Andrew, the developer behind the fantastic Alfred productivity app on the Mac, posted a small peek at a new feature coming in v1.2.1: tapping shift to preview an item. The idea there is that it’s easy to navigate Alfred with the up and down arrow keys by using the index and middle fingers, whilst the ring finger can quickly tap shift to preview files as needed. The feature is dead simple and I admire how transparent Andrew is about how he makes Alfred both comfortable and easy to use.

Andrew’s post also got me thinking about a few other examples of apps that win some major usability points:

• Instapaper and its newly updated pagination gestures. Pagination saves so much time when compared to scrolling, and I love how a single tap moves me forward, and a tap-and-drag along the bottom will let me teleport through an article.
• Due (shown in the screenshot) will let you use natural language to describe a task, and writing “Post on iSource 4 PM” will change a button along the top of the screen. Tapping on that button once will set the alarm to ring at 4 PM, and tapping on it a second time will remove the “4 PM” from the task description. Beautiful.
• Drafts and Reeder can both share text and links with a host of other apps, but they also recognize that you might not use every single service that they support, so there are also dialogues to hide unused services. Drafts is a little accessible overall, and the latest update even goes the extra mile and allows you to add an “OK/Cancel” dialogue to certain actions (like tweeting) – because accidents can and do happen. A major usability win.
• Day One features a two-tiered take on the now- standard “pull to refresh” mechanic that was introduced by Tweetie. Pull down a little bit while viewing an entry and you’ll see an option to move to the next entry, but if you pull just a little more and you’ll have an option to create a new entry. Clear for iPhone features a similar mechanic for navigating lists and accessing settings.

I simply meant for this post to be a quick thumbs-up to Andrew on the excellent Alfred development we’ve been seeing, but there are so many great little touches in my favourite Mac and iOS apps that I couldn’t just stop there. If you’ve got any favourite little touches of your own, share them in the comments.

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Early on, after the iPad was first introduced, Microsoft claimed that they were looking into the possibility of bringing Office to the device. Later they said the company had no plans of doing such a thing. Then a pesky report from The Daily surfaced, claiming that Microsoft indeed was bringing Office to the iPad.

Microsoft immediately denied the claim, but The Daily continues to stand by the story. Microsoft later claimed that the situation would become “clear in the coming weeks”. Nothing ever came of that statement, and we’re all still in the dark.

Two different, repeatable media outlets have now claimed that Microsoft is looking into porting the software to mobile platforms. Personally, I think if Microsoft were to keep Office to themselves, and say, only Windows 8, they are missing an opportunity. After all, Office has happily existed on the Mac almost since the beginning, why wouldn’t Microsoft want to expand to other platforms, even if the platform isn’t their own.

In other words, if Microsoft is keeping it to themselves, and their own tablet platforms, they’re passing up a big pile of money.

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BBC is reporting that Apple’s chief of design Jonathan Ive, was Knighted today at Buckingham Palace, with Princess Anne performing the ceremony. Ive was slated for knighthood back in December, but the ceremony wasn’t held until today.

As usual, Ive was very humble throughout the whole thing, continuing his tradition of emphasizing team work, referring to his work at Apple as “we” rather than “I”. Ive also stresses his team’s attention to detail in regards to all aspect of each product. Here’s the excerpt from The Telegraph:

“We’re keenly aware that when we develop and make something and bring it to market that it really does speak to a set of values. And what preoccupies us is that sense of care, and what our products will not speak to is a schedule, what our products will not speak to is trying to respond to some corporate or competitive agenda. We’re very genuinely designing the best products that we can for people.”

Wrapping everything up neatly, Ive noted that his team’s current projects are “the most important and the best work we’ve done”, after being asked which of his designs were most important to him. No details of these projects were revealed, of course.

Image courtesy of BBC.

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This new report also states that the next version of iOS will accommodate the taller screen by adding another row of icons to the home screen. Lastly, the report claims that the new iPhone will indeed have a smaller dock connector as has been rumored before.

As for the math of a 1136×640 display, John Gruber of Daring Fireball digs in. He works out that 1136×640 works out very nicely to a 3.9996-inch display, which by most anyone’s standards (except for maybe NASA), is a 4-inch display. Also, 1136×640 is five-thousandths of an inch away from a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio. However, removing one pixel, making it 1136×639, does make a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio.

Giving weight to these rumors, comes part leaks via MacRumors. One such part is a claimed faceplate for a next-generation iPod touch. The opening in the panel measures 4.1-inches diagonally, again, very close to the mythical 4-inch mark that is making the rounds.

It would be a safe bet that the new iPod touch would usee the same screen as the next-generation iPhone, and with this part having a 4.1-inch opening, there would be a little breathing room for a 4-inch display.

This report also mentions other parts for the next-generation iPhone including home button flex cables, and front and rear camera modules, which look very similar to the parts used in the iPhones for last few years. The flex cable on the other hand, looks entirely new.

With each new report it seems more and more likely that the new iPhone, which will presumably be introduced this fall, will indeed have a 4-inch screen. I think our first concrete hints of a new screen will be found buried in a developer build of the next version of iOS, which will presumably be handed to developers at next month’s WWDC. Until then, all evidence points to a 4-inch display.

*9to5Mac later went back and reworked their math under a different assumption, and to no one’s surprise, hits the magical 3.9996-inch mark.

Images courtesy of MacRumors.com

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Apple Once Again Ranked as World’s Most Valuable Brand

Although the definition of “brand value” is squishy at best, with many different areas of measurement to take into account, Millward’s Brown has ranked Apple as the most valuable brand for two years in a row with their BrandZ study. According to the report Apple’s brand worth grew 19%, from an estimated $153 billion to $183 billion. [Read More]

iPads Being Used in Greece’s Debt Restructuring

Bob Apfel of Bondholder Communications Group decided to purchase 100 iPads to aid in getting 100,000 bondholders to sign off on forthcoming transactions in Greece’s debt restructuring. In two years, the iPad has come from nothing, to determining the economic future of a country. Amazing. [Read More]

iPad Pushes 124% Growth of Tablet Shipments

A new repot points out that the iPad is responsible for driving 124% of tablet shipment growth year-over-year. Also, the iPad comprises 62.8% of the tablet market, with Samsung in a distant second place with 7.5%. [Read More]

China Mobile Confirms Discussions Are Taking Place with Apple

China Mobile has publicly stated that they are indeed engaged in discussions with Apple regarding the iPhone. Remember, Apple’s only official partner in China up to this point is China Unicom. Also worth mentioning, is the fact that China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile phone carrier, and could represent a massive potential for both Apple and China Mobile. [Read More]

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I reviewed an obscure Mac app called Grandview (by Dark Heartfelt Software) a little while ago. Grandview specialized in blotting out your screen and forcing you to write one word or one sentence at a time. The concept sounded a little gimmicky when I described it to others, but Grandview was fun to use.

It turns out that the developers at Dark Heartfelt Software have a new $2 app called Launchwrite, which loads up as a quick notepad and uses your desktop wallpaper as the background (just like Launchpad in OS X Lion). The only thing you can do in Launchwrite for now is write (you can’t save or load files), but I imagine it could be an interesting alternative to using a sticky note if all you want to do is keep some text for later use. I’m admittedly a little skeptical about this concept as well, but it’s interesting enough to spread the word about – and if I learned anything from my time with Grandview, it’s that even the most obscure ideas can have the potential to delight.

