BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech » GM http://www.bgr.com Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:32:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Apple releases iOS 5 GM for developers, here’s the change log http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-releases-ios-5-gm-for-developers-heres-the-change-log/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-releases-ios-5-gm-for-developers-heres-the-change-log/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:12:49 +0000 Jonathan S. Geller http://www.bgr.com/?p=106627

With iOS 5 being released on October 12th to everyone (well, everyone who has relatively recent Apple device), Apple is making it available to developers today for testing. It just hit Apple’s developer site, and we’re in the process of getting it installed on our devices. We’ll update you with any new changes we find, and you do the same, alright? In the mean time, the full change log we received is after the break!

Thanks, Jean!

Notes and Known Issues

The following issues relate to using the 5 SDK to develop code.

Accounts

  • When creating an iCloud account, you can use any Apple ID as long as it is a full email address and not a MobileMe account. If you have a MobileMe account, you can move that account to iCloud. You can find more information at: http://me.com/move

AirPlay

  • Starting in iOS 5, AirPlay is enabled by default for video content in applications and websites.
  • In iOS 5, AV Foundation adds support for video playback via AirPlay.

APIs

  • The NSNetService class and CFNetService APIs do no include P2P interfaces by default. To browse, register, or resolve services over P2P interfaces, an application needs to use the Bonjour DNSService*() APIs noted below.
  • Setting the interfaceIndex parameter to kDNSServiceInterfaceIndexAny in the following API’s will not include P2P interfaces by default. To include P2P interfaces, you must now set thekDNSServiceFlagsIncludeP2P flag when using kDNSServiceInterfaceIndexAny or set the interfaceIndex to kDNSServiceInterfaceIndexP2P. The affected APIs are:
    • DNSServiceBrowse
    • DNSServiceRegister
    • DNSServiceResolve
    • DNSServiceRegisterRecord
    • DNSServiceQueryRecord

API Validation

  • In the iOS 5 development tools, it is possible to extract APIs used by an application and have them checked for use of private APIs. This option is offered when you validate your application for app submission.

Apple TV

  • The Apple TV Software enables users to mirror the contents of an iPad 2 to an Apple TV (2nd generation) using AirPlay. This software also enables Photo Stream on Apple TV so users can access photos stored in iCloud. Apple TV Software beta is being provided to test the latest AirPlay functionality with your iOS 5 apps and web sites. If you wish to install Apple TV Software beta on your device, you must first register your device UDID in the iOS Developer Program Portal.

Automatic Reference Counting

  • In Xcode, if the configuration is set to Device and there is a space in the path of one of the source files (more commonly, the project is inside a directory with spaces), the “Convert to Automatic Reference Counting” step (after Precheck) will fail with error: Error in format of file: <path>.If encountered, the user should switch to Simulator and retry the migration.

Binary Compatibility

  • On applications linked against the iOS 5 SDK, scroll view content offsets will no longer be rounded to integral pixels during a pinch gesture.

GameKit

  • Match data for turn-based matches is limited to 4 KB.
  • FIXED: Auto-matching with the turn-based view controller does not work. Invites or the direct auto-match API can be used as a workaround.

iCloud Backup

  • Backups made prior to September 22nd are no longer available. It is strongly advised to upgrade to this version of iOS 5 in order to continue backing up your devices

iCloud Storage

  • In the iCloud key-value store, the maximum number of keys has been raised to 256.
  • All newly generated provisioning profiles are now automatically enabled for iCloud. If you are using an Xcode managed Team Provisioning Profile, click refresh in the Xcode Organizer to obtain a new iCloud-enabled profile. To enable all other provisioning profiles for iCloud, simply regenerate your profiles in the iOS Provisioning Portal.
  • If your application is using the NSMetadataQuery class, you must set a predicate and the predicate is now honored. But the predicate is an NSPredicate-style predicate, not a Spotlight-style predicate. An example of the difference is that you must use LIKE instead of = for wildcard matching. The differences are defined in more detail at:http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/Predicates/Articles/pSpotlightComparison.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002370-SW1.
  • The setSortDescriptors: method of NSMetadataQuery is not supported.
  • To enable iCloud storage within your apps in iOS 5, click the Enable Entitlements checkbox in the Summary pane of your project. Xcode creates a custom entitlements file for your project that automatically includes your Team ID. You can add additional iCloud Container values as required by your application. (Note that you must regenerate your existing provisioning profiles, either with Xcode or in the iOS Provisioning Portal, to use iCloud storage.)
  • The container identifier string you pass to the URLForUbiquityContainerIdentifier: method of NSFileManager must include the team ID at the beginning of the string. As a convenience, you can pass nil to retrieve the first document container ID specified in your app’s entitlements.
  • In iOS 5, files that are protected via Data Protection cannot be used with iCloud Storage APIs.
  • File presenters—objects that adopt the NSFilePresenter protocol—do not receive some of the messages that they are supposed to receive, including:

