Dennis Cadorniga

Today Apple updated the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro line to include 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models featuring Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to 40 percent longer battery life. Each MacBook Pro includes an LED-backlit display with greater color intensity, the innovative glass Multi-Touch trackpad, an illuminated keyboard, an SD card or ExpressCard slot, a FireWire 800 port and state of the art NVIDIA graphics. Apple also updated the incredibly thin and light MacBook Air, making it more powerful and more affordable.

Apple today also introduced the new iPhone 3G S, featuring improved speed and performance—up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G—longer battery life, a high-quality 3 megapixel autofocus camera, easy to use video recording and hands free voice control. iPhone 3G S includes the new iPhone OS 3.0, with over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS, Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard and a new Find My iPhone feature that works together with MobileMe to help you locate a lost iPhone.

Yet another release today was Safari 4, the world’s fastest and most innovative web browser. Available for Mac and Windows PCs and introduced as a beta in February of this year, Safari 4 features the Nitro engine which runs JavaScript up to 4.5 times faster than Safari 3. Safari 4 makes browsing more intuitive and enjoyable with innovative features, such as Top Sites, Full History Search and Cover Flow, and support for modern web standards like HTML 5 and advanced CSS Effects.

And finally, Apple today unveiled Mac OS X Snow Leopard, an even more powerful and refined version of the world’s most advanced operating system that includes hundreds of refinements, new core technologies, out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange and new accessibility features. Snow Leopard will ship as an upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard users in September 2009 for $29. Apple also unveiled a Developer Preview of Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard, a full 64-bit UNIX server operating system based on open standards that is up to twice as fast as its predecessor.

written by Dennis \\ tags: 3GS, Apple, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Safari 4, Snow Leopard

GeekBrief.TV

GeekBrief.TV is reporting that Adobe is working on a Flash player for the iPhone.  Finally!  As soon as we hear more about this, we will post it.

written by Dennis \\ tags: Adobe, Flash, iPhone

I have downloaded the new 2.1 version of firmware for the iPhone.  Instantly, I already noticed a huge improvement in speed.  Backups are much faster.  The iPhone now feels like it did when it ran 1.4 as far as responsiveness and stability. So far, I highly recommend it.  You can get it via iTunes when syncing your iPhone.

written by Dennis \\ tags: 2.1, Apple, firmware, iPhone

Apple released a firmware update for the iPhone and iPod touch last night. The new 2.0.1 version is quite large at approximately 246mb, so many bug fixes should be in place now. Immediately I noticed a speed increase. After using it a bit already, it appears to be more stable as well with no lockups thus far.

I would recommend applying this update during your next iTunes sync.

written by Dennis \\ tags: firmware, iPhone

I started my morning by plugging in my Verizon Wireless USB720 EVDO modem into my Cradlepoint WiFi/EVDO router.  Booted up my MacBook Pro, plugged in my first gen iPhone and checked for updates.   There it was.  2.0.  I selected Download Only to make sure that step was verified.  I downloaded the 213mb file in 27 minutes, averaging 45KB/sec and reaching 96 KB/sec.  

Once the download finished, I took the plunge and started my upgrade.  The main process of the upgrade finished in about 20 minutes which included backing up the iPhone data, verifying the backup, restoring the new firmware, verifying the firmware, and then restoring my data back to the iPhone.  Then the time came to reboot the phone.

The iPhone reconnected back to iTunes and now came the activation process.  This is were it all went down hill.  Apple was having issues with the iTunes Store activation process.  Apparently, too many people trying to do the same thing.  So then, I had to wait and see when the iTunes Store would be back up to finish the activation.

iTunes store back online, activation processed immediately, now I am done.  Upgraded and working well!  All my content is back.  Pretty smooth I would say.

written by Dennis \\ tags: 2.0 Firmware, activation, Apple, iPhone, iPhone 3G, iTunes

Apple released an upgrade to iTunes in preparation for the launch of the iPhone 3G set to be available tomorrow morning at 8:00am.  The new version of iTunes (v7.7) now sports the AppStore where you can download and purchase applications for the iPhone.  

Moreover, at any moment, the updated firmware for first generation iPhones is set to be released (v2.0).  Apple also today launched the new .Mac service renamed MobileMe.  To visit any of these mentioned technologies, follow the hyperlinks.

written by Dennis \\ tags: Apple, AppStore, iPhone, iPhone 3G, iTunes, MobileMe

At today’s WWDC 2008 in San Francisco, Apple made it official. They announced the new iPhone 3G which will be available July 11th. It is now thinner, lighter, faster, and less expensive. It now has 3G for faster online access, GPS, much improved audio quality, version 2.0 of the operating system allowing 3rd party applications, half the price, and now available in black and white. For more details, check out the Apple iPhone 3G site.

written by Dennis \\ tags: 3G, Apple, iPhone

Griffin Technologies has a new polycarbonate case with built-in copper antenna called ClearBoost.  This boosts your signal for better reception.  Price is reasonable at about $29.99 considering you are getting a case as well.  For more details, check it out at the Griffin web site.

written by Dennis \\ tags: ClearBoost, Griffin, iPhone, Signal Boost

As usual, the rumor mill is hard at work with the release of the second-gen iPhone in July.  According to Engadget’s source:

• The first thing people will notice: the 2nd gen iPhone will be about the same size and shape as the first gen.
• It will, of course, have 3G. And proper GPS!
• The most noticeable physical difference is back of the phone is no longer metal — the whole thing is glossy black, from top to bottom. The volume buttons are now chrome.
• Because it’s got a little less metal to deal with, it doesn’t have quite as many angular edges. The battery is (still) not removable.
• The phone itself will be slightly thicker than the first gen device.
• The headphone jack will no longer be recessed, and will finally be flush with the body.
• The device itself uses roughly the same size and resolution screen as the first generation product.
• No solid word on battery life or storage capacity.

written by Dennis \\ tags: 3G, Apple, GPS, iPhone