The 404 1,034: Where Jeff takes an ice nap (podcast)
Jeff took a spill on the ice during a hockey game yesterday, but he manages to limp his way into the studio to help us out with today's rundown. We wouldn't be The 404 if we didn't cover the 2Pac holographic concert at Coachella last weekend, and even though it's technically just a clever optical illusion, we're excited about the upcoming 2.0Pac tour and the potential of resurrecting our own favorite performers from history.Meanwhile, Ikea furniture designers in Sweden have come up with a new way to vertically integrate their furniture with another crucial piece of your living room: the television set. It's called Uppleva, and it combines an LED flat panel television set with built in speakers, a wireless supwoofer, a baked-in Internet connection, and a combination CD/DVD/Blu-ray player into a console that includes a shelf to house your other electronics. No word yet on how much assembly will be required, but at least its name sounds cooler than this.Finally, we'll tell you about an upcoming art exhibition in Australia that will feature a scent that encompasses the smell of a MacBook Pro unboxing: everything from the printed ink on the cardboard, the plastic components, and the aluminum used to build the Macbook body itself will be represented in the fragrance we hope will be called "Eau de Chinese Foxconn Factory."Bathroom break video: Eye drop swag.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayEpisode 1,034PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff Bakalar
iTunes slip-up reveals auto app-updates feature
iTunes slip-up reveals auto app-updates feature
A message that appeared in iTunes briefly last night before being taken down by Apple hints that automatic application updates are on the way to iOS users as part of the upcoming system update.Discovered by MacRumors, the hint came inside of the iTunes app update page, where users can opt to have the iTunes software fetch application updates in bulk, as opposed to waiting for them to update one at a time on the device itself. The boilerplate text on this section was otherwise identical to what's been there for years, with the exception of the end line, which said: "or if your device has Automatic Download enabled for apps, your updates will download to your device without having to sync."Apple's had on-device application updating since the launch of the App Store, though one of the only enhancements since then has been an option to install all the updates at once, which was added as part of iOS 2.2. Otherwise, the process is entirely manual, and one that requires launching the App Store app, and often being connected to a Wi-Fi network for any updates over 20 MB in size. Competitor Google's had an automatic update feature as part of Android since the "Froyo" update was released last year. This lets users opt to pick certain applications that should automatically update every time the OS makes a check. Apple's system could work in a similar fashion, though the brief language suggests the feature will only deliver downloads over the air, versus automatically installing them.Rumors cropped up earlier this week that Apple was testing a similar update system for its Time Capsule device that would fetch system software updates for Apple's Mac OS, as well as tap into iCloud services. This could very well be a part of that system, or just a standalone feature in iOS 5, which Apple has said it will be debuting on Monday morning.WWDC kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific on Monday with a keynote from Apple CEO Steve Jobs. You can catch our live coverage of it here.
A message that appeared in iTunes briefly last night before being taken down by Apple hints that automatic application updates are on the way to iOS users as part of the upcoming system update.Discovered by MacRumors, the hint came inside of the iTunes app update page, where users can opt to have the iTunes software fetch application updates in bulk, as opposed to waiting for them to update one at a time on the device itself. The boilerplate text on this section was otherwise identical to what's been there for years, with the exception of the end line, which said: "or if your device has Automatic Download enabled for apps, your updates will download to your device without having to sync."Apple's had on-device application updating since the launch of the App Store, though one of the only enhancements since then has been an option to install all the updates at once, which was added as part of iOS 2.2. Otherwise, the process is entirely manual, and one that requires launching the App Store app, and often being connected to a Wi-Fi network for any updates over 20 MB in size. Competitor Google's had an automatic update feature as part of Android since the "Froyo" update was released last year. This lets users opt to pick certain applications that should automatically update every time the OS makes a check. Apple's system could work in a similar fashion, though the brief language suggests the feature will only deliver downloads over the air, versus automatically installing them.Rumors cropped up earlier this week that Apple was testing a similar update system for its Time Capsule device that would fetch system software updates for Apple's Mac OS, as well as tap into iCloud services. This could very well be a part of that system, or just a standalone feature in iOS 5, which Apple has said it will be debuting on Monday morning.WWDC kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific on Monday with a keynote from Apple CEO Steve Jobs. You can catch our live coverage of it here.
