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Apple could be done with iTunes
If you have some time this weekend, maybe open up iTunes and double check your MP3 tags again, just for old-times sake. On Monday Apple's WWDC 2019 event starts with a keynote, and as we've heard before, it could mark a final shift away from the company's overburdened media app. Apple has already launched a TV app that will help its Apple TV+ video service reach more platforms this fall. According to Bloomberg, what we'll see on Monday will mark the end of iTunes once Apple shows off macOS desktop apps that mimic their counterparts on iOS, with separate ones for Music, TV and Podcasts. If you need to manage your iThings (local backups, OS updates, etc.), the Music app will take over there just as iTunes always has. The timing makes sense, and not just because Apple is now making billions of dollars from services that didn't exist when it launched the iTunes Music Store in 2003. We're also expecting to see the "Marzipan" apps that devs can port from iOS to the Mac, and iTunes is too old-school to fit that mold.
China marks a key private rocket launch
American companies currently dominate the private spaceflight industry, but that might not be true for much longer. China's OneSpace Technologies launched its first rocket on May 16th, effectively kicking off the era of private space transportation in the country. The single-stage OS-X vehicle didn't technically enter space during its test flight (it reached an altitude of 'just' 25 miles) and was funded by the state-backed Aviation Industry Corporation, but it's still early days for what promises to be an ambitious program.
Apple's public beta of OS X El Capitan arrives today
Just as it did with Mavericks and Yosemite, Apple is going to let the public try a beta version of OS X El Capitan. And that begins today, the Cupertino company has announced. Naturally, Apple wants people to know this is an early build of its latest operating system, so there might be some applications that don't work as expected. You should probably back up your Mac too, in case anything goes wrong with the installation process or during the actual testing phase. If you're feeling up for it, though, the El Capitan public beta is scheduled to roll out in about an hour or so -- at which point, you can download it from Apple's Software Program site.
Researcher says Apple hasn't fixed major OS X security flaw
Earlier this month, Apple released an update that was supposed to patch a serious flaw in OS X, albeit only for Yosemite users. But, according to a recent finding by an independent researcher, the company from Cupertino failed to fix the problem. Objective-See, a website that provides tools to prevent OS X malware, reports that the backdoor security flaw, known as "RootPipe," can still be exploited. The root access vulnerability is a major one too, as it could give anyone with bad intentions a way to take over a user's machine and, if they want, inject malware into the operating system. We've reached out to Apple for comment and will be updating this story if and when it gets back to us.
This Weekend in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates
Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can. Apps Now Free Axe in Face [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] Axe in Face - Defense of the Daffodils. Almighty PHOTO [iPhone; Now free, down from $2.99] Almighty PHOTO is the brilliant photo album app for organizing and browsing your photos. Stopwatch+ [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $9.99] Stopwatch Plus is the most professional and beautiful stopwatch in the App Store. AfterThis [iPhone; Now free, down from $1.99] Simply focus where you want. New and Notable Apps Mean Girls: The Game [iOS Universal; $3.99] A Mean Girls tower defense game makes way more sense than you'd think. Ted the Jumper [iOS Universal; $0.99] Help Ted to collect all wooden blocks on the field by jumping on them in a colorful puzzle game. Updates you don't want to miss Convert It - The Unit and Currency Converter [OS X; Free] Convert It is the best free unit converter for your Mac. Easily accessible from the menubar, the app makes converting units a breeze.Version 1.3 brings the following changes: Added Mils to Length and Area Converters Added Acres (Ireland) to Area Converters Fixed Illumination conversion errors (Foot Candles, Lumens/sq Centimeter, and Nox Fixed Acceleration unit Galileos Hotkey is optional now Maintenance and Bug Fixes Highnote: Tempo and Key Control For Your Music [iOS Universal; $4.99] Highnote gives you realtime, independent tempo and pitch control over the music in your iPhone's library making it an invaluable practice tool for musicians and dancers. Version 2.0 brings the following changes: Fresh new look for v2.0! New design making it easier and quicker to use. Support for iPad. New and improved audio engine.
