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TidBITS#918/10-Mar-08

Last week’s announcement of the iPhone software development kit may be one of the most significant events of the year – Adam and Glenn look at what Apple said and how software developers responded. The iPhone SDK is just the latest in a string of successes for Apple that catapulted the company to the top of Fortune Magazine’s list of Most Admired Companies. One area that Apple has ignored, however, is the nascent ebook reader market, despite having the best platform in the iPod touch and the best online retail experience in the iTunes Store. In an open letter to Steve Jobs, Adam lays out the case for why Apple should enter this market. In the world of updates, we look at Aperture 2.0.1, which adds support for AppleScript, and “Take Control of Customizing Leopard” 1.1, which adds coverage of changes in the Mac OS X 10.5.2 update. Last, but by no means least, Rich Mogull takes a break from computer security to wire his house for audio using Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil and, well, no wires.

Rich Mogull No comments

Airfoil Plays Home Audio Wirelessly

Apple's AirPort Express is great for when you want to send music to your stereo wirelessly, but what if the source of your music isn't iTunes? Or if you want to send the audio to a Mac or PC? Enter Rogue Amoeba's AirFoil 3.1. Rich Mogull gives a real-world look at what it's good for in this review.

Adam Engst No comments

Open Letter to Steve Jobs: In Support of an iPod reader

Steve Jobs dismissed the Kindle by claiming that people don't read anymore, but that's just wrong (case in point, you're reading this now). Could Steve be aiming to soften up the market in advance of a tablet-sized iPod tweaked for reading? Adam makes the case for why we're reading more than ever and why Apple is the company to bring us the device that will finally fulfill the promise of the ebook reader.

Glenn Fleishman Adam Engst No comments

Apple Announces iPhone 2.0, Releases SDK

At a special event in Cupertino, Apple talked about what users can expect to see in iPhone 2.0, and officially announced the release of the iPhone software development kit. The iPhone 2.0 software is scheduled for release in June 2008, a year after the original iPhone shipped. However, a beta of 2.0 is available immediately for selected developers and enterprise customers; it includes support for the iPhone SDK along with new enterprise features.

Jeff Carlson No comments

Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/10-Mar-08

Does a good CEO need to be a tyrant? Is there a better digital photo management application than iPhoto? Will we be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard with the iPhone 2.0 software? Is there a way to silence an overenthusiastic PowerBook G4 fan? This week's discussions ask several questions, and readers provide the answers.