[via The Geek's Companion]

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Infinity Blade: Dungeons is going to be a big iOS hit. It’s as simple as that. The Unreal Engine-powered title is simply too pretty and visceral to be anything but a smashing success on the App Store.

But that’s not to say that the developers at Epic Games aren’t taking any risks for their third title. Infinity Blade: Dungeons is likely still going to be about grinding for items and experience, but the new isometric view and new gestures for both movement and combat make the whole experience look very fresh – and more complex, even.

We may not see Diablo III hacking and slashing its way to iOS any time soon, but Dungeons is looking like it will do a great job of scratching that particular action-RPG itch.

[via Joystiq]

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There are mounting claims that the next-generation iPhone will have a 4-inch display, as compared to the 3.5-inch display we’ve all come to know and love. In fact, big names in news are now weighing in on the matter, starting with The Wall Street Journal, who claims that Apple is placing orders for screens measuring “at least 4 inches diagonally.”

The report further claims that Apple will be partnering with LG, Sharp, and Japan Display (merged corporation of Sony, Hitachi, and Toshiba) for their manufacturing needs for the new display. With these details in place, others seem to be missing. Most significantly, the report makes no mention of the aspect ratio this new display might have. There is speculation as to whether the new display will maintain the same aspect ratio, or if Apple will simply add length to the display.

Reuters also threw their two cents into the mix with a report of their own. Their report claims that the new screen will measure 4-inches diagonally, as compared to the Wall Street Journal’s “at least 4-inches.”

The fine folks over at iMore took these different points of speculation and made a series of mockups based on how Apple might implement a 4-inch screen. They have done the math and worked out the scenarios of how Apple may make a bigger screen work. It’s a very well though-out look at what we might see introduced with the next-generation iPhone.

Now for my thoughts. I certainly believe Apple is looking into the idea of a 4-inch iPhone. Much the same way Apple is looking into a 7-inch iPad. That said, these products may never make their way to market. Yes, there are claims that Jobs “worked closely” on the design of a larger iPhone. I’m sure he did, and I’m also sure he worked closely on other designs that never made it to market.

In short, I do not doubt that a 4-inch iPhone may be on it’s way to market. But what I do know, is that there is no hardware or software evidence of a new screen has surfaced. Nothing substantial anyway. I believe, if a new screen is in the works, software evidence will be found in the new version of iOS, which will presumably be unveiled and distributed to developers at next month’s WWDC.

Image courtesy of iMore.com.

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Sprint Offering $100 Trade-In on Older iPhones

It seems that Sprint desperately wants your iPhone business. So badly, in fact, that it is being reported that Sprint will be offering $100 trade-in credit for older iPhones (which go towards a new iPhone 4S and a two year contract). [Read More]

Judge Turns Down Request From Apple and Publishers to Throw Out Price-Fixing Case

US District Judge Denise Cote isn’t showing any sympathy for Apple and five publishers that have been accused of price-fixing in the e-book market. Apple and the publishers look like they have a fight on their hands. [Read More]

Samsung and Apple CEOs Meet to Discuss Patent Dispute

Apple’s Tim Cook, and Samsung’s Choi Gee-sung were set to meet in San Francisco today in talks regarding the two companies’ patent dispute. These talks are to be mediated by a federal judge and will take place over the next two days. We’ll see what comes of it. [Read More]

Apple Mails Content to Cupertino Neighbors Regarding “Campus 2″ Plans

Apple has been mailing out content to their neighbors in Cupertino regarding the company’s plans for their “Campus 2″ project. This mailing has details on the project and asks for feedback from neighbors. [Read More]

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There’s a lovely red folio with a perforated cover, sitting closed on my desk. A quick tug on the plastic tab up front opens it up, simultaneously waking the iPad 2 and the chiclet-style Bluetooth keyboard beneath. Pulling the keyboard forward adjusts the angle of the iPad, and magnets embedded in the folio cover lock everything in place. This entire process takes about two seconds, which means that it really wasn’t very difficult for me to get down to writing this review of the Adonit Writer Plus.

Writing on the iPad is awesome, but I really need a keyboard to do it. Something about typing on the touchscreen simply slays my wrists, and so I never leave the house without some sort of Bluetooth keyboard in tow. I reviewed the Adonit Writer 2 when it came out late last year, and the Writer Plus functions in a very similar manner: opening the case will awaken the iPad and keyboard, and closing the case will put everything back to sleep. However, the Writer Plus is a marked improvement over the previous generation, and it has been a pleasure to use over these last two weeks.

Carrying Case

The Writer Plus looks a folio case, but doesn’t function like one. Most of the other folios I’ve seen allow the iPad to be used while it’s inside the case, but that simply isn’t how the Writer Plus works. It’s just too heavy, and too rigid with its landscape-only setup, to function as a folio. However, as a keyboard case that happens to double as a carrying case for the iPad 2, it gets the job done.

The plastic quick-eject clip that holds the iPad in place is even easier to use (compared to the one on the Writer 2), requiring very little pressure to unlock. Inserting or ejecting the iPad never takes more than a second or two, which is lovely.

But there is one almost-invisible advantage to the folio form factor. One issue I’ve had with other Bluetooth keyboards is that I need to remember to put them to sleep when I’m finished with them. On the occasion that I do forget, the only way to get the iPad’s touchscreen keyboard back (while it’s still paired with a Bluetooth keyboard) is to manually disable Bluetooth or return to the Bluetooth keyboard and switch it off. However, because I’m so used to opening the Writer Plus to type and then folding it shut when I’m done typing, I’m never left in an awkward situation where the iPad is paired with the keyboard when it’s not supposed to be.

This is actually a very big deal, and there are many times where I’ve had to walk back to my Logitech Keyboard Case (often located in another room) to switch it off, just because I forgot to do so when I initially picked the iPad up. So the fact that the Writer Plus wakes up when you open it up and sleeps when you shut it is brilliant. Closing a folio shut is a lot more intuitive than toggling an on/off switch, and using the Writer Plus has felt very natural because of this design choice.

The Keys

The nearly full-sized keyboard of the Writer Plus works beautifully when nestled in my lap, or sitting squarely on a desk. The travel on the keys is a little more shallow than what I’m used to, and although I still prefer the depth of the keys on the Logitech Keyboard Case, the Writer Plus is still very comfortable to use. I spent several afternoons working solely from my iPad and Writer Plus, and Adonit’s accessory passed these field tests with flying colours.

Users of Apple keyboards will feel right at home on the Writer Plus, though the half-sized Shift key along the right side does take a little bit of getting used to. I was also delighted to see the inclusion of dedicated home, spotlight, and lock keys along the top row of the Writer Plus – as these are sorely missing from the official Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Then there’s the matter of how far out the keyboard can extend. Pulling the keyboard forward will adjust the viewing angle of the iPad, but pulling too far forward will make the keyboard feel a little unstable, causing the entire case to jiggle or rattle as you type, as shown in this video:

http://youtu.be/AmBmBaKR7c0

The simple solution to this is that you’ll just get used to keeping enough of the cover underneath the keyboard, so that the entire case is properly supported. However, I would have appreciated some sort of marking or mechanism that outlined exactly how far out the keyboard should extend.

