Office for Mac 2011, a major new version of Microsoft’s productivity suite, is now available. Featuring a brand new Ribbon interface and lots of new features geared towards long-time Mac users and recent switchers, the new update to Office replaces Entourage with a full version of Outlook for Mac.
Microsoft Releases Office for Mac 2011
Amazon Launches New “Windowshop” App for iPad
A few minutes ago Amazon launched a “top to bottom” rewrite of Amazon.com specifically geared towards iPad users and wrapped inside a native app called “Windowshop”. More than a simple optimized webapp for the tablet’s screen, Amazon touts Windowshop as a complete re-imagination of the original Amazon experience with new interface elements, friendly and fast navigation, rich media embeds and more visible categories.
The app features popular lists like “Featured”, “Bestsellers”, “Recommendations”, “New Releases”, “Most Wished For”, “Most Gifted”, and “Movers & Shakers”, all accessible from the “browse” button in the too left corner. You can add items to your wishlist or share them across Twitter and Facebook (email is supported as well), zoom on image to get a hi-res version of the product and leverage Amazon’s 1 click checkout to complete purchases.
The app is free and available here. Full changelog and screenshots below. Read more
Steve Jobs Was “Furious” Over Microsoft’s Bungie Acquisition
For those of you not familiar with the videogame industry: the blockbuster series Halo for Xbox and Xbox 360 is developed by Bungie, a company Microsoft acquired in 2000 to make Halo: Combat Evolved a launch title for the original Xbox. In 2007, Bungie became a privately held company; then earlier this year Bungie announced a 10-year publishing deal with industry giant Activision Blizzard.
According to a report published by Develop, Steve Jobs was literally “furious” when Microsoft announced they had acquired Bungie in 2000, and called Steve Ballmer as soon as he learned about the deal. Read more
The White iPhone 4 Shows Up Again. In Apple’s Own Store App.
MacRumors forum member Bandolier spotted an interesting iPhone model up for reservation in the updated Apple Store app: the white iPhone 4.
When you open the app, press Store, Reservations, Reserve Products, iPhone, and from there you are now able to select the white iPhone 4 (16 and 32 GB) to reserve.
Unfortunately, when you select a white iPhone the app seem to return the following message:
Because of high demand, we are not currently taking iPhone reservations.
I’ve personally tried and when I tap on the Store tab I get a “We’ll be back soon” message. Perhaps it’s because I’m in Italy, or maybe Apple is already fixing the error. But then again, maybe this is not an error at all and we’ll really hear white iPhone 4 news later today or this week.
As you may know, Apple was expected to release the white model together with the black one, but alleged manufacturing problems forced the company to delay the release date. Two weeks ago a “gentleman” was spotted in New York carrying an iPhone 4.
Apple Now Offering Free Engraving for iPad
Back in July there was a rumor floating around about Apple willing to launch a free engraving service for the iPad, but forced to delay it due to problems with demand and supply chain. Last night the free engraving option went live in the online Apple Store.
Apple Store App Update Goes Live
Just like we previously reported, Apple has updated its official Apple Store iPhone app to include support for reservations, check-ins and locations services.
The free 1.1 update, available in the App Store here, also introduces support for engraving and free wrapping, the possibility to add reservations to iCal. iOS 4 is required to access the new check-in based features.
Screenshots and changelog below. Read more
EXCLUSIVE: Concierge, Scout, iQueue, and You. iPhone Based Check-ins Confirmed.
Sunday night and early Monday morning we learned that Apple has been planning to provide Apple Store employees and customers with a way to wirelessly check-in to retail stores. At a recent week long conference in Los Angeles, Apple Store managers were flown in and treated to the initial location based concept. We now have physical evidence, and more details on the specifics of the new concierge services.
“Back to the Mac” Event in 100 Seconds, Full 1080p Video Now On Youtube
For those of you who’ve just come home from work and would like to fire up some videos on that shiny new Apple TV: you can either choose between a 50 to 1 slimmed down version of the Back to the Mac event video, or enjoy the full show in 1080p on Youtube.
Both videos are embedded below. With HD version finally available for streaming, expect us to dig into those Lion screenshots even more. Read more
Did Conde Nast Fix Its iPad Apps?
Two weeks ago we wrote about a nasty bug some users discovered in the Conde Nast iPad applications based on Adobe’s publishing technologies (oh byt the way, they just made the deal official) which, through a rather simple hack of preference files inside the app’s folder, allowed to download paid issues for free.
Back then, an Adobe spokesperson confirmed a new version of the Digital Content Viewer had been already shipped to developers and a fix would be released soon. Read more