Folderol: An amazingly useful OS X utility by one of TUAW's finest
While we're busy closing down shop here at TUAW, I thought that I'd write one final app review. It's fitting that it's an app by Aunt TUAW herself, Erica Sadun. Folderol (US$2.99) is a surprisingly useful and fun utility that does one thing very well -- it applies custom colors and images to folders in OS X. It's quite easy to use: in its most basic form, launching Folderol displays a small window with the words "Drop Folders Here" on it. There is a palette of colors to select from, as well as a color picker for creating your own bright/obnoxious/pastel/camo hues to color your folders. Drag a folder onto the target and drop it, and it changes to the new color. Don't like the look of your folder? There's a "cleared tint color" to select that sets the folder back to its original blue color. Want to put a picture of your favorite person on a folder full of photos? That's easy, too. There's a box for "Custom Image" -- drag and drop an image onto that box to "load it" into Folderol, then drag the folder onto the "cleared tint" option or one of the color options. If you've selected the "cleared tint" color, the image shows up on the folder. Select one of the color options, and the image is tinted that color and applied to the folder. As you probably know, OS X 10.9 Mavericks introduced the concept of tags, which are organizational tools for folders and files. If you've set up tags in Mavericks or Yosemite, you'll be happy to know that you can use a "tint and tag" menu option to not only change the color of your folders, but apply a tag to them at the same time. If you have a picture that's not the same aspect ratio as the folder, there's a menu setting for "fit image to destination." It's what allowed me to make the nice-looking TUAW folder you see at the top of this post without distorting the classic logo. For anyone who likes to customize his or her Mac, Folderol is a great addition to your bag of tricks.
Today in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates
Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can. Apps Now Free App for Instagram - InstaFeed [OS X; Now free, down from $4.99] Experience the best of Instagram today with InstaFeed! Engineered from the ground up, InstaFeed was designed exclusively for Mac OSX. Enjoy the sleek user interface, seamless browsing, quick loading, and its suite of Instagram tools. DragonLair [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] [DragonLair] has 60 floors, numerous dungeons, puzzles in each dungeon, and missions will entertain you. Axe in Face [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] Axe in Face - Defense of the Daffodils. Memly [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Put Your Mind to the Test. KnockClock Alarm [iPhone; Now free, down from $1.99] KnockClock is an innovative alarm clock that lets you snooze/stop the alarm by simply knocking either on the phone or on the surface where it is placed. Cloud Knights [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Cloud Knights is a physics-based action game with an epic fantasy adventure style. YouPlayer - Playlist Manager for YouTube. [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Watch videos like you are used to! Access all videos with YouPlayer - Playlist Manager for YouTube, powered by YouTube! New and Notable Apps Hydra - Amazing Photography [iOS Universal; $2.99]Hydra offers innovative photo capture technology, and lets you take beautiful pictures even in the most difficult lighting conditions. BlitzKeep [iOS Universal; $3.99] BlitzKeep, where pinball meets an RPG! Updates you don't want to miss Fantastical 2 for iPhone - Calendar and Reminders [iPhone; $1.99] The award-winning, best-selling calendar app has been redesigned and reimagined for iOS 8, including new features such as reminders, a new week view, and much more! Version 2.2.3 brings the following changes: Improved search to reduce the chance of unexpected matches Added support for Opera Mini Fixed a problem when editing detached recurring events Fixed an issue where alerts could disappear from the lock screen Various fixes and improvements Exposure - Photo Filters and Effects [iOS Universal; $2.99] Amazing effects for your photos! Version 1.5 brings the following changes: Before and After videos: Show the original photo and the result with an awesome video that you can share everywhere! Intensity controls: You can now adjust the intensity of each effect, giving even more control over your final photo. New Effects: Old School, Valentine and HDR. New Texture Effects: You can apply textures to part of your photos: Fur, Film, Letterpress, Paper, Concrete, Puzzle, Old Map, Tree, Fabric, Clouds, Rust and Leaf. Bug Fixes and Improvements.
All the best app reviews last week on TUAW
Last week was a busy one for apps in the iOS App Store, giving your favorite TUAW writers a chance to post some great reviews of the apps that grace their home screens. Here's a quick roundup of our recent reviews -- and a few app roundups -- you may have missed: Here's a new iOS app for sending personalized handwritten cards Recharge perfectly with Power Nap HQ Spread kind messages far and wide with the Ripple effect Rise and shine with Gentle Wake Alarm Clock Moju's got mojo: Dynamic photo/video sharing with a twist Lucha Amigos is Angry Birds meeting a cultural game of pool Spyglass: A full featured nav app for outdoor enthusiasts PLAYER for iOS teaches you how to play your music library Crack the code in Do Not Believe His Lies PhotoTime: An incredibly powerful iOS photo organizer and tagging tool Gifx adds animations to your photos to create movies, GIFs Air Race Speed: Futuristic jet racing with stellar controls Improve your ski trip by using Ski Nation CARROT Hunger: Better health through insults and bribes CBS relaunches its news app for iOS Super Kitty: This Game's Got Claws Watermark Plus adds watermarks to your photos quickly and easily Fly By!: A Choppy Ride Spell World is a hard, confusing adventure powered by words TUAW will be back next week with another round of app reviews, so be sure to drop by to see what's new and what's cool.