One More Thing

There’s one more trick that the Writer Plus can perform: if you lie the entire case flat and tug on the keyboard, it detaches. I was really excited about this feature when I first read about it, but I’m still not quite sure how to take advantage of it. I’ve tried detaching the keyboard completely and using it separate from the case, but the lack of any rubberized feet means that the whole keyboard slides around while I type.

The other disadvantage of using the Writer Plus’ keyboard on its own is the sleep mechanism: the keyboard won’t manually sleep without the magnets in the folio. This means that you’ll have to wait at least five minutes before the keyboard auto-sleeps, or manually turn the entire device off. The former is impractical in everyday use, and the latter option ends up being equally so, due to the keyboard’s deeply embedded on/off switch. You need something as thin as a toothpick to reach it, and that’s just not very user-friendly.

The detachable keyboard looks like a great bullet point feature on the box, but I’m still at a loss of how take advantage of it.

Miscellany

• I mentioned this earlier, but the Writer Plus is so much easier to open than Writer 2 that I reviewed last year, and this makes a world of difference in how often I use this accessory
• the Writer Plus is also a far more fetching accessory than what Adonit had on offer before; the red keyboard is stunning and the perforated crimson cover is no longer a major dust magnet
• the rechargeable battery has been a champ for the past two weeks (with about 1–4 hours of typing per day) and is still running on its first charge; I’m also very happy that I’ll only have to deal with a micro-USB cable when the battery runs low – the Writer 2 used three AAA batteries, which proved to be a pain in the longer run
• the pairing process is as simple as any other Bluetooth keyboard: just hold down the + button on the top-right corner of the keyboard and head to Settings -> Bluetooth on your iPad
• I reviewed the Writer Plus that was custom fit for the new iPad, but found that my iPad 2 fit beautifully, anyway

Conclusion

The Writer Plus is a fantastic accessory: the red casing is eye-catching; the keyboard is thin, rechargeable, and comfortable for hours of typing; and the quick-eject system allows you instant access to your iPad when you want to read instead of write. The entire package feels like a premium product, befitting the $110 price tag for the blue and red versions (though choosing a black version will save you $10), and it’s so good that I now leave my Smart Cover and Apple Wireless Keyboard at home – the Writer Plus is everything I wanted from a keyboard case, and more.

The Writer Plus was provided by Adonit for review on iSource. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.

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Very good news today for those waiting on an untethered jailbreak for iOS devices running the latest iOS 5.1.1 software. It looks like updated versions of the popular Absinthe and RedSn0w jailbreaks may be released as soon as this week and offer an untethered jailbreak for nearly all iOS devices on iOS 5.1.1.

As Jeff Benjamin at iDownload Blog reports, the jailbreak devs who have been instrumental in this latest new jailbreak effort have made clear that everything is very near ready to go. There was even a video demo released over the weekend. Here are some of the key details on the new jailbreak that Benjamin has highlighted:

• Looks-wise, the tool is nearly identical to the original Absinthe tool that was released back in January for the 5.0.1 untethered jailbreak.
• Like the original Absinthe, no DFU mode is required, or any other manual intervention. All you do is connect your eligible iOS 5.1.1 device, click jailbreak, and let it work.
• The jailbreak should be fully completed within 5 minutes or so (at least on A4 devices).
• There doesn’t appear to be a need to mess with any VPN settings from what we can discern from the video footage, though this could change.
• Cydia is immediately installed after the jailbreak is complete.
• Unlike the original Absinthe, which only worked for the iPad 2 or the iPhone 4S,Absinthe 2.0 appears to work with all eligible A4 and A5 devices.

The Dev Team’s Musclenerd has issued a confirmation of this information as well.

I used Absinthe to jailbreak my iPhone 4S and I have to say it has been one of the quickest and most solid jailbreaks I’ve ever done – and I’ve been doing them since back in iOS 1.x days!

I know we have quite a number of jailbreakers who visit here. Are you all planning to update to 5.1.1 and give the new Absinthe or RedSn0w a go when they are released?

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The folks at DRACOdesign Inc and Deff have taken what they’ve learned from their gorgeous handcrafted aluminum DRACO IV bumper, which we reviewed last summer, and created a polycarbonate version called the CLEAVE Crystal Edition.  The benefit here is that the end product looks very similar but only weighs 9 grams.  This lighter, highly transparent, tough little brother to the original DRACO IV, encompasses all the attention to detail you have already come to expect from a high-end premium bumper case.  Furthermore, now there’s a more affordable option for iPhone 4 and 4S owners who are looking for bumper cases with a flare for design.

How can they take such a unique deign quality originally created in an aluminum bumper and transfer that look to a plastic bumper?  I wondered the same thing myself, and here is what I found

The signature curve line design on DRACO IV aluminum bumper is made by hand. To keep this original design while using polycarbonate as a material, we have successfully made a plastic mold tool, which minimizes the parting line to present the product as one piece finishing. (A parting line always appears on the molded finished product as dividing line of the mold, and usually a parting line makes the finished product outlook poor in design)

What you get

First you need to select from one of the (5) color options that include Ruby, Clear, Deep Blue Ocean, Emerald, and Dark Side Black.   My review unit was the Dark Side Black version, which I felt would work well with either a black or white iPhone.  The polycarbonate bumper comes in two pieces that are assembled together with two allen screws (allen wrench is provided as well).  Luckily there were two additional screws provided, because my clumsy fingers lost both of the screws in the assembly process, and I had to go to the back-ups.

The assembly process can be tricky, perhaps even downright frustrating to many.  For first time users, I hight recommend the excellent procedural outline provided with the bumper packaging

Place the sound ON/OFF button on the left bumper.  Gently slide your iPhone 4/4S  into the left bumper and ensure the ON/OFF switch on your iPhone 4/4S is properly attached to the sound ON/OFF button.  Then slide the right bumper onto your iPhone 4/4S.

Push in and align both bumpers.  Check each manual operation button is properly attached to the buttons of your iPhone 4/4S.  Install the hex screws in place with hex wrench one by one until tightened.  Do not over screw.

When the case is installed the volume buttons are covered with an inset that is installed from the inside of the CLEAVE by pushing into place.  These buttons set right on top of the iPhone volume buttons.  The same can be said for the Sleep/Wake button which is also an inset polycarbonate button that is pushed into place to receive the button on the iPhone.  All the remaining ports and switches are easily accessible.  These include the speaker, microphones, and 30-pin dock connector.  One additional caveat is that the 30-pin dock connector opening is big enough that I was still able to place my iPhone on my charging station without any difficulties.

Thoughts

The DRACOdesign CLEAVE Crystal Edition polycarbonate bumper for the iPhone 4/4S is an adequate replacement for those who love the look of the aluminum DRACO bumper, but want/need a cheaper alternative.  The curves and feel of the bumper mimic the high end aluminum version very nicely.  However, there are a trade-offs that need noting.  On the plus side, if you found that with the DRACO IV aluminum bumper installed on your iPhone the signal strength was compromised–this is no longer an issue.