    As a work around, implement the relinquishPresentedItemToWriter: method and check to see if the writer actually wrote when your file presenter reacquires the file.

  • If you report a bug related to the iCloud storage interfaces, please include the logs collected during your debugging session. To generate these logs, you must install a special debug profile on your device.The debug profile can be obtained from http://connect.apple.com. This profile enables the generation of debug logs that are needed to diagnose any problems using iCloud storage. The instructions to collect the logs are:
    1. Install the profile. (The easiest way to do this is to mail it to yourself and open the attachment on your device.)
    2. Reproduce the bug.
    3. Sync with iTunes to pull the logs off your device.
    4. Attach the logs to your bug report. You can find the logs in ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/DeviceName/DiagnosticLogs.

    These logs can grow large very quickly, so you should remove the profile after you have reproduced the problem and pulled the logs of your device.

  • File names are case-insensitive in Mac OS X but case-sensitive in iOS. This can lead to problems when sharing files between the two using iCloud. You should take steps on iOS to avoid creating files whose names differ only by case.

iTunes

  • The version of iTunes that comes with the GM release cannot sync devices that have the beta 7 software installed. To avoid this problem, do the following:
    1. Sync any devices that have beta 7 installed to the version of iTunes that came with beta 7.
    2. Upgrade iTunes to the version that comes with the GM release.
    3. Connect the device and install the GM software. (Understand that you might see a failure to sync error when you first connect the device.)
    4. After installing the GM software, restore from your backup you made in step 1.

Music Player

  • FIXED: When deleting a song or video from Music/Videos on the device, the Music Player app crashes.

Security

  • In iOS 5, the signing of certificates with MD5 signatures is not supported. Please ensure that certificates use signature algorithms based on SHA1 or SHA2.

Springboard

  • Push and local notifications for apps appear in the new Notification Center in iOS 5. Notification Center displays notifications that are considered “unread.” To accommodate push and local notifications that have no unread status, set your application’s badge count to 0 to clear that app’s notifications from Notification Center.

UI Automation

  • When using the performTaskWithPathArgumentsTimeout method of UIAHost in a UI Automation script where the API outputs excessively (say, thousands of lines of text) to standard out or standard error, the task may deadlock until the timeout is reached, at which point it will throw a JavaScript exception.
  • The lock() and unlock() functions of UIATarget have been replaced with the lockForDuration(<seconds>) function.
  • In iOS 5, you can now trigger the execution of a UI Automation script on an iOS device from the host terminal by using the instruments tool. The command is:
    • instruments -w <device id> -t <template> <application>
  • When using the cli instruments for UI Automation you can now target the default Automation Template and pass the script and results path into the tool as environment variable options. For example:
    • instruments -w <device id> -t /Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/Library/Instruments/PlugIns/AutomationInstrument.bundle/Contents/Resources/Automation.tracetemplate <application> -e UIASCRIPT <script> -e UIARESULTSPATH <results path>

