Apple Posts Black Friday Deals

Apple has dropped the prices on their website down 10% for many of their items. Mac's and iPads are all included in the discount. But no iPhones or iPhone items are on sale for the Black Friday sale.

iOS 4.2 Released; Not for Jailbreakers

Apple has officially released iOS 4.2. This update brings the long-awaited multitasking, wallpaper, and speed updates to the iPad. The device also covers the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, Second Generation iPod touch, Third Generation iPod touch, and Fourth Generation iPod touch.

If you're having problems updating to iOS 4.2, make sure that your iTunes is updated to the current version.

Jailbreak is not yet supported for this firmware. Updating to iOS 4.2 will remove the jailbreak from your device and restore it to Apple's original firmware. A jailbreak for 4.2 should be released in a few weeks at the latest. We may even see a jailbreak in the next few days.


Press Release

CUPERTINO, California—November 22, 2010—Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”

iPad users can now run their favorite apps and switch between them instantly, while preserving iPad’s legendary battery life. Users can organize their apps with drag-and-drop simplicity using Folders, and Mail now features a Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching and a threaded message view.

Game Center allows iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users to challenge and play friends or be matched automatically with new opponents, showcase their scores and achievements, and discover new games their friends are playing.

AirPlay is a new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV®, transforming Apple TV into a great accessory for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. iOS users also will be able to use AirPort Express® and AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any stereo or powered speakers, or directly to AirPlay-enabled speakers coming to market in the months ahead.

AirPrint is a next-generation Wi-Fi print architecture that dramatically simplifies printing by completely eliminating printer drivers. A selection of AirPrint enabled printers including the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to any printer that supports AirPrint.

The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMe℠ subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Store℠ and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.

Other new features that iOS 4.2 brings to the iPad include: the ability to rent TV episodes directly to iPad using the iTunes® App with a 30 day viewing window and a 48 hour session window once playback is started; the ability to easily find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari®; enhanced enterprise support so businesses can take advantage of stronger security features, new device management capabilities and improved enterprise integration; industry-leading accessibility enhancements; and support for 25 additional languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese.

The revolutionary iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. You can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, using the innovative Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad weighs just 1.5 pounds, making it easy to carry and use anywhere.

Today, customers have downloaded more than seven billion apps from the groundbreaking App Store and more than 300,000 apps are available to consumers in 90 countries, with more than 40,000 native iPad apps. Over 125 million iOS users around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

Availability
The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.

Infinity Blade Trailer

Infinity Blade, an amazing-looking game displayed at Apple's last iPod event, has released a new trailer to show off them game.



Remember that just because you see it in the trailer, it doesn't mean that you will be experiencing the same on your actual iPhone

The game is expected to be released this holiday season. The game will be the first to bring the Unreal Engine 3 to the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad. Let's hope that it will set a precedent for newer games on Apple's devices.

3D Glasses for iPhone and iPod touch

The toy company Hasbro will be releasing a 3D accessory named My3D to use for viewing 3D content iPhone's and iPod touches.

It promises three-dimensional content that offers a 360-degree experience in gaming, virtual travel experiences and entertainment content. It's aimed at both children and adults.

The device, which resembles a pair of binoculars with a slot in which users insert their iPod or iPhone, will be priced at $30. It will be available starting next spring at stores where Apple's iPhones and iPod Touches are available.

The goggles require the usage of separate apps to view the 3D content. This means that not everything will be in 3D.

This may become one of the next biggest 'things' for the iPhone and iPod touch considering that normal 3D viewing glasses cost much more than these, how ever unfashionable they may be.

White iPhone Delayed, Yet Again

Apple has officially announced that its long awaited white iPhone has been delayed again until Spring of 2011. This is after the first delay in July. It seems that the problem reported earlier, that white iPhones are incredibly hard to create, is still stagnating production of the desire iPhone.

By Spring 2011, you might as well wait for the next generation of iPhone.

Back to the Mac Event: October 20

Engadget is reporting that Apple will be holding a 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20.

