Cory Bohon
Articles by Cory Bohon
iPhone 3G to be unlocked, dev team speaks about DFU problems
Want to unlock your iPhone 3G and place it on any GSM network? Your long wait may soon be over. The anticipated unlock, codenamed "yellowsn0w," should be available later this month -- they are projecting a New Year's Eve release. If you wish to unlock your iPhone, you will need an iPhone 3G with 2.11.07 baseband or earlier, and it will need to be jailbroken. In theory, if you update your iPhone 3G to the 2.2 firmware release in iTunes, you will lose the ability to perform the unlock because iTunes will update the baseband version. If you plan to do the unlock, you will need to update your iPhone using Pwnage. Yesterday we told you about DFU mode not working with Macs running the new OS X 10.5.6 update; today, the dev team gave us a little insight into why this might not work. Remember when the unibody MacBooks were released and there were problems with jailbreaking attempts? Well, this is basically the same problem, except it is more widespread. The dev team believes that this is an error on Apple's part, and has nothing to do with Apple attempting to shut down the hacking community. Until there is another update you can attempt to manually replace the affected kernel extensions with the 10.5.5 versions, but the dev team warns that you should "attempt at your own risk." Thanks to William and others for the tip! [via Engadget]
Mac 101: Drag an entire application from one space to another
Spaces is a very nice way to manage all of your Mac's applications. You can have certain applications set to open in certain Spaces, and you can drag windows between spaces by clicking the Spaces application icon in the Dock (or menu bar). But did you know there is a simple way to drag all of application's windows between spaces?To do this, simply launch Spaces (using either a key combo, Dock icon, or menu bar item), then find the application whose windows you wish to move from one Space to another. Command + drag one of the windows, and all of the windows from that application will follow. It's that simple. Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 section.
First Look: OldBooth
Remember going to the circus as a child and putting your face inside one of those painted façades? Well, you can do the exact same thing on your iPhone, except it's slightly more fun. OldBooth [iTunes link] lets you snap a picture and morph it with some predefined templates for both male and female bodies. All of the templates range from mid-20s to 80s fashions -- and they are quite hilarious when you see your face in them. You can import a picture from either the iPhone's camera, or from the photo library on the device. Once you import the picture, you are able to shrink the image by pinching, rotate and increase the brightness to match the template image. When you are done, the morphed image will be saved in your photo library.If you are looking for a cool iPhone application that can provide hours of fun (and laughs), then look no further than OldBooth. You can download it from the iTunes App Store for 30% through Christmas (regular $4.99). By the way, can you guess who is in the picture to the right? Give us your best guess in the comments. We'll update the post tomorrow with the correct answer. %Gallery-39411%
Apple debuts two Holiday Get a Mac Ads
Apple released two new Get a Mac ads, just in time for the holiday season. The two ads, entitled "I Can Do Anything," and "Tree Trimming," are animated, and very amusing. In the I Can Do Anything ad [direct video link], PC shows off what he can do because he is animated. He then talks to a rabbit that is on its way to the Apple Store.In the Tree Trimming ad [direct video link], Mac and PC are decorating a tree. When PC plugs in the tree, Mac discovers that the lights actually say... well, we don't want to spoil it (sorry!).You can watch both of the ads by visiting the Get a Mac ad website.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Mac OS X 10.5.6 update breaks DFU Mode for iPhone?
