Federico Viticci

10779 posts on MacStories since April 2009

Federico is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of MacStories, where he writes about Apple with a focus on apps, developers, iPad, and iOS productivity. He founded MacStories in April 2009 and has been writing about Apple since. Federico is also the co-host of AppStories, a weekly podcast exploring the world of apps, Unwind, a fun exploration of media and more, and NPC: Next Portable Console, a show about portable gaming and the handheld revolution.
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@viticci.macstories.net
viticci@macstories.net

Digital Magazines for iPad: An Example Of Bulkiness→

Digital Magazines for iPad: An Example Of Bulkiness

Nick Bilton, reporting for The New York Times:

This morning I decide to try a little experiment: I opened up my iPad, clicked on the little Wired icon and purchased the magazine’s latest digital issue. After I agreed to fork over $4, it began downloading. For the next phase of the experiment, I grabbed my car keys, left my apartment and drove about 12 blocks to a local magazine store in Brooklyn, where I also purchased the latest issue of Wired magazine, this time in print.

I didn’t run any red lights, or speed, or park illegally during my shopping expedition. Yet when I returned home with the glossy paper product in hand, the digital iPad version still hadn’t finished downloading to my iPad. Anybody who reads Wired would call this an Epic Fail.

I couldn’t agree more. Having to download hundreds of megabytes, and having to wait several minutes (hours, for many) for the download and install processes to finish doesn’t simply make sense. Especially when the digital magazine you’ve purchased is nothing but a series of static images with no interaction at all. Digital magazines need to be more than this.

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The iPad, Perfect for Coffee Table Apps

In a new App Store section that went live last night, Apple is featuring a series of apps the company thinks are well-suited for the iPad, specifically when placed on a coffee table. These apps, organized in “The Classic Coffee Table” and “The New Coffee Table” sub-categories, include gems like Flipboard, Trickle, Fotopedia Heritage, Ions and Aweditorium. Apple’s own iBooks software is featured as well, together with the art-related apps Van Gogh HD and The Monet Album.

Coffee Table Apps is an interesting section because it groups applications coming from a variety of categories in the App Store, not strictly related to each other. There are particle visualizers like Uzu, newspapers and magazines like The New York Times and LIFE, educational apps like Elements and Solar System for iPad.

Check out “Coffe Table Apps” in the App Store here.

Apple To Open New Stores in Paris, Palo Alto

As noted in two separate reports by ifoAppleStore, Apple is planning to open a fourth retail store in Paris and completely rebuild the existing one in Palo Alto in a new location Apple was granted city building permits last year.

Starting with the new store in Paris, it will be located 30 miles away from the city, in the suburbs at the Carré Sénart shopping complex. Opening is apparently set for this November.

The development is about 30 miles south of Paris, and includes a bowling alley, multi-screen cinema, huge two-level Carrefour department store and 130 other shops. The surrounding area is promoted as the center of commerce and leisure in the region, and plans are afoot to add a large aquarium complex.

The new store in Palo Alto is a long-awaited redesign of the existing one, and will take place in a location that, according to the report, needs to be completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground-up. The design of the new company store will resemble the one seen in the popular Upper West Side (NYC) store with glass roof and stone walls.

The revised proposal for a 16,600 square-foot store at 340 University Avenue will now feature an arched, all-glass roof set on stone walls over the front two-thirds of the store, mimicking the architecture of the Upper West Side (NYC) store, and making the store “a commons for the…community to gather.” The company first submitted plans to city building officials in late 2009, proposing to remove major portions of the building, and then renovate and upgrade other portions. However, after receiving city approval for the project in January 2010, Apple’s engineers discovered structural problems with the building and recommended that it be completely demolished and re-built.

The design is aimed at bringing a new experience free of distracting elements with the focus on products showcased inside the store. Full details available here.

OneLessDrop: Keep Cables From Sliding Off Your Desk

Annoying scenario I experience every single day: my MacBook Pro is on my desk. It’s charging. The iPhone is on the desk as well, charging. Something happens – like my dog, walking under my desk and touching the cables – and boom: the iPhone drops off my desk while still attached to the cable, my MacBook disconnects from the MagSafe. This is very, very annoying. And you know, the iPhone might break, too.

OneLessDrop is an interesting Kickstarter project that’s aimed at keeping your cables in place, avoiding the risk of letting them slide off your desk or coffee table. The widget is made of recycled aluminum (we approve) and has enough room for supporting iOS cables, or the usual MagSafe power cord. It looks very nice (at least from the mockups posted on Kickstarter) and pledges start at $25 with free shipping in the US.

OneLessDrop is a solid block of recycled and recyclable aluminum - made from things like discarded wheels and engine blocks. Once extruded to shape, each OneLessDrop is hand finished (brushing or blasted finish TBD), then anodized for durability. Non-slip pads OneLessDrop ample grip.

Demo video is available on the Kickstarter page, together with more photos and a detailed description from the creator of the OneLessDrop. [via The Brooks Review]

Verizon iPhone Pre-Orders Break Sales Record In 2 Hours

We don’t know how many Verizon iPhones were available for pre-order last night, but Verizon Wireless has just announced that they break any previous sales record in 2 hours. This is a new record in Verizon’s online pre-order history, and the company seems to be pretty pleased with the results:

In just our first two hours, we had already sold more phones than any first day launch in our history.

Press release embedded below. [via Engadget]

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Verizon iPhone Already Shipping to Customers

Pre-orders are sold out since last night, and it appears that Verizon has already begun shipping the iPhone 4 to selected customers. A MacStories reader sent us the screenshot above, the order is being shipped through UPS (Engadget got a similar screenshot with FedEx delivery) but we’re not able to see an estimated delivery just yet. We wouldn’t be surprised, though, to hear that some customers will receive the unit a few days before the official launch.

If you happen to receive a shiny CDMA iPhone ahead of Verizon’s huge “It begins” day, our tips inbox is waiting for you. [Thanks, Henry!]

Finally: Previous Purchases Coming To iOS App Store

Apple is updating its iOS App Store tonight. After search filters, Apple added a much requested feature: apps already purchased get an “Install” button instead of the usual “Buy” one. Why is this a big deal? Because having the “Buy” button was confusing, as it wasn’t easy to remember which apps you had already bought. Now, if you’re trying to install an app you have already bought one, it’s much easier.

Sure, it’s not as useful as the “Purchases” tab in the Mac App Store (which lets you see all your app purchase history at once), but we think this is a great (and much needed) first step nonetheless. The new feature is only enabled on the iPad App Store right now, but it shouldn’t be a problem for Apple to add it to the iPhone and iPod touch as well (unlike filters, which require some screen space).

Thanks, App Store team.

New In The iPad App Store: Search Filters

Looks like Apple rolled out a new neat little feature in the iPad App Store: search filters. When you browse the App Store from your iPad (mine is running iOS 4.3 beta, but I guess the change is live for everyone) and start searching for an app, five filters will appear under the top bar: category, release date, rating, price and device. Filters can be adjusted from a popover, and there’s also a button to clear all filters.

The feature is quite useful if you’re into searching for apps through your device’s App Store, so go check it out. More screenshots below. [Thanks, Shane!] Read more