OS X 10.9.3 Public Launch Imminent [Mac Blog]
The latest OS X beta, 10.9.3, may see a public release within the next few days, as AppleCare employees have received a fresh build of the beta. The last build seeded to developers was 13D55, but as noted by 9to5Mac, employees have been given build 13D62, which suggests the beta is nearing the end states of testing.
The OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 Update is recommended for all Mavericks users. It improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.
This update:
– Improves 4K display support on Mac Pro (Late 2013) and MacBook Pro with 15-inch Retina Display (Late 2013)
– Adds the ability to sync contacts and calendars between a Mac and iOS device using a USB connection
– Improves the reliability of VPN connections using IPsec
– Includes Safari 7.0.3For detailed information about this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6228
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
10.9.3 will include improved 4K display support, enabling a HiDPI “Retina” scaling option for 4K monitors used with the 2013 Mac Pro and the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro, along with a 60Hz refresh rate.
It is unclear exactly when the beta might be released, but it could be as soon as this afternoon.
Hands-On with iPhone 6 Case and Physical Mockup
Over the past several weeks, a number of photos and videos have shown cases and even physical mockups of Apple’s rumored iPhone 6. Most of the cases and mockups appear to have been based either on alleged design drawings published by Japanese magazine MacFan in late March or on essentially identical information leaking through other channels.
Left to right: iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6 mockup, Retina iPad mini
(Click for larger)
MacRumors has now obtained one of these iPhone 6 cases and separately 3D printed a very rough physical mockup based on the MacFan drawings for the 4.7-inch model. Together, the case and the mockup give a good idea of the feel of a larger iPhone.
The larger iPhone definitely makes one-handed operation more difficult, even for relatively large hands, but many users are already accustomed to using two hands much of the time. With the larger body, Apple appears to be shifting the sleep/wake button from the top edge of the device to the right side, and this new location feels very natural in our hands, with the index finger sitting right on the button in a left-handed grip.
iPhone 6 mockup (left) and iPhone 5 (right) in the hand
(Click for larger)
Our physical mockup includes our mocked up home screen showing that a 4.7-inch screen at the same 326 pixels per inch as the iPhone 5s would yield a 1334×750 display that could display an additional row of icons. While the mockup is based on the design drawings posted by MacFan, we did elect to slightly depress the surface of the device in order to help its physical features stand out more.
iPhone 5 in iPhone 6 case (left) and edge views of case (right)
(Click for larger)
With the case and mockup in hand, we encourage readers with questions to share them in the discussion thread associated with this story and we’ll do our best to address them.
This book sharpens knives, seasons steaks and serves dinner
You could pen a grilling cookbook when promoting a line of kitchenware, or you could make one that actually offered the tools needed to prep a meal. Creative studio JWT Brazil did just that for client Tramontina, constructing “Biblia Definitiva Do Churrasco” — or for us English speakers, “The Bible of Barbecue.” During the culinary process, sheets are removed from the book to complete the requisite steps, each piece donning its own unique typographic treatment. There’s a sheet of charcoal that’s broken up for fuel, a fire starter page, sharpening stone, apron and more. The wood cover doubles at cutting board and a placemat, serving tray and kitchen towel to tidy up are all tucked to get the results to the table. Only a handful of these were released to “master barbecue chefs,” but thankfully a simplified version is slated for future release. Our brief description doesn’t really do it justice, so jump down after the break to witness the full deconstruction.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Fiction (Twitter), Adweek
Source: JWT Brazil (YouTube)
Mink will let you 3D print custom makeup at home
Here’s a little secret that the cosmetics industry doesn’t want you to know: the base materials for most makeup, from the cheapest lip gloss to the highest-end eye shadow, is basically the same. The markup comes from either the brand name or a lack of scale for a particular color. Larger outlets like CVS or Walmart buy only the hues that sell the best so they can order in bulk and score a discount. Mink hopes to bring the entire industry to its knees by eliminating all that nonsense. It’s a 3D printer that mixes ink with powder, cream or whatever other raw material necessary to create an endless variety of cosmetics on your own desk.
[Image courtesy of TechCrunch]
Mink is the brainchild of Grace Choi, a self proclaimed serial inventor who came up with the idea while at Harvard Business School. The hardware itself is proprietary, but it uses the standard image editing software already on your computer to actually print. You can pick a color from any where — a website, a YouTube video, a photo you took — and then drop the hexcode for the color into Photoshop or even MS Paint. Fill a canvas with the color of your choice, hit print and wait just a few minutes while Minx mixes up a fresh batch of makeup just for you.
Choi expects to launch Mink at around $300 and, while she didn’t have a price handy, she expects pigments and substrates to be surprisingly cheap. The appeal is obvious: girls (or boys, no judgement) could have an entire cosmetic store at their disposal in a small desktop printer. While custom colors of eye-shadow are the obvious use, it could also allow people to experiment with new shades without suffering from buyer’s remorse. Watch the demo above from TechCrunch Disrupt and check out GraceMink.com to sign up for more info as the product gets closer to launch.
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals
Source: TechCrunch, Mink
Fly like a bird with this VR-powered, scent-emitting machine
Current technology and human anatomy may prevent you from soaring like a bird in real life, but a team at the Zurich University of the Arts may just have the next best thing. Their Birdly machine lets you flap your way through the air much like the Red Kite it’s modeled after. Motors translate your hand movements to the virtual avian’s wings, and an Oculus Rift VR headset gives you an all-too-literal bird’s eye view of the scenery — you probably won’t want to look down very often.