It is likely that this event will announce Apple's new notebook line as the MacBook Pro line of notebooks have been needing a refresh of hardware. Shown on the PR image above, Apple may also be planning to announce a new version of OS X (possible 'Lion'?).

The event will be held in Cupertino at 10 AM PT on October 20. You can be sure that Engadget will have a live feed to keep you up to date.

Apple Relaxing App Creation Policies

In a statement released by Apple today, they claim to have eased up on the policies on which they will accept apps for the App Store.

The App Store℠ has revolutionized the way mobile applications are developed and distributed. With over 250,000 apps and 6.5 billion downloads, the App Store has become the world’s largest mobile application platform and App Store developers have earned over one billion dollars from the sales of their apps. We are continually trying to make the App Store even better. We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart. Based on their input, today we are making some important changes to our iOS Developer Program license in sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9 to relax some restrictions we put in place earlier this year. In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need. In addition, for the first time we are publishing the App Store Review Guidelines to help developers understand how we review submitted apps. We hope it will make us more transparent and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store. The App Store is perhaps the most important milestone in the history of mobile software. Working together with our developers, we will continue to surprise and delight our users with innovative mobile apps.

This most likely means that Apple will allow users building apps in Flash CS5 to convert their applications to an .ipa format and submit it to the App Store, previously denied by Apple. This means that Windows users can now build apps to submit to the App Store.

[Via Fierce Mobile Content]

iPod touch (2010) Announced

The newest iPod touch 4th Generation has followed in iPhone 4's footsteps and now has the Retina Display, seperated volume buttons, two cameras, and a thinner design.

The new iPod touch is being sold for $229 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. The 16GB model has been discontinued.

Pre-ordering for the device starts today and will start shipping next week.

Newest features:

• Retina Display (same as iPhone 4)
• Apple A4 core (same as iPhone 4)
• Dual cameras (same as iPhone 4)
• FaceTime support (same as iPhone 4)
• 3-axis gyroscope (same as iPhone 4)

Images (click to enlarge)

Apple will Stream 2010 Event Live!

For the first time in a very long time, Apple has decided that it will be streaming its 2010 music-themed event live over their own networks!

Apple will broadcast its September 1 event online using Apple’s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards. Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. PDT on September 1, 2010 at www.apple.com.

Is this a sign that Apple's planning something really big?

[Via MacRumors]

New Nano, iPod touch Touch Screens

A new video, by what seems to be a Chineese insider, shows the supposedly new iPod Nano and iPod touch touch screens.

The Nano screen shows what most have expected, a mini version of the iPod touch that won't likely be able to fit much more than one finger on. The controls will likely be large or even accelerometer to make up for the small screen.

The iPod touch screen shows a iPhone 4-similar FaceTime camera hole. It may be made of the same Gorilla Glass as the iPhone 4's front and back are. The screen also seems to have another hole on the left side, this may be improved placement of the ambient light sensor.

Unicom to Jailbreak iPhones for You?

Reports from Chinas cellphone carrier, Unicom, say that will be offering a jailbreak, along with some other extra features.

The image above says 

Support Service: Free SIM-trimming, jailbreak, installation of more than 10 hot apps.

The posters also show that a jailbreak will also be provided for the iPad.

With 4.0.2 stopping the JailbreakMe.com jailbreak, it will be interesting to see how Unicom would jailbreak these devices or provide only older firmware devices.

Since jailbreaks are readily available and provided free to everybody, it may be the deal-breaker for cellphone buyers bringing in more profit for Unicom.

It will be interesting to see how Apple will react to this information.

[Via 9to5Mac]

September 1 Apple Event Announced

Apple has finally announced its annual September event. The musically themed event will be held in San Francisco.

This event is usually the site where Apple reveals its new iPods.

This year could reveal the new iTV, the fourth genration iPod touch (with a camera), a new iPod shuffle, and possibly updates to iTunes and the store.

Though like every thing else Apple does, what this event has in store won't be known until September 1st.

Apple to Disable iDevices at Own Will?

Even after the US Congress made it clear that jailbreaking the iPhone was not under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Apple still doesn't want to go down without a fight.

