Apple

Google Introduces Better Word and PowerPoint Previews for Google Docs Mobile —

Just last week, Google introduced better Microsoft Word previews for the desktop version of Gmail. Today, Google also launched a similar feature for the mobile version of Google Docs, the company's online office suite. Now, Android, iPhone and iPad users can see high-fidelity previews of their Word, PowerPoint, and PDF documents right in their mobile browsers.

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These previews retain almost all of the formatting from the original document, including headlines and columns, as well as footnotes and endnotes. Until now, you had to download these documents to view them on your mobile device. In the mobile previewer, you can pan and zoom within a page. On Apple's platforms, you can also use the pinch-to-zoom gesture to zoom in or out.

Sadly, the new previewer does not support Excel spreadsheets. Given that a lot of people use spreadsheets in lieu of a full-blown database to store information, it would be nice if Google allowed its users to preview these documents as well.

Docs Only: No New Previewer for Mobile Gmail (Yet)

Just a few days ago, Google also launched a new version of its document previewer for the desktop version of Gmail. This new previewer also provides users with high-fidelity previews and replaces the old "view as HTML" feature in Gmail with a far superior offering. For now, though, the mobile version of Gmail does not offer the new Google Docs previews yet, though we would be surprised if Google didn't add this feature very soon.

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Based on this rather self-explanatory tweet from the corporate Radio Shack account, it looks like you'll have an extra place to check for an iPhone 4 in case your local Apple, Best Buy, or AT&T stores are sold out: More »



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Want to get a crack at that iOS4 goodness that Steve Jobs graced us with just yesterday, but don’t have the developer account that you need? We have good news, you can get your hands dirty now thanks to the powers of the internet.

The only problem is this, you need a Mac to pull off what we are about to describe. If you do have a OS X machine, read on. Why the Mac component? iTunes 9.2 is required, and as it stands that iTunes build is Mac only. Sorry Windows users, step aside.

You do not need your UDID to execute the installation, which means that Apple should not (no promises) be able to nail you against the wall for doing what we are about to walk you through.

Guide:

1. To commence, download and install iTunes 9.2 (Mac only, download links here, here, or here).

2. Now you need to download the right gold master for your device and save it on your desktop:

• If you have an iPhone 3GS, download this.
• If you have an iPhone 3G, this one is for you.
• iPod Touch 3G, get yours here.
• And finally if you have the iPod Touch 2G, download this.

3. Now let’s actually install iOS4:

• Plug in your iOS device, and then tab over to iTunes.
• In iTunes, alt+click on the ‘restore’ button, and then when promoted to locate the file select the IPSW file we just moved to your desktop.
• Wait for between 10 and 15 minutes for the new OS to be moved over.

All Done. How cool is that?

A few warnings, this is a hack, so if something goes wrong do not come crying to us about it. If Apple gets mad at you, we warned you. Finally, have fun. The real version of iOS4 is scheduled to drop for the public on June 21st, but who wants to wait that long?

A special thanks to GumballTech for doing all the legwork.

Original title and link for this post: How to install iOS4 NOW. [Mac Only]

via Moog Music on Facebook – Moog takes over the Asheville mac store to alpha test the iPhat Touch.

It looks like the “iPhat Touch” =  an Apple iPad-enhanced Moog Little Phatty. If you’ve got more details on this action, leave a comment!

Anybody else interested in trying this combo out?

Apple Makes Good On Steve Jobs' Promise, Invites Other Advertisers. But What About Google's AdMob? —

Last week, Steve Jobs promised that his iPhone and iPads would be open to outside ad networks. Yesterday Apple made good on his promise, by changing the terms of its developer agreement. But he may not have opened the door all the way.

Backstory: Apple’s original license agreement, released in April, appeared to effectively ban third-party ad networks from selling “in-app” ads on its gadgets, by crippling their ability to track user data. In the absence of any clarification from Apple, it seemed to me (and others) that Apple was set on locking up its platform from advertising competition.

But last week at the D8 conference, Jobs either changed his stance or spelled it out, depending on your persepecctive: Apple wasn’t interested in banning rivals to its iAd platform, he said — it just wanted to cripple third-party analytics companies like Flurry.

And yesterday, Apple changed its legal language to reflect Jobs’ words. Here’s the revised language for section 3.3.9 of Apple’s developer agreement, concerning the use of data collection:

3.3.9 You and Your Applications may not collect, use, or disclose to any third party, user or device data without prior user consent, and then only under the following conditions:

- The collection, use or disclosure is necessary in order to provide a service or function that is directly relevant to the use of the Application. For example, without Apple’s prior written consent,
You may not use third party analytics software in Your Application to collect and send device data to a third party for aggregation, processing, or analysis.

- The collection, use or disclosure is for the purpose of serving advertising to Your Application; is provided to an independent advertising service provider whose primary business is serving
mobile ads (for example, an advertising service provider owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems or development environments other
than Apple would not qualify as independent); and the disclosure is limited to UDID, user location data, and other data specifically designated by Apple as available for advertising purposes.

If you compare and contrast with Apple’s earlier version, you’ll see the message is clear: It’s OK to collect user data to help sell ads — though you will need to get their permission to do so.