You can download North Korea's OS X ripoff right now
Ever wanted to download an operating system dreamed up by a totalitarian government with heavy inspiration from OS X and take it for a spin? Thanks to the magic of the Internet, such a thing is possible today with the newly-leaked retail version of North Korea's Red Star OS 3.0, which resembles an antiquated version of OS X. Red Star OS 3.0 has revealed a number of interesting tidbits about the web of North Korea, including the fact that the entire country's internet service is set up like that of a small business, with all requests coming back to a central URL. If you're planning on booting up this OS X-alike it's recommended that you do so in a virtual box, as running it is purely for entertainment purposes. [Photo via WhiteHat Security]
Happy 12th Birthday, Safari!
Kids just grow up so quickly... On January 7, 2003, Steve Jobs announced at Macworld San Francisco that Apple had developed its own web browser called Safari. On that day, the first beta version was released. Apple based Safari 1 on its internal fork of the KHTML rendering engine known as WebKit. Four years later, almost to the day on January 9, 2007, Jobs announced the iPhone and noted that it would use a mobile version of the Safari browser. Six months later, at the 2007 WorldWide Developers Conference, Jobs announced Safari 3 for Mac OS X v10.5, Windows XP and Windows Vista. At the time, Safari 3 was the fastest web browser for Windows. Of course, the company has since dropped support for Windows. The latest iteration of OS X Safari is version 8, released with OS X 10.10 Yosemite. It includes WebGL support for native 3D browser experiences; IndexedDB, which allows structured data to be cached client side and store data for web applications; JavaScript Promises, which lets JavaScript authors to work with asynchronous programming patterns more easily; CSS Shapes and Compositing, which means that websites can flow text around images and geometry shapes; SPDY, an open protocol websites can adopt for speeding up page loads and improving security; and HTML5 Premium Video, to deliver encrypted and energy-efficient video to the browser. We can't wait to see what happens to Safari when it becomes a teenager next year... Meanwhile, here's the announcement of Safari at Macworld in 2003.
Apple software quality and the "sprint system" of OS X development
A recent post from developer Marco Arment kickstarted a whirlwind of debate regarding the current state of Apple software. The gist of Arment's piece is that Apple has unfortunately worked its way into a position where marketing is given too much deference, all at the expense of the "it just works" mantra that Apple users have traditionally boasted about. I suspect the rapid decline of Apple's software is a sign that marketing is too high a priority at Apple today: having major new releases every year is clearly impossible for the engineering teams to keep up with while maintaining quality. Maybe it's an engineering problem, but I suspect not - I doubt that any cohesive engineering team could keep up with these demands and maintain significantly higher quality. Unfortunately, a few of the problems which have plagued Apple users in recent months haven't been relegated to obscure use cases, but rather center on fundamental features such as, say, oh I don't know, Wi-Fi. As Arment intimates, it's simply not feasible for Apple to release major new software updates to OS X and iOS every year and have the finished product be as polished and bug-free as one would expect from a more drawn out development process. While iOS releases have more or less always been on an annual release cycle, the same can't be said for OS X. Consider this: the average wait time between individual OS X releases starting from OS X 10.1 Puma to OS X 10.7 Lion was 19 months and 20 days. The average time between OS X Lion and every subsequent OS X release has been 13 months. On this note, I wanted to highlight two comments from a HackerNews thread which emerged in response to Arment's piece. The first is from a user who claims to have worked on Apple's OS X development team. Former OS X developer here. I'd say the biggest change in the development methodology happened when Bertrand Serlet was replaced with Craig Federighi. With Bertrand, we would move in giant monolithic releases where every group would just dump in whatever they had ready and the whole thing would get released with nightly builds. With SnowLeopard in particular, I remember three dozen releases in a row where Xcode was unusable due to obj-c garbage collection issues. Random stuff you didn't expect like CoreGraphics would have showstopper issues and then we'd report it and it would get fixed by the next week. This resulted in extremely late releases that had a ton of bugs that we piled patches onto as time went on. Craig moved the organization onto a sprint system, where we would develop new features for 2 weeks and then spend a week fixing bugs. After 