Hit Dystopian Game 'Papers, Please' Lands on iPad Amid Publicity Over Censorship by Apple Posted: 12 Dec 2014 08:58 AM PST The popular PC "dystopian document thriller" Papers, Please launched on the iPad early this morning, after hitting Mac earlier this year and originally being released on Steam in August of 2013. As noted by our sister site TouchArcade, however, the new iOS version is bringing a bit of controversy with it as one of the game's somewhat adult elements has been removed after facing Apple's family-focused App Store censorship rules. The game sets players as unlucky border control guards working for the fictional nation of Arstotzka. The entire game revolves around checking the documents of people attempting to immigrate into the country, cross-checking passports, ID cards, and work releases to ensure only those with proper documentation get past. The focus of Apple's censorship lies in the full-body scanner introduced a few levels into the game that tasks the player with ensuring the person attempting to enter Arstotzka isn't carrying any kind of contraband. The PC, Mac, and Linux versions of the game depicted fully nude (albeit in low resolution given the nature of the game's graphics) versions of characters when put through this scanner, with an option to censor the nudity by including underwear on the characters. Papers, Please for iPad, however, removes the choice from the equation, automatically covering the characters in underwear when scanned by the player. App Store rules have always skewed toward the more conservative, especially when compared to other content available uncensored through the iTunes Store, but even so, the App Store's rules are on occasion applied unevenly with some games from high-profile developers being approved without censored graphics. Regardless of the minor censorship issue, the iPad version of Papers, Please appears to be an excellent port of the original game, including all 31 days and 20 possible endings of its desktop counterpart, with optimized touch screen controls enhanced for iPad. It also includes "unlockable multitouch support for faster paperwork, an enhanced inspection mode, Game Center achievements, leaderboards, mid-day resume, and more." Papers, Please can be downloaded from the App Store for $5.99. [Direct Link] Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Samsung Starts Manufacturing Apple's A9 Chip for 2015 iOS Devices Posted: 12 Dec 2014 07:08 AM PST Manufacturing of Apple's A9 processor is reportedly underway in Samsung's Austin, Texas plant, according to Korea's ET News (via The Verge ). Samsung is believed to be handling the bulk of the orders for the A9 using its 14-nanometer chip process, with rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) contributing a supplementary supply.
Samsung semiconductor head Kim Ki-nam last month confirmed the company would begin producing 14-nanometer processors for Apple in a supply chain deal that will have a positive impact on Samsung's profits. A report from last year suggestsed TSMC would replace Samsung as Apple's lead chip supplier, but Samsung's technological progress with its 14-nanometer process may have swung the pendulum back in its favor. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple's Zorlu Store Receives 'Supreme Award' at Structural Awards 2014 Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:57 AM PST Accolades for Apple's Zorlu store in Istanbul, Turkey continue to roll in with the company's Zorlu store winning the both the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence and the award for best Commercial or Retail Structures at the Structural Awards 2014. This Supreme award is given to the building that exemplifies the "finest example of structural engineering design" for the year.
Apple's 20,000 square foot Zorlu store opened earlier this year with Apple's manager of retail stores Steve Cano on location for the grand opening. It was the first store in Turkey until the recent opening of the country's second Apple Store in Istanbul's Akasya Shopping Mall. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Online Store Now Accepting PayPal Payments Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:20 PM PST Apple's online stores in the United States and the United Kingdom have begun accepting PayPal payments, reports Re/code . PayPal was previously available as a payment option in iTunes and the App Store, but it is now also accepted for product purchases made at Apple.com.
Along with accepting PayPal payments, Apple will also promote PayPal Credit payment methods, letting Apple online shoppers pay for items over $250 with monthly payments over the course of 18 months with no interest.
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New Video Gives Inside Look at Corning's Gorilla Glass Research Facility Posted: 11 Dec 2014 03:33 PM PST Corning, producer of Gorilla Glass, has been a long time partner of Apple. Its ultra tough Gorilla Glass has been used in several generations of iPhones and iPads, including the recent iPad Air 2 and the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. While Corning has published several videos that show how its Gorilla Glass is produced and tested, uBreakiFix recently visited the company's Gorilla Glass facility in Corning, New York, and has created a set of videos explaining how Gorilla Glass works and showing off some of the equipment that Corning uses to test Gorilla Glass. The first video explains the details behind Corning's ion exchange glass strengthening procedure and its focus on "damage resistance," which sets Gorilla Glass apart from its competitors. It also shows tests between Gorilla Glass and regular glass, where Gorilla Glass significantly outperforms standard glass. In the second video, uBreakiFixCo goes behind the scenes at Corning's Gorilla Glass research and testing facility to show off Corning's testing procedures and the toughness of Gorilla Glass. Gorilla Glass is able to withstand far more pressure and scratching than standard glass, which is one of the reasons why it's so popular with manufacturers, including Apple. In November, Corning introduced the latest iteration of Gorilla Glass, Gorilla Glass 4. This next-generation Gorilla Glass is even more resistant than previous versions to glass shattering drops and it is able to survive 80 percent of face-down falls onto rough surfaces. Corning's Gorilla Glass 4 is already shipping to manufacturers and should Apple choose to go with Gorilla Glass for its next-generation iPhones rather than sapphire as once again rumored, Gorilla Glass 4 could very well make an appearance in iPhones in 2015. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Steve Jobs Biopic Filming to Take Place in 'Two Auditoriums, a Restaurant and a Garage' Posted: 11 Dec 2014 02:48 PM PST Additional emails shared today by The Verge from Aaron Sorkin, prospective director David Fincher and Walter Isaacson shed more light on the project, including where filming will take place and what Fincher and Isaacson thought of the script. Though Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionare will direct the Steve Jobs movie, executives involved in the film originally hoped to have David Fincher, responsible for directing films like The Social Network, Fight Club, and Gone Girl, direct the biopic. In a February email, Fincher expressed quite a bit of excitement about the picture, calling it "a one man show."
Walter Isaacson, who penned the biography the movie is based on, was similarly excited about the film and told screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in an email that the script was "totally awesome" and that he was "deeply moved by the narrative arc and by the beautiful end." Sorkin has clearly stated in the past that the film will consist of three continuous scenes covering the time ahead of three different product launches, but his emails reveal a bit more detail. According to Sorkin, the entire film will be able to be shot in just four locations that include "two auditoriums, a restaurant and a garage." Product launches covered are expected to be the unveiling of the NeXT computer, the debut of the original iMac, and the introduction of the iPod. Still in the casting stages, the Steve Jobs biopic will star Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs and Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak. Jeff Daniels is in talks to play the role of John Sculley, and Universal Studios, which took over the film in November, is currently looking to cast several female roles, including Steve Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Releases Safari 8.0.2 for OS X Yosemite to Replace Previously Pulled Safari 8.0.1 Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:32 AM PST The release notes for Safari 8.0.2 are identical to those for Safari 8.0.1 except for the addition of a line noting the problems with the 8.0.1 release.
Other bundled changes from Safari 8.0.1 include fixes for syncing history across devices, autofilling saved passwords, WebGL performance on Retina displays, and Firefox username and password import. Update: Apple has also released Safari 7.1.2 for OS X Mavericks and Safari 6.2.2 for OS X Mountain Lion. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Introduces New Guidelines Requiring iPhone Cases to Protect Phones From 1 Meter Drops Posted: 11 Dec 2014 10:54 AM PST Apple recently updated its Made for iPhone (MFi) licensing guidelines for case manufacturers, requiring all future cases designed for the iPhone to protect the device from falls up to one meter on hard surfaces. As described by sources that spoke to 9to5Mac , to comply with Apple's new guidelines, case manufacturers will need to ensure that a 1 meter (or 3.2 foot) drop from any orientation will not cause any damage to the phone, on its front, back, or sides. Cases are also required to protect the iPhone's glass screen when laying face down on a surface, with a lip that offers a buffer of at least 1mm between the glass display and the surface or a case that covers the display entirely. Apple's own iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases are compliant with these requirements, providing both drop protection and a ridge around the edges of the device to protect the display.
