iOS

Part of the announcement at today's media event was a demonstration of Apple's FaceTime video-conferencing features on OS X, allowing the many iOS devices out there that support FaceTime to connect with people running Macs.

FaceTime is similar to any other video-conferencing tool, and by Steve Jobs' own admission, there is not much to it: you receive or make a call, the person answers, and you both are able to see each other. The software will automatically show portrait or landscape view, depending on how the other person is holding an iOS device, but beyond that, there is … Read more

A few months ago, we wondered how iOS could make its way into OS X. Apple was clearly thinking the same thing, because the summer 2011 release of OS X Lion looks like it's going to make Macs very iPad-like indeed.

First and foremost, an App Store will be hitting the Mac "within 90 days" according to today's Apple keynote, with software updates and much of the same look and feel as what exists on the iPad. It looks as if the Mac App Store will focus on Mac-specific apps, but it can't require too … Read more

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs had fighting words for Google Android on Monday, and Andy Rubin, the leader of Google's mobile operating system, apparently took to Twitter to counter the challenge.

Too bad the response mostly missed its target.

On a conference call for a strong quarter during which Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones, Jobs criticized both Android and Google's more-open-than-thou sales pitch:

"We think the 'open' versus 'closed' argument is a smokescreen for what's really best for the customers," Jobs said. "We think Android is very, very fragmented and becomes more so every day. We think this is a huge strength of our approach when compared to Google's. We think integrated will trump fragmented every time."

After which Twitter user ARubin, who appears to be the genuine article, had this response in his inaugural tweet:

the definition of open: "mkdir android ; cd android ; repo init -u git://android.git.kernel.org/platform/manifest.git ; repo sync ; make"

Rubin didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. But if you're not up on your command-line interfaces, the tweet translates to making a directory, pulling in the Android source code, and building the operating system from scratch. In other words, exercising the full potential of open-source software, a pretty empowering idea for developers. … Read more

Brian Tong discuss the latest in Apple news, notes, and rumors including info on the latest iOS developer's beta and a quick tip for saving photos to your iPad. Also this week, Apple invites media to a Mac event, rumors arise of a new MacBook Air, and Windows Phone 7 debuts with news that Zune software will soon run on a Mac.

On an iOS device? View the Apple Byte

Apple has released the latest iOS 4.2 beta version to developers. The third update to Apple's forthcoming iOS update adds customizable tones for text messages while disabling the AirPlay feature for some Apps--most notably YouTube.

The new text tones will come as a welcome addition to many users, especially in high iPhone-concentrated areas, who are frustrated with checking their phone every time one of the original text tones sound.

If you're interested in hearing what some of the new text tones sound like, The iPhone Blog has posted a walkthrough video of iOS 4.2 beta 3 … Read more

In some situations you may find that iTunes no longer recognizes your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch) after you restart your Mac running Mac OS X 10.6.4 Snow Leopard. The solution, though, may be more complex than just reinstalling iTunes.

We have reported at length on how to completely reinstall iTunes, but that process may not be enough to solve this issue. Though your device may be recognized after the reinstall, upon the next restart it will most likely be lost again. An Apple knowledge base article describes the solution, which involves finding and deleting several files.… Read more

As a longtime user of both the iPhone and Android, I was pleased to see Google's Goggles service make its way to iOS devices this past week. Even though it's missing a feature or two compared to its Android sibling, both versions are able to figure out what you've just taken a picture of, and give it back to you as a Google search.

It's one of those simple applications that I keep coming back to, mainly for its speed and accuracy, which can be scarily good. Though, when Google released it on the iPhone, it … Read more

When the iPad first launched, we heard a lot of talk about possible uses for it in school settings. There was talk of downloading books (instead of carrying a heavy backpack); taking notes (even though the onscreen keyboard is less than ideal); and someday watching online lectures on the device (if sites would start using HTML 5 instead of Flash). So far, while the iPad has been a huge success with users, things that would really help students haven't quite come to fruition.

A new note-taking app called Note Taker HD ($4.99) for iPad might be the lecture … Read more

Games running on Apple's iOS are starting to match prime-time television shows in overall consumption, a new study from Flurry Analytics claims.

According to the research company, 19 million people currently spend an average of 22 minutes each day playing iOS games, or accessing social networks on their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. That total number of users easily eclipses viewership of Sunday Night Football games, "Undercover Boss," and other top shows. It's also just 4 million viewers shy of top show "American Idol."

That said, Flurry's numbers could be quite low, compared … Read more