Spam scheme spreading via Facebook chat

September 9th, 2010

Facebook on Friday afternoon was investigating what appeared to be a new spam scheme that results in users getting messages from friends over Facebook chat that have malicious links.

The messages say “LOL is this you?” and are accompanied by a link that looks like it leads to a video on Facebook, one victim told CNET. In his case, clicking the link directed to a Web page with a “404-Page Not Found” error message and his account sent the spam out to at least one of his friends, he said.

The spam was also reported on Twitter, but at this point the outbreak seems to be minor.

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Parallels confirms Desktop 6 for Mac on Sept. 14th

September 9th, 2010

Parallels has validated earlier leaks and formally announced Desktop 6 for Mac, which will officially go on sale September 14th. The developer claims over 80 new features and enhancements in the virtualization software. The focus is on improved speed however, mainly by way of a switch to a completely 64-bit engine. Windows apps should on average run about 41 percent faster, Parallels says.

3D rendering improvements should allow games to run around 40 percent faster. The utility now also supports 5.1-channel surround sound, and applying Mac-based parental controls to Windows titles. Virtual machines can be encrypted, and Mac shortcuts can be applied to Windows apps.

Desktop 6 will normally cost $80 new, or $50 as an upgrade. A student edition is expected to cost just $40 however, while a Switch to Mac Edition is being priced at $100. The latter includes a USB transfer cable, and is intended to migrate files, programs and settings from a Windows machine to a new Mac. Newly incorporated in this sense are several features, such as the ability to pull bookmarks from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

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Report Pins Office for Mac 2011 to October 27th

September 9th, 2010

Office for Mac 2011 will ship on October 27th, a French website claims. The information is said to come direct from Microsoft France, which mentioned the information during an annual meeting held near Paris this month. Until today, the most precise launch date Microsoft could offer for the work suite was “at the end of October.”

The 2011 update will bring a number of important changes to the Mac editions of Office. First is the introduction of a ribbon interface, already present in Windows versions of the software for some time. Owners will also find the Mac-only Entourage e-mail client replaced with Outlook. The suite will nevertheless remain 32-bit.

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Apple Announces Pending Release of iOS 4.1, 4.2 Coming in November

September 1st, 2010

At today’s keynote event, Steve Jobs announced the upcoming availability of iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch. Jobs noted that the long running proximity sensor, Bluetooth, and iPhone 3G performance bugs that have been raised by users will be fixed in this update.

New features to iOS 4.1 include High Dynamic Range photos, HD video upload over Wi-Fi, TV show rentals, and Apple’s Game Center will make its official debut.


High Dynamic Range photos are photos created using 3 separate photos captured in quick succession at varying exposure levels. The photos are then combined using some complex algorithms to create an enhanced composite photo. Game Center, which was first introduced earlier this year, will officially be included in iOS 4.1 and allows gamers to invite others to play, post scores to online leaderboards, and more.

iOS 4.1 will be available next week for iPhone and iPod touch and will be a free update.

Jobs also revealed that iOS 4.2 will be released in November, finally bringing iOS 4.x support to the iPad. The free update will include wireless printing as well as a new feature called AirPlay, which replaces AirTunes. AirPlay will offer streaming of video, music, and photos. iOS 4.2 will be compatible with the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.

Update: While Apple’s U.S. and many other sites simply states that iOS 4.1 is coming soon, some international sites such as the Spanish one note that will become available next Wednesday, September 8th.

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Apple Releases iTunes 10 With ‘Ping’ Social Networking for Music

September 1st, 2010


Alongside new iPod models, Apple today introduced a new version of iTunes, dubbed iTunes 10. The new version of the media management application features a streamlined interface and a new networking feature called Ping, along with a new, more modern icon.

Ping is a social network for music that will help users discover new music, allowing users to follow favorite artists and friends. Ping will also create a custom chart showing music selections based on those followed. Users can choose to allow others to follow them automatically or by approval. There are over 160 million iTunes users, all of whom will be able to sign up for the new Ping service immediately.

Apple today introduced iTunes 10 with Ping, a new music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading. iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend. iTunes 10 also features HD TV show rentals for just 99 cents an episode and AirPlay wireless music playback.

In a demonstration, Jobs showed how users can post videos and photos to the service, as well as search concert information and tag concerts attended. Ping will be included in the iTunes app on the iPhone and iPod touch.

iTunes 10 will be available later today as a free download.

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Apple Introduces Updated Apple TV with Netflix Integration, TV Show Rentals

September 1st, 2010


As hinted early in the keynote with the mention of TV show rentals, Steve Jobs today announced the second generation of Apple TV hardware, a significant redesign for the device. At one-fourth the size of the original Apple TV, the new device features HDMI and digital audio outputs, as well as Ethernet and 802.11n Wi-Fi and will offer only rentals from the iTunes Store.