UIKit

  • Rotation callbacks in iOS 5 are not applied to view controllers that are presented over a full screen. What this means is that if your code presents a view controller over another view controller, and then the user subsequently rotates the device to a different orientation, upon dismissal, the underlying controller (i.e. presenting controller) will not receive any rotation callbacks. Note however that the presenting controller will receive a viewWillLayoutSubviews call when it is redisplayed, and the interfaceOrientation property can be queried from this method and used to lay out the controller correctly.
  • In iOS 5, the UIPickerView class doesn’t send its pickerView:didSelectRow:inComponent: delegate message in response to the programatic selection of an item.
  • Returning nil from the tableView:viewForHeaderInSection: method (or its footer equivalent) is no longer sufficient to hide a header. You must override tableView:heightForHeaderInSection: and return0.0 to hide a header.
  • In iOS 5, the UITableView class has two methods to move one cell from one row to another with defined parameters. These APIs are:
  • Using the UIWebView class in Interface Builder, setting a transparent background color is possible in iOS 5. Developers compiling against the new SDK can check their XIB for the UIWebView transparent setting.
  • In iOS 5, the UINavigationBar, UIToolbar, and UITabBar implementations have changed so that the drawRect: method is not called unless it is implemented in a subclass. Apps that have re-implementeddrawRect: in a category on any of these classes will find that the drawRect: method isn’t called. UIKit does link-checking to keep the method from being called in apps linked before iOS 5 but does not support this design on iOS 5 or later. Apps can either:
    • Use the customization API for bars in iOS 5 and later, which is the preferred way.
    • Subclass UINavigationBar (or the other bar classes) and override drawRect: in the subclass.
  • The indexPathForRow:inSection:, section, and row methods of NSIndexPath now use NSInteger instead of NSUInteger, so that these types match with methods defined on UITableView.
  • The behavior of the UITableView class’s scrollToRowAtIndexPath:atScrollPosition:animated: method has changed. If a scroll position of UITableViewScrollPositionTop orUITableViewScrollPositionBottom is specified, the method now adjusts for the top and bottom portions of the contentInset property.
  • In releases prior to iOS 5, the UIPopoverController class would unconditionally set the autoresizing masks of view controllers that provided the content for the popover controller. It would also unconditionally set the autoresizing masks of the views of view controllers pushed on to a UINavigationController object which was the content view controller of the popover controller.The UIPopoverController class no longer does this for applications linked against iOS 5 or later. Developers should ensure that the autoresizing masks of views are set properly to allow for arbitrary resizing within any container, not just popovers. A mask of (UIViewAutoresizingFlexibleWidth | UIViewAutoresizingFlexibleHeight) is reasonable.
  • The completion handler for saveToURL:forSaveOperation:completionHandler: is called outside of the coordinated write block.
  • The autosaveWithCompletionHandler: method is now only called for period-based saves when it is safe to return without saving. Documents must save, though, if thesaveToURL:forSaveOperation:completionHandler: method is invoked.

Safari and WebKit

  • In iOS 5, a new inherited CSS property, -webkit-overflow-scrolling, is available. The value touch allows the web developer to opt in to native-style scrolling in an overflow:scroll element. The default value for this property is auto, which allows single-finger scrolling without momentum.
  • The WebKit framework has been updated to a version which closely matches the engine used by Safari 5.1 on the Desktop. There are some areas to be aware of with the new WebKit framework on iOS 5. Specifically, for web sites and native apps that use UIWebView:
    • There is a new HTML5-compliant parser.
    • Text layout width may change slightly because word-rounding behavior now has floating-point-based precision.
    • There is improved validation of the <input type=number> form field, which includes removing leading zeros and number formatting.
    • Touch events are now supported on input fields.
    • <input type=range> is now supported.
    • window.onerror is now supported.
    • There is a new user agent that does not have locale information in the User Agent string.
    • URLs are now canonicalized by making the scheme all lowercase. If a fake URL is used to pass information from a UIWebView back to native code, make sure that the scheme is always lowercase, or that the native code compares the scheme in a case-insensitive manner.

Wi-Fi Syncing

  • Wireless syncing support requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or Lion. You will see an option to enable wireless syncing when you connect your device to iTunes with the USB cable. It is recommended you perform your initial sync with a cable after restoring your device.
    • Wireless syncing is triggered automatically when the device is connected to power and on the same network as the paired computer. Or, you can manually trigger a sync from iTunes or from Settings > General > iTunes Sync (same network as paired computer required).
    • If you find issues with apps, media and/or photos synced to your device, you can reset then resync. From Settings > General > Reset, choose Erase all Content and Settings. Then reconnect to iTunes and sync again.