Apple's big 'little' event- Join us Tuesday (live blog)
Apple's big 'little' event: Join us Tuesday (live blog)
Apple is holding its special event on Tuesday, and you can get your full dose of the news right here.The press conference, at which Apple is expected to debut a smaller version of the iPad as well as updates to Apple's Mac line, kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET's Scott Stein, Rich Brown and I will be bringing you the news live from the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif.CNET will also be running live commentary from editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Donald Bell beginning at 9 a.m. PT, which you'll be able to watch right above our live blog. Note that there's no live video of the presentation itself.You can tune in to the live blog here:CNET's live coverage of Apple's event on TuesdayApple sets the stage for Oct. 23 event (...See full gallery1 - 4 / 9NextPrevThe event is overwhelmingly expected to bring a smaller, less expensive version of Apple's iPad. The product would be Apple's first expansion of its tablet line since the iPad's debut in 2010, and its second iPad announcement this year. Related storiesApple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundupiPad Mini: What we expectThe next Macs: What we expectRumors also suggest that Apple may update other products, particularly Macs. Both the MacBook Pro and iMac are rumored to be getting upgraded models, as well as Apple's Mac mini. See CNET's full rundown on that here.As usual, we'll be using ScribbleLive to bring you live text and photos, blow by blow. We'll start the live blog about an hour before Apple officially kicks off its event, so be sure to come early.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayEditors' note: The original version of this story was posted October 21 at 12:01 a.m. PT. It has been updated since then.
Apple is holding its special event on Tuesday, and you can get your full dose of the news right here.The press conference, at which Apple is expected to debut a smaller version of the iPad as well as updates to Apple's Mac line, kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET's Scott Stein, Rich Brown and I will be bringing you the news live from the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif.CNET will also be running live commentary from editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Donald Bell beginning at 9 a.m. PT, which you'll be able to watch right above our live blog. Note that there's no live video of the presentation itself.You can tune in to the live blog here:CNET's live coverage of Apple's event on TuesdayApple sets the stage for Oct. 23 event (...See full gallery1 - 4 / 9NextPrevThe event is overwhelmingly expected to bring a smaller, less expensive version of Apple's iPad. The product would be Apple's first expansion of its tablet line since the iPad's debut in 2010, and its second iPad announcement this year. Related storiesApple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundupiPad Mini: What we expectThe next Macs: What we expectRumors also suggest that Apple may update other products, particularly Macs. Both the MacBook Pro and iMac are rumored to be getting upgraded models, as well as Apple's Mac mini. See CNET's full rundown on that here.As usual, we'll be using ScribbleLive to bring you live text and photos, blow by blow. We'll start the live blog about an hour before Apple officially kicks off its event, so be sure to come early.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayEditors' note: The original version of this story was posted October 21 at 12:01 a.m. PT. It has been updated since then.
Apple's back-to-school deal gets download focus
Apple's back-to-school deal gets download focus
Instead of offering student Mac buyers a free iPod--as it's done for the past several years--Apple this morning launched its annual back-to-school promotion with a $100 credit for digital downloads. That $100 can be spent in iTunes, the iBookstore, and in the iOS and Mac App Stores. One trend you might notice there is that Apple's found a way to get a return on that $100, which could be the whole amount if someone ends up buying Apple's own software like iWork and Aperture, which can be found in the Mac App Store. Apple makes 30 percent on sales made on all those stores, with the exception of iTunes. As part of the deal Apple is heavily promoting that $100 be spent in the Mac App Store. The company's curated a special back-to-school collection of apps in the Mac App Store, though not yet in its other stores. That collection includes Evernote (which is pictured above), Things and Scrivener. There are also "apps for study breaks," which are mostly made up of games. Details on Apple's deal leaked out earlier this week. A rumor near the end of May incorrectly suggested that Apple would be offering $229 towards an iPod model, or $200 off the purchase of a new iPad to those making Mac purchases. To qualify for this year's deal, Mac buyers need to be college students, or students who have been accepted to college. The deal is also good for parents of those students, as well as faculty and staff members. The deal runs from today through September 20, 2011.Worth noting is that Apple plans to release the next major version of its Mac OS X software next month, which will only be delivered through the Mac App Store. Apple has said it will be giving everyone who's purchased a Mac between WWDC last week and its release a free copy of the upgrade.Competitor Microsoft launched its back-to-school program last month, offering students who buy a new PC at $699 or more a free Xbox 360 console.
