Apple Announces 2013 Worldwide Developer's Conference

Well, it's 2013. Another year, another product; or so we hope. Apple's famous WWDC is just around the corner. For those who don't know what WWDC is, here's an explenation from Apple:

developers from around the world will learn about the future of iOS and OS X®, enabling them to create incredible new apps with innovative features. WWDC will also feature more than 100 technical sessions presented by over 1,000 Apple engineers, hands-on labs to help developers integrate new technologies, as well as the popular Apple Design Awards, a showcase of the most outstanding apps available through the App Store℠ and Mac® App Store.

The conference is set in San Francisco and will span out for five days between June 10th and June 14th. The conference provides an opportunities to meet and greet with other developers, as well as make connections, chatting about things like business strategies and their next big thing.

Tickets will go on sale on April 25th, tomorrow, at 10am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

We look forward to gathering at WWDC 2013 with the incredible community of iOS and OS X developers.

-Philip W. Schiller, SVP of worldwide marketing at Apple Inc

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Moving Contacts from Gmail to Apple's Address Book

Are you moving into Apple's ecosystem? Just taking a dip? Moving your contacts to one ecosystem to another isn't the easiest, nor is it the simplest. We'll show you an quick way (short of using third party software) to transfer your contacts over.

Firstly, you'll want to open up your browser on the desktop. Whether you have Chrome, Firefox or even cringe Internet Explorer, the procedure is the same.

Logging into Gmail, you'll want to head into your contacts.

Hit export and you should be greeted with a pop-up similar to this one:

 

Click the vCard Format radio button and hit export.

Once that's done, email the file to the appropriate recipient, and have them open the attachment on a Mac or iOS device. You will then be prompted like so:

Tapping add all contacts will bring up a small menu at the bottom giving you the option to either Merge with existing contacts, or create new contacts. Choose the one that is more fitting to your needs.

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iTunes 11 Released

Back when Apple announced the iPhone 5, they also announced the new version of iTunes, iTunes 11 along with an unspecific release date of October 2012. A month later, iTunes 11 has finally been released!

Sporting a brand new look, Apple promises a snappier, and smoother performance along with a redesign of the Apple store. A new mini player demonstrates how minimalistic iTunes can be once again. Also, even though it's a little late, iTunes 11 adds a "now playing" playlist. Definitely not something new, considering Windows Media Player has had this since the very beginning.

Here's what Apple says about iTunes 11:

Introducing the new iTunes. With a dramatically simplified player, a completely redesigned Store, and iCloud features you'll love—this is the best iTunes yet.
• Completely Redesigned. iTunes makes it more fun to explore and enjoy your music, movies, and TV shows. You'll love the beautiful edge-to-edge design, custom designs for each album, movie, or TV show in your library, and getting personal recommendations any time you click In the Store.
• A New Store. The iTunes Store has been completely redesigned and now features a clean look that makes it simpler than ever to see what's hot and discover new favorites.
• Play purchases from iCloud. Your music, movie, and TV show purchases in iCloud now appear inside your library. Just sign-in with your Apple ID to see them. Double-click to play them directly from iCloud or download a copy you can sync to a device or play while offline.
• Up Next. It's now simple to see which songs are playing next, all from a single place. Just click the Up Next icon in the center display and they'll instantly appear. You can even reorder, add, or skip songs whenever you like.
• New MiniPlayer. You can now do a whole lot more with a lot less space. In addition to showing what's playing, MiniPlayer now includes album art, adds Up Next, and makes it easy to search for something new to play—all from a smaller and more elegant design.
• Improved search. It's never been easier to find what you're looking for in iTunes. Just type in the search field and you'll instantly see results from across your entire library. Select any result and iTunes takes you right to it.
• Playback syncing. iCloud now remembers your place in a movie or TV show for you. Whenever you play the same movie or episode from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV, it will continue right where you left off.

If you're on Windows and you don't already have iTunes, you can get it here, otherwise just run the Apple Software Update utility. If you're on a Mac, check for updates, it'll be there.

Be geeky and stay updated! Until next time.

