Our friends at Apple have release a flurry of updates this week.
Starting with a little housekeeping, Apple updated iWeb. If you use iWeb to host your website or blog, the updates should help streamline your site further. At a meaty 177+MB, the 3.0.2 update is fixes “a variety of issues related to publishing sites to MobileMe.” It also, refines and cleans up the comment & search functions for blogs and podcasts.
Apple’s Safari web browser was also updated this week: it is available for Mac OS 10.6, 10.5, 10.4, Windows XP, Vista & 7.
Though minor, the update was deployed to fix three primary areas: “issues that could prevent users from submitting web forms…issues that could cause web content to display incorrectly when viewing a Google Image result with Flash 10.1 installed…And, [it also] establishes an encrypted, authenticated connection to the Safari Extensions Gallery.”
Finally, the granddaddy of updates (and one many of us have been waiting for) was the first major bump to iOS 4. Available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G & iPod Touch (iPad will still have to wait until November), iOS 4.1 is chuck full of goodies.
General housekeeping, in the update, will fix annoying bugs like the iPhone 4 promiximity sensor issue, the wonkiness of the Nike+ app and whatever sluggish performance iPhone 3G users reported.
But, the housekeeping issues aren’t really what really has this update shining — it’s got some cool new features:
To start, it now has the HDR (or High Dynamic Range) photo capability that Steve demonstrated in the September 1, 2010 Music Event. The update also includes Apple’s “Game Center,” and [finally] the ability to upload HD footage directly to YouTube. This update also adds support for AVRCP Accessories (like 3rd party ear buds that use built-in controls).
Game Center is the social-network-of-sorts that Apple announced back in April. Similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Live, Game Center allows users to send and receive requests between friends, so that they can invite others to multiplayer games (even over the net). Users can also be auto-matched to play games together (also over the net), discover new games to play and compare stats & achievements with their peers.
Game Center will only work with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (2nd generation or later).
Users can update iWeb & Safari, by selecting “Software Update” from their “Apple” menu in the top left-most corner of their screen.
To receive the iOS update, plug your iDevice into your Mac, and head to iTunes. If iTunes doesn’t ask you to update your device automatically, select the device (in the source menu on the left) and click the button that says, “Check for Update.”
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Well, here’s an interesting story, via Macworld, that essential says announces [to the world] that Skype hasn’t eliminated Windows 7/Windows Mobile from it’s application roadmap, but that it has no immediate plans to develop for the platforms.
Skype has been viewed as a major game changer for international calling, and stands to really shine when the iPhone OS 4.0 is released this June as the iPhone OS 4.0 will allow applications to multitask and run in the background —- meaning you could feasibly make and receive domestic and international calls for free.
Macworld goes on to report that Skype “discontinued its application for Windows Mobile 6.5 back in February…” and that “poor user experience across the myriad of Windows Mobile devices” is to blame.
Well, yet another major confirmation that Apple continues to inovate and provide the best user experince on both desktop computers, and mobile devices.
Check out the full article here>>
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david pogue is a respected mac enthusiast and NYTimes writer. here is just a short grab of his “Windows 7 Tips”, Q&A…
naturally, i’ve added my emphasis in purple, but i haven’t changed any of his words:
“Q: Why should XP users update to Windows 7?
DP: You probably shouldn’t, actually. Upgrading an XP machine to Windows 7 is a real pain, involving erasing the whole hard drive. If XP is working well for you, maybe you should just wait until you get your next PC, which will have Windows 7 already installed.
Q: Are there any big differences between Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate?
DP: Like Windows Vista, Windows 7 comes in a raft of different versions, each with a different set of features at a different price.
Microsoft says each version is perfectly attuned to a different kind of customer, as though each edition had been somehow conceived differently. In fact, though, the main thing that distinguishes the editions is the suite of programs that comes with each one.
Q: Some common programs are not included by default in Windows 7. How can people get these applications?
DP: If you can believe it, Windows 7 doesn’t come with an email program. Or a chat program, calendar, address book, video-editing app, or even basic photo-management software, either.”
before bitching any further, let’s not forget that Windows XP was released in 2001! the general consensus from other tech experts (familiar with windows), recommend that you STICK with an OS that is nearly 10yrs old, in favor of the new one. Unless, of course, you are willing to dish out for a brand new (and spec-wise, pimped-out) new computer.
and, once you do that…you’re left with guessing which operating system, version, is right for you. what if you buy the wrong one? or decide later that other features are more apt? guess what? you buy again, and reformat, again. BOO windows.
just another reason where apple does it right: their computers are considered premium machines because they come ready to work. the OS is pre-installed and comes in only ONE version. Currently, Snow Leopard is just $39. the predecessor was just $129…and family packs are always available (for installing on up to 5 different machines).
Those interested in the whole DP article can read it here:
