Apple’s new MacBooks are great — but as a proud owner of one of the milled wonders, I can confirm that the much-vaunted glass trackpad did have issues. Not constant ones by any means, but it would miss clicks quite often — probably one in ten times.
Having finally downloaded and installed Trackpad Firmware Update 1.0 yesterday, I can also confirm that the problems have completely gone away now. No fuss, and every click counts.
My experience has not been universal, however. MacFixIt reports that many users are having difficulty installing the update, and I’ve even heard of some people getting kernel panics and other bad news. Install at your own risk, obviously, but it’s a very welcome update — makes the already good significantly better.
Written by Pete Mortensen on November 21st, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Hardware and Software.
As has been widely rumored, Apple rolled out iPhone OS 2.2 tonight via software update, which brings Google Street View, mass transit directions, location sharing by e-mail, and, most excitingly, over-the-air podcast downloads, which has been a fairly glaring oversight (and source of considerable controversy).
At the same time, Apple has whipped out iTunes 8.0.2, which is basically a bug fix, plus improved results for VoiceOver, Apple’s accessibility technology for the visually impaired.
Nothing big, but good to see Apple improving its software nonetheless.
Via Engadget
Written by Pete Mortensen on November 21st, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Apple and Quickies and Software.
When you switch on Voice Search in Google’s Mobile App for iPhone, you see a little bit of warning text underneath which reads:
“Voice Search only works in English, and works best for North American English accents.”
Tish and piffle, I thought to myself when I read that. I’m sure it’ll understand my humdrum Estuary English accent perfectly well.
But you know what? The warning was put there for a reason. Because so far, every search I’ve done has failed when I use my normal voice, and worked when I put on my appalling attempt at an American accent.
So thank you Google for giving us voice search, which is officially the New Best Thing Ever (better than the last Best Thing Ever, at any rate). But curse you, Google, for making me sound like a complete idiot every time I want to do a voice search for something in public.
Written by Giles Turnbull on November 19th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Humor and News and Opinions and Software and iPhone.
Google’s voice search application for the iPhone is nothing short of spectacular. After tantalizing would-be users with either a PR goof or a brilliant marketing ploy that resulted in a delayed release on the AppStore, the updated version of Google Mobile finally hit on Monday and I got it on to my phone last night.
It’s like the home screen says, “For voice search, just bring the phone to your ear and speak. Really, no buttons required!” The program offers to let you watch a video to learn more, but it’s about as easy as it gets to call up a search results page that gives you just what you’re looking for simply by speaking into the phone.
When I searched for “70 Harper” the program returned results for “cindy harper,” but when I amended the search to “70 harper street, san francisco” I got a Google map pinned exactly to the address I spoke into the phone. Speaking about the incredible performance of this free app with my colleague Leander Kahney this morning, he agreed Google has served up something pretty amazing, saying, “it even understands my weird English accent.”
Say what you will about Google having worn out its welcome, or being on the downside of its rise to Internet glory, this advance in mobile search technology is a huge leap forward in this reviewer’s opinion. The iPhone may not yet be a fully functioning Star Trek communicator, but Google’s voice search brings it closer than many thought we might get.
Written by Lonnie Lazar on November 18th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews and Software and iPhone.
1. Virtual Zippo Lighter - free virtual lighter.
2. Koi Pond - Lake full of chinese carps.
3. Ocarina - flute simulator.
4. PhotoFrame - as you may guess it turns iphone into a photo frame.
5. iBeer - virtual beer.
6. BubbleWrap - pop virtual baloons for time.
7. Sonic Lighter - another more interactive virtual lighter
8. Nixie TubeClock - old lamp clock.
9. Newton’s Cradle - virtual alternative of knocking balls.
10. Spectrograph Wallpaper - shout on your phone and you get a spectral voice analizer.
a
Top 10 Most Useless iPhone Programs
Written by iPhone News on November 18th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Entertainment and Software and iPhone.