On the negative side, though, I found that since the CLEAVE is made from polycarbonate material, it is much less rigid, and therefore more prone to flexing.  Now you could look at this two different ways.  You might be ok with this small detail, because a flexible case might transfer energy from a drop away from the phone more efficiently, thus making it less likely to break.  Or, you might be a little discouraged, because the end product doesn’t seem to be held to the same tolerances due to the material choice.  At times the bumper felt a little deficient to me.  For instance, I found that when I pressed down on the top of the CLEAVE while it was installed on my iPhone, there was more free head space due to the yielding nature of the material.  Perhaps I’m more picky than most–this was just an observation not a deal breaker by any stretch.

At $30 the CLEAVE Crystal Edition bumper case for the iPhone 4/4S might seem a little pricey for case that is simply a bumper.  However, DRACOdesign doesn’t make ordinary, average bumpers.  They create art in the form of function, and they take pride in their design techniques and innovation.  I welcome this approach, and I find it to be a breath of fresh air.

The DRACOdesign CLEAVE Crystal Edition handcrafted bumper for the iPhone 4/4S was provided for review on iSource.com by DRACOdesign.  For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.

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Let’s be clear about this: you’ll have to remember to load QLOCKTWO up when you want to see it, but it’s still a gorgeous way to make use of your iPhone or iPad while it’s not in use.

If you’re the type of person to keep your iPhone or iPad docked while you’re at your computer, then QLOCKTWO can temporarily turn your device into a unique verbal clock of sorts. Instead of mimicking a digital or analog watch, QLOCKTWO literally spells out the current time by displaying and highlighting a matrix of words. I’m sorely tempted to purchase this universal app for $0.99, but I think I use my iOS devices far too often to ever really load QLOCKTWO up.

On the other hand, if this gorgeous design were offered as a Mac screensaver, I’d be all over it.

[via ONE37]

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If you’re reading this, chances are you already know where to come to find the best in-depth, up to date Apple news, reviews, and info on the web.  However, now-a-days, there are many different venues to access iSource and the posts of our talented team of writers and editors.  So, when you can’t get enough of iSource, where else can you find us?

Forums

When you come to iSource looking for answers to those burning questions, and you can’t find them after browsing or searching our posts, there is no better place to go than to our Forums.  The Forums are a great place to search through some of the most common questions, ask a question of your own, or even help out a fellow Forum user.  Signing up is painless and only takes a few minutes

Sign up for a free account today

Browse the iSource community forum anytime

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We are now on Google+  We joined the party a short while ago, and we would love to continue to see our fans grow.  So the next time you’re on Google + add us to one of your Circles, share our page with friends, and feel free to post a comment or question for our staff.  Make sure you check back often, because we will continue to post giveaways on the site as well.

Join the iSource Google + page today!

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In addition to the above mentioned places to “find us” you can view videos we upload to our iSource YouTube page anytime.

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There are various reasons that you might need to contact us.  If such a need arises, feel free to check out our “Contact Us” page for further info.

Thank You!

All of us at iSource would like to extend a big thank you for making us your first stop for your daily Apple fix.  It’s because of you, our readers that we have the opportunity to share our passion for what we do with you on a daily basis.

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Welcome to our weekly installment of Picks of the Week at iSource where we provide our expanded coverage of Apple accessories and applications. Here we will promote our favorite iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple TV related items, as well as bring you occasional tips and tricks. Hopefully many of our favorite items will also be of interest to you. Please feel free to comment on our selections, and suggest picks of your own. Check out this week’s picks after the break.

artCircles  [ v 2.0.6 ]

Picked by: Alex Jordan

My pick this week is Art Circles from art.com. I love art. I am a design, student (which is not art, but handles problems in an artful way), and I’ve always had an interest in great art, and the questions art tries to answer through the lens of its aestehtic appeal. Well, Art Circles whimsically presents some of the great works of art, to those who enjoy art, and those that would like to know more about it. Some of the works are organized by color, others by Curator selection, and others by an assortment of adjectives. From there, if you see a work that you like, you can order a print, right from the app. It’s w cute way to explore art, and it doesn’t cost a time for you to enjoy it.

Free [ iTunes ]

A Fact Every Day!  365 fun facts for kids  [ v 1.0.3 ]

Picked by: PatrickJ

This is a very simple but charming app with appeal for kids and families. It presents a new fun fact each day. Each fact is read aloud and accompanied by a clever and funny cartoon. The interface is great and completely intuitive – so even younger kids can get around the app with ease. A single tap repeats the reading out loud. Swipes left and right move you forward and backward to the next or previous day’s fact. A tap on the Date icon brings up a calendar view where you can pick any day from January 1 to the current day and check out the fact for that date.

I thought this might have just one session sort of appeal when I first saw it, but my 9 year old daughter stuck it on her iPad after we took our first look and she revisits it regularly. In fact she often swipes through a few days at bedtime and quizzes me on whether I knew each day’s fact. Albert Pujols’ current batting average looks way better than my %age of facts known.

$0.99 [ iTunes ]   Universal app for both iPad and iPhone

Drop7  [ v 2.3 ]

Picked by: BrandonK

Drop7 is my current game obsession of the moment.  With the sheer number of games in the App Store, it’s difficult for any to hold my attention for too long.  But for now, Drop7 is it.  The premise and design are both plain, but I think that’s why I enjoy it so much.  Simply put – you have eight discs, seven that are numbered 1-7 and one plain gray disc.  When you stack five discs, for example, all discs in that stack that are numbered five will disappear.  And any of those number 5 discs that are touching a gray disc will do damage to that disc until it, too, disappears.

Simple, right?  Exactly.

I’m searching for something else to say, but I really don’t have anything.  So let me just close by saying that you should go download this game.  It’s a lot of fun.  What more could you want?

Both versions are universal for iPhone and iPad.

Free [ iTunes ]

$2.99 [ iTunes ]  Add Free

DragonVale  [ v 1.8 ]

Picked by: Jay

I am not much on the simulation games that require a lot of attention. They seem to be massive time-wasters (and money pits too). My two boys, however, seem to be drawn to watching worlds grow as they fidget with different crops of zombies (Zombie Farm), treasures (Treasure Hunter), caged animals (Monster Pet Shop), and clusters of mushroom villages (Smurfs anyone?). Recently, they have both been struck by playing Dragonvale. Maybe it’s the cool factor of breeding dragons in just the right habitat, but for weeks now, both the 5 and 9 year-old have each developed their own world inhabited by multiple dragons and eggs. Although I don’t get the appeal, it seems to be the right about amount of clean fun and play for both of them.

Free [ iTunes ]

EZBuzz  [ v 2.0.2 ]

Picked by: jhrogersii

While there are plenty of iOS apps that are bursting at the seams with powerful features, it often seems that the one built around simple ideas are the most satisfying to use. They seem to fit with the whole overall focus and design of the iPhone- clean, elegant simplicity. EZBuzz is one such app. It takes the normally time-consuming task of creating timed reminders and makes it fast and easy, with its focus on one-handed operation. Also, even though Siri can set reminders hands-free, and does a solid job in my opinion, it still takes time. EZBuzz, on the other hand, is super fast when you need it to be.

Again, it’s all about simple elegance. The opening screen contains a time grid of the current day where the hours of the day are displayed on the left, and minutes across the top. This makes it easy to select the time for a reminder without going through any menus or dialog boxes.

By double-tapping on a time’s location on the grid, a simple setup screen opens up, where you can record a voice reminder for your chosen time with another single tap. You can also choose a priority level, add a note, or add a picture. By selecting the Setting icon, you also have the option to select an additional earlier reminder time, or make your task to repeat. You can even move reminders once they’ve been created by dragging them across the time grid.

