Federico Viticci

10804 posts on MacStories since April 2009

Federico is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of MacStories, where he writes about Apple with a focus on apps, developers, iPad, and iOS productivity. He founded MacStories in April 2009 and has been writing about Apple since. Federico is also the co-host of AppStories, a weekly podcast exploring the world of apps, Unwind, a fun exploration of media and more, and NPC: Next Portable Console, a show about portable gaming and the handheld revolution.
@viticci@macstories.net
@viticci.macstories.net
viticci@macstories.net

Terminology 2.0 Released, Improves UI and App Integration

Terminology, the dictionary & thesaurus app for iPhone and iPad that was recently integrated with Mr. Reader and Instapaper, got a major update on both platforms earlier today, reaching version 2.0 and adding a number of features aimed at enhancing and better integrating the Terminology experience with third-party apps, and online services. First off, Terminology 2.0 comes with a rewritten user interface that doesn’t look different from the previous version, but brings performance improvements and faster response times that should make browsing through words and definitions even faster than before. Terminology has always been a lightweight app with an elegant UI and very little clutter, yet this new update wants to make things more stable and streamlined.

For example, the rewritten user interface allows you to pick different font and choose different font sizes. The selection includes Baskerville, Cochin, Georgia, Palatino and Helvetica Neue fonts, and can be made from a little popover menu in the bottom left corner. Alongside other minor improvements and the possibility of automatically getting results for clipboard contents, Terminology 2.0 shines when it comes to integration with apps and web services: for instance, you can activate links that will bring you to Twitterrific or Wikipedia client Articles (if installed), or open the selected word in Terminology’s companion website term.ly, which, by the way, looks really neat.

Articles support is very useful as well in the way it looks up the closest word to Terminology’s definition – example: “inherently” looked up as “inherence” on Wikipedia.

Terminology 2.0 is a free update for existing customers and can be downloaded at $2.99 here in its iPad version, or here if you prefer the smaller iPhone counterpart. Highly recommended – read our original Terminology review here.

iPhone 5 Major Design Change? Announcement in August?

According to BGR – which has a good track record with Apple rumors – the next-generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 5, won’t be a minor hardware refresh as many have speculated and reported until today. According to the website, in fact, a source close to Apple’s operations has confirmed the new iPhone will bring major changes especially in case design, which BGR calls a ”radical” change. No other details have been posted on the alleged iPhone 5 specifications, though it needs to be mentioned that, among rumors of minor hardware updates and spec bumps, This is my next reported months ago the iPhone 5 would be a major update with a completely new design and a “tear drop” case / screen. The same report also detailed how Apple could implement a thinner design and an update Home button, capable of doubling as “gesture area”.

BGR also claims an iPhone 5 announcement could come in August, with a release a few weeks later, although it’s not clear how this would play out with Apple’s usual music event in the first week of September:

According to our source, Apple may hold an event in the beginning or middle of August to announce the new iPhone, with availability to follow in the last week of August. We’re not sure if that means the iPod event will be moved up slightly, or if this will be an iPhone-specific event.

Speculation is running wild at this point as to whether the iPhone 5 will be similar to the iPhone 4 and only feature a faster processor (likely A5) and better cameras, or be a major change from the existing iPhone hardware with a bigger screen, different Home button, and perhaps NFC capabilities. Several rumors in the past claimed Apple would announce and release a new iPhone in September, shifting its usual release cycle from summer to the fall. As for recent rumors, whilst many publications reported the iPhone 5 (or “iPhone 4S” due to the rumored nature of minor update) wouldn’t be a significant upgrade spec-wise, others claimed a curved glass screen and GSM/CDMA dual-mode could be part of Apple’s announcements. Other noteworthy reports from the past months also indicated the “iPhone 4S” would go into mass production in August (thus backing up BGR’s theory of a late August release) and that Apple was testing an A5-powered iPhone 4 prototype running on T-Mobile network.

Last week, it was reported the iPhone 5 reached the final testing stage, for a September 2011 launch.

Update: Aside from BGR’s speculation, it’s worth considering that Apple might want to ship the new iPhone model with iOS 5 already pre-installed, rather than forcing users to manually update to iOS 5 when it comes out a few weeks later, likely in September. In fact, Apple confirmed that iOS 5 is coming out “this Fall” after a beta period for developers this Summer. As several bloggers and tech pundits were already claiming months ago iOS 5 would come out in September, that might be the reason why many believe the iPhone 5 is set for a Fall release too, shortly after iOS 5 comes out. For example, when Apple released the iPhone 4 on June 24 last year, the device was running iOS 4 out of the box – the OS was publicly released on June 21.

Apple Releases New Time Capsule with 3 TB Storage, $499

As the rumors correctly suggested, Apple has just launched a new Time Capsule model with 3 TB of storage. At the moment of writing this a press release isn’t out yet and the Apple website seems to be going under an update, and from what we can see right now there’s no mention of additional caching capabilities for software updates or iCloud integration.