Xcode Tools

For information about changes to Xcode, Interface Builder, Instruments, and iOS Simulator, see Xcode Release Notes.

 

 

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-releases-ios-5-gm-for-developers-heres-the-change-log/feed/ 37 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/apple-ios-5-gm-128x128.jpg Apple iOS 5 hitting on October 12th http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-ios-5-hitting-on-october-12th/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-ios-5-hitting-on-october-12th/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:30:25 +0000 Jonathan S. Geller http://www.bgr.com/?p=104036

Apple’s iOS 5 will be released on October 12th for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPad 2 and the last two iPod touch generations. We’re expecting the Gold Master to be released for developers later today. Apple’s free iOS 5 software update brings over 200 new features to the platform including some big ones like redone notifications, iMessage, built-in Twitter integration, Newsstand and more.

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/04/apple-ios-5-hitting-on-october-12th/feed/ 34 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/apple-iphone-4110916164615-128x128.jpg Apple iCloud reset scheduled for September 22nd ahead of likely iOS 5 GM build http://www.bgr.com/2011/09/19/apple-icloud-reset-scheduled-for-september-22nd-ahead-of-likely-ios-5-gm-build/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/09/19/apple-icloud-reset-scheduled-for-september-22nd-ahead-of-likely-ios-5-gm-build/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:55:00 +0000 Todd Haselton http://www.bgr.com/?p=104128

Apple will reset its iCloud backup service on September 22nd ahead of the likely release of its final iOS 5 test build and public iCloud launch. The date corresponds with our earlier report that Apple would launch the iOS 5 GM on September 23rd, and the reset will not have an impact on any bookmark, calendar, contact, mail or reminder data stored on iCloud. The official notice, which was posted on Apple’s Developer boards, reads:

On Thursday, September 22, the iCloud Backup data will be reset. Backing up to iCloud or restoring from an iCloud backup will be unavailable from 9 AM PDT – 5 PM PDT. If you attempt a backup or restore during this time, you will receive an alert that the backup or restore was not successful. After this reset, you will be unable to restore from any backup created prior to September 22. A full backup will happen automatically the next time your device backs up to iCloud.

Apple launched a beta version of iCloud to developers on August 1st when it revealed the official pricing plans. Users will receive 5GB of storage for free and can sign up for an additional 10GB of storage (15GB total) for $20 per year, 20GB of additional storage for $40 per year, or 50GB of added storage for $100 per year.

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]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/09/19/apple-icloud-reset-scheduled-for-september-22nd-ahead-of-likely-ios-5-gm-build/feed/ 20 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Apple-iCloud-logo-hd110610134527-80x80.jpg Microsoft’s Windows Phone GM quits to launch own company http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/08/microsofts-windows-phone-gm-quits-to-launch-own-company/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/08/microsofts-windows-phone-gm-quits-to-launch-own-company/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:30:34 +0000 Zach Epstein http://www.bgr.com/?p=99408

Microsoft’s General Manager of the Windows Phone Developer Experience on Monday announced that he is leaving Microsoft to launch a start up. Kindel did not share the details of his new endeavor, and his public profile on networking site LinkedIn lists him as Founder and CTO of <redacted> at A super secret stealth startup. “[The start up] has to do with sports, advertising, mobile, social-networking, and, of course, the cloud,” Kindel wrote in a post on his personal blog. “I’m insanely excited to get started.” The soon-to-be former executive was with Microsoft for 21 years, having joined the Redmond-based company’s developer support group in 1990. Kindel’s full email to his team regarding the decision follows below.

From: Charlie Kindel
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 9:00 AM
To: A gazillion old friends and colleagues
Subject: Goodbye Microsoft – After 21 Years It’s Time To Move On

July 2, 1990 was my first day at Microsoft and September 2, 2011 will be my last.

In the time honored tradition of “good-bye mails” this is mine.

My first Microsoft product was a Z-80 Softcard for my Apple ][+ in 1984. That amazing product enabled me to become a UCSD P-System, CP/M, and Turbo Pascal geek. I still remember opening the big clear plastic box for the first time.