Aside from the fast and easy input options, EZBuzz also has a clear and easy to understand UI. Your reminders for a particular day show up as color coded dots, based on their priority level. Practical Logix also hit a home run by making all of the apps views accessible in one tap, from buttons in each of the four corners. You have a shortcut to Today’s Time Grid, a help screen, a list showing all current and past reminders that haven’t been purged, and a calendar view, with the number of reminders of each day noted. Again, everything is geared toward a fast experience, even with one-hand.

EZBuzz unfortunately doesn’t sync to any outside programs, and doesn’t give you the ability to title your reminders, so it may not be for everyone. (Note: The developer mentioned to me that there are some sharing and sync options on their future roadmap, so stay tuned) However, what this app does, it does exceptionally well. If you like the simplicity of the iOS Reminders app, but need speed and more flexible input options, then EZBuzz is exactly what you are looking for.

Free [ iTunes ]

On Sale!

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed this week’s installment of Picks of the week. Please let us know what you think, and share with us some of your favorites in the comments section below.

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Apple Update Mountain Lion Build to 12A206j

Apple has seeded a new build (12A206j) of OS X Mountain Lion to developers. It is currently unknown what changes might be present in this build of Mountain Lion other than 2007 MacBook Pros, with the “MacBookPro3,1″ identifier currently do not work with this build. Apple states that they will fix this in a future build.

Apple Now Presumably Owns iPhone5.com Domain Name

Apple briefly wrestled with an web entity to secure the iPhone5.com domain name. They even went so far as to file a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to secure the domain. Ultimately the WIPO came down on their side, and a brand security company, Corporation Service Company, is now holding the domain for them. So, even if Apple doesn’t call the new iPhone the “iPhone 5″, they are certainly taking precautions just in case. [Read More]

Apple’s Data Centers to Run Completly on Renewable Energy

Apple has posted a new page on their site, boasting that the entirety of their Data Centers, and even some of their Cupertino, California headquarters, are powered on renewable energy. Agree or disagree with global warming, at least this leaves more resources for the rest of us. I think. [Read More]

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If your iOS device is decidedly lacking in stories of girls dressing up as boys in order to charm other girls; fox ninjas with nine tails and frogs in tow; or unbelievably clumsy students who just really want to get into Tokyo University already, then you’ll want to download a copy of Manga Rock 2.

This universal app is like having an entire manga section of a (good) comic shop right on your device, for one ridiculously price. Actually, comparing Manga Rock 2 to a single comic section doesn’t quite do it justice, because you can take your pick from three online repositories, each with thousands of titles. You can consume the manga as you like: either stream as you read, or pick and choose issues to download for offline reading.

The whole experience is fast, fast, fast. I’ve streamed and downloaded issues over Wi-Fi and 3G and have been delighted with Manga Rock 2′s performance. The developers at Not A Basement were also smart enough to optimize the quality of the downloads based on device type – iPad 2s will download and display smaller artwork, while Retina iPads will enjoy the largest quality scans available. Titles can be filtered by category and organized by name or rank (based on reader ratings), and once you’ve chosen a title to read, you can begin reading the first page of an issue within seconds.

Manga Rock 2′s UI can take a little getting used to because of its icon-heavy design, but after a week with the app, I feel quite at home with it. There are quick ways to add titles to your favourites, it’s easy to check out all of the issues you’ve downloaded, and tapping on a title in your personal browsing history will take you right back to where you left off. Manga Rock 2 even keeps track of when new issues arrive, and can auto-highlight them for you, making it much easier to follow several storylines at once.

iPhone

Manga Rock 2 on the iPhone isn’t the ideal setup because the phone’s screen is smaller than most manga scans, but the excellent landscape mode that lets you scroll vertically through issues is surprisingly good. In landscape mode you can swipe through pages, and even issues, with just one thumb, allowing for terrific one-handed operation.

On a side note, the Retina display, even two years in, has not ceased to amaze me. Text bubbles that were simply too small to read on my 3GS are perfectly legible on my 4S. I thought I’d be doing most of my Manga Rock 2 testing on my iPad 2, but I’ve done quite a lot of reading on the iPhone in the last week, and that’s a testament to how good this app is.

iPad

It comes as no surprise that the iPad’s extra screen real estate really enhances the entire experience, and when given the choice, I’ll always use Manga Rock 2 on the iPad over the iPhone. I prefer to read most issues in portrait mode and use single taps to move to the next page, but landscape mode (with vertical scrolling activated) is also a lot of fun, as long as a given manga’s panels aren’t too tall. Even the main menus benefit from extra space, displaying more information by default, and allowing you to browse and select manga from the same screen.

Picking at Straws

Frankly, I’m really impressed with Manga Rock 2. I was given a free UDID copy for review, but I ended up buying the app anyway, simply because I liked it so much. However, if I had to find something to wish for in a next version, it would likely come down to streamlining the user experience even more. It would be lovely if the app could auto-download the latest issues of my favourite manga, and the favourites list would be even more useful if it synced across devices via iCloud. These issues really aren’t deal-breakers for me though, and at just $4 to unlock the full version (as an in-app purchase), it’s easy to recommend Manga Rock 2 to anyone with even the slightest inclination toward manga.

Manga Rock 2 was provided by Not A Basement for review on iSource. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.

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Many are wondering if it is a good time to buy a new Mac. Here’s what I’ve got to say on the matter.

There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty swirling around Apple’s Mac line of computers right now. This is despite the company’s claim that they are doubling down on the Mac with major annual updates to OS X, spearheaded this year with Mountain Lion. Even so, it’s apparent Apple’s earnings reports that the Mac is no longer their cornerstone product. The iPhone and iPad are now in charge.

There have been no major Mac hardware updates and we are five months into the year. Granted, it seems that Apple is waiting on Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors to make it to the market. Still, the Mac is stagnant, and it appears that it is slowing sales.

On the flip side, there are plenty of rumors circulating regarding the MacBook Pro line. Many believe that Apple will morph the Pro line into a more MacBook Air-like form factor. I tend to agree. I just don’t know if we will see that change with this next update. Still, a nice update is due, and now that it is this late into the year, I would wager that they introduce new Pro machines at WWDC in June. You know, an introduction in front or a Pro audience.

So, if the question on your mind, is whether it’s a good time to buy a Mac. In a word- no. It is not a good time. There is a caveat however. If you need one right now, of course, go get one. It’s not suddenly going to go bad the day after a new one has been introduced. But, if you are waiting for the latest and greatest, keep waiting, updates seem to be right around the corner.

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The Worldwide Developers Conference will take place in early June, and with it will likely come a preview of iOS 6. As such, we’ve put together a team list (organized by author) of the improvements we’d like to see in the next iteration of iOS. The wishes here are varied, but it’s clear (due to a bit of repetition) that notifications, iCloud, and the file system on the iPhone and iPad could do with some loving this year.

