Today's MacUpdate Promo saves 70% off the price of 128bit Premium Fonts for just $29.99. "The 128bit Premium Fonts includes 2,018 fonts divided into 161 distinct families. Tired of resorting to overused fonts like Papyrus and Comic Sans? Add brilliant style to your next presentation, project, newsletter, or greeting card."
Agree/Disagree: Apple should stick with Google as Safari's default search engine.
Vote for the results in the left column below or go straight to the results here.
Wednesday Highlights:Settlement talks under way between Apple and A123 Systems over employee poaching; in urban China, Apple rises to new high in customer popularity as one in four smartphones sold are iPhones according to Kantar Worldpanel; the news apparently causing Xiaomi to balk on offering their phones in the West so as to regain share on their home turf; Vulkan is "super-efficient" preview of potential OpenGL replacement; Intego has a primer on what you should know about the FREAK OpenSSL bug; ReadWrite provides a first-impression of OS X 10.10.3 beta; The Mac Observer shows how to add pix to existing albums in the new Photos app; Jonny Evans explains the OS X Keychain in a new, handy guide; and what's "other storage" in iTunes, should it be cleaned up?; for first time, Apple passes Samsung in smartphone sales; that Apple Pay fraud? Yeah, overhyped says Forbes, and Trustev says there is no fraud; another gamer death in China, 19 hours straight playing World of Warcraft; The Michael Report claims exclusive news that Retina MacBook Air will be unveiled at "Spring Forward" event; Have a gander at this web site Gigaom points to that offers previews of Apple Watch apps; Ben Bajarin examines what could get the Mac into double-digit market share; .
WEDNESDAY BLOWOUT: Every NEW or RENEWING paid subscriber receives 2 YEARS FREE.
"Judges wary of Apple's claims of phone patent harm by Samsung: Apple Inc told a U.S. appeals court on Wednesday that rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd should be barred from selling products that infringe on its smartphone patents, but the judges were skeptical. Judge Kimberly Moore was skeptical that Apple was being harmed since it already licenses some technology to other companies. 'You've already licensed these patents up the wazoo!' she said." Reuters 2:25 PM
"Apple in talks with A123 Systems over worker poaching: The company has asked for an extension to respond to the battery maker's charges, citing discussions for a resolution" IDG News Service 7:25 AM
"Apple exploring settlement with electric car battery maker" Reuters 8:36 AM
"Apple reaches highest ever sales share in urban China..." Kantar Worldpanel 8:09 AM
"Apple hits new high in China as Xiaomi balks at phones for the West: One in every four smartphones sold in urban China in the last quarter was an iPhone, new research has found." ZDNet 7:29 AM
"Apple Grabbed Record 25% Share Of Smartphone Sales In China: Kantar" TechCrunch 8:09 AM
"In Chase of Apple, Smartphone Makers Shift Strategies: Big phones, small phones, cheap phones, expensive phones, curved phones — and all of them hoping to take a chunk out of the iPhone." New York Times [Free Registration Required] 10:00 AM
"Silicon Valley Pay Settlement Gets Tentative OK: Suit alleged that tech giants including Apple, Intel, Google, Adobe conspired not to hire each other's employees, limiting wages from 2005 to 2009" WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 1:08 PM
