A Word on MacPaw’s Gemini Project
MacPaw, the group behind applications like CleanMyMac has announced its newest project, Gemini. Not much has been released about it so far, but a lot more will come soon. Check out it’s pre-launch page here.
Skech brings some great cases to market [CES]
Skech, a company which began in 2003 has been attending CES for the past couple of years. Each time, it’s booth gets better and better. This year, Sketch had one of the better looking booths at CES –or at least in the iLounge pavilion. Skech had some exciting new (some relatively new, others new for CES) cases to show off.
One of these cases is the Blueboard, a folio case with a wireless typing pad that magnetically attaches and detaches instantaneously. The keyboard is very similar to Apple’s chiclet counterpart, though from my use, I still prefer Apple’s. According to one of the representatives, the reason behind the detachable keyboard is for those who mirror the iPad to a TV as well as those who wouldn’t always want the keyboard. (more…)
Angry Birds Updated to 2.0, Bringing 15 New Levels
As a celebration of the second “birthday” of Angry Birds – the ultra-popular and wildly successful game that so many people know and love, Rovio has released Angry Birds version 2.0. While the update is mainly evolutionary, rather than a full-fledged “Angry Birds 2″, it continues Rovio’s commitment to delivering new content to players.
Angry Birds 2.0 brings 15 new levels to the game, along with modifying how the player progresses through the game. Now, all the “episodes” (sets of levels) are unlocked from the start, allowing new players to jump right into any of set of levels rather than playing them in strictly sequential order.
Angry Birds is available on a multitude of platforms, including all iOS devices (with an appropriately-scaled “HD” version for the iPad), along with Android devices and even a web app available for the Chrome web browser. Angry Birds for iPhone and iPod touch is available for $0.99, and Angry Birds HD is $4.99.
Flippin’ for Flipboard
Flipboard, a social magazine app loved by millions of iPad owners the world over has finally arrived on the small screen, the iPhone and iPod Touch to be exact. Released in 2010, it quickly gained traction with the iPad user base due to its beautifully designed interface that behaved like a magazine, requiring users to “flip” through their feeds. The iPhone version thankfully retains all of the features that made the iPad version such a success, while also adding something new to the mix with Cover Stories. The Cover Stories interface collects and displays your most recent photo uploads, status updates from Facebook and Twitter and shared articles all in one place, and is conveniently placed at the top, so its the first thing you see when you open the app. The service did launch with a few hiccups, but they’ve all been sorted out by the hard working devs. Download it today and see what all the fuss is about.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition to Gain Survival Features in Future Updates
In my review of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, I mentioned how the game focused more on the free-building a creative aspects of the full Minecraft experience in order to create a game that was perfect for 10-15 minute stretches. While I still think that launching a creative-mode-only game at first was a smart move, I was left with a sense of wanting more out of the Pocket Edition of my favorite PC/Mac game.
I was understandably very excited when, yesterday, Daniel Kaplan, head of the mobile version of Minecraft, made a post on the official Mojang blog giving an overview of what his team will be working on for future versions of Minecraft: Pocket Edition. Kaplan is quoted below… (more…)
Group of developers band together to create the first Mac App Store bundle
Are you one those people that constantly scours the internet looking for the best deals? If you answered yes, then please allow me to make your day easier by pointing you to a sale a group of developers are putting on (here). For today only, select apps normally priced at $9.99 will be reduced to only $0.99! Granted, this is a one day, limited time only sale. Apps include Ensoul, Hider, Focus, VirusBarrier Plus, and more. Check out all the apps here while time lasts!
Get CleanMyMac for 50% off today
With Thanksgiving comes Black Friday, a day of deals, chaos and impulse buying. MacPaw, the folks behind CleanMyMac, have put up a deal offering the software for 50% off regular price. This makes a lifetime license just $15! Check out the deal here or just remember coupon code ‘BKF11′.
Bluelounge enters the case market with Shell for iPad
Earlier this week, Bluelounge released its newest accessory and first ever case, the Shell for iPad. Setting it apart from the crowd, the Shell features unique imprinted designs on the rear. Though I have yet to get my hands on it, the case appears to be something worth taking note of. Check it out here and read on for the full press release… (more…)
TheMacFeed is looking for writers
Great news for all you wannabe TheMacFeed writers out there because we are looking for a few editors! Please, try to contain your excitement, though it is understandable if you want to get up and run around in a circle for a bit. We’ll wait.
Who are we looking for, you ask? It is not a necessity to be someone with “professional writing experience,” but someone who is passionate about what they have to say and the knowhow to put it into words –well written words at that! And yes, these are paid positions.
If you are interested in the gig, please shoot Daniel an email at danielfeeney(at)me(dot)com as soon as possible. Thanks!