UPDATE: One important caveat here: It appears as if Apple may still be limiting its biggest potential rival — Google’s AdMob. Note the language about only allowing “independent” ad serving companies to collect data: “For example, an advertising service provider owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems or development environments other than Apple would not qualify as independent.”

Google (GOOG) certainly qualifies as a developer/distributor of mobile operating systems, right? The language also appears to disqualify potential rivals — if, for instance, Microsoft (MSFT) tried entering the mobile display market. I’ve asked Apple for comment, but I’m not expecting any.

Meantime, Apple’s language does appear to be good news for smaller competitors like Greystripe, Millenial Media and Medialets — though it may make them less attractive to potential acquirers

Here’s Jobs’ own words on the topic, last week at the D8 conference.

We're still playing the wait-and-see game when it comes to Skype on webOS and Windows Phone 7, but it looks as if to-be iPhone 4 owners won't have to wait long before Skype-based video chatting becomes a reality... if Skype has its way, that is. According to someone on the inside quoted over at Pocket-Lint, Skype "would welcome the opportunity to work with Apple," specifically in reference to integrating FaceTime capabilities into the firm's own app. The mystery man also affirmed that Skype would "welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to bring mobile video calling not only to our many millions of Skype users on iPhone around the world, but also to the countless more making video calls on desktops, TVs and other connected devices." 'Course, there's no specific time frame given, and only Jobs knows if the two companies have said a word to one another about making this happen. One thing's for sure, though -- enabling FaceTime usage within Skype would suddenly made the iPhone 4's video calling abilities a whole lot more appealing. And by "appealing," we mean "useful."

Skype eager to work with Apple FaceTime, pretty much anyone else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Were you still deciding whether or not to pick up that shiny new HTC EVO 4G smartphone? You may be out of luck for some time, as Boy Genius reports that Sprint’s new flagship Android handset is entirely sold out across the U.S.

We knew that the device was shattering Sprint sales records right and left, and now it appears that demand has been so blisteringly hot that the EVO is actually unavailable pretty much everywhere. If you manage to find a secret stash of these phones or to blackmail convince any Sprint employees to let you in on the next available restock date, be sure to send us a tip.

Meanwhile, the HTC EVO 4G is neck and neck with the iPhone 4 in our weekly Faceoff Series (be sure to cast your vote if you haven’t yet). If you were one of the perhaps sizable demographic waiting to see Apple’s latest phone before picking up your next smartphone of choice, are you bummed that the EVO is currently unavailable? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: android, HTC EVO 4G, iphone 4, Mobile 2.0, sprint

Like we didn’t know this wouldn’t happen eh.

Morgan Stanley is calling it the reshaping of the PC market and in the process gives Apple a great big pat on the back by raising its target price to $332.00. Leading the charge at Morgan Stanley is Katy Huberty who raised her iPad sales estimates to 10 million units in 2010 (up from 6 million). At the same time she believes the company’s stock price could go as high as $440 by May 2011.

What’s turned her head? The blistering sales of the iPad and the diminishing growth of the netbooks’. Among her findings:

• The iPad is on track to become the fastest ramping mobile Internet device out of the gate and one of the most popular in history (see Exhibit 2).
• Early iPad usage patterns validate the tablet as a computing device. It’s already overtaken the Web browsing share of devices like the iPod touch.
• It’s at least partially responsible for a sharp drop in the growth of netbook sales, which decelerated to -13% year-over-year in the month of April, from +45% in the first quarter of 2010. Huberty thinks the netbook phenomenon may have peaked; she expects tablet sales to overtake netbooks by 2012.

Source: Fortune

Yesterday Apple unveiled Safari 5, which now includes extensions.

Unfortunately, extensions are still in their nascent form and you’d have to be somewhat of a sleuth to even track down the functionality, let alone find and install extensions.

For those of you ready to test the waters of Safari extensions, here’s how:

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Enable Extensions

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Safari Extensions is technically a developer-only feature at the moment. So first things first, you’ve got to turn on the developer tools to enable extension functionality. Here’s a step-by-step guide to do just that:

• Open Preferences in Safari 5
• Select the “Advanced” Tab
• Scroll down and tick the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” box
• From the new “Develop” menu, select “Enable Extensions”

If you follow the above steps, the Preferences menu will include a new “Extensions” tab where you can manage Safari extensions.

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Find and Install Extensions

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The official Safari Extensions Gallery will open later this summer. But, there’s extensions already out in the wild; you can find some of them via the Safari Extensions Tumblr, an unofficial gallery showcasing several extensions.

To date, extensions are limited but include things like Amazon Search Bar, Reload Button, Scribefire, Gmail Checker and AdBlock.

Extension installation is fairly straightforward: Simply download and open the extension file and a prompt box will ask if you want to install the extension. Click Install to automatically update your Safari 5 browser with the extension.

[via Lifehacker]

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For more Apple coverage, follow Mashable Apple on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

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Tags: Safari 5, safari extensions, Web Development

Monday morning, Steve Jobs was highlighting the Pulse reader application for iPad during his WWDC 2010 keynote, but that afternoon a complaint from The New York Times prompted Apple to pull the software from the App Store.

iPhone, balls, case. Phoneballs case. They come in blue and peach. They are just $15—and 10% of all proceeds go to testicular cancer research. I don't see any drawbacks in this product, really. More »



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