Unlike the previous Apple TV, the new model will not have any significant internal storage, relying on streaming content only. Additionally, media can no longer be purchased but only rented. First-run HD movies can be rented for $4.99 on the day the DVD is released. Renting HD TV shows will cost $.99. At launch, only ABC and Fox will offer their HD shows for rental at this price.

Apple today announced the new Apple TV which offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. Apple TV users can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.

Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. Enjoy gorgeous slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection of built-in slideshows. Apple TV has built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that’s less than four inches square – 80 percent smaller than the previous generation.

The new Apple TV’s support for Netflix’s streaming service allows subscribers on a DVD rental plan costing $8.99 or more per month to access streaming content for no additional charge. Apple TV users will also be able to stream content from YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe.

Apple’s new AirPlay, which replaces AirTunes, will allow the streaming of content from an iOS device to an Apple TV. During the keynote, Jobs demonstrated streaming a movie from an iPad to an Apple TV over a Wi-Fi network.

Apple TV content will be available in six countries to start, with more coming later this year. The new Apple TV, priced at $99, comes with a remote control and will be available starting in about four weeks, with pre-orders starting today.

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Apple Announces All-New iPod Models: Shuffle, Nano and Touch

September 1st, 2010


Along with announcing iOS 4.1 and the forthcoming iOS 4.2 for the iPad, Apple announced all-new iPod models at today’s keynote event.

The new iPod shuffle will see the return of buttons and will still include the VoiceOver feature that debuted in the last Shuffle model. It also has playlists capability and will take advantage of the Genius Playlists recently introduced. It will have 15 hours of battery life and will come in 5 colors: silver, pink, gold, blue, and green. The 2 GB Shuffle will cost $49.


The iPod nano has also been updated, removing the click wheel and adding a multi-touch interface to reduce the device’s overall size. The new nano is 46% smaller than its predecessor and will have 24-hour battery life.

The nano’s new touch interface is similar to that of other iOS devices with a home screen populated with icons to access photos, artists, playlists, control playback, and more. The display’s orientation can be manually rotated to accommodate the device’s position when clipped to clothing. The nano will come in graphite, pink, blue, silver, green, gold, and a Product Red version will also be offered. It will cost $149 for 8 GB and $179 for 16 GB.


Finally, the next generation of the iPod touch includes the Retina Display with 324 pixels per inch that made its debut on the iPhone 4. The new iPod touch will also get Apple’s A4 chip, a 3-axis gyroscope, a rear-facing camera that can record HD video, and a front-facing camera that will work with Facetime. The iPod touch will have iOS 4.1 with Apple’s Game Center and will offer 40 hours of music playback battery life. The iPod touch will cost $229 for the 8 GB model, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB.

All new iPod models will be available starting next week and are available for pre-order on Apple’s site today.

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Apple Announces iOS 4.1

September 1st, 2010

iOS 4.1 software will be available as a free download next week. It includes:

  • Game Center—Experience social gaming on your iPod touch or iPhone.
  • Support for iTunes HD TV show and movie rentals—Choose from the largest selection of HD TV shows and movies and rent them right on your iPod touch or iPhone (U.S. only).
  • iTunes Ping—New social discovery features in iTunes available on iPhone and iPod touch.
  • iOS 4 features—iOS 4.1 also includes all the great features from iOS 4: multitasking, folders, create playlists, iBooks, enhanced mail, Home screen wallpaper, gift apps, and more.

iOS 4 will be available as a free download for all iPod touch (second, third, and fourth generation), iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4 owners. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For more information, visit www.apple.com/ipodtouch/software-update/or www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/.

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Apple Announces iTunes 10

September 1st, 2010

iTunes 10 is now available for download. It features:

  • iTunes Ping—New social network devoted entirely to music.
  • iTunes HD TV show and movie rentals—Choose from the largest selection of commercial-free HD TV shows and movies available to rent and stream on demand (TV show rentals available in the U.S. only).
  • AirPlay—Stream music and videos wirelessly to Apple TV from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Coming soon.

Visit www.apple.com/itunes for an overview of iTunes features. iTunes marketing assets can be found in the iPod family channel asset kit.

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Apple Announces New Apple TV

September 1st, 2010

The new Apple TV is now available for order in the U.S. and select countries and will ship in late September. It features:

  • Streamlined design—Less than four inches square, 80 percent smaller, quieter, and more energy efficient.
  • iTunes HD TV show and movie rentals—Choose from the largest selection of commercial-free HD TV shows and movies available to rent and stream on demand to an HDTV (TV show rentals available in the U.S. only).
  • Streaming-based design—Movies, TV shows, photos, and Internet content stream wirelessly to Apple TV.
  • Netflix streaming—U.S. Netflix subscribers can access the Netflix streaming catalog.

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