MAC4TECH

The iPad 2. Coming March 11th.

2011-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both front and rear! The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output, which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle, but we've yet to hear any rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity. There's an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected, though resolution has not budged from the original iPad's 1024 x 768.

There's a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: "We designed the case right along side the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover." Basically, it's a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it's open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather.

The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and will ship in two hues: white and black. It'll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th.

Full Press Release:

Apple Launches iPad 2

All New Design is Thinner, Lighter & Faster with FaceTime, Smart Covers & 10 Hour Battery

SAN FRANCISCO-March 2, 2011-Apple® today introduced iPad™ 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple's new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T's and Verizon's 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

"With more than 15 million iPads sold, iPad has defined an entirely new category of mobile devices," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we're launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again."

With the new front and rear cameras, iPad 2 users can now make FaceTime calls to millions of iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and Mac® users so they can see family and friends anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Photo Booth lets you apply fun visual effects, including eight photo special effects like Squeeze, Twirl and Kaleidoscope, to photos captured by either camera.

iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world's most advanced mobile operating system, with new features including faster Safari® mobile browsing performance; iTunes® Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay®;** the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio; and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.*** Additional iPad 2 features include a built-in gyro for advanced gaming; HSUPA support for enhanced 3G upload speeds on iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T, and HDMI Video Mirroring that lets users mirror their iPad screen on an HDTV using an optional adaptor.

The innovative new iPad 2 Smart Cover provides protection for the iPad screen while maintaining its thin and lightweight profile. Designed with a unique self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove, the new iPad 2 Smart Cover automatically wakes iPad 2 when it's opened and puts it to sleep when it's closed, and has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean. The Smart Cover also folds into a stand for typing or viewing videos and is available in vibrant polyurethane for $39 or rich leather for $69 in a range of colors, including a (PRODUCT) RED one which helps support the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apple also introduced two new apps: iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad, both available on the App Store℠ for just $4.99 each. With iMovie, iPad 2 users can shoot and edit videos right on their iPad and post their movies to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and their MobileMe℠ gallery; watch them on their iPod®, iPhone or iPad; as well as view them on their HDTV using AirPlay and Apple TV®. GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of touch instruments and 8-track recording studio, allowing you to perform with onscreen keyboards, guitars, drums and basses using multi-touch gestures–even if you don't play a musical instrument.

iPad 2 runs almost all of the over 350,000 apps available on the App Store and there are more than 65,000 native iPad apps available from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 14 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 10,000 films including over 3,500 in stunning high definition video. The iBooks® app for iPad includes Apple's iBookstore℠, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available on March 11 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps will be available on March 11 for $4.99 each from the App Store on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore.

iPad 2 will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25; and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

**AirPlay video requires second generation Apple TV running the latest software.

***Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Via Engadget

Apple Updates MacBook Pro with Next Generation Processors, Graphics & Thunderbolt I/O Technology

2011-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Apple has finally unveiled the new MacBook Pro family which is powered by Intel Core i5, Core i7 and even Quad Core processors. Powered by Intel Sandy Bridge processors, the Quad Core option is only available for 15 and 17-inch models. Core i5 and Core i7 option though is available on all three models, that is, 13, 15 and 17-inches.

Full press release:

CUPERTINO, California—February 24, 2011—Apple® today updated the industry-leading MacBook® Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.*

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”

Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone® 4 and the current generation iPod touch®. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac® App Store℠ for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.**

As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.*** Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Pricing & Availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbookpro.

*Testing conducted by Apple in February 2011 using preproduction MacBook Pro configurations. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html.

**The new Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in February 2011 using preproduction MacBook Pro configurations. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html.

***EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Via RedmondPie & Apple

iPad 2 Event on March 2nd

2011-02-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

It’s official: Apple has just started sending out invitations to the press for a media event to unveil the much awaited iPad 2. The event will be held at the famous Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who recently took a medical leave of absence from his company is unlikely to be present at the event. In his absence, either Phil Schiller or Tim Cook will be on stage for the keynote.