"OS X Yosemite's uptake breaks 50%: Reaches majority two months faster than Mavericks" Computerworld 3:48 PM
"Super-efficient 'Vulkan' leaves your games more graphics power" Engadget 7:41 AM
AppleCare/Troubleshooting
"Fix for Mac Randomly Asking for Password to iCloud, FaceTime, Messages" OS X Daily 2:28 PM
"FREAK OpenSSL Bug: What Apple Users Need to Know" Intego 8:54 AM
"Security notes cover a major, new vulnerability affecting iPhones (iOS) and Macs, along with other systems. Apple has promised some sort of patch for some of its systems, but that is not yet available. In the meantime, some browsers avoid the vulnerability, and we have lots of links to more information." MacInTouch 4:07 PM
Reviews/How-To/Tips
"Mac OS X 10.10.3 Beta: New Photos App, New Emoji, And More/First impressions of a first public OS X beta release." ReadWrite 8:53 AM
"4 things iPhoto can do that Photos can't (yet)" Macworld 2:50 PM
"OS X Photos Beta: Adding to Existing Albums" The Mac Observer 8:07 AM
"Find your missing Wi-Fi adapter and free up that 'Other' storage space" Macworld 7:37 AM
"An essential Mac OS X Keychain guide" Computerworld 8:11 AM
"Apple beats Samsung to become world's No. 1 smartphone maker: Apple topped Samsung in smartphone sales for the first time since 2012, selling 74.8 million units in the fourth quarter of last year, surpassing Samsung as the No. 1 smartphone maker globally." Los Angeles Times [Paid Membership Required] 1:05 PM
"Apple sells more phones than Samsung for first time in four years" Telegraph 8:43 AM
"Apple takes four years to finally beat Samsung in smartphone sales" The Inquirer 7:26 AM
"Apple starts 2015 by slipping to 41.3% U.S. smartphone share, Samsung stays flat at 29.3%" VentureBeat 3:48 PM
"Dangers Of Apple Pay Fraud Are Overhyped" Forbes 8:21 AM
"Nope, there's no 'Apple Pay fraud'" Trustev 8:39 AM
"Reports of Apple Pay fraud linked to how cards are verified" [Video Report] CBS News 7:34 AM
"Wal-Mart Expects Customers to Adopt Mobile Payments: Retailer is also working with competing system created by consortium that includes Target, Best Buy" ["A Wal-Mart spokesman said that Wal-Mart is open to different payment options, including Apple Pay."] WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 3:56 PM
"Apple, like Google, to hire full-time security guards in Silicon Valley" PCWorld 7:24 AM
"Apple's Security Contractors are about to Become Employees" The Mac Observer 9:59 AM
"Apple and Google prepare patches for FREAK SSL flaw" ZDNet 8:16 AM
"Outdated Encryption Leaves Phones Vulnerable to Hackers" New York Times [Free/Paid Registration Required] 4:03 PM
"Google reportedly looking to bring Android Wear support to iOS" AppleInsider 7:31 AM
"Google said to be planning iOS support for Android Wear, could debut at I/O conference" 9to5Mac 7:42 AM
"Apple Watch retail plans will have fitness focus" TechnologyTell 8:48 AM
"'Spring forward' banners start going up at Yerba Buena ahead of March 9 event" 9to5Mac 1:04 PM
"Apple logo takes shape ahead of 'Spring Forward' event" Cult of Mac 3:48 PM
"Apple Starts Putting Up Banners At Yerba Buena Ahead of Its March 9th Media Event [Photo] iClarified 3:49 PM
"Video captures the excitement of Zhongjie Joy City Apple Store grand opening" Apple World Today 10:06 AM
"Apple had the most product placement in the films of 2014: And Transformers 4 was the shilliest of them all" The Verge 8:35 AM
"How Does the FDA Regulate Mobile Medical Apps?" Gizmodo 8:34 AM
"Apple reverses iTunes Store changes to become more indie-label friendly" Indie Research 2:50 PM
