This week, Apple announced an announcement, Amazon unveiled a Kindle armada, and we covered a virtual metric ton of Mac and iOS apps (assuming metric tons can be virtual, which is an open question).
Perhaps the biggest Apple news of the week concerned something that hasn’t even happened yet: The company announced an event on September 12, at which it will unveil an iPhone 5. Or execute five people. Or celebrate someone’s fifth birthday. Whatever it is, we’re pretty certain the event involves a five. In truth, we made a slew of predictions about what Tim Cook and company might announce next week, and we podcasted some, too.
From TechHive
Amazon unveiled four new Kindle Fires and new Kindles, too. Because Kindles and Kindle Fires are different things. Because that’s not at all confusing.
Fact: There are two 8.9-inch models of Kindle Fire, and only one of them has 8.9 in its name.
Confused? We broke down all the new Kindle Fire announcements and the new Kindles to boot over at TechHive—and we got to give them a hands-on, too. We also took a look at how the new Fires impact the tablet landscape for Apple and Google alike, and how the new e-ink readers measure up.
Lest you think TechHive is Amazon obsessed, you’ll be delighted to learn that we also looked at artists missing from the iTunes Music Store, some of whom are better represented over at Amazon’s MP3 store. Hmm. Maybe we are obsessed.
iOS apps galore
Among the many apps we looked at were:
Arms Cartel Global—an app you shouldn’t put before the horse-el;
PhotoSynth—which, despite its name, is not an instrument for image-obsessed 80s pop band;
Pocket—its new App.net integration gives you one more reason to pick it; and
Walking Dead—a game that just might make you feel alive.
Want to use your iPad in conjunction with Office? We explain how to run office on your iPad, along with tutorials on editing Word documents and editing Excel spreadsheets on the tablet. Step one: Quit the Netflix app for five minutes already.
I’m the Mac, I’m the Mac, I’m the Mac
Among the many Mac apps we covered this week were:
Postbox—an alternative email client;
Chrome 21—a browser almost as impressive as its version number;
Tweetbot for Mac—which returned in beta form, crippled for now thanks to Twitter’s new API restrictions;
Analog—for applying Instagram-style filters without using Instagram—or your iPhone;
MoneyWiz—take the money and run—this app; and
Dragon Dictate 3—which, fortunately, doesn’t involve a fanciful beast ordering you around.
And if you’re still using Apple’s Mail app but want to enhance it, don’t miss this Mac Gem roundup.
Now you’re all caught up on this week. If somehow you’re not glued to Macworld.com next week as we cover Apple’s September 12 announcements, we’ll be sure to point you to them all in the next edition of the Weekly Wrap.