ROB RENK

• Better Maps. I was very happy to see the news that Apple is rumored to be moving to in-house mapping solutions for iOS 6. The possibility of seeing less and less of Google in my life makes me smile inside. I’m also feeling a little greedy with this request – not only do I want to have an in-house mapping solution that will be better than anything we’ve seen before, but I would love to have turn-by-turn navigation built in, and map views available in landscape mode, too! I’d just assume not to have to use anymore third party mapping applications if I didn’t have to. I would also love to be able to download or cache regions ahead of time for those instances that I don’t have a reliable data connection. In my line of work this is a very regular occurring problem for me. Currently this is only possible by buying applications that are very large in size because all the mapping data is downloaded onto the iPhone via the app.
• Notification Center improvements. Notifications on the iPad look out of place, ugly and very un-Apple like. I’m not sure how to improve it, but having the Notifications menu centered in the middle of the screen as small as it is just looks wrong. I think Apple can do better. To expand on that, I want do-not-disturb capabilities like we are seeing in Mountain Lion, mostly for when I’m playing games or working on something that I need to focus on. A simple switch or button, perhaps located in Notification Center, would work just fine. In addition, it sure would be nice to have the ability to customize Notification Center a little more with shortcuts to commonly used features without having to jailbreak my device. Weather, Stocks, Calculator and a voice recorder are available on the iPhone, and Apple should add them to the iPad.
• Zephyr-like gestures sure would be nice. I had Zephyr on my jailbroken iPhone a while back, and I came to really enjoy it. I think it would be a great improvement, on the iPad as well.
• There was a recent iPad video that went viral last week illustrating an amazing take on text editing improvements. I want that feature built right into the OS so I can use it anywhere I enter text. The idea seems so simple and natural, I really hope the exposure the video received last week caught Apple’s attention, or maybe they already have something more advanced in the works.
• iPad window-based multitasking. I know, I know, I’m not supposed to use the iPad that way. If I want to have multiple windows open at a time just use the multi-tasking bar and open the next window/app – or buy a laptop, that’s what they’re for. Sorry, that argument just doesn’t fly with me. There are real-life situations in my work flow where having multiple windows open at the same time would be highly advantageous. Plus now with the Retina display on the new iPad, text is sharp and crisp and very easy to see, even if it’s in a smaller window view than what we are typically used to seeing.

PATRICK JORDAN

• More Choices / Control Over Photos Handling: We should be able to move images from the Camera Roll into albums, not just copy them. The current system where you copy something to an album then find that if you want to delete an image your only choice is to ‘Delete Everywhere’ is way beyond stupid.
• Easy Services Toggling: This is so, so long overdue. The jailbreak favorite SBSettings has been showing how to do this for years now. It’s stupidly hard to toggle Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, Location Services and others on and off in iOS. I would easily ditch the brightness slider in the Multitasking Bar if it could be replaced with services toggles. Same goes for the redundant volume adjustment slider.
• Something, Anything to Make Home Screen & App Organization Easier: I agree with David Chartier – folders is not enough and this needs a more major rethink.
• Proper Backup and Restore Abilities in iCloud: The current iCloud backup system is better than nothing, but just barely. Restore (except in relation to Apple’s own iWork apps) is an all-or-nothing choice – which again is hugely stupid and nothing like backup and restore is meant to be. We should have more choice on what gets backed up, an ability to name backups, and an ability to do selective restores. [Ed.: Apple needs to take inspiration from Time Machine here!]

New Maps Need to Kick Ass: If all the strong rumors are true and iOS 6 is ditching Google Maps for an in-house Apple solution, then they need to be awesome – at least as good as what Google offered. I’m happy to see the change, as long as we don’t lose functionality or features.

THOMAS WONG

• Better hardware keyboard support: I’ve said this over and over again, but since we’re nearing a likely preview of iOS 6, it’s time to say it once more. If the iPad really is going to be treated more like a “computer” and not just a “mobile device”, then it needs some decent hardware keyboard support. Spotlight and Home button keys are great, but the iPad could really do with acting more like a desktop OS in certain situations.

• Take, for example, starting a Spotlight search. You can type the entire search in with your keyboard, but you can’t actually initiate it without lifting a finger off the keys and tapping on the screen. If the iPad were set up better, a simple tap on the “return” key would start the search.
• The same goes for switching between apps by double-tapping the home button: it’s possible with a Bluetooth keyboard, but you still need to tap on the screen to actually switch between apps.

BRANDON STEILI

1. The Springboard needs to be more informational. Frankly, compared to Windows Phone or Android, the iOS springboard sucks. iOS has badges. Little red icons with numbers. Whoop-di-do. WP7 has live tiles that can display everything from the weather to your calendar or your family photo album. Android has widgets which can do the same and even interact so the app itself never even needs to launch. Little red dots simply don’t cut it. And don’t get me started with the 12 apps per folder limit.
2. Thomas mentioned this as well – Abstracting away the filesystem was a novel concept and for many intents it works well. It keeps people further away from the OS layer and more in the app layer which is great for lowering support issues. But the problem is – moving files between apps SUCKS. It’s just flat-out terrible. If an app hasn’t registered as a file handler with the OS you can’t move a file to it from another app OR if your app isn’t coded to share files to other apps you have to go through the hoops Thomas mentioned. Does anyone else get how completely asinine it is that I have to export a file, email it to the web, download it back to my iPad, then open it in another app? WE’RE TALKING AOUT A FILE THAT’S ALREADY ON THE DEVICE! Now, I’m not asking for full fledged file access like Android has (although I enjoy having that) – what I’m asking for is a “shared folder”. A place where every app can save and every app can delete (with user confirmation). Is that so tough? [Ed.: AirDrop, introduced in OS X Lion, could prove to be an interesting solution for this problem on iOS.]
3. Notification Center Toggles. Wifi, BT, VPN, GPS, Airplane Mode, Data On/Off, Screen Rotation. This is just a user friendliness issue at this point and, frankly, I think Apple has been too stubborn for it’s own good here. SBSettings did this YEARS ago so you can’t tell me Apple can’t figure out an elegant way to do it. Stop making me click through three or four menus just to disable a service. Let me swipe down from the top and disable/enable something so I can get on with my life.
4. I’m a big boy. I’m frankly tired of Apple telling me what is and is not appropriate for me to access on MY DEVICE. Apple has my details – they know my birthdate, they have my credit card – they know I’m old enough to think for myself. So they can stop filtering what gets presented to me on the device. I understand this is Apple’s walled garden. But at a certain point you’re spending so much time curating and perfecting your little patch of grass, that you start yelling at everyone who walks on it and forget that the whole point of the garden was to share it with others.

ALICIA

1) Free Facetime! I love Facetime but I think it needs to meet its true potential as a WhatsApp, BBM killer by accepting users on other platforms. Let the BB, Android and heck, Windows Phone users, in and I think it has the potential to even take over Skype. Seriously. Apple can make this work.

2) Simplify “Other”

iOS 5 makes it difficult, if not impossible, to know what the “Other” data that iTunes says is taking up space on your iPad or iPhone. Your best bet at the moment is to go into Usage and check the space taken up, application by application. I’ve done this over and over and over and still cannot figure out what is taking up space. I can only suspect these are attachments on email messages but this theory is not easily corroborated.

3) I’d like to be able to put Newsstand into a folder. I don’t use it that often ands clogs up my minimalist iPad desktop.

4) I’d like to see a Smart app/folder organisation by tags, recently used, newly added, last used.

5) It would be great to have a unified file or document structure. It’s hard to know if I have a doc in Dropbox, Pages or iAnnotate – I’d like to be able to access them quickly. Also it would be good to see if I have duplicates.