10 or 12 or 16 of these cycles, we would deem it ready and ship it out. I felt this produced more stable but more conservative software. It seemed like giant rewrites and massive features would be very difficult to introduce and if they did get done, wouldn't happen until two thirds or so into the release cycle. On the other hand, Craig has consistently been able to release on time with most of the features promised. I was only there up to the release of Lion (the first Craig release), so I don't know how updates and patches worked from then on. Maybe they're worse now. But I've been using OS X all this time, and honestly I don't think it's any worse than before. What has changed is that releases and features happen more often. Tiger and Leopard had a good 2 years to mature and get patches while their delayed successors missed target dates. In the meantime they stagnated with ancient unix tools, safari build, QuickTime frameworks, graphics drivers etc. They felt stable because they were just old, sort of like Debian stable. Meanwhile, the development versions of Leopard and Snow Leopard (the two I spent most of my career at Apple developing) were downright horrible and unreleasable. Each of those releases went gold and had an almost immediate .1 release to fix glaring issues. It's just that you remember them better because they had a longer history as a stable legacy OS than the modern versions. The last sentence here is particularly interesting. I mean, if Apple keeps up its aggressive annual OS X release cycle, users will barely have time to get comfortable with OS X Yosemite before a successor is introduced, likely with its own set of bugs that will require time to iron out. In this regard, Apple is like a dog chasing its tail insofar that its desire to innovate and introduce new features never allows it to catch up with and get ahead of various software issues. On a personal note, my favorite iteration of OS X (yeah, I'm going there) was OS X Tiger. Now was that because Tiger introduced a slew of cool new features and was bug free? Or, perhaps, as the anonymous Apple engineer writes, could it be that I associate Tiger with a positive user experience simply because I used a stable version of Tiger for longer than any other iteration of OS X. After all, recall that the wait time between OS X Tiger and OS X Leopard was a whopping 2.5 years. The second HackerNews comment comes from someone who claims to currently work at Apple. He/She writes: current apple engineer... the sprint (milestone) development system is still in place... it's not the problem though, it's the problem is the focus on new useless [imo] features at the expense of core functionality and quality hope marco, geoff and others keep writing these articles so that eventually tim or someone sees one and shakes things up. pressure from the bottom has not worked so far. Apple here is effectively stuck in a Catch-22. The company is innovating like crazy and introducing waves of new features at a rapid clip. With such a "sprint development system" in place, bugs are inevitable. The alternative, however, is just as likely to irk some Apple users and tech pundits who inexplicably yearn for innovation on-demand, every year, without exception. Still, it wouldn't hurt Apple to focus on a few big features while addressing underlying system reliability as opposed to trying to come up with "hundreds of new features" each and every single year. Taking a balanced view on the current state of Apple software, former Apple engineer Daniel Jalkut writes that discovering troublesome bugs in Apple software isn't a recent phenomenon. While Jalkut concedes that Apple is perhaps rushing software out the door a bit too quickly these days, he's not overly concerned with the direction Apple is headed. And now it's 2015, and in the immortal words of Kurt Cobain: "Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint." Don't we all. A company like Apple, moving at a breakneck speed, will undoubtedly continue to give us plenty to obsess about, both positively and negatively. I've been following the company closely since my hiring in 1996. Since that time, the company has consistently produced nothing short of the best hardware and software in the world, consistently marred by nothing short of the most infuriating, most embarrassing, most "worrisome for the company's future" defects. All told, debating the current state of Apple software makes for an entertaining and, one can only hope, instructive discussion. And who knows, perhaps some of the higher ups at Apple are actually paying attention and lending a thoughtful ear to some very valid concerns. Personally, I think both sides of the Apple software debate have merit, which is why many of the online discussions have been so engaging. Yes, OS X and iOS seem to have more problems out the gate than we're accustomed to. At the same time, the Apple userbase is incredibly larger than ever before. Which is to say, a bug that in the past might have affected 