The design also replicates some of the subtler environmental cues you’d expect while airborne. A fan simulates headwinds depending on your speed, and you’ll smell whatever’s below; hopefully, it’s all pleasant scents like the ground and trees. Birdly still needs some tweaks to avoid making users queasy, and it’s intended as an art installation that you likely won’t see outside of Zurich. Nonetheless, it’s a good demonstration of just how immersive a VR simulation can get — even if it’s simulating the unfamiliar experience of another species.
Filed under: Displays, Misc, Wearables
Via: The Rift Arcade
Source: Birdly, ZUTA (translated)
KitKat details leaked for multiple Samsung smartphones
Samsung expects to deliver Android 4.4 KitKat updates to around eight smartphones before June is out, says SamMobile. According to the blog’s sources, a number of devices have already been cleared to roll with a handful of others still in “testing”. Between May and June we should see models such as the Galaxy Mega 5.8, Galaxy Note 3 Neo, and Galaxy S4 Mini picking up the update. Keep in mind this is for very specific model numbers and variants could be a few more weeks off.
One model not getting KitKat, according to SamMobile, is the international Galaxy S3. As to why, the site suggests it’s related to having 1GB RAM while everything else has 2GB. For what it’s worth, the LTE and U.S. versions have 2GB.
On the horizon, reportedly, is an Android 4.4.3 update for the Galaxy S5. It sounds as if Samsung may skip the 4.4.2 stuff and go right for the latest and greatest.
The post KitKat details leaked for multiple Samsung smartphones appeared first on AndroidGuys.
5.5-inch HTC M8 Prime due this fall – report says
HTC is rumored to be working on a true competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 to be released later this fall.
Last year HTC attempted to make an entrance into the phablet world with the ONE Max but did not have much success. The device received lackluster reviews and sales never really took off. HTC may fare better the second time around if these new rumors hold true. The supposed “HTC One M8 Prime” is rumored to have a 5.5 inch quad HD (1,440 x 2,560) display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 805 processor, 5-Ultrapixel camera with a rather uncommon 18MP sensor that will better aid with depth calculation. Additionally, we’re told to look for USB 3.0 and 3GB of RAM. Talk about a powerhouse!
Keep in mind none of this is official, meaning HTC has not acknowledged any of these rumors. Well, maybe they have.
The device is supposedly due to arrive around this September so we will keep an eye out for any more news on this rumored device.
SOURCE: BGR
The post 5.5-inch HTC M8 Prime due this fall – report says appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Microsoft updates OneDrive app for Android
For those who have come to count on the cloud as a baseline file storage method, Microsoft’s OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a very competitive option, offering 7GB of online storage and transparent Office integration.
Now the Microsoft OneDrive team, by way of their blog, has provided several updates to their app lineup, including the Android version. Sticking with Android here, with version 2.5 of OneDrive app (for Android 4.0+ devices) one can now:
- Share files and/or folders with others using links or sending files to another app for sharing purposes.
- Adjust viewing and editing abilities right from your Android device.
- Select multiple files to download at once.
- Move and sort files and/or folders.
This update brings much more functionality to OneDrive on Android, especially via the file sharing aspect. While Office documents are still held tied to Office/OneDrive support only (via Office web apps), one can hope that this at least a small step in the right direction to freeing Office files to all apps.
The post Microsoft updates OneDrive app for Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Public Relations Vice President Katie Cotton to Retire
Katie Cotton is retiring from her position as VP of worldwide corporate communications at Apple, reports Recode. Cotton has worked in Apple’s public relations department for almost twenty years, serving under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook.
“Katie has given her all to this company for over 18 years,” Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said in a statement. “She has wanted to spend time with her children for some time now. We are really going to miss her.”
Cotton has confirmed her retirement, saying it was an extremely difficult decision to make as “Apple is a part of my heart.”
Cotton is known for having been fiercely protective of Apple executives, particularly Steve Jobs, serving as gatekeeper for all media access and shepherding executives through their formal and informal meetings with the press. Given Apple’s penchant for secrecy, Cotton has long been tasked with keeping a tight rein on the company’s PR operations, managing Apple’s image and contributing to the company’s presentations.
Apple Regains Lead in Latest J.D. Power Tablet Customer Satisfaction Survey [iOS Blog]
Apple reclaimed its spot as the highest ranked tablet manufacturer in J.D. Power’s latest U.S. tablet customer satisfaction study. Apple earned a 5-star rating and scored 830 on a 1,000 point scale, edging out Samsung, which scored a second place 822.
The survey of 2,513 tablet owners found that Apple led its competitors in four of the five measured categories, including performance, ease of operation, features and styling and design. Apple trailed only in cost, which isn’t surprising given the starting $299 price tag of Apple’s iPad lineup. Number two Samsung ranked above-average in features, styling and design, and cost.
All is not rosy in the tablet market, however, with overall satisfaction among tablet owners on the decline, dropping 18 points to 835 in 2014 from a high of 853 in 2012. Ease of operation was the feature that showed the largest drop in satisfaction, with tablets taking longer to setup and becoming more complicated to use.
“Since the inaugural U.S. Tablet Satisfaction Study in 2012, a number of new tablet OEMs have entered the U.S. marketplace, differentiating themselves to satisfy a growing interest in owning a tablet,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of telecommunications services at J.D. Power. “Price has significantly impacted the marketplace. The average purchase price continues to drop and consumer expectations of tablet performance and features are different than they were for past products. Subsequently, overall satisfaction has declined, especially with ease of operation, as navigation features and functions have changed.”
Not surprisingly, the most important feature cited by consumers when buying a tablet was cost, followed by features and brand reputation. Brand recognition is becoming increasingly important to consumers, beating out both manufacturer websites and personal recommendations as the reasons why they select a particular brand.
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