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Pupil for Retina display Macs makes it easy to switch screen resolutions
Pupil (US$5.00) is an app specifically designed for Macs with Retina displays, specifically Apple's Retina-equipped MacBook Pro range (rMBP). Although Mac OS X gives users five screen resolution options, they are cumbersome to access and change, with users having to enter System Preferences any time they want to change the screen's resolution. Most users of a rMBP will be happy with the native Retina display resolution of 2,880 x 1,800, but more demanding (or adventurous) users may wish to regularly change their Mac's screen resolution to take advantage of the greater screen real estate rMBPs have to offer. Pupil is a simple utility app that gives you access to varying screen resolutions (including 1:1 native pixel resolution for Retina displays) directly from the Mac OS X menu bar. Two clicks will change your screen's resolution, instead of forcing you to dig into System Preferences. Pupil also lets you customize your favorite six resolutions and label them. %Gallery-186236% Some of the resolutions are extreme and impractical, like 3,840 x 2,400 or 720 x 450, and it's no wonder Apple doesn't give direct access to them -- though you may be an advanced user who might use them for testing purposes. Resolutions like 1,920 x 1,200 or 1,680 x 1,050 (which appear as Mac OS X's More Space and second from More Space options in System Preferences) can be really beneficial, so it's very convenient to have on-the-fly, two-click access to them through Pupil. Pupil is available through the Pupil website. It's not available on the Mac App Store, but it's fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. An alternative to Pupil is SwitchRes 4, which you can check out here.
Apple dumps 'highest-resolution notebook ever' tagline thanks to Chromebook Pixel
Apple's 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro was advertised as the world's second-highest resolution notebook, sitting right behind the company's 15-inch Retina model. That coveted position changed hands when Google introduced its Chromebook Pixel and grabbed that number two spot. As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple has modified the advertising taglines for its MacBook Pro to reflect this change. The hallmark feature of the 12.85-inch Chromebook Pixel is its high-resolution display that checks in with 2,560 x 1,700 pixels. Though this screen doesn't beat the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and its 2,880 x 1,800 display, the Pixel does edge out the 13-inch Retina model, which has a 2,560 x 1,600 display. On Apple's website, the Retina MacBook Pro models are no longer advertised as being "The highest-resolution notebook ever. And the second highest." Now, the tagline for the Retina MacBook Pro claims, "High performance has never been so well defined." A similar re-wording is also present on the webpage that describes the major features of the Retina MacBooks. On this Features page, Apple now claims the 13-inch model is "just as impressive" as the 15-inch model. The pair are no longer "in a class of their own," which is how Apple previously described its Retina notebook models.
Apple sets a May 1st cutoff for new apps that use UDIDs, don't support iPhone 5 and Retina screens
Apple has been weaning app developers away from UDID and its privacy concerns for more than a year, but it looks like the company's about to put its foot down -- and up the hardware support requirements in the process. As of May 1st, the company will stop accepting new app submissions that demand a UDID to single out individual devices; creators will have to use the ad and vendor identifiers that came with iOS 6. They'll also have to develop apps for Retina displays as a matter of course, including the taller iPhone 5 screen. We can't imagine that the news will please those who have a need for legacy UDID support, or can't easily update a long-serving app for Retina screens, but Apple clearly feels it's time to move on.
Survey: Interest in iPad mini is growing
TechBargains.com is a deals site that I follow, and it recently shared the results of a survey that demonstrate that Apple's iPad mini is a winner, and suggest that its popularity will continue to grow. TechBargains polled its readers, and found that interest in the smaller iPad has nearly doubled since the tablet was announced last October, with 33 percent of respondents saying that they plan to buy the next iteration of the iPad mini, compared to 18 percent last year. Despite the increased demand, consumers want more out of the next version, according to the survey. First on the list is longer battery life and a faster processor, as requested by 87 percent and 85 percent of respondents, respectively. About 77 percent of those surveyed requested a Retina display on the iPad mini, which is not surprising. But it is clear, both from this survey data and just from what I've seen in the community anecdotally, that people are taking to the iPad mini more and more. I don't think it was ever really unpopular -- the iPad is an excellent tablet no matter what -- but I do think that when it was first announced, many consumers failed to see its appeal. Now that it's been available for a while, however, and it's been in Apple Stores and seen on trains and airplanes, I think more people are warming up to the idea of a smaller and very impressive little iOS tablet. If and when Apple does announce a model with a Retina display, the public's interest will grow even further.