The Time Capsule retains the same 802.11n wireless features of the previous models with simultaneous dual-band operation and Mac / PC compatibility. The device now comes in 2 TB and 3 TB configurations and Apple’s product page states it “starts at $299”, though the retail website hasn’t been updated yet with the new models’ pricing.

The AirPort Extreme, also rumored for an update, doesn’t look like will be getting a refresh today.

Update: The new Time Capsule models are now available on the Apple online Store. The 2 TB version is priced at $299, whilst the new 3 TB one is available at $499. From the search results:

Apple Planning New Store in Sydney, Grand Opening in Reading This Saturday

According to two separate reports from the well-sourced ifoAppleStore.com, Apple is about to open a new retail location in Reading, UK, on Saturday. The grand opening, scheduled for June 25 at 9.30 AM, comes after a five-year wait that saw rumors constantly pinpointing the new Reading Apple Store about an hour west of London. Located in The Oracle Shopping Centre, the store is said to occupy spaces of two former stores on the upper level of the mall. Rumors of a new Apple Store in Reading go back to 2007.

The Westfield Hornsby shopping centre.

Meanwhile, the website also claims Apple is considering another store in Sydney’s suburban area, at the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall about 17 miles northwest of Sydney. Early rumors suggest a 2012 grand opening in this location that already has 305 retailers, a cinema, and a restaurant across its 1 million square feet space.

Update: screenshot of an Apple email about the Reading grand opening this weekend, courtesy of @HabibCham.

[The Oracle photo via]

New Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme Launching Today?

Speculation around a Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme refresh has been intensifying lately and it looks like the new models are ready to go as model numbers have surfaced and an FCC filing discovered by Engadget confirms Apple is about to launch at least a new AirPort Extreme device, model A1408. Little is known from the FCC documents, but in a separate report 9to5mac shares the new model numbers and indicates the AirPort Extreme will keep a single configuration, with the Time Capsule adding a 3 TB option in addition to the existing 2 TB one.

  • MD031LL/A – AIRPORT EXTREME 802.11N (5TH GEN)- USA
  • MD032LL/A – TIME CAPSULE 2TB (4TH GENERATION) – USA
  • MD033LL/A – TIME CAPSULE 3TB (4TH GENERATION) – USA

The new Time Capsules are rumored to be getting a new functionality to cache software updates for iOS and OS X devices, in order to speed up the process of downloading and installing new software. This feature was also confirmed by some code strings found in the latest AirPort Utility update. As Apple usually likes to time its hardware refreshes with FCC document releases, there’s the possibility the new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule will come out later today.

Apple Releases iTunes Festival 2011 App with Live Shows and AirPlay

Kicking off on July 1 at the Roundhouse in London for 31 nights of consecutive live performances from 62 bands, the iTunes Festival 2011 has seen Coldplay, Beady Eye, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters and Mogwai signing up for Apple’s annual initiative, among others. Today Apple released an official app for the iTunes Festival 2011 which, besides letting you check on the schedule for the venue and check out more information about the performing bands, will enable you to follow shows live or on demand “for a limited period from wherever you are in the world”, as well as beam video contents from your iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV or unofficial third-party receiver like MacStories staff favorite AirServer. This is the first time Apple is supporting both the iPhone and iPad with options for live streaming, AirPlay and Apple TV. Apple’s recent experiments with live streaming events include special media events and WWDC keynotes, though they have seemed to refrain from streaming announcements as of lately. It’ll be interesting to see how the app will allow users to watch live concerts come July 1.

You can download the iTunes Festival London 2011 app for free here.

Intel Confirms Sandy Bridge ULV Processors, Likely For New MacBook Airs

As noted by Cnet, Intel has updated its official processor price list to include new Sandy Bridge-based Corei5 and Corei7 processors with ultra-low voltage power specifications that will make them suitable for future ultra-thin laptops like the upcoming MacBook Air refresh, set for a June or July release. The new processors, as included in the list:

  • i5-2557M (3M cache, 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.70 GHz 32nm) - $250
  • i7-2677M (4M cache, 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.80 Ghz, 32nm) - $317
  • i7-2637M (4M cache, 2 Cores, 4 Threads, 1.70 Ghz, 32nm) - $289

As reported back in May, these new power-frugal processors make for a great option when it comes to powering thin machines like Apple’s MacBook Airs or other devices called “ultrabooks” by Intel. By increasing clock speed from 1.4 GHz and 1.6 GHz to 1.7 GHz and 1.8 GHz from the previous-gen Arrandale CPUs, and with turbo boost frequencies set at 2.8 GHz and 2.9 GHz, Intel’s new ULV chips seem to fall in line with Apple’s requirements for low power consumption and speed. More importantly, the new Sandy Bridge processors dissipate only 17 watts, unlike standard laptop-oriented processors from Intel that with 35-watt dissipation would be too much for the MacBook Air’s thin and slim design.

