The Apple iPad has been announced for release on April 3rd by Apple. But if you visit the iPad page on Apple.com you notice at the bottom of the page it says “This device has not yet been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.” I can only assume that is why the iPad release date is set behind the announcement date.

None the less, the iPad release date, the date it will be in stores for purchasing is April 3rd and preorders start March 12th.

Technorati Tags: Apple, ipad, itablet, Tech News

Today, Apple announced that the iTunes store has hit 10 Billion Songs Sold. The 10 billionth song that was downloaded was “Guess Things Happen That Way” by Johnny Cash. The person that downloaded the 10 billionth song was awarded a $10,000 iTunes gift card for being soo darn lucky. The person that got the card was Louie Sulcer of Woodstock, Georgia. According to WikipediaWikipedia Louie got a call from Steve Jobs himself and got the surprise.

Eddie Crue, Apples vice president of internet affairs said:

“We’re grateful to all of our customers for helping us reach this amazing milestone,”

“We’re proud that iTunes has become the number one music retailer in the world, and selling 10 billion songs is truly staggering.”

The Apple iTunes music store opened on April 28, 2003.

History of the iTunes Music store (Source: Wikipedia)

• 100 million songs sold: Summer, 2004

(Kevin Britten of Hays, Kansas, bought the 100 millionth song, and the twenty-year-old was given a call from Steve Jobs congratulating him.)^[32]

• 125 million songs sold: September 1, 2004^[33]
• 150 million songs sold: October 14, 2004^[34]
• 200 million songs sold: December 16, 2004

(Ryan Alekman of Belchertown, Massachusetts, USA, bought the 200 millionth song, which was one of the tracks on U2’s digital box set The Complete U2.)^[35]

• 250 million songs sold: January 24, 2005^[36]
• 300 million songs sold: March 2, 2005^[37]
• 400 million songs sold: May 10, 2005^[38]

On July 5, 2005 Apple announced a promotion counting down to half a billion songs sold.^[39]

• 500 million songs sold: July 18, 2005

(Amy Greer of Lafayette, IndianaIndiana Jones reviews, USA, bought the 500 millionth song, “Mississippi Girl” by Faith Hill.)^[40]

• 850 million songs sold: January 10, 2006^[41]
• 1 billion songs sold: February 23, 2006

(Alex Ostrovsky of West Bloomfield, Michigan, bought the billionth song, “Speed of Sound” by Coldplay.^[42] He later got a call from Steve Jobs with the good news that the sixteen-year-old was getting ten iPods, an iMac, a $10,000 music gift certificate, and a scholarship established in his name at the Juilliard School.)^[32]

• 1.5 billion songs sold: September 12, 2006^[43]
• 2 billion songs sold: January 10, 2007^[43]
• 2.5 billion songs sold: April 9, 2007^[44]
• 3 billion songs sold: July 31, 2007^[45]
• 4 billion songs sold: January 15, 2008
• 5 billion songs sold: June 19, 2008^[46]
• 6 billion songs sold: January 6, 2009^[47]
• 8 billion songs sold: July 21, 2009
• 8.6 billion songs sold: September 9, 2009
• 10 billion songs sold: February 24, 2010^[48]

Technorati Tags: 10 billion, Apple, itunes, music, Tech News

Apple is going to release its next maintenance patch to Snow Leopard being 10.6.3 very soon. From my sources I have heard that 10.6.3 fixed the 802.1x authentication issue with WPA enterprise. The new update did not just cover the airport, but covered many other things as well. The airport actually was not mentioned in the notes, but developers were asked to test the airport. This will be a welcome fix if it does actually fix the airport issue discussed above we have been having this kind of trouble here at Purdue University since 10.5.8.

10.6.3 Feature List:

Features

• Performance improvements for 64-bit Logic
• Addresses compatibility issues with OpenGL-based applications
• Includes changes to QuickTime X that increase reliability, improve compatibility and enhance security.
• Improves printing reliability and compatibility with 3rd party printers
• Respects the DNS server ordering as specified in Network Preferences
• Addresses an issue that causes background message colors to display incorrectly in Mail when scrolling
• Resolves an issue that prevented files with the # or & in their names from opening in Rosetta
• Resolves an issue that prevented files from copying to Windows shares
• Resolves an issue that caused machines using BTMM and the Bonjour Sleep Proxy to wake unexpectedly

Technorati Tags: 802.1x, airport, Apple, macintosh, snow leopard, Tech News

AirPort Client Update 2009-002

Apple released an update for Airports on all Macs running OSX on Wednesday the 9th. This update addressed the following issues:

• Inability to turn AirPort on or off in some cases after upgrading from Mac OS X Leopard
• An occasional loss of network connection when using Wake on Demand
• Inability to create a computer-to-computer network, or share the Internet connection on some MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini computers

I hoped it would fix the MacBook Airport Authentication issues discussed here but it did not. If this update did fix your 802.1x issues please let us know.

