Screens for iOS Now Lets You Log Into Lion Computers

Screens, Edovia’s VNC client for the iPhone and iPad we’ve reviewed a couple of times on MacStories in the past, has been just updated to version 1.6 which, alongside a series of speed and performance improvements, brings full compatibility for machines running OS X Lion. With Mac OS X 10.7, Apple has changed a few things with VNC and remote user authentication, enabling features like Apple ID support and possibility of logging into a separate account while a machine is active on a different one.

The new Screens 1.6 allows you to log into a computer running Lion avoiding the additional login prompt you’d get when logging in with a VNC password (if you’ve tried VNC apps that haven’t been updated for Lion, you should be familiar with the login prompt). Screens, in fact, has a new OS authentication method that, by logging into a machine with your OS account name and password, skips the VNC prompt altogether and directly takes you to your desktop, with whatever is on screen, just like with previous versions of the app on Snow Leopard. Current Screens users willing to connect to a Lion computer should switch to the new setting for an optimal experience (that is, unless you want an additional login dialog). Bug fixes aside, Screens 1.6 brings keyboard support for more languages, and Windows VNC servers.

You can download Screens at $19.99 on the App Store. Read more

Apple To Developers: You Can Now Submit Lion Apps

Following the release of the Xcode 4.1 Golden Master seed and with OS X Lion rumored to be nearing its public release, Apple has just informed registered Mac developers that they can now submit apps built for Lion to the Mac App Store.

OS X Lion, the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system, will soon be available to millions of Mac users around the world. Submit your Lion apps for review now so they can be on the Mac App Store when Lion ships this month.

In the past weeks, in spite of various developer previews of Xcode 4.1 for Lion available on the Dev Center, developers were unable to submit apps built specifically for the new OS. In OS X Lion, developers can take advantage of hundreds of new APIs to enable features like full-screen mode, push notifications for apps, new Aqua controls including iPad-inspired popovers, auto-save and versions, as well as sandboxing and multi-touch gestures.

Lion is rumored to hit this week, alongside new MacBook Airs with Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt, and new Mac Pros. The GM build of Lion was seeded on July 1, leading to speculation that, after two weeks and with no major bugs found, the final version is ready to become available on the Mac App Store at $29 any day now. Several developers we polled in the past week told us they were ready to submit their new apps, but Apple (and Xcode) wouldn’t let them. With the release of Xcode 4.1 GM today, Apple flipped the switch on Lion submissions, but it’s unclear how many apps the Review Team could manage to approve before the rumored Lion launch. Clearly Apple wants some Lion-ready apps to be ready for Lion’s debut, so it’ll be interesting to see how this will play out in the next 48 hours.

Apple announced Lion would come out sometime in July as Mac App Store exclusive. In the past, Apple began accepting iOS 4 submissions on June 11 (roughly 10 days ahead of iOS 4’s release) and Mac App Store submissions in November, whilst the Mac App Store went public on January 6.

iOS 5 Beta 3 Features New Accessibility Panel with Gesture Controls

A new option in the Accessibility settings of iOS 5 beta 3 allows users to set up a floating panel to access a variety of hardware controls and gesture-based commands without using an iPad or iPhone’s physical buttons. Once enabled in Settings->General->Accessibility->AssistiveTouch, the new menu will let you interact with four different sections: Home, Device, Gestures and Favorites. Whilst the usage of Favorites and Gestures is still unclear, users can set up custom gestures in the Settings and play with built-in gesture such as swipe and pinch. The Home tab in the floating panel (which can be repositioned on screen via drag & drop) will perform the same function of the Home button, and Device will open a sub-menu with other controls to increase / decrease volume, lock or rotate the screen, unlock rotation and virtually shake the device (to enable features such as “shake to undo” without actually shaking a device).

The new accessibility options aren’t of course meant for everyday usage (they need to be manually enabled deep down in the Settings, and they’re aimed at people having trouble using iOS’ traditional gestures and hardware buttons), but they’re rather interesting in the way they could replace hardware controls and switches on damaged devices, or provide shortcuts to areas and commands of iOS that would require a physical movement otherwise (such as the aforementioned shake gesture).