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Mountain Lion on Your PC: Fixing Broken Kexts

Once you have Mountain Lion installed, you will notice that its functionality is reduced and that you can't enter the system without the nv_disable=1 boot flag. In this post, we will fix your Mountain Lion installation by first, installing a bootlader so you won't need the install USB, we will then fix the audio, followed by the internet, and finally the graphics. Once all these fixes are applied, you can restart your hackintosh and enjoy its new features without any hassles.

The first thing you need to do is go to kexts.com and download any kexts that you may require for your system.

Next, you need to download my Mountain Lion pack which includes all the kexts that are needed for systems similar to P5KPL-CM with Nvidea Geforce 8400 graphics. 

Download the Mountain Lion Pack

Installing a Bootloader and Fixing Audio

1. Extract the Mountain Lion pack that you downloaded and run MultiBeast 4.6.1.
2. In the options, choose EasyBeast and VoodooHDA 0.2.7.3 audio settings. 
3. Finally Select the System Utilities option that will repair permissions after the new kexts and boot loader are installed. EasyBeast comes with Chimera boot loader.

Fixing the Internet

1. Drag your internet-related kext into Kext Utility and let it install. 
2. After a reboot, the internet will be fully functional but don't reboot yet.

Fixing Clock Settings

If you are dual or triple booting OS X Mountain Lion with Windows and/or Ubuntu, this installer will fix the time discrepancy when switching between operating systems. 

1. Run the Localtime-Toggle.pkg file in the Mountain Lion Pack.

Fixing the Graphics

If you don't have the Geforce 8400 or similar graphics card, the only part of this reparation that will be relevant to you is the EFI string that you need to add to the org.chameleon.Boot.plist file in the Extra folder.

Install the Kexts

1. Open Kext Wizard in the Graphics folder in the Mountain Lion Pack and drag the three kexts into the Installation Tab. 
   
2. Click install, enter your password.
3. Then load each of the kexts into the Kext Info tab and click Load.
4. Once this is all complete, go to the Maintenance tab and Rebuild the Cache. 
   
5. Close Kext Wizard

Modify the Boot File

In the Mountain Lion Pack, I've included EFI Studio which is used to get device property strings that can be used to tell the boot loader to activate a graphics card or other device during boot.

1. Run EFI Studio, choose your device and select Add Device.
   
    
2. Once this is done, a window will pop up with a bunch of code and a series of numbers. From this point on, just click Hex String to Clipboard.

It is now time for the fun to begin.

1. Open the Finder and go to the Go menu on top. In that menu, select Computer.
2. You will now see all of the partitions that are present on your computer. Double click on the partition to which Mountain Lion is installed. You will see a few folders, but the important one is the Extra folder. 
3. Open that folder and you will see the org.chameleon.Boot.plist file that we need to edit. Double click on it, choose a place near the bottom and go to the Edit menu and Paste - notice the long string of numbers just appeared!
4. Encase those numbers in <string> </string> tags. Refer to the boot file in the Extra folder of the Mountain Lion Pack as a guide.
5. Just before this string, you need to add a new key so type <key></key>. Inside this key, type: device-properties, Once this is done, your code should look like the following - with the string of numbers varying in accordance to your device.

<key>device-properties</key>
<string>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</string>

Your org.chameleon.Boot.plist should look like this before you then save it by going to the File Menu and selecting Save.

Once this is done you can reboot into your Hackintosh partition and everything will work.

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iOS 6.0.1 Update Released

Hi all! Just want to let you guys know that Apple has pushed out an update to the iDevices upping the version number to 6.0.1

Here's the full changelog:

Fixes a bug that prevents iPhone 5 from installing software updates wirelessly over the air

Fixes a bug where horizontal lines may be displayed across the keyboard

Fixes an issue that could cause camera flash to not go off

Improves reliability of iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation) when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks

Resolves an issue that prevents iPhone from using the cellular network in some instances

Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match

Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from lock screen

Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings

This update includes all compatible iDevices. Download links below:

• iPhone 3GS (iPhone2,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPhone 4 (AT&T) (iPhone3,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPod Touch 4G (iPod4,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPhone 4 (Verizon) (iPhone3,3) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 2 (Wi-Fi) (iPad2,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 2 (AT&T) (iPad2,2) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 2 (Verizon) (iPad2,3) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPhone 4S (iPhone4,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad2,4 (iPad2,4) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 3 (Wi-Fi) (iPad3,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 3 (AT&T) (iPad3,2) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad 3 (Verizon) (iPad3,3) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPhone3,2 (iPhone3,2) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPhone 5 (AT&T) (iPhone5,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A525), Download

• iPhone 5 (Verizon) (iPhone5,2) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A525), Download

• iPod Touch 5G (iPod5,1) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad2,5 (iPad2,5) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

• iPad3,4 (iPad3,4) version 6.0.1 (Build 10A523), Download

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Going to the Apple World

I've made the decision to terminate my current contract with my Galaxy Nexus (keep it) and buy the iPhone 5. My experience with the Android device has not been blemished due to the actual device, but the App Store behind it. The apps are not only inconsistent, but they also lack a certain "genesayquoi". They aren't fluid, they aren't sleek (except for the special few) and I'm not going to wait for my favourite app to catch up to the latest and greatest technologies that are available to the developers. 

It's also unfeasible since more than half of Activated Android devices are still running gingerbread. Developers are more inclined to cater to the majority of Android users. This causes developers to be stuck with old API's and old UI's. Holo is absolutely beautiful and definitely up to par with iOS's UI. 

Unfortunately, the majority of developers are choosing to stick with the old and say too bad for the new.Not only are developers being outdated, but a lot of apps are too. For a lot of them, maybe even the majority, haven't been touched since Gingerbread was released! 

The Apple community is also a lot more vocal and conjoined. Whether it's Appadvice, 9to5Mac, or even AppleInsider, I can easily reach out to at least one of them, and get a savvy response without having to tell them which device I'm running or which version of firmware I'm running, or even worse, which ROM I'm running. 

Apple apps are just so much more qualitative than Android's. I can also reach out the developer, should I need to. If there's a problem with an App, the fix is out to the user as soon as Apple accepts it. I'm starting to be thankful for Apple's walled garden. It's what's gotten them their status. Now, there have been a few blunders I might admit, but what company hasn't had them. 

Not only are the apps of higher quality, but the devices work together much better than anything else I've seen. The iCloud montre of syncing everything back and forth is definitely worth the money. If I take a photo on my Phone, I want it to be on my desktop too. If I make a list in the reminders app on my Mac, I want to be able to get that list while I'm on the go as well. I could go on and on about all the syncing instances, but I think my point is clearly made. The ecosytem is "boss".

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5th Gen. iPod Touch

With the announcement of the iPhone 5, along came with the announcement of the next generation iPod Touch. Beefed up specs and new hardware came with the new iPod Touch and the design is surely something to admire.

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Apple announces iPhone 5

Today held a lot of new information from the Cupertino Giant known as Apple. The new iPhone was definitely the focus of the event! Now, they didn't hit it off on the same road as 'The new iPad', though that appears to be how they'll write it from now on, they called this new iPhone the iPhone 5. With a larger screen, an updated processor, and more, this is definitely a product that many of us have been anticipating.

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Installing a Boot loader on Your Hackintosh

No Hackintosh is complete without a boot loader and sometimes, the boot loader is the make or break element of the system. While allowing you the ability to boot into your new Mac OS X partition, he boot loader also sends the instructions that fires kexts and drivers and if your boot loader and your hardware aren’t fully in sync, it won’t matter how many fixes you try manually, the system just won’t work.

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Mountain Lion on Your PC: Installation

Apple has released its new iteration of Mac OS X to the general public. In this tutorial, I will show you how to get Mountain Lion on your computer using the Install Media we made in the previous part of the tutorial.

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Mountain Lion on Your PC: Preparation

Apple has recently released its new iteration of Mac OS X to the general public. In this tutorial, I will show you how to get Mountain Lion on your PC using the installer app that can be bought from the Mac App Store in both Snow Leopard and Lion. This procedure can be done from either Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion 10.7.0 and up.