Instead of offering student Mac buyers a free iPod--as it's done for the past several years--Apple this morning launched its annual back-to-school promotion with a $100 credit for digital downloads. That $100 can be spent in iTunes, the iBookstore, and in the iOS and Mac App Stores. One trend you might notice there is that Apple's found a way to get a return on that $100, which could be the whole amount if someone ends up buying Apple's own software like iWork and Aperture, which can be found in the Mac App Store. Apple makes 30 percent on sales made on all those stores, with the exception of iTunes. As part of the deal Apple is heavily promoting that $100 be spent in the Mac App Store. The company's curated a special back-to-school collection of apps in the Mac App Store, though not yet in its other stores. That collection includes Evernote (which is pictured above), Things and Scrivener. There are also "apps for study breaks," which are mostly made up of games. Details on Apple's deal leaked out earlier this week. A rumor near the end of May incorrectly suggested that Apple would be offering $229 towards an iPod model, or $200 off the purchase of a new iPad to those making Mac purchases. To qualify for this year's deal, Mac buyers need to be college students, or students who have been accepted to college. The deal is also good for parents of those students, as well as faculty and staff members. The deal runs from today through September 20, 2011.Worth noting is that Apple plans to release the next major version of its Mac OS X software next month, which will only be delivered through the Mac App Store. Apple has said it will be giving everyone who's purchased a Mac between WWDC last week and its release a free copy of the upgrade.Competitor Microsoft launched its back-to-school program last month, offering students who buy a new PC at $699 or more a free Xbox 360 console.
Apple's Australian maps mishap linked to local data
Apple's Australian maps mishap linked to local data
The bad directions issue that led local police in Australia to steer motorists away from Apple's Maps app may not entirely be the iPhone maker's fault.Apparently there are two listings for the same problematic location in the Australian Gazetteer, the de facto local geographical dictionary that lists some 322,000 locations and their corresponding GPS coordinates.As reported by The Register, this resulted in two possible results for "Mildura" -- one of which was located in remote wilderness more than 40 miles away from the town of the same name. People were reportedly getting stranded in that wilderness area after following Apple Maps directions.The problem in question was quietly fixed yesterday, notes The Guardian, and now directs users to the town of Mildura instead of a location outside the not-so-nearby Murray-Sunset National Park. Apple's maps software was released in September as part of iOS 6 as a replacement to Google Maps. Users with devices on iOS 5 and below continue to use software that sources information from Google. Apple gets its own mapping data from a variety of sources, including TomTom, Waze, Yelp, and NASA. Data from the Australian Gazetteer comes from various local government agencies and is managed by the country's federal government. After user complaints and some negative press about the software,Apple apologized for its quality and pledged to make improvements. There have already been signs of progress, like updated 3D and satellite imagery and corrections to location database information. Unlike rival Google, Apple hasn't alerted users to these changes, making progress harder to track.
The bad directions issue that led local police in Australia to steer motorists away from Apple's Maps app may not entirely be the iPhone maker's fault.Apparently there are two listings for the same problematic location in the Australian Gazetteer, the de facto local geographical dictionary that lists some 322,000 locations and their corresponding GPS coordinates.As reported by The Register, this resulted in two possible results for "Mildura" -- one of which was located in remote wilderness more than 40 miles away from the town of the same name. People were reportedly getting stranded in that wilderness area after following Apple Maps directions.The problem in question was quietly fixed yesterday, notes The Guardian, and now directs users to the town of Mildura instead of a location outside the not-so-nearby Murray-Sunset National Park. Apple's maps software was released in September as part of iOS 6 as a replacement to Google Maps. Users with devices on iOS 5 and below continue to use software that sources information from Google. Apple gets its own mapping data from a variety of sources, including TomTom, Waze, Yelp, and NASA. Data from the Australian Gazetteer comes from various local government agencies and is managed by the country's federal government. After user complaints and some negative press about the software,Apple apologized for its quality and pledged to make improvements. There have already been signs of progress, like updated 3D and satellite imagery and corrections to location database information. Unlike rival Google, Apple hasn't alerted users to these changes, making progress harder to track.