In 1988 (my junior year at the University of Arizona) I decided I wanted to work for Microsoft when I discovered Windows programming (I conned my dad into buying me a copy of the Windows 2 SDK). Charles Petzold was my hero.

I got no-hired after my first interviews (a dev role in Languages; shouldn’t really surprise anyone).

I bribed my recruiter into getting me another set of interviews by sending her a Christmas card (clearly I was meant to be a PM).

The brightest memory I have of my first day at work was a Seattle Times sports page pinned to my manager’s (Ridge Ostling) cube: “Husky Women Beat Beavers”.

A few months later we threatened to quit because management kept turning the lights ON in Lincoln Plaza.

Arne Josefsberg: I feel bad about writing that tool that generated fake time tracking reports. But what did you expect? We were providing the best damn developer support possible and the number of minutes we spent doing it was totally irrelevant.

Curtis Palmer: I miss you. Our Bogus Software was the best. RIP.

Tunneling Todd Laney, one day I got so pissed that the Windows 8514a driver didn’t support “smallfonts” that I just fixed it and checked it in. I was still in PSS. My first “production code” at Microsoft and if you don’t count OLEView which was just a tool, my last.

I decided I wanted to be Chris Guzak. So I got out of PSS and into Developer Relations. I know, it doesn’t make sense to me either.

Vertical Developer Relations was an amazing group. Out of that group came: Jeff Teper, Satya Nadella, Joe Long, John Wilcox, Bret O’Rourke, and others.

After writing OLEView I woke up and I was no longer an evangelist but a PM on the OLE team. Initially I was given all the glamorous stuff like Mac OLE. Mario Goertzel scared the crap out of me. It was 3 months before he and the other devs would invite me to lunch.

I got to work with Bob Atkinson. He taught me the trick of taking people on walks during 1:1s. He also taught me everything I know.

We gave all PDC ’93 attendees a CD with the first DCOM bits. ole.h was missing. One (one!) customer noticed. We thought DCOM was hot-sh**. It wasn’t.

The first name for COM+ was COM3. Windows used to let you create directories named COM3. But you couldn’t delete them. The real reason I’m leaving Microsoft? COM is making a comeback.

Sweeper and December 7, 1995 were epic. How the name “ActiveX” was chosen was not. Designing the <OBJECT> tag with Tim Berners-Lee was mind blowing for me. Ben Slivka still owes my sister an airplane ticket.

Shipping IE 3.0 was my first taste of what it really meant to build a product that changed the world. I would have never joined the Windows Phone team if I had not had that prior experience of an impossible, come-from-behind, project.

Somewhere along the line I learned the word “mentor”. Bob Muglia and Chris Jones: Thank you. I learned everything I know from you.

In 1998 a bunch of us from the IIS team were in Paris for some conference. We went out to dinner and when we came out of the restaurant there was a literal riot going on around the Arc de Triomphe. France had won the world cup. We joined in. I rode around the Arc de Triomphe on the roof of a city bus chanting Viva-La-France! Microsoft enabled me to see the world and I’m grateful for that.

Someday we’re going to have a Project42 reunion party. Or not.

Tracy Sharpe once worked for me. One day his office was cleared out. I asked HR “Where’s Tracy?” “Oh, he moved to the Xbox team weeks ago.” Oh, that’s how that works.

Charlie: “Hey Chris (Jones) & David (Cole), we should build a Neptune Home Server! We’ll call it Ybox!”

Chris & David: “Charlie, shut the eff up and get back to work.”

Working on Windows Millennium is where I met Dave Alles.

The Connected Home Business Unit had this guy who drove a black Hummer. One day we put a “Yes, my penis is small” bumper sticker on it. Sorry about that Kevin Eagan.

Bedrock and the bBox demonstrated that a group could have all the technology and a great user experience and still not know how to spell “business”. BXT folks. BXT!

CHBU begat eHome. The first version of Windows Media Center was to be called “Windows Remote View”. Really.

When I think about my time as BobMu’s TA I’m reminded of the scene in Blade Runner, where Roy says “I’ve seen things you people could only imagine.” Did I mention that I learned everything I know from Bob Muglia?

You know why Quattro was named Quattro? My fourth attempt at building a home server product at Microsoft. Best. Team. Ever.