Apple has applied for a patent which would allow them to see into an iDevice, such as taking screenshots and recording GPS position, and allow them to disable the device if it were doing something it deems wrong.

The actual patent:

[0060]To detect an unauthorized user, process 610 of FIG. 6b can determine whether particular activities are identified at step 612. As described above, the particular activities can include any activities indicating suspicious behavior such as, for example, entering an incorrect password a predetermined number of times in a row, entering an incorrect password a predetermined number of times within a period of time, hacking the electronic device, jailbreaking the electronic device, unlocking of the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, moving the electronic device a predetermined distance from a synced device, or any combination of the above. If a particular activity is identified, the current user can be detected as an unauthorized user at step 614. If, however, a particular activity is not identified, process 610 can end at step 616.

 Hopefully if this is ever released, jailbreakers will be able to come up with a solution to disable this 'kill-switch'.

Apple Starts iPhone 4 Free Case Program

As previously promised, Apple has started their free iPhone 4 case program. The program is for any iPhone 4 device owners who may be experiencing reception issues. Apple is giving away free bumpers, and many other big name cases.

To apply for a free case:

Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from the App Store. Launch the app on your iPhone 4 and sign in using your iTunes Store account or Apple ID. Select your Bumper or case. For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase. To qualify for this program, you must purchase your iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.

The free cases include:

Apple Bumper
Incase Snap Case (Smoke/Clear)
Belkin Shield Micra (Clear)
Griffin Motif (Smoke)
Griffin Reveal Etch (Black/Black Graphite)
Speck Fitted Case (Black Tartan)
Speck PixelSkin HD (Black)

If you've already bought the Bumper from Apple:

Credit Card
We have already refunded your account. It may take up to one billing cycle for the refund to appear.
Apple Retail Store customers.
Check the status of your refundCash, check, or gift card at an Apple Retail StoreReturn to the store with your receipt by September 30, 2010, to get your refund.
Gift card on the Apple Online Store
We’ll automatically mail you a new gift card for the refund amount.
AT&T Store
We’ll reimburse you for the purchase price of your iPhone 4 Bumper. Just fill out this rebate coupon and mail it to us by September 30, 2010. 

Apple Shows-off Capabilities of HTML5

The Apple website has a new page showcasing the "open, reliable, highly secure, and efficient" ways of HTML5. The site also has seven demos that are only compatible with Apple's Safari browser.

These demos effectively show the capabilities of HTML5 either on your computer, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.


The seven demos showcased on the site include:

• Video - Embed video with HTML5's video tag
• Typography - stylized fonts using CSS3 and SVG for websites to scale fonts easier
• Gallery - A 3D image gallery without external plugins
• Transitions - Transitions from Keynote (or PowerPoint) for images
• Audio - Ability to add sound to a website
• 360 - A Javascript mobile-compatible version of the iPod touch 360 spin
• VR - A 3D exploration of the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue using hardware acceleration

Obviously, Apple is moving forward for their destruction of Adobe's flash, hoping to start a new era of browser-based media enhancements without the use of browser plugins.

GeoHot going Full Force on Apple

GeoHot, the famous creator of Blackra1n, among many other jailbreaks, is moving full force on Apple's new software. The recently released iPad was shown by GeoHot running in verbose mode, a key sign that the iPad will be 'pwned for life.' Meaning that it will always be open for 3rd party modifications.

Two days later, GeoHot released images of iPod touch and iPhone OS firmware 4.0 jailbroken, which has not even been released to the public yet (now with homescreen background images allowed by Apple.)

More details are still to be released on the jailbreak for the iPad and OS 4.0.

Adobe Claims 7 Million Attempted Flash Downloads via iPhone/iPod touch

Universally known for their amazing computer software products, Adobe has noticed an amazing amount of iPod touch and iPhone users attempting to download Adobe Flash, a computer freeware that allows complete access to online gaming, internet browsing, and much other computer applications.