"Uber's first-ever public acquisition, maps firm deCarta, will lessen reliance on Apple, Google" AppleInsider 9:46 AM
"Apple Watch featured on cover of Chinese magazine Yoho" iMore 10:44 AM
"Inside Apple: What it was like to pitch to Steve Jobs/'Are you smart? Are you going to waste my time?'" Fortune 8:24 AM
"Kanye's world: Class, luxury and Steve Jobs" CNNMoney 8:41 AM
Non-Apple News
"Hands-on with HTC's VR headset Vive - can it compete?" BBC 1:05 PM
"Chinese gamer dies after playing World of Warcraft for 19 hours" Telegraph 8:43 AM
"You can unlock this smartphone with the blood vessels in your eyes" Engadget 7:42 AM
"All-star pitcher Curt Schilling exposes teen daughter's cyberbullies" [Video Report] CBS News 7:34 AM
"The Next Job for Fitness Trackers: Teach Us How to Live" Wired 7:26 AM
Publications/Podcasts
"Ted Landau on Apple's Media Event, an Apple Car and His Ring Doorbell" MacVoices 4:13 PM
"They wanted to make a phenomenon. They made $10 million. The story of Crossy Road." Polygon 1:23 PM
"TMO Daily Observations 2015-03-04: Apple's Pro-worker Stance in Silicon Valley" The Mac Observer 10:42 AM
"Let's Talk Jailbreak 97: Jailbreak guru to the stars" iDownload Blog 8:52 AM
"Tim O'Reilly: Silicon Valley is massively underestimating the impact of IoT (interview)" VentureBeat 8:27 AM
"Happy Hour Podcast 004 | Predictions and expectations for Apple's March 9th 'Spring Forward' event" 9to5Mac 7:43 AM
"Preview 24 different Apple Watch apps in your browser" Gigaom 9:40 AM
"These interactive sites let you try out Apple Watch band combinations & apps" 9to5Mac 1:04 PM
"This site lets you test drive Apple Watch apps in your browser" MacDailyNews 2:13 PM
"Video of iOS 8 vs iOS 3 shows the longer animations since iOS 7 reduce responsiveness" 9to5Mac 7:42 AM
"Apple wins patent for Maps feature that could help you avoid routes w/ weak cellular signal" 9to5Mac 11:16 AM
AppleCare/Helps
"Put your Apple TV into sleep or standby mode: You don't need to turn off your Apple TV. It will go into sleep or standby mode automatically when you're not using it. You can also put it into sleep or standby mode using your Apple TV remote." Apple Support 9:17 PM
"iPhone/iOS notes include a troubleshooting tip about iTunes sync problems and another tip about Apple ID problems with AirDrop, plus notes on temperature sensing shutdowns, car audio problems and more." MacInTouch 4:07 PM
Price Trackers/Deals
"Today's Top iPhone /iPad /Mac App Freebies And Price Drops" Apple Sliced 10:23 AM
"Octagon -A Minimal Arcade Game With Maximum Challenge For iPhone/iPad Is Temporarily Available For Free (Normally $1.99)" Apple Sliced 10:23 AM
"Infinity Image For iPhone Is Free Right Now (Previously $0.99)" Apple Sliced 10:23 AM
"15" MacBook Pro Prices & Sales" MacPrices 7:18 AM
"13" MacBook Pro Prices & Sales" MacPrices 7:18 AM
"Galaxy S6 Vs. iPhone 6 Smackdown: Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones are just what the company needs to battle Apple's iPhone 6. Here are six reasons why these models will win over consumers." InformationWeek 4:00 PM
"Armond Aluminum Case Review – iPhone cases by 4th Design – iPhone 6/6 Plus" Mobile Reviews Eh 1:10 PM
"Review: Brydge keyboard for iPad Air/2 — can this all-aluminum model beat the ClamCase Pro?" 9to5Mac 10:11 AM
"Review: Uniq Aircraft+ for iPhone 6" iLounge 3:57 PM
"Q Card Case for iPhone 6 Plus Uses Credit Card Slot as Kickstand" The Mac Observer 3:57 PM
"iPhone 6 case review: Moshi Kameleon kickstand case" TechnologyTell 8:53 AM