I’ve had some great managers (and some not so great ones). Chris Phillips the best manager I ever had. I learned everything I know from Chris.

To the people that helped build Windows Home Server: Chuck Norris doesn’t leave Microsoft. Microsoft leaves with Chuck.

Yamanote! Istvan, Friedbert, Bob, Drew, Tudor, Kevin, Akhil, Ron, Scott, and a slew of others: They doubted, but we fraking did it. Together. 27,000 apps and counting. Someone once gave me the advice “The first rule of dependency management is to not have any dependencies.” I call BS on this and we proved that cross-group collaboration CAN work at Microsoft.

The real reason I’m leaving Microsoft: At the last partner meeting Dave Alles didn’t ask SteveB a question.

To the Windows Phone team: I may stop using some Microsoft products now that I’m out of here. But not Windows Phone. The BEST product Microsoft has ever built. Do not let up!

To my wife: Thank you for putting up with “Microsoft Time” (“Honey, I’ll be home in an hour.” Four hours later…). I’ve learned everything I know from Julie Kindel.

To my kids: No, just because I don’t work at Microsoft anymore you many not use Google. Remember, every time you use Google, a puppy dies.

Back in 1990 I assumed I’d work here for 3 or so years. I’m an entrepreneur at heart and every few years I’d lift up my head and look around. I never had the need to look outside Microsoft because I kept finding one challenging opportunity after another.

21 years later I have finally decided I need to do something different: I’m leaving to start a new company here in the Seattle area. I’m sure you’ll hear about it.

There has been one constant in every job I’ve had at Microsoft: People way smarter than me. Microsoft has always enabled me to “play up”. It has truly been an honor working with all of you. Thank you for helping me grow as an engineer, a manager, a businessman, and as a person.

Stay in touch and keep changing the world!

-cek

charlie (at) kindel (dot) com

http://ceklog.kindel.com

@ckindel on Twitter

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]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/08/microsofts-windows-phone-gm-quits-to-launch-own-company/feed/ 25 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/charlie-kindel-80x80.jpg Apple pushes OS X Lion GM out to developers http://www.bgr.com/2011/07/01/apple-pushes-os-x-lion-gm-out-to-developers/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/07/01/apple-pushes-os-x-lion-gm-out-to-developers/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:37:20 +0000 Zach Epstein http://www.bgr.com/?p=95490

Apple on Friday seeded the Gold Master build of its OS X 10.7 Lion operating system to developers. The build number is 11A511, and the download is available immediately on Apple’s developer site. Barring the discovery of any major issues, the Gold Master code is likely to be unchanged in the release version of Lion, which will launch to the public later this month. Apple announced recently that OS X Lion will be distributed via the Mac App Store rather than using physical media discs, and it will cost just $29.

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/07/01/apple-pushes-os-x-lion-gm-out-to-developers/feed/ 31 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lion1110224140813-80x80.jpg Apple finally GMs iOS 4.3, build 8F190? http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/24/apple-finally-gms-ios-4-3-build-8f190/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/24/apple-finally-gms-ios-4-3-build-8f190/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:55:27 +0000 Jonathan S. Geller http://www.bgr.com/?p=77943

One of our Apple sources has just informed us that it looks like Apple has finalized the code for its upcoming iOS 4.3 release. The build, we’re told, is 8F190 for those keeping track. Maybe we’ll see this release unify the Verizon iPhone OS-wise as well? We’ll probably see this in the wild next week if we had to bet…

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/24/apple-finally-gms-ios-4-3-build-8f190/feed/ 36 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iphone-software110224145844-80x80.jpg Powermat looks to expand beyond the mat http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/14/powermat-looks-to-expand-beyond-the-mat/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/14/powermat-looks-to-expand-beyond-the-mat/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:35:15 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=76899

Some of you may be familiar with the mobile accessory company Powermat. The New York City based accessory manufacturer creates a line of cell phone battery covers and battery packs that aim to simplify and add greater convenience to your mobile life. We stopped by the company’s booth at Mobile World Congress and got a glimpse at where the company is now, where they hope to be, and what’s next. Spoiler: if Powermat has its way, you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more about them in the future.