Via RedmondPie

Confirmed: Apple To Build Biggest Store Yet In Grand Central Terminal [Exclusive]

2011-02-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

Apple will be building a massive store in New York’s Grand Central Terminal, we have independently confirmed.

The store will open in the fall, likely early September — and it will be Apple’s largest retail space in the world.

The store already has a name: Apple Store, Grand Central, according to a source close the company. The source said Apple will be making an internal announcement within the next month or so.

“The company will certainly pull out all the stops on this one,” said the source, who asked not to be named.

This year is the 10th anniversary of Apple retail, and Apple wants to make a big splash, our source said. Apple’s retail operation has been a spectacular success, helping fuel the company’s explosive growth and creating shops that make twice as much money as Tiffany & Co.

Reports that Apple was looking at the New York landmark first appeared last week in The New York Observer and IFOAppleStore.com. Both publications said Apple was “evaluating” Grand Central but hadn’t started the long and complex approval process, which is overseen by New York’s bureaucratic MTA.

The Apple Store, Grand Central, will be the largest in the world. It will be bigger than the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, currently Apple’s largest retail location. The Covent Garden store is about 40,000 square feet over four stories, but only 16,372 square feet is public, according to IFOAppleStore.

It’s unclear where Apple will find more than 16,000 square feet inside Grand Central.

The terminal is home to more than 100 retail locations, spread across three levels and 130,000 square feet. Most average between 1,000 and 6,000 square feet. One of the largest stores is Rite Aid at 10,000 square feet, followed by Kenneth Cole, which has about 8,500 square feet next to the iconic Vanderbilt Hall. Here’s the leasing plan (pdf).

The Observer said Apple isn’t expected to take one of the traditional retail spaces, but will locate right in the terminal.

Our source suggested that Apple may be taking walls down — but didn’t elaborate.

The terminal sees more than 700,000 visitors a day, most heading for trains or subway. But about 250,000 come to look at Vanderbilt Hall or eat at the 35 restaurants, including the historic Oyster Bar on the lower level.

Apple already operates four super-popular stores in Manhattan. The largest is the spectacular glass-fronted store on the Upper West Side. The busiest is the famous glass cube on Fifth Avenue. The Fifth Ave. store is only a mile away from Grand Central. In fact, the mad crowds at Fifth Ave. is the reason Apple wants another store so close, to take the pressure off, according IFOAppleStore.

Via CultofMac

How To Enable or Disable Animated Boot Logo in GreenPois0n RC5

2011-02-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

With Chronic Dev Team releasing GreenPois0n RC5 yesterday much was made of the inclusion of the option to add a custom animated boot logo. That’s all well and dandy, other than the fact it doesn’t entirely work.

This is where iPhoneItalia comes in! Thanks to the folks in Italy, we now have a guide to enabling the magic animations, and it’s oh-so-simple.

Step 1: Jailbreak your 4.2.1 iDevice using GreenPois0n RC5, step by step guide for which can be found here.
Step 2: Download a file called “Animate” from here.
Step 3: SSH into your device and place the aforementioned file in /usr/bin/.
Step 4: Change the file’s permissions to 755 and reboot.
Now the animated boot logo is switched on. To deactivate it, simply remove the Animate file via SSH and reboot again.

The ability to add your own custom boot logos functionality will be available soon via another update to GreenPois0n RC5.

Via RedmondPie

TRVL Magazine for iPad - Review

2011-02-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Are you a traveler or a photographer? If yes, TRVL Magazine app is made for you!

TRVL combines photography and travel in one and well organized app for your iPad.

If you are a fan of exotic photography, there's a description of each image that tells you the speed, aperture, ISO, exp.comp, the lens used and with which camera it has been taken.

Even if you're not a photographer or a traveler, you can enjoy the beautiful pictures, stories and the cultural side of each country covered.

You can browse from a variety of magazines like you're browsing the iBook Store. You can even preview the magazine before you download it and share the stories with you friends on Facebook.