Heckler Design’s OneLessDrop is 100% stunning
Heckler Design is mainly known for its OneLessDesk, however just recently, thanks to a very successful Kickstarter campaign, an “elegant power cord anchor.” Founder Dean Heckler told me the story behind the OneLessDrop:
When visiting one of my vendors to oversee the production of one of my other product’s part, one could not help but notice all the raw aluminum stock around their shop. I would obsess over how mesmerizing all the solid blocks of aluminum were to hold a look at. What also became clear is how few inexpensive consumer products are made from aluminum block. I wanted to design something made of of solid, polished aluminum.
My original ideas focused on an over-the-top gorgeous bedside iPhone rest. I did a number of designs and shared them with friends and family. The response was tepid, so I kept at it. As I was pondering what simple features could be added to the iPhone stand concept to make it more interesting, more clever, I thought about how every night I’d search the carpet next to my bed to find my phone’s power cord. So I added a groove in the top of my phone stand design. The groove would hold the power cord to the table when the phone was Not present and plugged in. Folks loved this feature. I figured, if they love the groove, but don’t love the stand, I’ll just ditch the stand.
A few dozen design revisions from that point, and I came upon OneLessDrop’s design.
It goes for $25 with free shipping from the Heckler Design website. Check it out here.
Image via
Twelve South releases the PlugBug
Today, Twelve South released the PlugBug, a travel charger which snaps onto your MacBook Power Adapter allowing for charing of both an iOS device and MacBook. Plus, by using the PlugBug, one can charge an iOS device much quicker than the normal USB connection is capable of doing. Check it out here or read on for the release and images… (more…)
Apple’s first iPhone 4S commercial airs (Updated)
This afternoon, Apple aired its first television advertisement for its newest iDevice, the iPhone 4S. The highlight of the video? Siri, the device’s personal assistant (still in beta). Though it took a while, Apple has finally posted the new ad on its YouTube page.
Update: Apple has now published the television commercial on its YouTube page.
Apple’s conference call, a summary
Just hours ago, Apple’s Q4 2011 earnings call concluded. Within its presentation, Apple’s Tim Cook and Peter Oppenheimer presented the company’s recent earnings to investors (and bystanders). A lot of information was presented in the call, though much of it was released via a press release prior to its occurrence. Here is a summary:
In Q4, Apple raked in $28.7 billion in revenue and $6.62 billion in net profit at $7.05 per diluted share.
In terms of its devices, in Q4 Apple has sold 17.1 million iPhones (sales up 21% “year over year”), 11.12 million iPads, 6.6 million iPods, and 4.89 million Macs. iOS-wise, 25 million devices were sold in Q4.
Within its digital stores, Apple has seen 18 billion App Store downloads (currently 500,000 apps available on the App Store), 180 million iBookstore downloads, and 6 million Lion downloads. Further, there have been 16 billion songs downloaded from iTunes.
Apple has been growing well in terms of its Apple retail Stores too. With 77.5 million Apple Store visits in Q4 alone and an average revenue (per store) of approximately $10.7 million, it’d be hard not to. Currently, 13% of Apple’s revenue comes from its retail stores adding up to a total of $3.6 billion in revenue from its retail Stores. In Q4, 30 new Apple stores have launched and the Cupertino-based company plans to add 40 more Apple Stores outside of U.S in Q 3/4.
Did I forget to mention Apple has $81.6 billion available at hand?
This post would not have been possible without 9to5Mac’s figure summary. (Image via)
Bluelounge releases Sumo, “a heavyweight for small cables”
BlueLounge, the folks behind some of the best and most useful Apple-related accessories has broadened its lineup with the newest member of the family, Sumo. Comparable with Heckler Design’s OneLessDrop, the Sumo is a discrete, versatile, and affordable (at $11.95!) cable clasp designed to keep wires in place. It is available from BlueLounge’s website here.
Read on for the full press release… (more…)
Apple announces record quarter results
Ahead of its conference call, Apple has announced financial results for the third calendar quarter and fourth fiscal quarter of 2011 as well as the full fiscal year.
For the quarter, Apple has announced a revenue of $28.27 billion and profit of $6.62 billion ($7.05 per diluted share). Last year, for this quarter, Apple announced revenue of $20.34 billion and net quarterly profit of $4.31 billion ($4.64 per diluted share).
For the fiscal year for 2011, Apple has announced revenue of $108.25 billion –which is its first time ever over $100 billion in yearly revenue– with a net profit of $25.92 billion ($27.68 per diluted share). Last year, revenue was at $65.23 billion and a net profit of $14.01 billion ($15.15 per diluted share).
In the quarter, Apple shipped approximately 4.89 million Macs (up 26%*), 17.07 million iPhones (up 21%*), 6.62 million iPods (down 27%*), and 11.12 million iPads (up 166%*).
Apple’s press release follows… (more…)
Follow us for live coverage of Apple’s conference call
Apple’s conference call is about to take place this afternoon at 2:00pm PT/5:00pm ET. Follow our separate twitter account, @TheMacFeed_Live for live coverage of this and other live Apple-related events. There will also be separate posts coinciding with the news announced in the call.
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