"Garmin vivosmart fitness tracker review" iMore 8:46 AM
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch Apps
"TurboTax Tax Preparation Review: It's tax time, and here's a tool to help you get filing done." 148Apps 1:09 PM
"How 'appflows' reveal the true power of the iPad Air 2" Electronista 8:46 AM
"daWindci Deluxe Review: This updated puzzle game offers some creative gameplay and new mechanics, but still suffers from difficult controls." 148Apps 8:48 AM
How-To/Tutorial
"How to block calls and texts on your iPhone" Mac|Life 2:28 PM
"How-To: Boost your Mac's speed and prolong its useful life with easy RAM upgrades" 9to5Mac 2:28 PM
"Who's at fault in Apple Pay fraud, Apple or banks?" CNBC 2:46 PM
"Why Some Observers Think Apple Watch Won't Succeed" The Mac Observer 2:33 PM
"Here's what our readers think of the iPhone 6 Plus" Engadget 2:26 PM
"Pebble Watch CEO says Apple Watch is 'lacking'" AppAdvice 2:25 PM
"iPad: A More Positive Outlook – The 'Book Mystique" MacPrices 12:54 PM
"5 key reasons why you shouldn't buy an Apple Watch" BetaNews 10:06 AM
"What to expect at Apple's 'Spring Forward' event on March 9" AppAdvice 9:20 AM
"Why the Mac may be poised for double-digit market share" iMore 8:46 AM
"Mac Help: Should I buy the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro?" iMore 8:45 AM
"How will Samsung Pay compare to Apple Pay?" ["How will Apple respond? Short answer, it might not even have to. LoopPay's MST technology might be yesterday's news before Samsung Pay even gets off the ground. The federal government is requiring retail outlets to adopt fancy new NFC-equipped Europay, MasterCard and Visa terminals by October, which would all but neutralize Samsung's advantage."] Macworld 7:35 AM
"Health Monitoring, iPhone and Apple Watch: Federico Viticci's Inspiring Story" eXtensions 7:23 AM
"Apple, China, Obama, And Karma" TeraTalks 7:19 AM
"Apple Watch: What Wearables Can Do" Mac 360 7:19 AM
"Designing Animation For Mobile" TechCrunch 7:10 PM
"Q&A: What's the Big Deal About Wi-Fi?" The Information 1:10 PM
"Samsung's Smart Move: No More Smartwatches" ReadWrite 1:10 PM
"Kairos smartwatch floats a transparent display on a mechanical watch (hands-on)" CNET 1:05 PM
"Tech Is Listening, and That's Not Good: All our tech is listening for commands. And someday, it's all going to blow up in our faces." PC Magazine 8:45 AM
"Galaxy S6 vs Galaxy S6 Edge: What's the difference?" ZDNet 8:12 AM
"I like my Pebble, but I'm not kickstarting Pebble Time" Macworld 7:37 AM
"Wide-Moat IBM Aims for New Growth Target: IBM's investor briefing reveals goal of $40 billion in revenue from key analytics, cloud, and engagement businesses by 2018." Morningstar 7:33 AM
"IBM buys AlchemyAPI to boost Watson computing unit" Reuters 8:56 AM
"IBM Buys AlchemyAPI: What Watson Gains/IBM acquires AlchemyAPI to improve Watson's capacity for natural-language processing, image analysis, and understanding human behavior." InformationWeek 1:31 PM
"IBM Watson Group Buys AlchemyAPI To Enhance Machine Learning Capabilities" TechCrunch 8:10 AM
"IBM acquires AlchemyAPI to bring deep learning to Watson" VentureBeat 8:27 AM
"IBM acquires AlchemyAPI to fatten Watson portfolio" IDG News Service 2:49 PM
"IBM acquires AlchemyAPI to power up Watson's deep learning skills" The Next Web 8:30 AM
"IBM's SoftLayer to use OpenPOWER servers" ZDNet 8:13 AM
"IBM taps OpenPOWER for SoftLayer bare-metal service" Gigaom 7:41 AM
"IBM details Power8 servers on the SoftLayer cloud for big data applications" V3 9:21 AM