The new MacBook Airs were initially rumored to be receiving an update in June, though recent speculation claims Apple will refresh the line in July – also holding out for new Mac releases until Lion comes out, so the new OS will come pre-installed on new Mac models. Many have indicated the MacBook Air as Apple’s new “crown jewel”, the most popular new MacBook model that will be perfectly capable of running OS X Lion thanks to its fast SSD, instant-on feature, high portability and multitouch trackpad.

1Password for Mac Adds OS X Lion Support

1Password for Mac, the must-have utility we at MacStories use on a daily basis to manage and organize our web logins, credit card data and anything else that can go into AgileBits’ secure and encrypted database, was updated a few minutes ago to include support for OS X Lion and Mozilla’s latest desktop browser, Firefox 5. For those who have been keeping an eye on 1Password’s releases, you might have noticed the developers put great effort into building an amazing Google Chrome extension that allows you to easily access your web logins, identities, or generate passwords for new accounts. The Google Chrome extension was far superior to the Safari 4 counterpart, which was stuck on old interface schemes with less features and a clunky menu to fill web fields and account credentials. 1Password 3.6 finally brings the same extension seen on Chrome to Safari 5.1 on Lion and, after a quick test, I can say the extension looks even better than Chrome’s version as it’s powered by a neat animation for opening / closing. Overall, the new 1Password extension on Lion looks great, it’s fast and, from what I’ve seen so far, very stable when browsing around, filling logins and generating new passwords.

1Password 3.6 also adds support for apps created with Fluid 1.0, as well as Firefox 5. As AgileBits have added support for OS X 10.7 and Mozilla’s new browsers, the developers recommend people willing to use Leopard or older versions of Firefox to stay on 1Password 3.5.9. Support for new OSes and browsers aside, 1Password 3.6 is filled with welcome minor changes and bug fixes: whilst you can see the full list when upgrading from 3.5.9 to 3.6 in the built-in changelog screen, let me highlight that the new 1Password supports the latest Dropbox file configuration for sync, and it brings improved backups to detect problems with the app’s backup folder. On top of that, Lion-specific improvements will make the app a joy to use for those who have already made the jump on Apple’s new big cat.

1Password is a priceless utility that at $39.99 (Mac version) will change the way you manage, save, organize and keep data safe on your computers. The Mac app can be downloaded here, and you can find iOS counterparts for iPhone and iPad (with sync) here, here, and here.

New MacBook Airs To Feature Black Case Option?

With increasing speculation and reports claiming that Apple is putting the final touches to the new MacBook Air line set for a late June or July refresh, MacRumors now suggests the new models may come with a black option for the aluminum case in the high-end configuration. According to various anonymous tips they received, the new black finish would come with an anodized aluminum case that would be a departure from Apple’s recent design standard for notebooks.

Over the past week, we’ve received several anonymous tips claiming that at least some models of the next-generation MacBook Air will be be available with a black finish, different from the aluminum case used on the current MacBook Air and most of Apple’s other Macs. The most specific of the claims suggests that a black anodized aluminum case would be available on a top-end MacBook Air model, in much the same way as Apple once offered a high-end black MacBook on top of the standard white offerings.

As widely reported over the past months, the new MacBook Airs are rumored to receive a substantial hardware update with Sandy Bridge processors replacing the outdated Core2 Duo CPUs, as well as Thunderbolt connectivity following the implementation in the MacBook Pros and iMacs earlier this year. As for the black color, Apple used to offer a black version of the MacBook a few years ago (the plastic model), and a MacBook Air prototype with a bottom black case was sold on eBay two years ago. The MacBook Pros released in February were also rumored to be getting an all-new black design based off Apple’s Liquid Metal acquisition, though that obviously didn’t happen and Apple decided to go with the classic unibody aluminum design, first launched in late 2008. A few days later, a report claimed a new design for the MacBook line is expected in 2012, starting with new MacBook Pro models. Meanwhile, 9to5mac says their sources haven’t heard anything about the alleged black MacBook Airs.

Update: MacRumors is now reporting an alleged email from an Apple employee who claims black MacBooks were indeed produced, but didn’t get Steve Jobs’ approval in the end.

The rumors that the next iteration of the MBA’s will have an optional black finish is grounded in truth.

We tried to powder coat the Air’s (and Pro’s for that matter) in black as a test run. There are more than a few floating around campus.

The coating looks good and holds up well, but it also soaks up body oils, making the palm rest look pretty gross. Ultimately that is the reason that the top brass (Jobs) killed the idea… it was just too easy to make the computer look like crap. At some point we may offer a black coating, but it won’t be powder coat, and it won’t be anytime soon.