An iPad mini with Retina display could cost $12 more to build
Hardware market research firm iSuppli has released a new report that claims the cost-per-device of an iPad mini sporting a Retina display screen could be fairly high: as much as $12 or more. Even if all of the other parts stay the same price, just adding a Retina display in the iPad mini's size, iSuppli's report suggests, would bring Apple's cost above $200, which would likely mean higher costs for consumers as well. Which doesn't seem all that impossible -- the current iPad mini is selling quite well at $329, and you have to think that potential purchasers would be happy to spend a bit more for a full Retina display. Plus, if Apple really needed to shave some of that margin off just to boost sales, it probably could (though that would be a very un-Apple move, and it seems like it'll be a while before the iPad mini needs any extra help). For any other company, $12 per device might be a real problem, but Apple has still has quite a few options to deal with such a high increase in cost. Not to mention that Apple is always working on its supply costs, so while that may be the price now, the company may be working hard on figuring out a new way to supply and develop smaller Retina displays, or to work out a deal to make them cheaper in general. It's true, putting the Retina display in the iPad mini won't be cheap at the moment, but if anyone can figure out a way to do so without attacking their very high margin, it'll be Apple. [via App Advice]
Apple iPad mini and iPad to go on sale in China this Friday
Our friends in China recently got official access to the iPhone 5, and it looks like Apple's ready to give the Far East's biggest market a taste of the cellular versions of it larger-screened mobile devices. That's right, folks, cellular versions of the iPad mini and the 4th-gen iPad will go on sale in China this Friday. To grab one, would-be owners must wait but few more days to make their purchase from either Apple's online store or through authorized brick-and-mortar retailers. Update: This post originally stated that the iPad mini and 4th-gen iPad were late to China. Those models were released in early December. It's the cellular models that are shipping now.
Apple settles Retina artwork lawsuit with Swiss artist
Apple has settled a lawsuit with Swiss photographer Sabine Liewald over the illegal use of his piece titled "Eye Closeup," according to CNET. The company and Liewald originally had an agreement in place to use the image, but Liewald maintained in a court filing that the only permission she gave Apple regarding the photograph was to use it for "layout purposes only." Liewald said Apple misused the rights to the image when it appeared on stage at the MacBook Pro's unveiling and in marketing material -- both of which fall under commercial use. The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in October 2012 and as of last Wednesday was dismissed, according to recently released court documents. The reason for dismissal was because of a settlement between the parties. Terms of the settlement were not released.
Firefox 18 brings improvements, Retina support to Macs
Those of you who prefer Firefox for your desktop web browser will be happy to know that Mozilla has just pushed out Firefox 18 for OS X. The latest version of the browser includes a variety of fixes and updates. However, the most immediately noticable (for those of you with the latest MacBook Pros, anyway) will be the new, full Retina display support. The latest update also might appeal to web gamers, as the browser now supports faster JavaScript performance via the IonMonkey compiler. Another little bonus is preliminary support for WebRTC. You can read the full release notes here. Then hit up this link for the direct download.
Firefox 18 launched with Retina support, Android browser also updated
We took a look at Mozilla's mobile OS at the final pre-proper CES event yesterday, and little did we know the official release of its Firefox 18 browser was dropping today. The update adds the new Javascript compiler IonMonkey, which is said to make wep apps "perform up to 25 percent faster." Mac users who will settle for nothing less than high-res browsing will be happy to know Retina display support has been implemented, as long as you're on OS X 10.7 or above. Preliminary support for WebRTC has also been added. The upgrade is available now, but if you're reading this on FF, you've probably got it already. The Android version of the Firefox browser has received a little TLC alongside its computer-based counterpart. The IonMonkey compiler is also new to this version, the Google Now search widget has been integrated, and Mozilla suggests mobile browsing has never been safer. Head to the source link for the release notes for both versions.
