plant back in May.

Apple has faced issues with the iPad 2 as supply was unable to keep up with the increasingly overwhelming demand of the product. By branching out production of the iPad 3 to two different suppliers, the company is likely trying to avoid a similar situation with the iPad 3.

Aside from adding Pegatron to its supplier list, Apple will also keep its current supply chain intact. The report pointed to TOK Holdings providing the touch panels, Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology the battery packs, Largan Precision the camera lenses and Foxconn the outer PC housings.

Source: CNET – Apple reportedly looking at two suppliers for iPad 3

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