Stunning pictures, well written stories and descriptions, this app deserve a 5/5.

The best part? TRVL magazine is FREE including every single magazine in it! You can download it on the iTunes App Store by clicking the link below.

Download TRVL Magazine for iPad

Add a 3D Effect To your iPhone Homescreen With DeepEnd [Jailbreak Tweak]

2011-01-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

Coded by the well known Ryan Petrich, DeepEnd brings a 3D effect to your iPhone homescreen and it works just as expected. It uses the iPhone 4's gyroscope to change your iPhone’s screen orientation based on the angle you hold your handset at.

DeepEnd is FREE, you only have to add this cydia repo and you're done:

http://rpetri.ch/repo/

Of course, you need to have a jailbroken iPhone 4 or iPod touch 4 to install it. This step can be done with Redsn0w on iOS 4.2.1, or with Limera1n on iOS 4.1, or with PwnageTool on iOS 4.3.

Via [RedmondPie]

Apple Releases iOS 4.3 Beta for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV

2011-01-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

Apple has just released iOS 4.3 Beta for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV. This beta version is only available for developers. It means that only developers enrolled in the iPhone Developer Program or Enterprise Program can have access to it.

This beta release will bring more capabilities to apps including the ability to stream video to Apple TV using AirPlay, iAd full screen banners, and HTTP Live Streaming statistics.

More updates on iOS 4.3 Beta coming soon ... Stay tuned!

Follow me on Twitter or join our facebook fanpage.

Beats by Dr. Dre (Solo HD) Unboxing

2010-12-31T05:44:00.000-08:00

My unboxing of the Beats By Dr. Dre (Solo HD).

VLC Coming to Android Market Soon

2010-12-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

According to GigaOM, VLC media player will soon arrive for Android devices. The team may release the app early in 2011. The program supports many file formats. The iOS version which was released back in October was pretty popular.

The VLC team has been working on an Android version for months now. There are issues with specific devices that could delay the release.

You can track the progress of the app here.

Via electronista

Skype Video Calling Coming Soon to iPhone

2010-12-27T13:37:00.000-08:00

Skype will bring video calling to the iPhone and iPod touch soon. In a document published on the official Skype site, details were posted on how to make a video call from an iPhone or iPod touch to other clients using other platforms such as Windows and Mac.

How do I make video calls with Skype for iPhone?

The following questions and answers will help you get started with using Skype video calls on your iPhone.

To make video calls with your contacts, you will need an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, 3rd generation iPod touch, 4th generation iPod touch or an iPad. Your contacts will only be able to see you if your device has a camera. Make sure your device is running iOS 4.0 or above and that you are using Skype for iPhone 3.0 or above.

The contacts you are calling must be using one of the following Skype clients:

Skype for Windows version 4.2 and above
Skype for Mac OS X version 2.8 and above
Skype for iPhone 3.0 and above

You can make Skype video calls by using a WiFi or 3G connection*. The quality of the video will depend upon the available network conditions.

*Additional data charges may apply. Check with your operator for details.

If you have an iPhone or iPod touch with two cameras – front and rear – you will be able to switch between them during a Skype video call. If you have an iPhone 3GS it will always use the rear camera.

If you turn your device into landscape mode, the camera picture will automatically rotate.

In both portrait and landscape mode double tapping anywhere on your screen will zoom the picture to take up the full extent of the screen. Double tapping again will take the picture back to its normal size.

While on a Skype video call the sound will always be played through the loudspeaker, unless a headset is plugged into the device.

During a video call tap your screen to display the camera and microphone controls. Tap and hold down the microphone button to put the call on hold. To resume the call, simply tap the hold symbol on the screen.

Yes, at any time during a Skype video call you can choose to turn off the video. Tap the Camera button and select the No Camera option. To turn the video back on tap the Camera button again and then tap the camera you want to switch on.

When your iPhone is processing a lot of video its CPU (Central Processing Unit) has to work very hard and makes the iPhone become warm to the touch. You will experience the same thing if you stream videos through applications like Netflix or YouTube.