800 users may now affect 4,000 users across the globe. What's more, as technology has seeped into nearly every crevice of our daily existence, the expectation that software work flawlessly 24/7 is much more embedded today than in years past. Furthermore, the breadth and complexity of features users expect to see in a mobile OS and modern operating system is eons beyond what we many might have imagined was possible even 5 years ago. All that said, it's arguably unreasonable to expect some of the new and more ambitious features from Apple to be relatively flawless at launch across a userbase that encompasses hundreds of millions of iOS users and tens of millions of OS X users. On the other side of the coin, there is a case to be made that Apple might want to slow down and catch its breath for a second. Perhaps a Zack Morris timeout is in order. As Russell Ivanovic eloquently wrote this past October, perhaps Apple needs some more Snow Leopard-esque updates that focus primarily on under the hood improvements. The yearly release cycles of OS X, iOS, iPhone & iPad are resulting in too many things seeing the light of day that aren't finished yet. Perhaps the world wouldn't let them, perhaps the expectations are now too high, but I'd kill for Snow iOS 8 and Snow Yosemite next year. I'm fairly confident I'm not alone in that feeling. Indeed, it was pretty cool, not to mention a clever bit of spin, when Apple touted Snow Leopard as an OS X update with "0 new features." Going forward, one can only hope that Apple appreciates that it won't be afforded the same benefits of the doubt with the Apple Watch that it has traditionally enjoyed with iOS and OS X.
Algoriddim takes on Traktor with its djay Pro desktop app
Algoriddim's popular mixing app djay is a lesson in mass appeal. If you see yourself playing in clubs and festivals, you'll likely be reaching for software like Serato, or Traktor. But, if you have a phone or a tablet (and a penchant for the old turntable setup, albeit virtual) then djay is an easy choice. So much so that 15 million of you have downloaded it to date. The app broke out of its mobile scheckles some time ago, with a Mac OS X version, for those that wanted to look a little more serious. Today, Algoriddim is hoping to pick up a few more dedicated DJs with the launch of djay Pro, an even more advanced version (also for Mac).
Last Weekend in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates
Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can. Apps Now Free Habits Pro - Organizer for Goals, Tasks and Health Tracking [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $4.99] Habits Pro = Intuitive Insightful Effective Orderly - Tasks & To Do Lists [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] Orderly is a nice and incredibly easy to use to do list app designed exclusively for iOS 7. Air Scanner: Wireless Remote HD Document Camera and Overhead Projector Replacement [iPhone; Now free, down from $4.99] Easily present hard-copy materials from books, magazines, or physical objects as part of your lectures or meetings. Great for show and tell. Riptide GP2 [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $9.99] Riptide GP™2 is the full-featured sequel to the premier console-quality water-racing game on mobile. King of Opera - Multiplayer Party Game! [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] The best party game on iOS for 1-4 players! New and Notable Apps TheTake - Fashion in Movies, Shop Exact Products, Identify Film Locations [iPhone; Free] TheTake gives you instant access to products and locations from your favorite films. Kitchenbowl [iPhone; Free] Kitchenbowl is a social community for foodies to share and discover step-by-step photo recipes. Updates you don't want to miss Transmit for iOS [iOS Universal; $9.99] Transmit for iOS allows you to connect to that server and manage all your files, exactly as you'd expect. Version 1.1.1 brings the following changes: Fixed an issue preventing some file types from being sent to other applications Fixed an issue preventing connection to local network devices while a WAN is inaccessible Fixed an issue with iCloud Drive document providers and third-party applications Removed, at Apple's request, the ability to "Send" files to other services like iCloud Drive Fantastical 2 for iPhone - Calendar and Reminders [iPhone; $4.99] The award-winning, best-selling calendar app has been redesigned and reimagined for iOS 8, including new features such as reminders, a new week view, and much more! Version 2.2.2 brings the following changes: Added the ability to change days in the Today widget when only the Events & Reminders option is enabled Search now allows matching partial fragments of titles (e.g. "bday" will find Birthday) Better handling of latitude and longitude coordinates for event locations Fixed an issue when snoozing Exchange alerts Various fixes and improvements These updates also apply to the iPad version of Fantastical 2 [$9.99], released simultaneously.