iPhone Alley is reporting that the Mac OS X 10.5.6 update is causing problems for the jailbreaking community. According to a recent post at the site, if you place the iPhone in DFU mode (similar to a restore mode), your iPhone will be unrecognized by a Mac running 10.5.6. DFU mode is required to jailbreak your iPhone using many of the popular tools such as Pwnage or QuickPwn. So far there is no word from the iPhone Dev group on this finding. In doing our own research, we discovered that the problem does, in fact, exist. So, if you need to jailbreak your iPhone/iPod touch, you might want to hold off on updating your Mac. Could this be Apple's way of combating owners who jailbreak their iPhones? Has this happened to you since upgrading your Mac to 10.5.6? Let us know in the comments! [via iPhone Alley]
First Look: iLava for iPhone/iPod touch
The lava lamp was an icon of 70s pop culture, and that same idea has made it into the 21st century, right on the iPhone. iLava [iTunes link] imitates both a lava lamp, and the demo that Jeff Han gave us at the TED conference. The iLava application is completely multi-touch, meaning that anything you touch will have an action. Touch the lava, move it around. When you tap and hold your finger in a specific area, you'll add heat and see the lava rise. You can also stretch the lava apart, or pinch multiple pieces of lava together. Shake or tilt the iPhone to move the lamp, just as you could a real lava lamp. If you're looking for a cool iPhone application that could bring a few minutes of enjoyment, then look no further than iLava. You can download it from the iTunes App Store for $0.99US. Update: The developer of iLava contacted us to let us know that this application is essentially the same thing that Jeff Han used at the TED conference. Both applications use the same codebase, and was developed by Llya Rosenberg (the same name mentioned in the demo video) over the past few years. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
TUAW Tip: Removing duplicate songs from iTunes
Have you ever been listening your iTunes library and wondered why a song played more than one time? Duplicate songs in your library can be very annoying, and waste precious space on your hard drive. In this TUAW Tip, I'm going to show you how to get rid of duplicates using a built-in feature in iTunes.In iTunes, click the "Music" category under the Library section from the selector on the left. You should now see all of the music items that are in your iTunes library. Now click File > Show Duplicates. Any duplicate songs that are in your library will show up, and you will be able to delete the ones that you don't want any longer. To hide the duplicate song list, click the "Show All" button at the bottom of the window (or click File > Show All). You can use this same method for Music, Videos, and TV Shows. It will also work in any playlist. Using the built-in iTunes feature is nice, but it can be very time consuming -- especially if you have thousands of songs, videos, or TV shows. In this case, you can use an application like iDupe (which costs $8US). iDupe gives you a ton of options for deleting duplicate songs in iTunes.Do you know another way to delete duplicate iTunes songs? Know of another application to delete duplicates? Tell us in the comments! Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 and TUAW Tips sections!
Walmart creates iPhone compatible site
Do you like shopping at Walmart? From electronics to $4 prescriptions, Walmart seems to have everything. But one thing it didn't have was an iPhone application, and now they do. If you visit the Walmart.com website on your iPhone, you will be presented with an iPhone-specific portal for all of your shopping needs. From the home page, you can browse through products by category, see current product specials, and even see a list of approved $4 prescriptions (in PDF form). If you tap the "Shopping List" tab, you can create your own shopping list. This is handy if you frequent the actual store. You can also search for a local store or search for an item. Unfortunately this is where the functionality of the site ends. If you wish to purchase a product you'll have to visit the regular website, which can be slow to load over a mobile connection. If you want to check out the web app for yourself, just head over to Walmart's website on your iPhone/iPod touch.[via @keviano on Twitter]
"Pull My Finger" returns to the App Store
MacRumors reports that the developer of the "Pull My Finger" iPhone application was finally accepted by Apple. You may recall that Apple banned the application from the App Store a few months ago due to "Limited Utility." It looks as though Apple has changed its mind about the application, and has decided to finally allow it into the Store. The developer told MacRumors, "[Apple] told me that they are going to start approving a whole new "genre" of apps, and that Pull My Finger will be the first to be accepted in this genre. As of now Pull My Finger is available in the app store."If you would like to download this once-banned application, you can purchase it for $0.99US from the iTunes App Store. Do you have a theory about Apple's change of mind? Tell us in the comments!
iPhone devs get innovative with App Store promo codes
Last week we told you about the promo codes that Apple was allowing developers to pass out to anyone. These codes allowed people to get a free copy of an application, and we mentioned this was a welcomed feature for many app reviewers. One iPhone developer has some creative ideas when it comes to using their promo codes. Hexy [iTunes link] will be giving away 20 of their 50 promo codes to purchasers of their iPhone game. This is the first that we've heard of iPhone developers doing this type of "buy one get one" promotion. Plus, it's completely in line with Apple's regulations on the promo codes. You will need to send a screenshot of your iTunes Receipt to the developer to redeem your code. Details about this promotion can be found on 148apps.com. [via Ars Technica]%Poll-23767%
Incipio releases Lloyd, new way to record voice notes on iPod nano
With the introduction of the new iPod nano in September, Apple allowed users the ability to record voice notes right to the device using the iPhone headset (with microphone). This is a great way to capture quick reminders, but it's not such a good way to record multiple voices. Incipio hopes to solve this problem with their new microphone designed specifically for iPod nano 4th generation. Lloyd is a compact microphone that attaches to the headphone line out port on the bottom of the nano. The microphone doesn't seem to add much bulk to the nano, either. You can even leave it connected to the iPod at all times -- you can rotate it to connect a syncing/charging cable, or use the audio line out port on Lloyd to listen to your tunes.Incipio is selling Lloyd for $17.99, and you can get your hands on one directly from the Incipio online store.