Yes, you will be able to receive screen shares from people using Skype for Windows or Mac OSX. You cannot share what is on the screen of your iPhone with other people and you cannot receive a screen share from another iPhone user.

No, you will be switched to audio only, as Skype for iPhone does not support group video calling.

The quality of the video you send and receive from your iPhone will depend upon the quality and bandwidth available on the WiFi or 3G network you are connected to. For best results, make sure you have nothing else running that might use up your bandwidth.

Download iTunes 10.1.1 for Mac and Windows

2010-12-16T03:42:00.000-08:00

Apple has released an update for iTunes. You can download it directly from their website (link below).

What's new in this version ?

This release provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• Addresses an issue where some music videos may not play on Macs equipped with NVIDIA GeForce 9400 or 9600 graphics.

• Resolves an issue where iTunes may unexpectedly quit when deleting a playlist that has the iTunes Sidebar showing.

• Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit when connecting an iPod to a Mac equipped with a PowerPC processor.

• Addresses an issue where some music videos may not sync to an iPod, iPhone, or iPad.

iTunes 10.1 came with several new features and improvements, including:

• Use AirPlay to instantly and wirelessly stream videos from iTunes to the all-new Apple TV.

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.2.

• Provides a number of important stability and performance improvements.

Download iTunes 10.1.1

Source: RedmondPie

Create A Google Sitemap Quickly With Strictly Google Sitemap

2010-12-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Strictly Google Sitemap is a Wordpress Plugin that was developed with performance in mind and this is the feature rich Google XML sitemap. There are several free sitemaps available for Wordpress and there may be a question among the users that why to get Strictly Google Sitemap? There are many other popular sitemap making tools available, why opt for this one?

If the user is not worried about performances or running a small blog with minimum number of new articles then they don’t need to get the new sitemap Plugin. But if you are running a large blog or website and facing out of memory issues then Strictly Google Sitemap is the one stop solution for your memory issues.

Strictly Google Sitemap is developed for the larger or busy Wordpress sites which have thousands of articles, pages, posts and tags. The sitemap has all the features of the existing sitemaps in the market but runs with a less memory and a tiny number of database queries. The existing Plugin product users experience a memory error while publishing a post but the Strictly Google Sitemap helps in avoiding the memory error. The unique features of Strictly Google Sitemap are as follows:

Low Footprint memory which is useful for the small and under performing web servers.
Ability to filter the content by page, post, tag, authors and customs.
The sitemap sets priority and change the frequency level for each content type.
While comparing with the existing products the number of database queries is tiny in number.
This Plugin is useful for the sites which imports the posts using feeds as it has the ability to schedule rebuild.
Supports for robot.txt sitemap directive.
Includes an automatic memory management whenever required.
The Plugin creates a sitemap index file which links to the required number of sitemaps.
Ability to ping all major search engines like Google, Bing, Ask and yahoo with an application ID.

How to Install the Strictly Google Sitemap Plugin:

Download the Strictly Google Sitemap version 1.0.4
Unzip the Strictly Google Sitemap compressed file
Upload the Strictly Google Sitemap directory to the / wp – content/ plugins directory on the Wordpress blog
You can activate the Strictly Sitemap Plugin through the plugins menu in the Wordpress.
Within the Wordpress there is a newly created admin option titled as Strictly Sitemap which helps to set the configuration of the Plugin.
To have a better performance follow the guidelines offered by the Plugin regarding the categorization, permalink and configuration.

So if you own a blog with lots of posts in it and lots of categories and tags, remove your existing sitemap plugin and install Strictly Google Sitemap. I bet you will enjoy it!

Mark works for Go-gulf.com, a web design kuwait company that provides web design solution in Qatar, Sharjah and Middle East.

Apple to Release iOS 4.2.1 / 4.2 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Today !