Big cats take center stage in this illustrated history of OS X
OS X Mavericks and Yosemite broke the mold with their naming conventions, referencing California landmarks instead of the big cats that dominated the previous OS X titles. To celebrate OS X and last month's big Yosemite launch, Git-Tower has created an infosite that features fantastic illustrations of OS X and its line of lovely cats. The information included for each version of OS X is pretty standard stuff, but it's the illustrations that stand out in this pictorial history. Check out all eleven versions of OS X in Git-Tower's blog post and let us know what you think in the comments. [Via Dave Mark]
Best Cyber Monday 2014 deals on iOS and OS X games
The holiday deals continue with discounts on a variety of games in the App Store. Below are some of the best titles on sale for Cyber Monday. iOS Games Sparkle 2 [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] Challenge the darkness with your swift orb matching skills, mighty magical enchantments and earthshaking powerups. Toy Defense 3: Fantasy HD [iPad; Now free, down from $4.99] Toy Defense 3: Fantasy features a MAGICAL new world with dashing warriors, fearless archers, crafty goblins and more. Toy Defense 3: Fantasy [iPhone; Now free, down from $1.99] Toy Defense 3: Fantasy features a MAGICAL new world with dashing warriors, fearless archers, crafty goblins and more. Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Play as Wolverine, Storm, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Cyclops, Polaris or Scarlet Witch as Marvel's finest X-Men fight for the future of mutants. Table Tennis Touch [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $3.99] Battle your way through three epic career levels, earn Reputation to unlock tournaments, leagues, throwdowns and insane mini-games. Star Horizon [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $3.99] Play as John, a private in the service of the Federation. Focus on amusing story and dynamic battles. Journey through the cosmos, upgrade your ship, make important story decisions and have fun fighting those epic bosses! Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $4.99] Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP is an exploratory action adventure with an emphasis on audiovisual style. LostWinds [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $3.99] An innovative, fresh platform-adventure bursting with gameplay ideas. RPG Fortuna Magus [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Welcome to the world of Fortuna Magus--a fantasy RPG offering hours of enjoyment even after the main story has been completed. MetalWars3 [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] In 2100 A.D, the planet became a unified nation named "Earth Federation. Joe Dever's Lone Wolf [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] ! Storm the fortress of V'taag and thwart the evil plans of the Darklords of Helgedad, once and for all. Warhammer Quest [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] Dungeon Adventures in the Warhammer World! Out There [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $3.99] In Out There, you will have to survive, tinkering your ship with what you can gather drifting in the void, and spot garden planets to refill your oxygen supply. Rivals for Catan [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $3.99] Be the Prince or Princess of Catan and decide on the fate of its settlers! Knightmare Tower [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Break through ceilings, rescue princesses and escape boiling lava as you slash your way to the top of the Knightmare Tower! Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Join Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Gamora and Drax in an all-new adventure: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon. The Dark Knight Rises [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $6.99] The epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy arrives on iPhone and iPad. MEGA MAN X [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] With variety of weapons and reinforcing parts, break Sigma's dark ambition down!! Rayman Jungle Run [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] The legendary platforming hero is making the jump to your favorite iOS device! Gangstar Vegas [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Roll up on a dangerous new trip through the City of Sin in the latest episode of the acclaimed open-world action series! Deemo [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] From team Cytus, a world acclaimed music rhythm game. BADLAND [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $3.99] Fly and survive through the Game of the Year -winning action adventure BADLAND. 