Apple offering refurbished 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros for $1869
If you've wanted a 15-inch MacBook Pro but have felt put off the steep price, now is the time to scoop one up for a little less cheddar. Apple is currently offering Apple Certified Refurbished MacBook Pros with Retina Display for US$1869 online. It's the entry-level model with 8GB of RAM and a 256 GB flash storage. If you're willing to go refurb, you'll save $330 (or 15 percent) off the "new" purchase price. The online store is also currently offering the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (8 GB RAM, 512 GB flash storage) for $2379, or $420 (15 percent) off the the "new" purchase price. Refurbs aren't always available, so get them while they're hot!
How would you change the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display?
Many will bristle at the implication, but as the MacBook Air inspired the Ultrabook, mainstream laptops will likely seek to ape the Retina Display MacBook Pro, sorry, MacBook Pro with Retina Display. The clunky name aside, it seems that the next generation of devices will ditch disc drives and Ethernet ports in favor of pixel-dense displays and reduced weight. But did Jonathan Ive's trash can get too full? If you've been using one, do you still ache for those phantom limbs, or is it peaceful on that side of the river? Folks, for the last time this year, we're inviting you to share your thoughts and feelings on how you'd change the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and from all of us, have a Happy New Year.
Archos 97 Titanium HD tablet combines Retina display prowess with an obtuse name
Can a single company produce too many Android tablets? Archos surely doesn't think so. Earlier today, the French electronics maker unveiled its awkwardly named 97 Titanium HD. Aside from a kooky moniker, the company's forthcoming slab features a 9.7-inch 2,048 x 1,536 IPS display, a 1.6GHz dual-core A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, microSD support (up to 64GB), a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Absent from today's big reveal were details about price and availability. While its Retina-like display sounds promising, the device's other specs scream budget-friendly. In the meantime, we'll reserve our excitement until Archos tells us how much this thing actually costs.
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS6 get Retina display support
Adobe has announced updates for Photoshop and Illustrator Creative Suite 6 that add much-awaited Retina display support to the popular graphics applications. Owners of the standalone versions and owners of the Creative Cloud versions are elligible for the Retina display updates. From an Adobe blog post announcing the Illustrator update: The Illustrator team is happy to announce support for HiDPI and Retina display support for Illustrator CS6 customers. This update is available to all Illustrator CS6 customers, both Creative Cloud members as well as owners of perpetual products. With this update, customers can see more detail in images, text, and in the Illustrator user interface when working on high-resolution displays, including the new Retina display available on MacBook Pro. The HiDPI feature in Illustrator is currently only available on Mac OS. It is expected to be available in the future on additional operating systems. Adobe also says that those wishing to see what further updates are coming to Adobe Creative Cloud can watch the Create Now Live event online that begins today, Tuesday, December 11, at 10 AM PT.
Adobe updates Photoshop and Illustrator CS6 to get cozy on Retina displays
Despite a brief mention when the first Retina display-wielding MacBook Pros were first announced this summer, Adobe hadn't officially made a compatibility announcement until now. The company has rolled out an update to both Photoshop and Illustrator CS6 that outfit the design software for Apple's high-res panels. To sweeten the deal, all customers will receive the tweaks at the same time, instead of those with Creative Cloud subscriptions seeing the new features first.