If a iPod touch or iPhone user trying to play a flash game on Safari, such as Farmville (a game on Facebook), the area where the game is supposed to be will state, "If your game does not load within 10 seconds, you may need to upgrade your version of Flash. Please do so by clicking here." When the iPod touch or iPhone user clicks on that hyperlink, it will bring them to a new tab stating, "Flash Player is not available for your device." Underneath that statement it clearly states that Apple, itself, restricts the use of Flash Player and other products of that such. The lack of Flash player pretty much disallows any type of online resource requiring Flash Player.

I myself have had several attempts to download Adobe's Flash player, but I was found one of the 7 million unsuccessful. Mark Doherty, an Adobe PR person states, "Users that, before we created the special page, had no idea that Apple do not want them viewing the Internet as they see it today."

Adobe Flash Player's absence from the iPhone and iPod touch leave Adobe and Apple at "increasingly odds." Both of these huge corporations insist totally different things. Here they are. Adobe insists that without Flash Player, iPhone and iPod touch users are unable to view most of the video on the web, as well as many flash games and other Flash applications. Apple insists that allowing Adobe Flash Player to be downloaded to the iPod touch and the iPhone, will cause battery consumption and stability issues. CEO Steve Jobs of Apple suggests that HTML5 is a better solution for video.

Many have different thoughts on this issue. Some think that 7 million attempts out of all the iPhones and iPod touch sold is very little considering most people attempt more than once. In my opinion, Apple should keep restricting these attempts to download. Adobe Flash is meant for the computer, and the computer only. I guarantee, much more iPod touch and iPhone hacks will become available if the iPod touch and iPhone was capable of downloading Flash.

Rock and Roll Event Roundp

If you missed Apple's Rock and Roll event, here is a roundup of every thing you missed.

New iPod touch

The new iPod touch 3rd Generation comes in a greater 64 GB size. The pricing are: $199 for 8 GB, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB. The 32 and 64 GB models are now 50 % faster than the 2nd Generation iPod touch. The 8 GB version of iPod touch 3rd Generation did not receive any major speed improvements nor can it handle earphones with microphones in them like the 32 and 64 GB versions can.

iTunes 9

iTunes 9 can now be downloaded from the official iTunes website. Various updates in this version of iTunes including the ability to edit your iPod touch/iPhone springboard icons. Instead of dragging around all the icons one-by-one, you can now easily change them using iTunes.

New Nano

The new iPod Nano features a spiffy camera placed in the bott om left corner. It captures video video 640 by 480. Along with a microphone, the new Nano also comes with FM radio and a larger 2.2 inch screen. The nano comes in two pricing options: $149 for 8 GB and $179 for 16 GB.

iPod touch/iPhone Firmware 3.1

Along with the new iPod touch, Apple also released an update to the 3.0 firmware. If you are jailbroken, do not update to the 3.1 firmware if you wish to be able to keep your jailbreak. Wait until the Dev team gives the O-K.

Where to Watch Rock and Roll Event

Apple's rock and roll event is taking place tomorrow so where can you get live coverage of all the latest Apple action? There are quite a few places that will offer live streams of the event. See the list below.

Gizmodo
Gizmodo will have full coverage of the event including auto refresh on their pages with images.

Mac Rumors
Mac Rumors will not only be having rumors tomorrow. They will have, like Gizmodo, auto refresh on their pages with coverage of the event through pictures.

The actual event will be taking place 10 AM PST, which is 6 PM in the UK.

Of course if you're at school or at work, you probably won't be able to get to a computer to check updates on the event. You can either download the official video of the entire event in high quality video after the event is over on iTunes or you can receive Twitter updates on your iPhone (or iPod touch if you facility has Wi-Fi).

Twitter events can be viewed on your device through apps like Twitter Pro IM+ Push for Twitter, Skype, Facebook, MSN. Make sure that you are following this: http://twitter.com/MacRumors before you leave home tomorrow.

Apple Holding "Rock and Roll" Event 09-09-09

Apple has sent out emails asking them to join them at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco starting at 10 AM. As per Apple's usual custom the event is themed. This time it is themed as Rock and Roll.


The event is expected to release iPod's of all models and especially a new iPod touch to compete with Microsoft's ZuneHD.

What features will the new device have? Check out this page for our take on it and also look at this one for a supposedly leaked video of the new touch.