2010-11-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

It is confirmed, Apple has just issued a press release which confirms that iOS 4.2.x update will be publicly available today via iTunes 10.1. Full press release:

Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch
Major Software Update Brings Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay & AirPrint to iPad
CUPERTINO, California—November 22, 2010—Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”
iPad users can now run their favorite apps and switch between them instantly, while preserving iPad’s legendary battery life. Users can organize their apps with drag-and-drop simplicity using Folders, and Mail now features a Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching and a threaded message view.
Game Center allows iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users to challenge and play friends or be matched automatically with new opponents, showcase their scores and achievements, and discover new games their friends are playing.
AirPlay is a new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV®, transforming Apple TV into a great accessory for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. iOS users also will be able to use AirPort Express® and AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any stereo or powered speakers, or directly to AirPlay-enabled speakers coming to market in the months ahead.
AirPrint is a next-generation Wi-Fi print architecture that dramatically simplifies printing by completely eliminating printer drivers. A selection of AirPrint enabled printers including the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to any printer that supports AirPrint.
The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMe℠ subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Store℠ and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.
Other new features that iOS 4.2 brings to the iPad include: the ability to rent TV episodes directly to iPad using the iTunes® App with a 30 day viewing window and a 48 hour session window once playback is started; the ability to easily find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari®; enhanced enterprise support so businesses can take advantage of stronger security features, new device management capabilities and improved enterprise integration; industry-leading accessibility enhancements; and support for 25 additional languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese.
The revolutionary iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. You can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, using the innovative Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad weighs just 1.5 pounds, making it easy to carry and use anywhere.
Today, customers have downloaded more than seven billion apps from the groundbreaking App Store and more than 300,000 apps are available to consumers in 90 countries, with more than 40,000 native iPad apps. Over 125 million iOS users around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
Availability
The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.
*The free Find My iPhone feature is available for iPhone 4, iPad or new iPod touch (4th generation).
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

You can follow me on Twitter and join our Facebook fanpage to stay updated on all the latest from Apple .

Most Useful Cydia Repositories [Complete list]

2010-11-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Want to download some games, apps, ringtones, hacks, wallpapers, themes and more ? This is a complete list of the most useful Cydia repositories.

How to add a Cydia repositorie ?

Open Cydia -> go to manage -> Edit -> Add (Then enter the Source URL)

Click on read more to get the complete list.

URL http://apt.modmyi.com

Description: Themes / Wallpapers / Apps / Ringtones

URL http://apt.saurik.com/
Description: Cydia Sources / unix utils / cycorder / hacks

URL http://apt9.yellowsn0w.com/
Description: iPhone 3G Unlock Software

URL http://app.ifonetec.com/cydia/
Description: Cylay / MiVTones

URL http://app.weiphone.com/cydia/
Description: Notifier / Russian Carrier bundles / hacks

URL http://apple.bloks.cat/repo/
Description: Catalan Language Support
.
URLhttp://apps.iphoneislam.com/
Description: Arabic Language Support

URL http://apt.123Locker.com
Description: NES/GBA Rom Packs

URL http://apt.bigboss.us.com/repofiles/cydia/
Description: Themes / Tweaks / Hacks / Apps / wallpapers

URL http://apt.guardiansofchaos.com
Description: Themes / Tweaks / Hacks / Apps / wallpapers

URL http://apt.hackers.nl/
Description: Patches / Hacks / Zuijlen.eu Repo

URL http://apt.ingilizanahtari.com/
Description: Turkish Language Support

URL http://c.ifon1.no/
Description: Patches / Hack

URL http://c.imodzone.net/
Description: RockBand / Hacks

URL http://cy.sosiphone.com/
Description: French Language Support

URL http://cydia.hackulo.us/

Description: hacks

URL http://cydia.iclarified.com/
Description: Volume Boost / iLog / AutoCorrection ONOFF

URL http://cydia.ifoneguide.nl/
Description: Dutch Language Support

URL http://cydia.iphonemod.com.br/
Description: Brazillian Language Support

URL http://intelliborn.com/cydia
Description: IntelliScreen

URL http://iphone.freecoder.org/apt/
Description: Icosta Chines input support

URL http://ispaziorepo.com/cydia/apt/
Description: Backgrounds / Apps / Games / Themes