Powermat first came to market around 16 months ago with an innovative, but bulky, line of cases for the iPhone, the iPod touch, the Nintendo DS, and a handful of BlackBerrys. With the case attached to your mobile device, you can place the handset on Powermat’s power mat charging-base and enjoy a cordless charge. Pick up the device, it stops charging. Put it down, it starts charging again. Fast forward to today: the cases have slimmed down, the mat has been sexified, new mobile power accessories have been announced,  and the company is looking to expand its position in the smartphone market place and take its proprietary technology beyond the mat. Hit the jump to read about how Powermat wants to keep you powered on, sans cord.

The technology used in the Powermat’s charging systems is magnetic induction, which, since it doesn’t generate much heat, lends itself to a host of other uses. Where might you see Powermat down the road? In the airport, car, and kitchen for starters. The company has already inked a deal with Arconas — maker of airport seating — to include Powermat charging surfaces in a new line of seats. The seats will be rolling out in 150 airports worldwide and will also feature — for those of you who are currently inductively challenged — standard AC outlets. The company has also forged a partnership with U.S. based car manufacturer General Motors. The center console of the electric Chevy Volt will be Powermat capable (death to car chargers!) and GM has plans to expand the feature to additional model families.

The kitchen piece is really interesting. When we asked Scott Eisenstein, VP of Communications for Powermat, why his company was trying to maneuver its way into our kitchens the response sort of shocked us. “We’re woking with Haier to create Powermat enabled appliances. Picture taking your blender out of the cabinet, putting it down on the counter, and it just works… anywhere. You don’t need to be near an outlet.” The company has said it can make any typical counter surface (aside from metal) a giant Powermat. The company can do this from under the surface — even through granite — without making any cuts, slices, or holes in your kitchen-top.  “Since it’s magnetic induction, the appliances are extremely water tolerant, making them safer,” continued Eisenstein. “We could even get to the point where a Powermat-enabled electric appliance is dishwasher safe.” It’s definitely a new and interesting direction for the company.

Beth Harrison Meyer, the company’s VP of Global Marketing, told us that PM is currently working with smartphone OEMs and we should see a device shipping from factories, Powermat ready, before the close of 2012. Meyer also noted that PM is working with notebook OEMs to get the technology integrated into laptop batteries for drop and go charging — again, direct from the factory.

Powermat has some really cool, and really functional charging technology; we definitely got way more than we bargained for after wandering into the Powermat booth. The company has over three million Powermat systems in-market and is growing globally. What do you think? Do you see wireless charging in your future?

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/14/powermat-looks-to-expand-beyond-the-mat/feed/ 12 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1269110215003157-80x80.jpg Apple seeds iOS 4.2.1 Gold Master candidate to developers http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/18/67228/ http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/18/67228/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:20:14 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=67228

Probably not the iOS 4.2 announcement you were hoping for, but it is an announcement nonetheless. Moments ago, Apple seeded another gold master candidate of iOS 4.2 — 4.2.1 — to developers via its iOS Dev Center. Presumably, the new code fixes several bugs that have been reported in the first 4.2 GM candidate; including a fairly nasty Wi-Fi bug affecting iPads. If you’re a member of Apple’s developer network, you know what to do. Everyone else… the waiting continues.

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/18/67228/feed/ 16 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-18-at-3.13.55-PM-80x80.jpg iOS 4.2 GM fixes dialer security flaw http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/02/ios-4-2-gm-fixes-dialer-security-flaw/ http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/02/ios-4-2-gm-fixes-dialer-security-flaw/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:41:26 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=65157

Just a quick follow up to an article we posted last week. It looks like Apple’s iOS 4.2 gold master candidate, which was pushed out to developers last night, closes the security loop hole that allowed the iPhone’s lock screen to be bypassed from the “Emergency Call” function. We’ve been trying, unsuccessful, to replicate the issue with the latest iOS pre-release.

If you’re not a member of the developer community, and wondering when you can get your hands on iOS 4.2, know that iOS 4.1 GM was released to developers one week before it went live to the general public.