JAY ROTH

• A useful multitasking tray! Having a double-click on the home button that displays EVERY “recent” app is absurd. After two swipes to the right, it’s no longer useful. Additionally, it adds to the confusion about whether all those are actually still running in the background (which they’re not). This highlights the hope others have expressed with SBSettings jailbreak – a way to see and kill the resource-hogging apps running in the background.
• I think Apple can also allow a default to help maximize the real estate on the iPhone. How? I like how some apps will “maximize” and cover the top status bar. Why not make that an option in iOS? And even better, when turning landscape, why not have that darn bar disappear? It uses space that could be devoted entering text.
• First there should be an improvement to notifications that include quiet hours! Many of us use our iDevices 24/7 and having email sounds, Facebook notifications, etc. go off all night long is ridiculous. Yes, most apps can individually be turned off, but it’s an “either/or” setting: either always on or always off. The Silent switch just doesn’t cut it.
• Next, it’s time to improve the keyboard on the small handhelds. Recently, while driving, I handed my iPhone to a passenger to text for me. As an Android user she tried swiping across the keyboard instead of tapping. “What a novel idea,” thought I. Since I have terrible typing skills on the iPhone, as well as a jailbroken iOS 5.1 iPhone 4S, I located and tried the “Swype” keyboard. It’s pretty sweet. How wonderful if Apple decided to integrate that concept and do it right.

ALEX JORDAN

• Improvements to Siri. I love Siri, I think it’s a great feature, even when taking into account its rough edges. In fact, because we’ve been living with the first interation of Siri since it launched last October with the iPhone 4S, it seems that we’re a now excusing some of its shortcomings. I say that honeymoon period is about to run out, and I would very much like to see Apple further develop and improve upon the service with the release of iOS 6. I would love to be able to launch apps, send tweets, update Facebook, and other similar tasks via Siri. Plus, I would love to see Siri make its way to the iPad with the introduction of iOS 6.
• Improved Built-In Weather App. I would like to see a better built-in weather application. The current weather application was great when it was first introduced, but since the introduction of the App Store, feels passed up by the competition. A great example, to me, of a better user experience, comes from Weather 2x. The weather app is used by a lot of people, and certainly feels due for a significant update.
• Better Podcast Updating. A better way to download podcasts directly to your iOS device. I subscribe to a number of podcasts, and usually just sync them to my iOS device through iTunes on my computer. However, there have been occassions where I have been on the road and wanted to download the latest episdode of a podcast, tapped on the “Get More Episodes…” link in te Music app, been yanked out of the app and into the iTunes store, and have been presented with a list of episodes. This should work much more smoothly; I’m thinking of a situation similar to how podcats work on iTunes on the Mac/Windows, or perhaps like an in-app purchase on iOS. Surely I’m not the only person that finds this annoying and worthy of a fix. The current method of updating podcasts just seems very inefficient and needs to be changed. [**Ed.: For those who also feel this way, see Instacast.]
• Reminders Redesign. Although Reminders was a new introduction with iOS 5, it has a less than optimal user interface. It’s ugly and hard to use. If you’re not setting up a reminder via Siri, this app is a muddled mess of buttons to navigate. I doubt a redesign will happen though, as it seems Mountain Lion’s version of Reminders will have a very similar user interface to the iOS version. One can hope though…
• WebKit Improvements in Safari. Lastly, I would like to see major improvements to the Safari WebKit engine. Granted, most of the limitations to Mobile Safari are due to the lack of raw processing power on mobile devices. That said, I have a feeling there are more optimizations Apple could wring out of WebKit. Some intensely HTML5-based sites feel sluggish on the latest iOS hardware, and I consider this a big weakness as we move into an increasingly web-based future.

BRANDON KOSAL

The Most Important

Notifications need a serious revamp. Apple can be charmingly late to the party when it comes to iOS features. They famously lagged way behind in terms of implementing notifications within the iPhone OS. Once announced, they were met with a collective “whatever.” It’s not that they don’t work – it’s that they could work so much better.

The spinny box on top has to be rethought, as it becomes a nuisance quite often within certain apps. I’d also love to see icons in the top bar, similar to those of BlackBerry and Android. Next to the time, I’d like to at least see the number of texts, e-mails, and phone calls / voicemails I need to tend to. Customization here is key, as other apps should be able to utilize this function as well.

The Most Annoying

Someone at Apple owes us an explanation as to why we can’t hide that pesky Newsstand icon. It makes zero sense whatsoever. There is no excuse for this to not get corrected this time around.

Somewhat Important

I’m not suggesting Apple do away with the icons. It’s just that it looks so plain right now. I’m also not asking for a full revamp, but how about some custom folder icons? Widgets to break up the apps a bit? Basically, I want more control over the look of my home screen.

Somewhat Annoying

I may be splitting hairs here, but Apple needs to become the leader within the iOS world again. Now, please understand that I prefer iOS over everything else. But a lot of the features and styles that Apple implements feel like, as I said above, they’re late to the party. Examples: Copy & Paste, Notifications, and even MMS for crying out loud. Apple is really great at taking a concept and refining the heck out of it. But as they have also proved time and time again, they’re great at innovating. I’d really like to feel blown away with the new OS.

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Have you been doing a lot of Pinging lately? Not pinging like ‘ping google.com’ to test your connectivity, you know using Ping to tell all your friends about music you’re listening to.

You remember Ping right? Apple’s ‘social network for music’ launched back in September of 2010. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about Ping until a couple days ago. I used it a few times right after it launched to ‘follow’ a few bands I like – but for me it suffered from the worst ailment that can afflict any social network: none of my friends or acquaintances were on it. And when that’s the case you’re basically playing round in a virtual echo chamber.

I have used a few other apps that let you share songs you’re listening to over the years, and recently started using Spotify – which I love so far and sometimes use for shouting out about a track I like.

Anyway, I ‘m just a little curious – am I missing the boat on Ping? Is it massively popular and I just haven’t noticed, or is it one of these rare swing and a miss situations for Apple? Do you use it? If so, how often or for what?

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Now that rumors surrounding the next-generation MacBook Pro have reached a fever pitch, ABC News has rounded up those rumors and throws in their own two cents. Specifically, Joanna Stern claims that the iMac will also gain the new ultra high-resolution “Retina” displays that are already in use on iPhones and iPads, and believed to be coming to the new MacBook Pros.

For quite some time now, Apple has been building in “HiDPI” support into the latest version of OS X. This allows on-screen graphical elements to scale to the high-resolution displays. Of course, this technology is being built in, but with a complete lack of Macs currently shipping with ultra-high resolution displays, it is currently unused. It would be a naive assumption to think that Apple would build all of this in for only one line of computers. It may take time, but I suspect “Retina” displays will make their way to all of Apple’s products with displays.

That said, there is a technical issue- if Apple were to simply double the resolution as they did with the iPhone and slap a “Retina” label on it, they could run into problems. Firstly, I doubt they can make displays with a ultra high, double-resolution at that (21 and 27-inches) size, in a mass quantity at this time. The yield rates just aren’t there. Secondly, a doubling of resolution could quickly bog down even the beefiest of current-generation graphics processors.