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Mac OS X Mountain Lion to Feat Social Networking

Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will release this July for $19.99, $10 less than its predecessor, and narrow the gap between Apple’s mobile and desktop operating systems. Mountain Lion will also take a bite out of social media as it comes with the popular platforms integrated within its presence – something that has been notable in Windows 8.

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Apple's "Cards" App Receives Mother's Day Update

Since it's launch, Apple's Cards app has received an update just in time for Mother's Day.

Cards was released during Apple's iPhone 4S October of last year.

What's so special about Cards is the premium quality old-style letterpress technique mixed with your 21st century digital text and photos.

Full Cards 1.1 Changelog:

• Beautiful letterpress cards for Mother’s Day
• New Get Well card designs
• Additional cards for birthdays, thank you and more
• Improves accuracy of envelope address verification
• Simplifies and improves the checkout process

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Apple releases security update for Flashback exploit

Apple released an update to Mac OS X Lion that removes variants of Flashback malware and lets you know if it was on your Mac.

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Foxconn: Nightline Report [Video]

Nightline Report on the Foxconn production of Apple products, along with working conditions and more:

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Inside Foxconn [Video]

A few days ago, MarketPlace got an exclusive look into the production of the iPad and some information on the Foxconn production factory. This is where thousands of Apple devices are manufactured. Here's the exclusive video:

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A Quick Look at OS X Mountain Lion

Apple will be releasing Mountain Lion, the successor to Lion this summer and have given developers and people who go to their site a sneak peak. From its pre-beta stage, Mountain Lion inherits many new features – mainly from iOS. Here are some of the highlights.

 

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Apple DOES Care About its User's Satisfaction Rate

It turns out that Apple really doesn't miss much when it comes to small details.

The iPad, as you all know, in iOS 5 has a split keyboard which allows users to thumb type. But something you don't know is that Apple has included, in this split keyboard, six keys that you are not aware of. Apple implemented six invisible duplicate keys in order to make easy-to-reach to a maximum and mistypes to a minimum. See the screenshot:

This was discovered by Finer Things' David Chartier

Happy iPad'ing!! :)

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Windows 8, iTunes and Your iDevice [Method 2]

UPDATE #2: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro seem to have no issues with the iDevices. Please comment below to see if we can't help figure out any issues you've been having.

UPDATE: These methods are no longer necessary as driver issues have already been resolved in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview available for download here. Please be advised, if you don't know what you're doing, you may encounter various problems. Like always, back up all data before continuing. Have a nice day!

As I've previously stated there are ways to get your iDevice working within iTunes on your Windows 8 Developer Preview installation. However, a thread on EightForums states another method that I'd like to share with you. I prefer this method over our previous one and recommend it highly to the impatient. Here's how it goes:

1. Close iTunes (make sure in Windows Task Manager that the iTunes.exe process is not there either)
2. Unplug iDevice (if that isn't already done) and wait 5 seconds
3. Go to the services (Win+F with the keyword "services" while searching under the Settings category)
4. Find "Apple Mobile Device" and stop the service (right click>stop)
5. Wait a 5 seconds then plug in your iDevice
6. Restart the service (right click> start)
7. Start iTunes

Voila! Your iDevice should appear in the left-hand pane in iTunes.

Note: You must go through this process for every time you plug/re-plug your iDevice. 

Note 2: Timing does not have to be perfect, but it is recommended to follow the "Too much is better than not enough mantra.
Note 3: iTunes must be closed throughout the whole process until specified otherwise.
Note 4: This has only been tested (on my part) for the iPod Touch 4th Gen. If you have a different iDevice, you may encounter further problems. (iPad 2 and iPhone 4S might not work whatsoever)

As always, happy syncing!

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Windows 8, iTunes, and your iDevice

There have been numerous complaints that people's iDevices aren't working with Windows 8+iTunes and I have experienced the same thing. iDevice is detected, but doesn't show up in Windows or in iTunes. This could be due to driver errors that could occur during operation due to incompatability. I believe I've found a fix.

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