Tech —

Week in Apple: post-Macworld|iWorld edition

This week in Apple, we wrapped up our coverage of the 2012 Macworld|iWorld …

This week, we wrapped up our coverage of the 2012 Macworld|iWorld conference in San Francisco just as Apple issued an update to Final Cut Pro X and gave the AirPort Utility an iOS makeover. Additionally, Tim Cook offered some strong words in response to doubts about Apple's attitude toward worker conditions in China, Neil Young recounted stories about Steve Jobs working towards higher-quality music downloads, and more. Need a recap? You're in the right place.

Rethinking iPhone UI and getting things done with Clear to-do app: Realmac is set to launch an iPhone to-do list app in a few weeks that breaks list making and maintaining down to the barest essentials, eschewing some common iPhone UI elements to make the app as simple as humanly possible.

LandingZone to ease docking for MacBook Air: A new Cupertino startup is launching a clever, well-designed docking solution for Apple's MacBook Air. The first version is set to begin shipping by March, but a planned Thunderbolt-equipped version is on hold pending licensing approval from Intel.

Apple issues second update to Final Cut Pro X to appease video pros: Apple has issued its second update to its video editing software, Final Cut Pro X. This one brings multicam editing capabilities, advanced chroma keying, improved XML support, and even beta support for broadcast monitoring.

Apple CEO calls Times supplier report "patently false and offensive": Apple CEO Tim Cook has some strong words in response to a recent New York Times report that suggests Apple executives turn a blind eye to worker abuse and accidents at its foreign suppliers.

Apple now third largest mobile phone vendor as feature phones fade: As feature phones decline and smartphones rise, Apple jumped from fifth to third place among all mobile phone vendors last quarter. Smartphone sales also boosted Samsung and ZTE, while lackluster smartphones sales are hurting Nokia and LG.

Schneider Optics ups "iPhonography" ante with iPro lens system: If you take shooting photos or video with your iPhone seriously, lens makers Schneider Optics have what could be the perfect photo accessory for you.

Apple was working on higher quality music and hardware, says rocker: Rocker Neil Young claims he was working with Steve Jobs to create devices that could store and playback higher-quality files before his untimely death late last year. Still, it could be years before uncompressed, master-quality audio becomes a consumer standard.

Browett seen as bad for Apple thanks to Dixons' poor reputation: Dixons Retail CEO John Browett is set to take over for Apple's former retail chief Ron Johnson in April. But British consumers have told us they're fearful that Browett's influence won't be positive, as Dixons' own stores are consistently rated the worst in the UK.

Apple gives AirPort Utility an iOS makeover, supports iCloud: Updates to Apple's AirPort configuration tool add iOS-like graphical flourishes, while new base station firmware makes Back to My Mac compatible with iCloud accounts.

HP makes printing from an iPad easier with Wireless Direct printing: HP's Wireless Direct features eliminates the only configuration step—joining a local WiFi network—from the AirPrint process. We checked it out at Macworld|iWorld in San Francisco.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Listing image by Chris Foresman / Ars Technica

Channel Ars Technica