Terminal Tip: Enable Safari web inspector
Perhaps you are a web developer, or maybe you're just nosy. Either way, looking at certain websites' CSS, HTML, and Script documents can be fun. If you are a Safari user, you can easily look at the loading documents in the Activity View (Window > Activity), but what if you want to take this a step further? You can with the Safari Web Inspector, and you can do it by enabling the Safari "Develop" menu. To enable the Safari Develop menu, just close Safari and type (or copy/paste) the following command into Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities): defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true Once you enter the command, you will be able to launch Safari, load a webpage, and click Develop > "Show Web Inspector" to see the page attributes. You will be able to see the documents, stylesheets, images, and scripts. Update: As of new versions of Safari, you can enable the Develop menu by going to Safari > Preferences > Advanced, and click on the "Show Develop menu in menu bar." Thanks to everyone in the comments for pointing this out! Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Terminal Tips section today!
Beta Beat: Firefox 3 betas add support for multitouch
Do you own one of those fanciful new MacBooks? You know, the ones with the cool multitouch trackpads? Do you envy Safari users that can take advantage of multi-finger scrolling, pinching and squeezing in their web browsing? If so, you might be a perfect candidate for the new Firefox 3.1b2 beta. Since October, Mozilla has been releasing preliminary builds of Firefox that allow you to use the gestures that are common among the Safari browsers out there; however, they've added some special gestures that are unique to Firefox. Some of these 3-finger gestures include: Swipe Left/Right to move backward/forward through browsing history Swipe Up/Down to move to top/bottom of web page Pinch in/out to make the text larger or smaller Twist left/right to move between open tabs If you want to get your hands (quite literally) on the newest beta of Firefox, then head over to the Firefox 3 beta download website. There's still no word yet on when the final release of Firefox 3.1 with touch support is expected.Special thanks to Tom Dyas for sharing his early builds.[via MacRumors]
Apple issues SMC and Firmware update for all unibody MacBooks
Today, Apple issued both SMC and Firmware updates for their entire line of unibody MacBook computers, and the MacBook Air. Read on to discover what was changed for each system, and how you can get the updates. MacBookSMC Firmware Update 1.2 (Download Page)This update "improves the sensing and accuracy of the MagSafe Power Adapter indicator light, and the battery charge indicator lights on the MacBook (late 2008) model."EFI Firmware Update 1.3 (Download Page)This update "fixes several issues to improve the stability of the MacBook (Late 2008) model."MacBook Pro 15"SMC Firmware Update 1.2 (Download Page)This update "improves the sensing and accuracy of the MagSafe Power Adapter indicator light, and the battery charge indicator lights on the MacBook Pro (late 2008) model."EFI Firmware Update 1.6 (Download Page)This update "fixes several issues to improve the stability of the MacBook Pro (Late 2008) model."MacBook AirSMC Firmware Update 1.1 (Download Page)This update "improves the sensing and accuracy of the MagSafe Power Adapter indicator light, and the battery charge indicator lights on the MacBook Air (late 2008) model."EFI Firmware Update 1.1 (Download Page)This update "fixes several issues to improve the stability of the MacBook Air (Late 2008) model."To download these updates, you can either launch Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update), or download the appropriate installer packages from the Apple Support Download website. There are additional installation instructions that you will need to follow after the download completes.Has this update improved your MacBook/Pro/Air's performance? After you install, come back here and let us know! Update: As our commenters have pointed out, older MacBook and MacBook Pro models do not require these updates. Our apologies to everyone who has been frantically clicking Software Update. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Apple applies for trademark on the "Grand Central" Snow Leopard feature
When Apple announced Snow Leopard, they also detailed a new developer service that can be used to full take advantage of the dual cores in newer Intel Macs. The Apple website tells us the following about GrandCentral: Grand Central takes full advantage [of the processor cores] by making all of Mac OS X multicore aware and optimizing it for allocating tasks across multiple cores and processors. Grand Central also makes it much easier for developers to create programs that squeeze every last drop of power from multicore systems.MacNN is reporting that Apple applied for a trademark on the name "Grand Central" under USPTO serial number 77626943. The trademark was filed under "009" classification, which is "computer software; computer operating system software." We can only wonder if this trademark filing will cause an uproar from Google, who acquired the Grand Central telephony service.Continue reading to see a screenshot of the trademark filing.[via MacNN]