9to5mac has a video of this new panel in action, and you can check out more screenshots after the break. Read more

Opera Shows Commitment to iOS with 6.0.1 Update

Well look at that! Unlike the previous version of Opera Mini (which remained stagnant for a year), it looks like Opera is serious about keeping their latest iteration of Opera Mini up-to-date, which quite frankly inspires some hope for the mobile nerd in me. Opera is a fine browser to use (especially on 3G) since you can tweak website performance to your heart’s content, and while the final product may be compressed through Opera’s servers, getting that web page at all is certainly better than nothing.

Opera’s initial offering was pretty strong aside from my general issues with Opera’s engine of choice, and today’s 6.0.1 update offers some general improvements.

Changelog

  • Improved YouTube video integration
  • Added single column view
  • Added Opera Mobile Store icon to Speed Dial list
  • Fixed various font-related issues
  • Fixed various stability issues
  • General bug fixes and improvements

Opera is committed, announcing that they have a major 6.1 update on the way that’ll mirror features already released on Blackberry and Android phones, such as a universal search and address bar, intelligent domain suggestions, smarter text selection, and Google AutoComplete.

If you’re an Opera user, you have lots of great things to look forward to on iOS. You can download the latest update from the App Store.

[via Opera Mini Blog]

Updated MacBook Airs and Mac Pros to Launch Alongside Lion

If your little hearts just can’t handle the anticipation in waiting for this week’s presume launch of OS X Lion, just wait until you hear this next bit of news. If you’re a college student or professional video editor / graphic designer, you’ll have some additional goodies to look forward to. 9 to 5 Mac have a scoop with model numbers for the upcoming MacBook Airs featuring ultra-quick Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt.

What wasn’t expected is rumored announcement for all new Mac Pros. It isn’t sure whether we’ll be seeing new guts or all new redesign, but the Mac Pros are rumored to include Thunderbolt as Apple updates their line, and there’s even a server model specifically designed for use in business environments.

The new Macs will ship with Lion (and Lion Server) preinstalled, and are expected to launch with the release of 10.7. 9 to 5 Mac says that the 14th is a possible launch date for all three of these items, so keep an eye on Thursday for an Apple launch-stravaganza.

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

iOS 5 Concept UI Shows Off WiFi Notifications and a Smart Multitasking Tray

I think it’s clear that Apple is keeping a keen eye on the community when it comes to UI concepts and other imaginative implementations from the jailbreak community, and it’s possible they could at least snatch one good idea from this latest mockup. A concept video created by a charming Jan-Michael Cart shows off some pretty rad improvements, including being able to select a WiFi network in the Notification Center, improved popovers, and a multitasking bar whose icons rotate with the iPhone’s orientation (my favorite).

Check past the break to see the concepts in action — I think the WiFi notifications are really nice.

[via Jan-Michael Cart]

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Apple Posts Xcode 4.1 GM Seed for OS X Lion

Apple has published a GM for Xcode 4.1 in the Mac Dev Center this afternoon in preparation for the launch of Lion (presumably later this week). You’ll find an updated Xcode 4.1 GM, Read Me, and Release Notes that are recommended for consumption as developers beginning building Lion compatible apps.

Xcode 4.1’s Interface Builder includes support for new Aqua controls such as NSPopover, Full screen support in the Xcode workspace (for full screen apps), and project modernization that can automatically fix errors caused by improper build settings.

Apple Releases iOS 5 Beta 3

Apple just posted the third beta of iOS 5 on the Dev Center. Build number is 9A5259f. As with previous iOS 5 betas, the build targets the iPad 2, iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 3rd and 4th gen. iOS 5 beta 3 for the Apple TV has also been released. The second beta of iOS 5 was posted three weeks ago, on June 24. iOS 5 is expected to be released publicly this fall, with many suggesting the usual September media event will be the stage this year for a formal iOS 5 announcement, as well as the unveiling of the next-generation iPhone.

Alongside the new iOS 5 beta, Apple also uploaded a new iCloud for Lion beta (reaching version 4), iTunes 10.5 beta 3 and Xcode 4.2 Developer Preview 3. On the Mac Dev Center, Xcode 4.1 GM for Lion has been seeded to developers. Read more