Technorati Tags: airport, Apple

Today Apple released an update for iPhoto version 8.1.1. The following items were addressed in this update.

• Resolves an issue that could result in slow performance when displaying suggested matching faces.
• Addresses a face recognition issue that could result in some faces being matched incorrectly.
• Important: If you imported photos of people while using iPhoto 8.1, there’s an extra step you should take after installing the 8.1.1 update. Select all those photos, Control-click to open the contextual menu, and then choose Detect Missing Faces. This will redetect the faces in those photos and correct any face recognition issues introduced in iPhoto 8.1. You should not quit iPhoto during the Detect Missing Faces process.
• Book ordering
• Resolves an issue that caused book order panel information to be displayed incorrectly in some languages
• iPod touch Support
• Displays the icon for iPod touch (2nd Generation) correctly in the source list

More information at: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3941

Technorati Tags: update

In a recent press release by RadioShack, they claim that they will be selling the iPhone in their stores in the near future. The iPhone will be available in Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City metropolitan area stores by the end of this month (November 2009), RadioShack expects the iPhone to be nationwide by 2010.

No news on pricing, but I would assume that the prices will be the same as the price from the Apple store.

RadioShack shares recently traded up $2.44 at $20.18, passing the previous 52- week high of $18.33 set Oct. 26, following the recent news. Source: NYSE

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPhone, radio shack, radio shack iphone, radioshack, radioshack iphone

Source: Apple.com

Today, the Mac OSX 10.6.2 update was released, but unfortunately it did not address the 802.1x WPA Enterprise airport authentication issues that have been occurring as stated Here. The update is just for Snow Leopard users, the update does address some of the following issues:

• an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly
• a graphics distortion in Safari Top Sites
• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
• a problem that prevented authenticating as an administrative user
• issues when using NTFS and WebDAV file servers
• the reliability of menu extras
• an issue with the 4-finger swipe gesture
• an issue that causes Mail to quit unexpectedly when setting up an Exchange server
• Address Book becoming unresponsive when editing
• a problem adding images to contacts in Address Book
• an issue that prevented opening files downloaded from the Internet
• Safari plug-in reliability
• general reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
• an issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account

The combo update can be downloaded from Apple here. Combo Update 10.6.2

More detailed information of what was fixed:

What’s included?

General operating system fixes provided for:

• an issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account
• an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly
• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
• the reliability of menu extras
• an issue in Dictionary when using Hebrew as the primary language
• shutter-click sound effect when taking a screenshot
• an issue with the four-finger swipe gesture
• an issue adding images to contacts in Address Book
• an issue in Front Row that could cause sluggish or slow frame rates while watching videos
• creation of mobile accounts for Active Directory users
• reliability and duration of VPN connections
• general reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
• overall improvements to VoiceOver performance
• this update addresses video playback and performance issues for iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) and iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) computers that may occur in some situations while AirPort is turned on

Fonts fixes provided for:

• an issue with font spacing
• an issue in which some Fonts are missing
• font duplication issues
• an issue with some PostScript Type 1 fonts not working properly

Graphics fixes provided for:

• an issue when connecting monitors to DVI and Mini DisplayPort adapters
• an issue in which the brightness setting may not be remembered on restart
• addresses functionality with specific display models
• general reliability and performance improvements when using some applications

Mail fixes provided for:

• a situation in which Mail’s unread count may not update properly as messages are read on another computer
• an issue in which deleted RSS feeds may return
• an issue in which Mail cannot preview or Quick Look attachments when composing a new message
• an issue that can cause Address Book and/or Mail to stop responding when opened
• an issue in which email messages received from an Exchange Server are not formatted correctly
• an issue in which Mail reports “Account exceeded bandwidth limits” for some Gmail accounts

MobileMe fixes provided for:

• performance when accessing files from iDisk via the Finder and syncing iDisk files
• an issue in which syncing iDisk files does not proceed beyond “checking items”
• reliability and performance when syncing contacts, calendars, and bookmarks with MobileMe (syncing with iTunes and iSync are also improved)
• an issue that prevents some users from logging into MobileMe via the MobileMe System Preference pane

Network file systems fixes provided for:

• compatibility with third-party AFP servers
• file synchronization for portable home directories

Printing and faxing fixes provided for:

• automatic printer updates improvements
• Print dialog allowing you to enter and send to more than one fax recipient

Safari fixes provided for:

• a graphics distortion issue in Safari Top Sites
• Safari plug-in reliability

Please let us know if you experience any more issues after applying this update or have any comments or suggestions.