9mm [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $6.99] John "Loose" Kannon is the leader of a special team of hardened cops that aren't afraid to bend the law to clean up the streets. République [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $4.99] Developed over five years by industry veterans (Metal Gear Solid, Halo, F.E.A.R.), RÉPUBLIQUE is a thrilling and topical stealth-action game that explores the perils of government surveillance in the Internet Age OS X Games Civilization V: Campaign Edition [OS X; On sale for $9.99, down from $29.99] Civilization V: Campaign Edition brings all the features and functionality of the single-player campaign to the Mac App Store. Baldur's Gate II : Enhanced Edition [OS X; On sale for $12.99, down from $24.99] Kidnapped. Imprisoned. Tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright. Toy Defense. World War I [OS X; Now free, down from $4.99] Put your defense and strategic skills to the ultimate test in the new Tournament Mode! Toy Defense 2 [OS X; Now free, down from $4.99] Toy Defense 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the multi-million-download hit Toy Defense! 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek (Full) [OS X; Now free, down from $6.99] Save your best friend and an entire 1950s town from a terrifying threat! DiRT Showdown [OS X; On sale for $4.99, down from $19.99] Welcome to DiRT Showdown! ROOL [OS X; On sale for $9.99, down from $49.99] ROOL is created to put the advantage in the hands of the online casino gamers, enabling him or her to make more quick and accurate bets at the roulette wheels,
Best Cyber Monday 2014 deals on iOS and OS X apps
The holiday deals continue with discounts on a variety of apps in the App Store. Below are some of the best titles on sale for Cyber Monday. iOS Software Discounts Pocket Annual Premium [iOS Universal; On sale for $29.99, down from $59.99] When you find something you want to view later, put it in Pocket. Coinverter [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] Coinverter is super-simple currency converter for iOS which provides you up-to-date currency rates.. Spender - Personal Finance Manager [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] Tracking your finances has never been so easy and fast. Next! [iPad; Now free, down from $3.99] Next! was built from the ground up to help you master your busy life. ClearWeather - Color Forecast [iPhone; Now free, down from $1.99] Get the feel of weather at a single glance! Agenda Maker [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Creating an Agenda for a meeting, workshop, conference or event could not be easier. Waterlogue [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $2.99] You don't need to paint to create beautiful watercolor images-Waterlogue captures the essence of your photos in brilliant, liquid color. SKRWT [iPhone; On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] This keystone and lens-correction tool turns your phone into a view camera. iStudiez Pro [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Take charge of your schedule and put iStudiez Pro to work for you! Molecules by Theodore Gray [iOS Universal; On sale for $9.99, down from $13.99] A book about molecules, and a chance to touch, stretch and twist them! Star Tracker HD - Best StarGazing app to Explore the Universe [iPad; Now free, down from $3.99] Best StarGazing experience @60fps Live HD/R [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Record real-time tonemapped HDR video in HD resolution right from your iPhone 6: a world first! Lapse HD/R [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Record timelapse video in true HDR and up to 1080p HD resolution on your iPhone! DataMan Next : Track Data Usage In Real-Time [iPhone; On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] Your weapon against overage. In just a glance DataMan tells you if you're safe from busting your data cap. Never worry about overage again. NLogSynth PRO [iPad; On sale for $1.99, down from $9.99] Professional Virtual Analogue Synthesizer supporting AudioBus, Inter-App Audio, WIST and Core MIDI compatible apps & interfaces. Inspire Pro - Paint, Draw & Sketch [iPad; On sale for $4.99, down from $9.99] Inspire Pro delivers an amazing painting, drawing and sketching experience to your iPad. LaunchCenter PRO [iPhone; On sale for $2.99, down from $4.99] Launch actions, not just apps. LaunchCenter PRO for iPad [iPad; On sale for $2.99, down from $4.99] Launch actions, not just apps. Screens VNC [iOS Universal; On sale for $9.99, down from $19.99] Leave your computer behind and travel light! Screens is a beautiful, yet powerful Screen Sharing and VNC client that lets you connect back to your Mac, Windows or Linux PC from the comfort of your living room, the corner coffee shop or anywhere in the world. OS X Software Discounts Newsflow - News Reader [OS X; On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99] Newsflow brings news from all of your favourite websites right to your desktop. Squirrel's Cyber Monday Super Sale [OS X; 30% Off] Save 30% on AirParrot, Reflector and more. MacPaw Cyber Monday Sale [OS X; 50% Off] Save 50% off MacPaw's popular utilities including CleanMyMac 2, Gemini and CleanMyPC. Week Pop [OS X; Now free, down from $0.99] Week number and date converter for Mac. Deckset [OS X; On sale for $14.99, down from $29.99] Deckset is a new, simple way to create presentations. Screens VNC [OS X; On sale for $14.99, down from $29.99] Leave your computer behind and travel light! Screens is a beautiful, yet powerful Screen Sharing and VNC client that lets you connect back to your Mac, Windows or Linux PC from the comfort of your living room, the corner coffee shop or anywhere in the world.