Apple's MFi licensing program requires manufacturers that create iPhone and iPad accessories to comply with a strict set of guidelines to achieve certification that ensures the accessory meets Apple's performance standards. The MFi program enables third-party manufacturers to use of Apple technology like the headphone jack, the Lightning connector, and more, and compliance allows manufacturers to use the "Made for iPhone" logo on their packaging, which ensures consumers that accessories work properly with the iPhone and iPad. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Reverses Course, Allows Transmit to Reinstate 'Send To' Feature Posted: 11 Dec 2014 10:01 AM PST Earlier this week, file management app Transmit from developer Panic gained some attention after Apple required the company to remove a key sharing feature that let files be sent to multiple services like Dropbox and iCloud Drive. Apple's concern was Transmit's ability to send files to iCloud Drive, which it said violated one of the iOS Data Storage Guidelines. Apple asked Panic to remove the feature, but unfortunately, due to an unalterable Share Sheet, sending files to iCloud Drive was tied to sending files to other services, requiring the company to completely remove the feature from the app.
Unalterable Share Sheet in iOS 8 Shortly after several news sites wrote about the confusing position Panic had been put in with its Transmit app, Apple called the developers and confirmed that the sharing functionality could be reinstated. According to Panic, a new version of Transmit has been submitted to the App Store, which includes a restored "Send To" feature that will once again allow the app to send files to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and other third-party apps. This is the second time that Apple has reversed course on an App Store decision that received significant negative attention in recent months. In late October, Apple told PCalc that it would need to remove its calculator widget from the Notification Center, but a day later, the company changed its mind and opted to allow calculator widgets to remain in the Notification Center. Apple has a large team of app reviewers and somewhat ambiguous guidelines on several new iOS 8 developer features. This has led to many app use cases that the company did not anticipate causing several contradictory and confusing removal requests in recent months for features that were previously approved. Though PCalc and Transmit have been allowed to retain their functionality, other apps like Neato , Drafts , and Launcher have not been so lucky. Transmit can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link] Update 1:30 PM PT: Transmit for iOS version 1.1.2 with a reinstated "Send To" feature is now available for download from the App Store. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Financial Times Names Tim Cook 'Person of the Year' Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:56 AM PST In its announcement, Financial Times cited the huge burden of following in Steve Jobs' footsteps as one of Cook's biggest accomplishments this year, saying the CEO "held his nerve through attacks from activist investors and a loss of faith among some that Apple could succeed without its late founder." The newspaper also pointed to Cook's infusion of new blood and ideas into the company as one of the driving forces behind Apple's big year. In particular, FT highlights the establishment of Cook's own values and priorities at the company, altering how Apple manages its financial side, and a newfound focus on relevant social issues, including his own sexuality, as some of the biggest moments.
Financial Times also pointed to Cook's non-gender biased hiring methods, which included a handful of women for roles traditionally dominated by males. Also of note was Apple's acquisition of Beats, Cook's guidance of the record-breaking success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the already ubiquitous discussion over next year's Apple Watch. The publication does note critics who point out that Cook isn't as involved in product development as his predecessor, a fact many have cited as a reason why his on-stage persona isn't as lively and engaged as Jobs' when introducing new products and software for the company. Financial Times looks to Cook's reactions to and solutions for these issues as a positive, however, pointing out that "Mr. Cook is aware of his shortcomings," and that his hiring of former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts and industrial designer Marc Newson will cleverly allow others to provide strengths to offset his weaknesses. The full Person of the Year article, with a timeline of Apple's 2014 highs and lows, can be read at the Financial Times' official website. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Friday, 12 December 2014
MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors
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