Technorati Tags: 10.6.2, 10.6.2 download, 10.6.2 release, Apple, leopard update, leopard update 10.6.2, mac osx 10.6.2 update, mac osx 10.6.2 update realeased, mac update 10.6.2

You may have heard the rumors about an Apple Table in development at Apple. None of these rumors however have been confirmed by Apple themselves. I do however believe that Apple is working on something big and could be a new tablet in the Mac line of products.

Now Gizmodo.com claims to have insider information on the new Apple Tablet, they claim to have had a phone call with an insider at Apple. Quoted from the leak at Gizmodo:

“Hey, it’s [redacted]. I may or may not have sat in some Apple meetings for the tablet.”

Now I don’t know what to believe about the new tablet, I do however believe that it is definitely possible for Apple to release something like a tablet. Also, Mashable.com has rumored technical specs for the tablet as well as a release date that has passed. They also have some pictures of the new tablet.

The technical specs they have listed are as follows:

Screen size: “may be up to 10 inches diagonally”, touch sensitive (of course)

Phone capability? Unlikely – it’s more like a large iPod Touch than an iPhone.

Wireless connectivity: Same as the iPod Touch, with the ability to download media through iTunes.

Kindle Rival? May provide the ability to read books, creating a rival to Amazon’s Kindle.

Launch date: By Christmas, possibly as early as September.

I would love to see this happen! I think it would be fantastic to have something like the Apple tablet or MacbookTouch, what some people are calling it. But Apple has to get it right or it will be a major flop. I have also heard some rumors that it will be like a bigger iPhone. I for one do not want to see this tablet turn into a big iPhone, I want to see it as a MacBook Pro as one giant screen, maybe some of the iPhone functionality built in. Just imagine the uses, it would be great for presentations that is if they allow for a external monitor to be attached. It could be great for taking notes in class or anywhere else. It could also be great for reading and browsing the web and possibly gaming. One feature that I would like to see Apple come out with, and not just for this but for all of their products is Fingerprint Recognition. I would like to see this technology, HP and Dell can do it why can’t Apple.

Here are some other sites that have different ideas about how the tablet will look:

Gizmodo.com

Bandwidthblog.com

Blogcdn.com

pcworld.com

I do believe this picture to be one of my favorites and most believable from Mashable.com, it features the Magic Dock which would allow you to dock with your computer monitor and keyboard. Good Job

Mashable.com

With all of these different concepts, nobody really knows if we will see the tablet or even what it will look like. I will just continue to wait and see what Apple has in store for us, maybe we will see something big by Christmas, maybe not who knows.

Technorati Tags: Apple, apple tablet, apple tablet fact or fiction, Mac, mac tablet, macbook, magic dock, mashable.com, pcworld.com, tablet

This issue happens with both the Macbook and Macbook Pro. I noticed since the Leopard update 10.5.8 I was unable to connect and authenticate to any WPA Enterprise network with 802.1x authentication implemented. This specifically is happening to me at Purdue University and their PAL2.0 network. But I am sure it is happening on other 802.1x WPA Enterprise networks.

I have been going back and forth with Apple with this issue. I have been sending my logs to them and they are still working on it as I type this. The issue with the wireless seems to not only happen in Leopard, but in Snow leopard as well, so anything past 10.5.8. Here is a screencap that I found on D. M. Stanley’s blog at Link that shows the issue that is occurring.

I will keep anyone that wants to more about this issue up to date as much as I can on this issue. Apple should be giving me another status update in the near future.

.

*** Issue is not fixed with the most current update 10.6.2! ***

Update: 11-23-09 – Apple Contacted me and said there are no updates on this issue from the Apple Engineers so that means that they are most likely working on the issue because they would have said something by now.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing an issue like mentioned above, Please leave a comment indicating so.

Technorati Tags: 10.5.8, 10.6.1, 10.6.2, 802.1x, 802.1x authentication, Apple, leopard, Mac, macintosh, pal, pal 2.0, PAL2.0, purdue, purdue university, snow leopard, wpa authentication issues, wpa enterprise