Create Retina-ready graphics for your website
If you're looking for something to do this weekend that doesn't involve fighting your way through massive crowds of holiday shoppers, you can work on bumping the graphics on your website up to Retina quality. Designer Chris Spooner took a look at his statistics and discovered that a good number of his site visits come from people with Apple products. With an increasing number of Apple's product line moving to Retina displays, it made sense for him to do a graphics upgrade to his various sites. In the process, he put together a tutorial for Line25 that shows you what to do and how to code your site to handle the new Retina-ready graphics. It's not merely taking your existing graphics and scaling them up, but it's making sure you do so correctly so you don't wind up with pixelated graphics that would look even worse on a Retina screen. Spooner does a good job in explaining why different methods of scaling work and their drawbacks. [via The Loop]
Blockbuster Video launches an iPad magazine
They must be pretty far down the idea list over at Blockbuster Video, because this one suddenly appeared out of left field. The video rental chain has released, of all things, an iPad-based digital magazine. Blockbuster Magazine, available through Newsstand, is a free publication featuring trailers, interviews and other content about new and upcoming movies -- specifically targeted at what Blockbuster has for rent. It does look like Blockbuster did a nice job on it, but does a digital magazine on your iPad really encourage you to go out and rent videos? We wonder. Blockbuster's been shrinking lately, as increased options for digitally downloaded movies and TV shows have made renting physical videos less interesting, especially for us well-connected Apple users. Considering all of that, maybe this is Blockbuster's attempt to grab us back. It seems doubtful, however, that a move like this will be the key turnaround that the rental chain has been looking for. Better keep going down that list, guys. [via App Advice]
iPad review (late 2012)
Welcome to the new new iPad, same as the old new iPad. Well, mostly, anyway. It was less than eight months ago that Apple grafted a Retina display onto its world-conquering tablet, giving every other slate on the market resolution envy, while enchanting gadget lovers with world-class performance and battery life. Now, it's obsolete. Put out to pasture just as it was hitting its stride and replaced by this, the fourth-generation iPad -- still just called "new iPad." Other than a Lightning connector on the bottom it's visually indistinguishable from its predecessor. Even its starting MSRP of $499 stays the same. But, on the inside where it counts, is the new, fire-breathing A6X processor. Could this be possibly worth buying a second new iPad in just one year, or could this perhaps be the one you've been waiting for? Hold on to your wallets and click on through to find out.
MacBook Pro with Retina display review (13-inch, late 2012)
Look down the aisles at any Apple launch event, across the laps of dozens of journalists liveblogging or in some other way documenting the goings-on, and it's inevitable that you'll see MacBooks. A lot of MacBooks. And, since many of those laps are irrevocably linked to owners who spend their days jetting around the globe to other companies' events, those laptops are quite often the travel-friendly MacBook Air. So, while we were excited to see a thinner, lighter 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display unveiled earlier this year, many of us were left asking one question: "Where's the 13-inch version?" Now, a little over four months later, here it is. Why the wait from one to the next? That's for Apple to know and us to speculate about (supply chain concerns? engineering issues?), but the important thing is that it's available now and it is, in many ways, an uncompromised, slightly smaller rendition of the 15-inch version that came before. It's thinner and it's lighter than the current 13-inch Pro but promises better internals and the same battery life as the 13-inch Air. Perfect portions of portability and performance? Let's find out.
PC Magazine names 13-inch MacBook Pro Editor's Choice
PC Magazine has singled out the new MacBook Pro 13 inch Retina display laptop as its Editors' Choice for a high-end ultraportable laptop. The review states that "if you absolutely must have a display with greater than HD resolution and you need to take that show on the road, you want this laptop." Even with the high praise the magazine notes the laptop is pricey and requires Retina-optimized apps for the best user experience. The US$1699.00 (starting price) MacBook Pro sports more than 4 million pixels, flash-based storage and a weight of 3.57 pounds it is a lust-worthy laptop. For I/O, the new model has two Thunderbolt ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI output so you can display your work on an HDTV. It does lack an optical drive, and Apple is pretty much eliminating these drives from all new hardware. The company does offer a $79.00 external SuperDrive for those who don't want to be without one.
Skype 6.0 lands with Microsoft and Facebook account integration, Retina support
You're probably saying to yourself, "didn't Skype just get a Windows 8-friendly refresh?" Why yes, yes it did. But Skype 6.0 here isn't limited to Windows RT slates, instead it's designed for more traditional Windows systems and even has a similarly numbered OS X counter part. There's a number of notable changes here, including the ability to sign in directly with your Facebook or Microsoft account. (If you've got a Live Messenger, Hotmail or Outlook.com account, then you've got a Microsoft account.) The most visible changes, however, will be the "flattened" Don't-call-it-Metro-friendly UI on Windows and the addition of Retina display support on OS X. There's a few other minor changes, including some additional localizations, which you can read about at the source. And heck, since you're already there, might as well download Skype too.