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

The WSJ Reports About CDMA iPhone Again: This Time, In India

The WSJ is back with more CDMA iPhone rumors: less than a week after the latest “scoop” about Apple and Verizon getting ready to release a CDMA-enabled model of the iPhone, the WSJ is now reporting that India’s Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices have been in talks with Apple for five months about a CDMA iPhone.

The talks with Reliance Communications Ltd. and Tata Teleservices Ltd. –which offer mobile phone services based on CDMA technology–come soon after news that Apple is making a version of its iPhone that Verizon Wireless will sell early next year in the U.S. Verizon Wireless offers mobile phone services based on CDMA technology.

“Tata has been in talks with them [Apple] for four to five months now,” said one person familiar with the negotiations.

“This [talks] has been going on as India is a big market for CDMA. It [any launch] should benefit both parties,” the second person said.

It is unclear though when any launch may take place, these people said. Read more

iPad In South Korea: Still Pending Approval

The iPad is a mainstream success but Apple still hasn’t managed to sell it in South Korea. In fact, as the AFP agency reports, Apple has requested permission again and the Korea Communications Commission confirmed in a statement that the decision will be made in five days since Apple’s request. Local distributors of Apple’s products (namely the iPhone) seem to hope in a November release date. Read more

Bug Discovered in Condè Nast iPad Apps Lets You Download Issues for Free

Huge story reported by The Huffington Post: there’s a security flaw in the Condè Nast iPad applications (Wired, The New Yorker, etc) that will let you download paid issues of the magazines for free. The bug was apparently discovered by Italian “hacking research group” Dark Apples, which tested the “method” on Italian newspaper apps such Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta della Sport (published by RCS) as well. Read more

Ars Technica Is Blocked In Iran→

Ars Technica Is Blocked In Iran

The block began following our second piece of coverage about the Stuxnet malware that allegedly targeted an Iranian power plant. That was published on September 27, the last day in which Iranian readers could access the site.

The point of the ban isn’t clear, but it definitely highlights how easy it is for governments to start cracking down on whatever sites they like once they have the proper tools in place and have centralized all Internet links leaving/entering the country.

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DeNA Acquires Ngmoco For $400 Million, Expands to Android Devices

The rumor was going around since a few weeks, now it’s official: popular “iFunded” iPhone game developer ngmoco has been acquired by Japanese mobile giant DeNA. The deal was closed at around $400 million which, if I’m not mistaken, should be the biggest deal ever involving an iPhone developer. DeNA is Japan’s biggest and most successful “mobile social games” company, and from now on it’ll lead (e.g. pay for) the efforts of ngmoco in the western market. Read more

Apple Posts Ping Guidelines for Artists

Remember Ping? Apple sure does: it’s the “social network” for music discovery and sharing they embedded right into iTunes 10, together with a new icon (the one you love) and a refined UI. I’m not a big fan of Ping (I think it’s useless and far from being a “social network”) but Apple surely believes in it. After all, it’s a way to drive more downloaded to the iTunes Store, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ping extending to movies, TV shows and apps in the near future. Read more