The new Evernote app for OS X is a joy to use
Evernote updating its software isn't particularly noteworthy; after all the note-keeping service is known for regularly releasing a steady stream of new content and features even to its non-paying customers. The update Evernote released on November 20 for OS X is different from its standard updates. Rather than simply supplying users with a handful of new features, Evernote's latest update is a complete redesign -- a smarter, better version of what users already know and love. You should update right now. The first thing you'll notice is the app's new look, in keeping with the Yosemite aesthetic but redesigned in a way that streamlines the interface. Finding what you're looking for is easier than ever, and if you're worried about getting lost in the minor changes to the menus, the app comes with a handy tour to show you around. Beyond the pretty coat of paint the app has received, users will notice a wealth of improvements in the way Evernote works and helps get work done. Syncing has been dramatically sped up; according to the developers sync is three times faster than before. Tables can now be resized within the app, and Evernote finally has configurable background colors and border styles. Images can also now be resized within the app by clicking on the image and dragging the handle in the bottom right corner of the picture. The notebook selector at the top of the note list now remembers your recently used notebooks and search results are now sorted by relevance to your query. The service has also added support for its Evernote chat feature, allowing you to send messages, share notes, and have discussions with coworkers without leaving the app. Best of all, for those who use Evernote for work related research, you can now search your notes directly from OS X's Spotlight search. It's incredibly handy to be able to find a specific note without having to fire up the entire app itself. Premium users also get a new feature called Context. Context displays notes, articles, and contacts related to whatever you're working on. Even if you don't use any of these new features, it's worth updating just for the noticeable boost in speed that Evernote has received with its latest update. Searching through a sea of media-heavy notebooks is faster than ever, whether you're doing it in Spotlight or from within the app itself. If you use Evernote on your desktop, this is an easy choice to make. Go update your Evernote and enjoy the glory of a well-designed, better version of the app you already probably love. You can download the new improved Evernote from the Mac app store here.
AirParrot 2 launches: introduces Chromecast support and Bluetooth discovery
AirParrot enables you to stream your OS X desktop to AirPlay destinations like Apple TV. If that functionality sounds a bit familiar, it might be because Apple added desktop mirroring to OS X a while after AirParrot first debuted. AirParrot managed to survive that "sherlocking" by providing a feature set that included app- and window-specific control, letting you fine tune exactly what material was streamed. Now entering its 2.0 launch, AirParrot introduces numerous new features including an upgraded UI, Chromecast support and Bluetooth discovery. The new version also provides audio-only streaming, supporting AirPort express destinations and a limited collection of home theater systems. AirParrot 2 is now available, at $14.99 for one license, $62.99 for 5. Existing users can upgrade for the first week of sales for 1/3rd off (check your registered email for a coupon code), about $9.99 a copy or so. To learn more about the upgrade, visit the Squirrels product page.
Pangu releases 8.0-8.1 jailbreak tool for OS X
Pangu -- the downloadable tool that became a household name in the jailbreak community after the release of iOS 7.1 -- has finally released a Mac-compatible version of its 8.0/8.1 app. Just like the Windows version, the new OS X version walks you through the process of freeing your iOS device from the restrictions it has from the factory. Personally, I've had a great deal of success with Pangu on Windows, and it's always performed flawlessly across any iOS device I've decided to jailbreak. The OS X release is great news, and assuming it works as well as it does on Windows, it should have no problem quickly accomplishing its task. That being said, jailbreaking comes with risks that include accidentally bricking your device or otherwise rendering it unusable, so proceed accordingly.
Dark Dock, light menus -- it's possible with this Yosemite hack
A few weeks ago our very own Mel Martin pointed out that you can enable the new "dark mode" in OS X Yosemite simply by going to System Preferences > General and checking the "Use Dark Menu and Dock" box. But what if you're Mr. Fussypants, love the dark Dock, but don't exactly like the look of white letters on a dark background in the menubar? That's the dilemma that ManyTricks guru Peter Maurer found himself in. Thanks to a post on Rob Griffith's "The Robservatory" blog, we found Peter's trick to keep your Dock dark and your menus shiny white. You'll need to be comfortable with the command line interface before making the changes. Here we go: Launch Terminal, type in (or copy and paste) defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle Dark, then press Return. This sets your Mac to Dark Mode. Now at the prompt, type or paste killall Dock and press Return again. This will relaunch the Dock in its Dark mode. Finally, type in (or paste) defaults remove NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle and press Return. This turns off dark mode, but the Dock ignores the command ... at least until the next time you reboot your Mac. Voila, you have your dark Dock and light menubar. Note that the App Switcher (Cmd-Tab) is associated with the Dock, so it will remain dark as well. If you decide to script the entire thing for automatic setup at login, be sure to put a slight delay between steps 2 and 3 so that the Dock has a chance to relaunch. It's a great trick, and many thanks to both Paul Maurer and Rob Griffiths for bringing it to light.
