Chris Herbert

730 posts on MacStories since September 2010

Vector & pixel trafficker for Seymour Midwest LLC, regular MacStories contributor, Hip-Hop junkie all day long; Apple addict circa 1976.

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White iPhone 4s Being Sold … In China?

Giz-China has posted a report and photos claiming that genuine white iPhone 4s are being sold in China’s grey market. What is a grey market you ask? It’s a system involving the secret but not illegal (black markets) sale of goods at excessive prices. Many unofficial resellers in China have a large amount of these and are selling them online.

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iPad 2 Part Suppliers Possibly Revealed?

According to the DIGITIMES report, Apple has already chosen some parts suppliers for the iPad 2, which could launch as early as first quarter 2011 (as expected anyway). The report says that Japan-based Ibiden, Taiwan-based Tripod Technology and U.S. / China-based TTM Technologies could be three initial suppliers for Apple’s second-gen iPad. Four more suppliers are mentioned to be added some time in February, when shipments are set to ramp up.

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Too Late? MacUpdate Desktop Gets Auto-Updating

MacUpdate’s stand-alone application, MacUpdate Desktop, was recently updated with improvements and some new features (but may be too little too late because of Apple’s newly revealed Mac App Store). New features: MacUpdate Desktop lets users keep their installed software up-to-date without having go to the MacUpdate or developer’s website. The Desktop application can automatically check for updates in the background and will alert you of new application updates. Support has been added for checking web-browser plug-ins and installing Safari extensions. Improvements: The scanner engine is faster and uses less resources; improved version and application matching and an improved installation engine that makes updates even more accurate.

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PBS Grows Up with Redesigned Website, New iPad App

PBS has launched a redesigned website with a new online player, a new iPad app, and they are targeting toward their grown-up viewers. It’s all part of a bigger plan to bring more local content to wider national audience.

Welcome to the new PBS.org. We’ve redesigned the site to provide users with a richer experience by highlighting content from local PBS stations, as well as the best of your favorite national programs. PBS.org now gives you easy access to videos, blog posts, articles and more from your community, and makes it easier to find TV schedule information and content specific to your stations. Visitors from more than 80 different communities across the country will be able to see links to locally produced content while browsing the site, with more areas coming soon.

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An iOS-Powered Massage Chair

Who wants to use a wired analog remote when you can use a sleek, retina-displayed iDevice to do it? The Acutouch HT-9500 massage chair is being sold for only $4,999 (iPhone not included). After you drop $5K on the chair, head on over to the App Store and download the FREE (it better be) HT-Connect app to start making your iDevice your personal masseuse. It uses Bluetooth to send the controls/settings to the chair and grants you “instant access to a world of resources, massage programs and expertise designed to improve your wellness and life.”

Wow, my back feels better already, it’s my wallet that’s hurting now. Read more


Wi-Fi LED Lights + iOS App = iParty

This is a whole new use for the iPhone - the iGLO LED Set bundles a WiFi-enabled strip of 120 multi-color LEDs (over 16 feet) with a (free) iOS app to control them. The lights are $299, but imagine all the possibilities! Parties, raves, birthdays, college dorms, a colorful lasso - the possibilities are endless.

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SweetFM 2.0 - Last.fm Mac Client

Chocomoko has released version 2.0 of their SweetFM Mac application. SweetFM is a Last.fm client and player for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4.

Version 2.0 has a completely redesigned UI that is more user-friendly and uses native Mac OS technologies. It also comes with Safari and Chrome browser extensions for Last.fm station control and can open the iTunes store pages from the current track. Other features: supports Media Keys, has an EQ, tagging and social network sharing, device scrobbling, multiple user accounts, hot keys and playlist management. Read more