URL http://mc2.iphoneall.org/
Description: Indonesia Hacks

URL http://nickplee.com/cydiasource/
Description: Chord Directory Nick’s APP Experiments

URL http://repo.codegenocide.com/cydia
Description: Icosta Chines input support

URL http://repo.gafoogle.com/
Description: Installous One tap install for IPAs from Safari

URL http://urbanfanatics.com/cydia/
Description: ScuummVM

URL http://weho.ru/iphone/ Feb 13 – 2009
Description: Notifier / Russian Carrier bundles / hacks

URL http://www.iacces.com/apt/
Description: Chinese Keyboards & hacks

URL http://www.iphone.org.hk/apt/
Description: MobileInstallation Patch / HK settings / lighttpd

URL http://xsellize.com/cydia/
Description: Backgrounds / Apps / Games / Themes

URL http://zodttd.com/repo/cydia/
Description: Emulators / Quake4iPhone / Doom & VLC4Iphone

URL http://iphone.freecoder.org/apt/
Description: iCosta

Name: VN Magic Verified
URL http://vnmagic.net/cydia/

Name: Estonian Regional Source Verified
URL http://gecko.pri.ee/cydia/

Name: Czech/Slovak Regional Source Verified
URL http://csid.tym.cs/repo/

Name: Arabic Regional Source Verified
URL http://apps.iphoneislam.com/

Name: Catalan Regional Source Verified
URL http://apple.bloks.cat/repo/

Name: Bulgarian Regional Source Verified
URL http://mspasov.com/

Name: Dutch Regional Source Verified
URL http://cydia.ifoneguide.nl/

Name: Norwegian Regional Source Verified
URL http://c.ifon1.no/

Name: Polish Regional Source Verified
URL http://cydia.i-apps.pl/

Name: Belgian & Dutch Regional Source Verified
URL http://apt.hackers.nl/

Name: Germanic Regional Source Verified
URL http://iphone.freecoder.org/apt/

Name: German Regional Source Verified
URL http://apt.iphone-storage.de/

Name: French Source Verified
URL http://cy.sosiphone.com/

Name: Russian Source Verified
URL http://weho.ru/iphone/

Name: Scandinavian Regional Source Verified
URL http://ipuhelin.com/cydia/

Name: Chinese Regional Source Verified
URL http://iphone.freecoder.org/apt/

You can follow me on Twitter and join our Facebook fanpage to get the latest from Apple.

Video of Québec's First Apple Store [Opening day]

2010-11-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is the first Apple Store to open in Québec City, Canada. The grand-opening was just crazy! It's like nothing we've seen before. Take a look :

How To Print From iPad Running iOS4.2 Via AirPrint and Mac OS X

2010-11-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

iOS4.2 will be released soon for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. There are many great features that we are waiting for. One of them is printing from iPad and iPhone. They called this feature "AirPrint", so you will be able to print mail, photos, web pages directly to a printer on a wireless network (connected to your computer).

I made a video that show you how to setup your printer on Mac OS X to make it works with AirPrint. You must have Mac OS X (10.6.5). Hope it helps. Leave a comment below if you have any questions.

The New Google Nexus S

2010-11-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

The new version of the Original HTC Nexus one is here, it's called the Nexus S. This new device will probably be powered by the upcoming Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It is designed by Google in Mountain View, California and manufactured by Samsung.

Check out those photos by Engadget :

There is no official release date yet, but we expect the release by the end of 2010.

How to Watch Free Live TV Shows on Your iPhone and iPad

2010-11-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

FilmOn is offering a free service for your iPhone and iPad that let you watch free and live TV shows. Many popular channels are available, like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, Sky News, and many more.
I was amazed by the HD quality that this free service is offering and without any lag !

FilmOn doesn't require the approval of Apple because it's not a native app. Just open Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad and go to FilmOn.com and you should automatically see the same thing as the image above. Choose the channel you want from the list and it should open like a video.

Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook fanpage to get the latest news from Microsoft and Apple.

