MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

According to Apple's System Status page, several of its services are experiencing downtime. Some users may be unable to access the iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, and iBooks Store. The page also suggests some users may be experiencing issues with the Apple TV, iTunes Match, iTunes Radio, iTunes U, and OS X Software Updates. The downtime appears to have started just after 3pm and...

Apple has posted several job listings in recent weeks to fill retail positions at an under-construction Apple Store in São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil. The company is seeking to hire Creatives, Specialists, Geniuses, Managers and a number of other positions for the store, which appears to be nearing completion based on new photos published by Brazilian website Blog do iPhone....

Just a day after Apple acquired database company FoundationDB, Bloomberg reveals Apple had previously acquired U.K.-based data analytics company Acunu. The acquisition appeared to have happened in late 2013. The purchase of the Vienna, Virginia-based software maker follows a deal for closely held Acunu Ltd., a U.K.-based data analysis company, Apple said.Acunu creates technology that provides...

Flexibits launched Fantastical 2 for the Mac this morning, the long-awaited update to its popular calendar app for the Mac. To celebrate the launch, Flexibits has teamed up with us to offer 25 MacRumors readers a chance to win a Fantastical bundle that includes a copy of the new Fantastical 2 for Mac app, a copy of Fantastical 2 for iPad, and a copy of Fantastical 2 for iPhone. If you're not...

As we head into April, deals are starting to pick up. Some iMacs are at the lowest prices we've seen, and Best Buy is offering steep discounts on a few select iPad Air 2 models. Best Buy is also discounting its entire stock of iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3 tablets, and there are some solid deals to be had on older MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. We've also got discounts on a range of Apple...

While Apple updated iMovie for Mac on March 9 with Photos integration and noted it in the "What's New" section, Apple did not mention it also gained additional support for the new Force Touch Trackpad. The new feature was first found by freelance film editor Alex Gollner (via Wired) and is described in an Apple support document. When dragging a video clip to its maximum length, you’ll get...

Apple today released Security Update 2015–003 1.0 for users who are running the current publicly available version of Yosemite, OS X 10.10.2. The update includes fixes for iCloud Keychain and an issue that could allow malicious applications to execute code. - Security Update 2015-003 Yosemite - Security Update 2015-003 Yosemite (Early 2015 Mac) Apple recommends that all users download...

Apple today released a minor update for the iPhoto app for Mac to prepare for the upcoming transition to the OS X Photos app. According to the release notes, today's update improves compatibility when migrating iPhoto libraries to the new Photos app available in OS X 10.10.3.What's new -Improves compatibility when migrating iPhoto libraries to the new Photos app in the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3...

Following yesterday's public release of Safari 8.0.4 for OS X Yosemite, Safari 7.1.4 for OS X Mavericks, and Safari 6.2.4 for OS X Mountain Lion, Apple has seeded Safari 7.1.5 and Safari 6.2.5 to developers for testing purposes. Safari 7.1.5 is for Mavericks users, while Safari 6.2.5 is for Mountain Lion users. The Yosemite equivalent, Safari 8.0.5, is already available to developers and...

Flexibits, the developers behind the popular line of Fantastical calendar apps for iOS and Mac, today posted a teaser revealing the launch date of Fantastical 2 for Mac, which is going to be released on March 25. Fantastical 2 for the iPhone and the iPad have been available since 2013, but Fantastical for Mac, first released in 2011, has yet to receive a major 2.0 update. Flexibits has not...

Twelve South today revealed the BaseLift for MacBook, a "super-thin, microfiber-layered pad" that attaches to the bottom of any MacBook and can instantly fold up, similar to an iPad Smart Cover, to provide an elevated screen and angled keyboard to users on either a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. Once attached, BaseLift for MacBook stays connected to the MacBook, and is thin enough to fit into "most...

Apple today released Safari 8.0.4 for OS X Yosemite, bringing stability and security improvements to the browser. Apple has also released Safari 7.1.4 and Safari 6.2.4 for Mavericks and Mountain Lion users, respectively. In addition to bringing stability improvements, the update fixes vulnerabilities in WebKit, which could allow a malicious website to unexpectedly terminate an application or...

Apple announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro and new MacBook Air models on Monday, which means prices for older models are dropping rapidly. Best Buy has discounted much of its iPad Air 2 stock, dropping prices by $50 to $100, so it's an excellent time to pick up a new iPad if you've been waiting for a deal. We've also got discounts on a range of Apple accessories like a monitor stand and a...

Aspyr today released classic Command & Conquer game Command & Conquer: Generals Deluxe Edition in the Mac App Store, letting fans of the title play the game on modern Macs for the first time in years. The Mac App Store bundle includes the original Command & Conquer: Generals game and the Zero Hour expansion pack. First released in 2003, Command & Conquer: Generals stands apart from other games ...

First announced back in January as an interstellar continuation of Civilization: Beyond Earth, Firaxis' Sid Meier's Starships today launches for iPad, PC, and Mac (via iMore). Developed by Firaxis in conjunction with 2K Games and Meier himself, Starships places players at the helm of a fleet of starships and tasks them with building a thriving interplanetary federation. Image via GameSpot ...

Popular Apple accessory maker Belkin today announced a line of new cables and adapters designed to work with the newly announced 12-inch Retina MacBook, which ships with a single USB-C port. Most notably, the company has announced a USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, which will allow the 12-inch MacBook to be connected to Gigabit Ethernet networks using its USB-C port. Apple is not offering...

Apple Stores' ability to generate a high rate of foot traffic in malls is allowing Apple to win "sweetheart deals" from mall operators while increasing mall sales 10%, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. Apple draws so many shoppers that its stores single-handedly lift sales by 10% at the malls in which they operate, according to Green Street Advisors, a real-estate research firm....

LaCie on Tuesday announced the Porsche Design Mobile Drive as the world's first external hard drive with a built-in USB-C port. The LaCie Mobile Drive features a reversible cable that supports Apple's latest MacBook with USB-C technology, delivering data transfer speeds up to 100 MB/s for quickly transferring photos, videos and other files or backing up with Time Machine."The LaCie™ Mobile...