journals

Apple media event - oh what could it be?

By Nick, September 17, 2007

As most everyone in the tech community knows by now, Apple will hold a media event at the Regent Street Apple Store in London tomorrow. The event has been publicized with the tagline “Mum’s no longer the word.” Ooo, Apple has a secret! Oh what could it be? Here’s a little bit of my speculation.

iPhone in Europe?

This is the leading prediction so far, considering the event will take place in Europe. Apple noted that the iPhone would be available in Europe late this year when it was announced in January. Now would be a good time to announce the iPhone’s European launch, as it would allow plenty of time before the holiday shopping season. On the other hand, AppleExpo starts in a mere eight days, but Apple hasn’t used AppleExpo for a product launch since 2004. Maybe AppleExpo will be used to announce a Leopard launch date?

Also, since the title of the press event is a play on “mum’s the word,” it may be possible that Apple is ready to announce a secret. Perhaps they’ll release some iPhone updates--maybe a 3G iPhone or one with a larger capacity?

Lastly, I’m going to venture a guess and say that if any iPhone announcements are made tomorrow, we will also hear more about the upcoming iPhone update for the iTunes WiFi Music Store.

Leopard?

It’s possible that an availability announcement could be made, but it may still be a little early. Leopard is due sometime next month, but in recent…
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$100 Apple Store credit for Early iPhone owners Now Available

By UnnDunn, September 14, 2007

Making good on its earlier promise, Apple has begun offering Apple Store credits worth $100 to those who purchased an iPhone before August 22, 2007.

To receive the store credit, qualifying iPhone owners must have activated their phones on AT&T, which Apple enforces by sending an access code via text message to the AT&T number associated with the qualifying iPhone. Customers can then use that access code to apply for the $100 store credit.

If you bought an iPhone between August 22 and September 4, you are eligible for price protection.

You can all go back to loving Apple again.

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RETRACTION: iPod touch: iTunes account optional

By Nick, September 14, 2007

Okay, so sometimes you get it wrong.

As you remember, I wrote a short blurb about a section in Apple’s iPod touch features guide PDF that states the following:

Before you can use any of the iPod touch features, you must use iTunes to set up and register iPod touch, and to create an iTunes Store account (if you don’t already have one).

I am here now to issue a formal retraction.

AppleInsider got their hands on an iPod touch and wrote a review. They note the follwing:

Once plugged in correctly, iTunes asked me to register, but allowed me to skip that step and go to the typical setup page.

And as it turns out, an iTunes account is not required after all, according to multiple reader reports, both here and at The Unofficial Apple Weblog.

I’m sorry for any confusion the previous article may have caused. I believe in doing the right thing and getting the facts right, but sometimes you mess up, and when you do, man does it suck.

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The Steam Community is Open

By Liam, September 14, 2007

On September 12, Valve Software, Inc. launched the new Community feature of their Steam digital-distribution software. This release follows a beta period lasting several months. The Steam client software updates automatically, so the new features have been rolled out to almost all of Valve’s users.

The Steam Community aims to compete with other gaming solutions such as the entrenched Xfire and the up-and-coming Windows Live branch of Xbox Live. At present, the Steam Community only supports Steam games for more advanced features, though any game can be added to the Steam list and receive some basic features, such as in-game instant messaging. Additionally, Steam will also communicate which game and server (if applicable) users are playing, offering quick access to joining the same server. Users can also create groups on Steam and communicate between members of these groups easily.

Expect a comparison here on Deep Thought as soon as Xfire releases their currently Beta update to Xfire In-Game.

The Steam Community’s main page from within Steam

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Microsoft Downplays Stealth Windows Update

By UnnDunn, September 13, 2007

Responding to a pair of posts from ZDnet blogger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes detailing certain Windows system files being updated without notification or permission, Microsoft today issued a clarification on their Windows Update team blog:

One question we have been asked is why do we update the client code for Windows Update automatically if the customer did not opt into automatically installing updates without further notice? The answer is simple: any user who chooses to use Windows Update either expected updates to be installed or to at least be notified that updates were available. Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed automatically or received expected notifications.

...

The point of this explanation is not to suggest that we were as transparent as we could have been; to the contrary, people have told us that we should have been clearer on how Windows Update behaves when it updates itself. This is helpful and important feedback, and we are now looking at the best way to clarify WU’s behavior to customers so that they can more clearly understand how WU works.

In other words, Windows Update has to update itself in order notify you that there are Windows Updates available. You got that? Good.