So, instead of just doubling the resolution and calling it a day, I suspect that Apple will bend the definition of “Retina” with regards to the Mac. That is, display resolutions will be bumped significantly, but not a true doubling. This will pass, due to the greater average viewing distance of a computer display as compared to, say, iPhones and iPads. In other words, the greater viewing distance makes up for the relatively lower pixel density (compared to the Retina displays we’ve come to know and love), which in turn, still brings an extra-crisp experience to the user.

Rounding out the Mac Retina display rumors, 9to5Mac is reporting that the next-generation MacBook Air will also sport a Retina display. The report notes that this will likely be the most significant change in the forthcoming update. However, due to power constraints, it may be a while before the Retina-equipped Air makes its way to market.

So, the long story short is that it seems pretty certain that ultra-high resolution “Retina” displays are on their way to the Mac. And it seems that all of Apple’s notebook lines are poised to see this upgrade when they are updated, and if other reports are to be believed, most will be updated in the very near future.

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Due is one of my favourite apps on iOS. It’s consistently on my iPhone’s first home screen and I end up finding uses for it every single day. Even if you’ve already got great apps for timing things and setting quick alerts or tasks, you’ll likely still find a good use for Due. It really is that good.

So it was interesting to hear the over Twitter today that Phocus LLP has released a $9.99 Mac version of Due, as I had no idea that one was in the works. Due on the Mac looks a little different with its new icon, but all of the other natural language task creation and multiple timers that are so horrendously useful in the iOS versions are still present. It also syncs with the iOS versions of the app over iCloud, so you can get up and going in just seconds.

Fore more information, check out the Due for Mac website.

[via @dueapp]

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Diablo III – the latest, clickiest demon-slaying action RPG from Blizzard – launched earlier today at 3 AM EST and is available for the Mac. The release of D3 basically spells the end of the world for everyone’s free time, and the fact that a single $60 license works on both Macs and PCs means that it’s going to terribly difficult to not play this bloody game anywhere you own a computer.

I tested D3 out on my 2009 13″ MacBook Pro (using the latest version of Lion OS X) earlier this morning and found my three-year old machine to be a little lacking. Two-player co-op over Battle.net was chugging along at around 10-15 FPS on the lowest playable resolution and with most of my 8 GB of RAM cleared. Frankly, this was all to be expected considering the game’s minimum specifications, but your experience should be a lot more favourable if you’ve got a more powerful i5 or i7 CPU and a dedicated GPU (present in 15-and-17″ MacBooks).

iOS gaming has been doing pretty well for itself and Mac App Store and Valve’s Steam have helped bring more mainstream titles to OS X over the past few months, but it has taken a triple-A title like Diablo III hitting the Mac on the same day as the PC versions for me to really get excited about the prospect of Mac gaming again.

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Apple Brings Flashback Removal Tool to OS X Leopard

Apple is moving at great speed to lock down the Flashback trojan threat. As of today, Apple has released a Flashback removal tool for Leopard users. They also released Leopard Security Update 2012-003, which automatically disables out-of0date version of Adobe’s ubiquitous Flash Player. This is in an effort to further lock down any opening that Flashback might try to take advantage of.

A Glimpse of what the Next-Generation iPhone Might Look Like

MacRumors has posted professional mockups of what the next-generation iPhone might look like based on currently-circulating rumors. It’s slightly longer, and has a slightly longer screen. [Read More]

Report Claims Next-Generation iPhone to Have Updated Dock Connector

A recent report has surfaced claiming that the next-generation iPhone will have a smaller, updated dock connector. They also claim that the device will look very similar to the current iPhone 4/4S design. No changes to the screen either. [Read More]

Confirmed: Notes and Reminders Coming to iCloud.com, More

A new report from The Wall Street Journal notes that Apple will be unveiling and upgraded iCloud at next-month’s WWDC. They confirm that Notes and Reminders will be making their way to iCloud.com. They also claim that Photo Stream will support videos, and there will be a photo-sharing functionality built in. None of this sounds like a bad thing to me. [Read More]

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The first real evidence that a next-generation MacBook Pro and iMac exists, comes in the form of Geekbench benchmark results. These system benchmarks were discovered in Geekbench’s database, and have lead to flurry of speculation.

First up, is a benchmark for a MacBookPro9,1, which is a model number that corresponds to no product on the market as of this moment. The current Pro models are labeled MacBookPro8,x. This can be easily faked, yes, but the system specs match up nicely with the rumored internals coming in the next-generation MacBook Pro.

This new machine, according to the benchmark, has a 2.7GhHz Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3820QM quad-core processor. It is a 45-watt chip, making it unlikely that such a chip will make it’s way to the 13-inch model due to its smaller battery. Overall, this machine scored a 12,262, compared to 10,500 compared to the Core i7-2860QM found in current MacBook Pros.

As for the iMac, it is marked as a iMac13,2, which would correspond to a new 27-inch iMac model. Again, this machine has a beefier 3.4GHz i7-3770 quad-core processor. This new model scores at 12,183 compared to the 11,500 of the current Core i7-2600 processors.

It would seem that significant updates, at least in regards to horsepower, are in the pipeline.

Following up these benchmarks comes a report from 9to5Mac, which claims that the next-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro will be considerably thinner than the current Pro design. Their source claims that the machine will look essentially the same, but will have a reduction in thickness due to the removal of the optical drive. In short, it will look like a thiner MacBook Pro, and less like the tapered MacBook Air design as had been previously rumored.

It seems that this will be a truly “pro” machine, with all of the ports that are reportedly included. The right side will offer a pair of Thunderbolt ports, a USB port, and SD card slot, and a Kensington lock slot. The left side will have two USB ports, audio in/out jacks, MagSafe power connector, and battery indicator.

The report is unsure as to whether the new Pro will retain FireWire connectivity. However, they are certain that the dedicated ethernet port is gone. Users will have to rely on a USB-to-enthernet dongle if they want to connect via hardwire.

The report also notes that the new MacBook Pro will have a “Retina” display, which should come as no surprise considering HiDPI graphics and settings have been popping up in the latest builds of Lion and Mountain Lion.

Lastly, this 9to5Mac report claims that the USB ports will be USB 3.0. This claim seems fishy considering Apple’s push for their own proprietary Thunderbolt connectivity that they developed with Intel. However, this claim isn’t totally dismissible, as other reports dating back to last year, claimed that Apple was still considering the use of USB 3.0 in future machines.

As for the launch timeframe, a report from Bloomberg states that Apple will be introducing these new machines at WWDC which kickoff on June 11th. This report also claims the machines will include flash memory to cut down on startup times. A vague, precise report like this strikes me as one of Apple’s controlled leaks they have been known to use in order to drum up hype ahead of a launch. Besides, what better time would there be to introduce a new Pro machine, than at a pro-user conference?

Not to brag, but all of this fall in line nicely with what I predicted awhile back. These new MacBook Pros won’t be as thin as the MacBook Air, but most certainly will be thinner than current MacBook Pros. I still wager this extra room is for the beefier internals, yes, but more likely, for traditional higher-capacity Hard Drives with moving parts. The high-capacity that pro users demand, is still economically unfeasible in today’s solid state drives.

June 11th is right around the corner, and I have a sneaking idea that these report hit the nail right on the head. I would expect slimmer, more powerful MacBook Pro to be released very soon.

Images courtesy of Geekbench and 9to5Mac.

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