"IBM may swing axe on same departments more than once" Channel Register 8:25 AM
"Microsoft teams up with Deutsche Telekom to expand the Lumia market" BetaNews 8:40 AM
"Microsoft leak shows plans for cloud-first Nano Server" The Inquirer 8:25 AM
"HP updates Helion OpenStack in latest hybrid cloud push" ComputerWeekly 10:51 AM
"HP beefs up Helion cloud with Eucalyptus for AWS and new OpenStack versions" ZDNet 1:25 PM
"Misco and HP given extra time on lucrative IT deal" CRN 10:51 AM
"Intel aims to double the number of women in gaming" VentureBeat 9:01 PM
"Cisco Bets Big On Selling Hadoop: Cisco will resell Cloudera, Hortonworks, and MapR Hadoop distributions along with its Unified Computing Systems for big data." InformationWeek 1:31 PM
"Cisco's WLAN Dominance Unlikely To Be Affected By HP's Aruba Acquisition" Forbes 10:51 AM
"WLAN market keeps on growing: Combined consumer and enterprise WLAN market hiked seven per cent in Q4 2014 according to IDC" CRN 10:51 AM
"China tells U.S. tech: don't panic, just hand over the encryption keys" Reuters 7:33 AM
"China Rejects Obama's Criticism of Planned Technology Rules: Draft law requires firms to hand over encryption codes and give China authorities systems access" WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 7:29 AM
"Global server revenues up 2 percent as demand increases" ZDNet 8:40 AM
"Alibaba to open cloud-computing data center in Silicon Valley" Los Angeles Times [Paid Membership Required] 1:05 PM
"FCC Chief At MWC: 'No One Blocks Internet'" InformationWeek 1:32 PM
"2014 a record year for malware, says security firm: There's more evidence that 2014 was a really bad year in the fight against malicious software. Panda Security says the number of new malware strains it detected doubled compared with 2013." CNET 7:28 PM
"Market Snapshot: U.S. Stocks End Down; S&P 500 At Two-week Low" MarketWatch 4:09 PM
"US stocks sink in early trading as market heads for a second loss; Alcoa falls most in S&P 500" Associated Press 11:19 AM
"U.S. Stocks Fall For Second Straight Session: Investors await Friday's U.S. employment report for February" WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 4:09 PM
"Asia Markets: Hong Kong stocks fall, as markets wait to hear China's plans/India stocks briefly top 30,000 after surprise rate cut" MarketWatch 8:57 AM
"Europe Markets: European stocks waver after mixed eurozone data/European stocks meandered around the flatline Wednesday following a round of mixed economic reports from the eurozone." MarketWatch 8:57 AM
"Most active Nasdaq-traded stocks: Nasdaq's 10 most active stocks at 1 p.m." Associated Press 2:51 PM
MacSurfer Headline News Staff
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: P. Pearson
Managing & Weekday Editor: D. Mahaffy
Evening Editors: S. Siegling and
D. Mahaffy
Weekend Editors: S. Siegling , A. Spaulding and
D. Mahaffy
CEO: T. Jefferson
CFO: K. Midas
Editor Emeritus: W. Shakespeare
Writers Emeritus: W. Lewis, R. Chandler, W. Morris, G. Simenon, C. Vallejo, F. Garcia Lorca,
P. White, R. Adams, P. Valery, C. Aiken, R. Bradbury, F. Pessoa, S. Bellow, F. O'Connor
Art Directors: V. Van Gogh, C. Monet
Advertising Managers: C. Chaplin, H. Marx
Public Relations Firm: Bits & Bytes
Bomb Squad: Type 11 Errors
Chief Scientists: I. Asimov, S. Hawking
Road Crew: R. Petty, J. Cooper
Mechanics: Tom and Ray
Fishing Crew: A. Lindner, D. Stange, K. VanDam
Head Chef: Mom
Head Travel Guru: D. Pearson
Mascots: Cyberdog, Clarus the Dogcow
General Counsel: #%@*$$$$!