Apple's App Store travels to 32 more countries
Apple's App Store travels to 32 more countries
Apple yesterday widened the reach of its popular online App Store to an additional 32 markets.Citing an e-mail sent to registered iOS and Mac developers last night, 9to5Mac said that the new markets are mostly in Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.The App Store expansion follows an announcement by Apple CEO Tim Cook at last week's Worldwide Developers Conference that the online store would branch out to the 32 new markets, adding up to 155 regions across the world.The 32 new areas: Albania, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Fiji, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.Related storiesApple: 30B apps downloaded, 400M App Store accounts set upApple's App Store: 25 billion downloadsGet alerted when the free App of the Week is posted in the App StoreCook also shared the latest App Store stats at WWDC.The store currently holds 400 million active accounts. More than 650,000 apps abound, and 30 billion have been downloaded since the store's birth in 2008. Apple has also handed out $5 billion to developers over the past four years.The App Store achieved its 25 billionth download just this past March, showing a steady rise since 2008. The first nine months saw 1 billion downloads. That number hit 5 billion in June 2010, 10 billion in January 2011, and then surpassed 18 billion last October.
Apple yesterday widened the reach of its popular online App Store to an additional 32 markets.Citing an e-mail sent to registered iOS and Mac developers last night, 9to5Mac said that the new markets are mostly in Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.The App Store expansion follows an announcement by Apple CEO Tim Cook at last week's Worldwide Developers Conference that the online store would branch out to the 32 new markets, adding up to 155 regions across the world.The 32 new areas: Albania, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Fiji, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.Related storiesApple: 30B apps downloaded, 400M App Store accounts set upApple's App Store: 25 billion downloadsGet alerted when the free App of the Week is posted in the App StoreCook also shared the latest App Store stats at WWDC.The store currently holds 400 million active accounts. More than 650,000 apps abound, and 30 billion have been downloaded since the store's birth in 2008. Apple has also handed out $5 billion to developers over the past four years.The App Store achieved its 25 billionth download just this past March, showing a steady rise since 2008. The first nine months saw 1 billion downloads. That number hit 5 billion in June 2010, 10 billion in January 2011, and then surpassed 18 billion last October.
Apple's Arizona plant could make 'unprecedented' amounts of sapphire
Apple's Arizona plant could make 'unprecedented' amounts of sapphire
Apple's new Arizona factory could manufacture "unprecedented" amounts of synthetic sapphire used to make stronger iPhone screens, according to a report.The factory will make as much as double the current global capacity of sapphire, according to Yole Developpement analyst Eric Virey, via Bloomberg. That's enough for 80 million to 100 million iPhones a year, the report said. Related stories:Apple closer to mass producing sapphire displaysApple inks $578 million deal for sapphire productionApple to make critical new component at sapphire plantArizona Governor Jan Brewer in November announced that Apple was building a factory in Mesa, Arizona, to manufacture sapphire materials. And Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. The plant should open later this month with 700 full-time workers and 1,200 temporary construction jobs, Bloomberg said.Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. The company is now believed to be planning massive production of synthetic sapphire displays for use in its various gadgets. A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable.Synthetic sapphire is made using furnaces that cause cylinders of sapphire to grow in about a month. The cylinders are then sliced to less than a millimeter thick, Bloomberg said. Because the process is so complex, it requires a small and well-trained workforce, unlike the factories run by Foxconn to assemble Apple's gadgets by hand. The sapphire plant is Apple's latest effort to control every part of the process for making its gadgets. Along with now building sapphire for strong screens, the company also designs the processors powering its iPhones and iPads. Controlling more of the process allows the devices to work exactly as Apple wants, and it also allows the company to keep its plans more secret.
Apple's new Arizona factory could manufacture "unprecedented" amounts of synthetic sapphire used to make stronger iPhone screens, according to a report.The factory will make as much as double the current global capacity of sapphire, according to Yole Developpement analyst Eric Virey, via Bloomberg. That's enough for 80 million to 100 million iPhones a year, the report said. Related stories:Apple closer to mass producing sapphire displaysApple inks $578 million deal for sapphire productionApple to make critical new component at sapphire plantArizona Governor Jan Brewer in November announced that Apple was building a factory in Mesa, Arizona, to manufacture sapphire materials. And Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. The plant should open later this month with 700 full-time workers and 1,200 temporary construction jobs, Bloomberg said.Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. The company is now believed to be planning massive production of synthetic sapphire displays for use in its various gadgets. A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable.Synthetic sapphire is made using furnaces that cause cylinders of sapphire to grow in about a month. The cylinders are then sliced to less than a millimeter thick, Bloomberg said. Because the process is so complex, it requires a small and well-trained workforce, unlike the factories run by Foxconn to assemble Apple's gadgets by hand. The sapphire plant is Apple's latest effort to control every part of the process for making its gadgets. Along with now building sapphire for strong screens, the company also designs the processors powering its iPhones and iPads. Controlling more of the process allows the devices to work exactly as Apple wants, and it also allows the company to keep its plans more secret.
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