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/02/ios-4-2-gm-fixes-dialer-security-flaw/feed/ 12 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/iphone-4-425x480-80x80.jpg iOS 4.2 GM hits Apple’s developer center http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/01/ios-4-2-gm-hits-apple-developer-center/ http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/01/ios-4-2-gm-hits-apple-developer-center/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:10:16 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=65137

Apple promised iOS 4.2 by early November and tonight the company delivered. The gold master revision of iOS 4.2 has just dropped in Apple’s developer portal. If you have developer access, and like being on the bleeding edge of iOS releases, hit up developer.apple.com to install the new bits. Let us know if you find any new goodies and enjoy.

]]> http://www.bgr.com/2010/11/01/ios-4-2-gm-hits-apple-developer-center/feed/ 8 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-01-at-7.07.46-PM-80x80.jpg Bloomberg: OnStar to include Facebook integration http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/08/bloomberg-onstar-to-include-facebook-integration/ http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/08/bloomberg-onstar-to-include-facebook-integration/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:41:06 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=60253

Since the safety of talking and texting while driving has been highly publicized, we wonder how well received Facebook’ing while driving will be. Bloomberg is reporting that General Motors’ in-car safety system OnStar could receive a software update to allow Facebook integration as early as this month. Anonymous sources detail that the system would offer a speech-to-text function that would — presumably — allow you to post and comment to Facebook without typing. Analysts are claiming the OnStar “social upgrade” is an attempt to keep up with the well received Sync system designed by Microsoft and included in Ford vehicles. Bloomberg writes, “OnStar may begin offering entertainment and information services that link to a user’s smartphone without a subscription or fee.” OnStar declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg.

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]]> http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/08/bloomberg-onstar-to-include-facebook-integration/feed/ 32 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/On-Star-Facebook-80x80.jpg Apple seeding iOS 4.1 GM to developers http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/01/apple-seeding-ios-4-1-gm-to-developers/ http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/01/apple-seeding-ios-4-1-gm-to-developers/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:22:34 +0000 Andrew Munchbach http://www.bgr.com/?p=59955

If you are anxious to get iOS 4.1 onto your device, and are enrolled in Apple’s developer program, you’re in luck. Apple has just updated developer.apple.com with the new iOS 4.1 Gold Master bits; the update weighs in at a hefty 590 MB. If you find anything new and interesting — that wasn’t mentioned in today’s keynote — be sure to drop a note about it in the comments.

Thanks, CDeeRon!

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]]> http://www.bgr.com/2010/09/01/apple-seeding-ios-4-1-gm-to-developers/feed/ 50 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Screen-shot-2010-09-01-at-3.21.04-PM-80x80.jpg General Motors continues to falter; may discontinue Saturn http://www.bgr.com/2008/12/04/general-motors-continues-to-falter-may-discontinue-saturn/ http://www.bgr.com/2008/12/04/general-motors-continues-to-falter-may-discontinue-saturn/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:35:35 +0000 Marc Flores http://www.bgr.com/?p=10736

Saturn’s slogan is now “Rethink”, but it’s beginning to look like the GM-owned automaker is taking that sentiment in a completely different direction. After making an effort to rebrand the Saturn line and produce a variety of attractive vehicles, General Motors might pull the plug on the 23-year-old auto line. With rumors of bankruptcies and dealers going out of business (none of which were true), Saturn’s reputation has been taking some serious hits lately. It’s also no help that the US automotive industry is suffering and relying on the government for a bailout, so GM is going to strongly consider shutting down Saturn while it forms plans this week in terms of an impending reorg. We imagine it’s not going to be a tough decision since Saturn hasn’t been profitable for GM at all. Along with axing the celestial brand, the automotive giant is considering selling off the Saab line and turning Pontiac into a “niche” brand, much like Saturn is now. So, after several years of producing what seems to be like one or two models, Saturn now offers several decent vehicles: Astra, Outlook, Sky, Vue and Aura. Still, it has failed to gain any real popularity and is likely going to disappear forever. Is anyone actually going to miss it?

Thanks, Alex R!

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]]> http://www.bgr.com/2008/12/04/general-motors-continues-to-falter-may-discontinue-saturn/feed/ 88 http://www-bgr-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/picture-185-150x150.png