White iPhone 4 Removed From The Apple Online Store

2010-10-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

After delaying the white iPhone 4 several times, Apple decided to completely remove the white version from the Apple online store. Yesterday, an Apple representative claimed another delay until spring 2011 and Apple decided to cancel everything in favor of iPhone 5.

Previously, there was the option for the white iPhone 4 with this text under the image: "White iPhone currently unavailable for pre-order or in-store pickup"

The real problem behind those delays is light-leakage.

"When the white iPhone 4 takes a photograph, the semi-translucent glass cases leaks extra light into the camera which absolutely ruins photographs. Cult of Mac’s source said, “You don’t get accurate pictures on the white iPhone because of the color of the glass back. It washes out the pictures”. The source also said that Apple might have to do a complete redesign of the white iPhone 4 to deal with the light leaks."

After Then Years, Court shuts down Limewire music-sharing service ! !

2010-10-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

In a 17-page injunction (PDF document) issued on Tuesday, a judge ordered Limewire to cease all their services ( downloading, uploading, file trading). It means that Limewire is shutting down permanently from distributing or supporting its P2P software. If you visit Limewire.com or open Limewire on your computer, you will see the message in the picture above.

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac Available Today !

2010-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has announced their new version of Office for Mac which is Microsoft Office 2011. It comes in two different versions :

- Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011 – Costs: $109 for a single license, $129 for 3
- Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011 – Costs: $174 for a single license, $239 for 3

" REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 26, 2010 – Roughly eight miles separate Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Campus from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., but some might assume the gap is greater. PC is PC, Mac is Mac, and never the twain shall meet, right? "

iPhone 4 or HTC Touch Diamond2 ?

2010-10-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

The iPhone 4 Tech Specs :

5-megapixel camera / HD (720p) Video Recording / LED Flash / Auto Focus / Front-facing camera
Capacity : 16GB or 32GB
Retina Display (960x640) / 3.5"
3-axis Gyro
Battery : Talk time: Up to 7 hours on 3G / Up to 14 hours on 2G / Standby time: Up to 300 hours / Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G / Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi / Video playback: Up to 10 hours / Audio playback: Up to 40 hours.
Processor: A4 Chip (1GHZ)

The HTC Touch Diamond2 Tech Specs :

5-megapixel camera with auto focus + Front facing camera
Capacity: Up to 16GB with Micro SD
3.2" (480x800)
Battery: Talk Time: Up to 300 minutes for WCDMA / Up to 340 minutes for GSM / Standby Time: Up to 500 hours for WCDMA / Up to 360 hours for GSM
Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz

Do you think the HTC Touch Diamond2 is better than the iPhone 4 for a smartphone that appeared in the market in 2009 ? Leave a comment on Facebook and tell us what do you think.

You can follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook fanpage to stay updated on all the latest from Apple and the web.

FaceTime For Mac Now Available ! (Beta)

2010-10-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Apple introduced FaceTime for Mac at the "Back To The Mac" event on October 20th. If you are a Mac user you can now FaceTime with anybody who own a iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4 or another Mac. If Facetime is not running and someone tries to reach you, you will get the call on every Mac you own. It is actually a beta version. You can download it here and FaceTime your friends !

Demo :

$8,000,000 for a Diamond-Covered iPhone 4 ! World's Most Expensive Smartphone !

2010-10-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

In some countries, when Apple doesn't officially release a version of the iPhone 4, prices can reach 1500$.

But what you see here worth more than that. It's a gold-plated iPhone 4 covered with 500 diamonds. It has been designed by the British Stuart Hughes to a super mega rich Australian businessman. The price? 8 million dollars !

From Small World:
"The handset is wrapped in more than 500 individual flawless cut diamonds totalling 100 carats. It features two interchangeable diamonds which fit over the ‘home’ button – a single cut 7.4ct pink diamond and a rare 8ct single cut flawless diamond which are together worth more than £4 million.The back of the phone is plated in rose gold and the Apple logo glitters with 53 diamonds."