Microsoft updates Office 2008, Office 2004
Today, Microsoft released updates for both Office 2008 for Mac, and Office 2004. These two updates fix several vulnerabilities within Office and add improvements. Microsoft Office 2008 Update 12.1.5 This update contains several improvements to enhance stability, compatibility, and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. For more information about this update, please visit the Microsoft Web site. This update weighs in at 104 MB and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Office 2008 update website, or through Automatic Update (by choosing Help > Check for Updates from any Office application). Microsoft Office 2004 Update 11.5.3 This update contains several improvements to enhance stability and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. For more information about this update, please visit the Microsoft Web site. This update is 15MBs, and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Office 2004 update website, or through Microsoft Automatic Update. Update: Release notes for the Office 2008 12.1.5 update have now been posted. You can find them here. [via @Schwieb on Twitter]
Mac Update offers holiday bundle
In the midst of the holiday shopping season, MacUpdate is in the process of offering their Holiday Bundle. MacUpdate tells us that their new purchasing system now allows purchases to be gifted, and in this particular bundle if you purchase three copies, you'll receive a fourth free. The bundle is selling for $49.99US, and includes the following applications at a hefty discount: Drive Genius 2 RapidWeaver 4 DefaultFolder X 4 VirusBarrier X 10.5 MacGourmet Deluxe LittleSnitch 2 KeyCue 4 MacPilot 3 WhatSize 4 iVolume 3 If you're looking for a last minute holiday gift idea for the Mac user in your life, consider MacUpdate's Holiday Promo. The deal runs through December 18, and can be purchased/gifted through the MU Promo website.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
First Look: Sharecard for iPhone
Since the iPhone introduction, many users have wanted the ability to send an receive vCards. There have been plenty of vCard sending applications on the App Store, but one that recently caught my attention was Sharecard [iTunes link]. The application has a nice user interface, and allows you to easily send a vCard through email. When you first launch the application, you are able to set the default vCard to send. When you navigate back to the vCard tab, and tap the "Send Card" button, you will have the option to send the card via email. In the email section, you can either type in a new email address, or select an email address from your contacts.This application does make sending card very easy, but for the price I would like to see more functionality. For instance, it would be nice to send one card to multiple people. Also, the vCards are delivered through the developer's mail servers (which is a do-not-reply account) -- I would like the email to be sent from the default mail account on my iPhone, as the recipient would be more aware of who the card is from. However, as it is, the application is very useful, and just plain works. You can download Sharecard from the iTunes App Store for $1.99US. %Gallery-38779%
Terminal Tip: Change Time Machine backup interval
Sometimes you want your Mac to be backed up more frequently than usual. If you want to instantly back up using Time Machine, you could click on the menu bar item and select "Back Up Now," but what if you want to change the backup interval indefinitely? With this Terminal Tip, you can do just that. Time Machine is set to automatically back up every hour, but if you would like to change it to every half hour, you can use the following Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) command: sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto StartInterval -int 1800 You will need to authenticate as an administrator, since this command is run under a "sudo." The time interval is measured in seconds, so you can enter any time you wish there; just make sure it is in seconds. By default, Time Machine backs up every 3600 seconds (every hour). If you wish to revert to the original, just replace "1800" with "3600."Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Terminal Tips section!
Livespeakr now accepting pre-orders
When we first wrote about the promising Livespeakr, the creator was still looking for a manufacturing partner. According to the Livespeakr website, pre-orders for the ultra-portable speaker system are now being accepted. Just to refresh our memories, the Livespeaker is a speaker cradle that holds the iPhone/iPod. The speakers are protected against RF (radio frequency) noise, so you can enjoy pristine audio without the cell signal getting in the way. The speakers will expand, rotate, and contract to fit movie/Cover Flow viewing angles, and will fit in your pocket. The speakers are powered by rechargeable batteries, or AC adapter. You can find more information about the speakers on the Livespeakr website. On the store page, you can pre-order the speakers for $99.99US in either black or white. The price is discounted by $30US for the first 2,000 orders. Pricing will return to $129.99US after the 2,000 orders have been placed. Availability is expected around January 26, 2009.