MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

Apple today released MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.1 for the mid–2012 MacBook Air. The update tests the flash storage drives in these models to look for an issue that "may result in data loss" for 64 and 128GB models. In most cases, the update merely installs new firmware, but in some cases Apple will replace the drive free of cost. This firmware update is recommended for...

Along with Windows 8.1, Microsoft today launched new Microsoft Remote Desktop apps for iOS and OS X, designed to give users access to a Windows PC via RemoteFX on their Macs, iPhones, and iPads. News of a potential Remote Desktop app for Apple devices first surfaced last week. The iOS app offers a secure connection to data and applications through NLA technology along with multi-touch...

eBay today announced that it has hired Apple's RJ Pittman into a newly created role of Chief Product Officer for the online marketplace company. Pittman had been at Apple since early 2010, when he left Google to become Apple's head of e-commerce, and he shared some thoughts with AllThingsD about his new career move.“I think it’s pretty clear today eBay dominates the marketplace category,”...

Software developer Itty Bitty Apps has launched Reveal, a runtime inspector for iOS apps that runs on OS X. The software integrates tools such as Firebug and Apple's Web Inspector that enable the user to perform runtime inspection with different 2D and 3D visualisations for faster debugging. The user can also view hierarchies and edit an app in real-time with the built in tools, and also includes ...

Twitter today updated TweetDeck for Mac to version 3.3.3, with several additions that are designed to make it easier for users to preview images, Tweet and send direct messages. The updated version of TweetDeck features a redesigned Tweet Panel, located in a column on the left hand side of the program. Though the panel is designed to close after a Tweet is sent, there is an option to keep it...

Apple today released updated versions of Java 6 for OS X, bringing additional improvements to security, reliability, and compatibility. This is a standard update to Java 6, which is distributed by Apple. Java 7 is available through Oracle. Java for OS X 2013-005 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility for Java SE 6. Java for OS X 2013-005 supersedes all previous versions of...

Chrisann Brennan was Steve Jobs' girlfriend during the early formative years of Apple computer, living with both Jobs and early Apple employee Kottke as the company was founded. By her own account, she worked in the shipping department at Apple, soldering disconnected chips into boards and assembling Apple II cases. Brennan, who is also the mother of Jobs' child Lisa, has written a new memoir...

A working Apple 1 Computer that comes equipped with its original white cardboard box will be auctioned by German auction house Breker on November 16, and it is estimated to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000. The unit, which is one of only a handful in existence, is number “46” of 50 original hand-built computers sold by Apple’s first retailer, The Byte Shop. "No. 46" is one of very few Apple ...

Following the announcement of a partnership with Leica for charity earlier this week, Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson have created the (RED) Desk, an aluminum table that will be auctioned off to benefit Product (RED), reports The Verge. Superstar designers on a mission: Created to help fight AIDS in Africa, (RED) Desk by Jony Ive & Marc...

BBC today announced the release of two sets of lost episodes from the hit show Doctor Who, which it is currently exclusively selling on iTunes. Five new episodes of the first set titled The Enemy of the World and four new episodes of the second set titled The Web of Fear have been digitally remastered after they were found in Nigeria, Africa earlier this year, and will remain on the iTunes Store...

Apple today released EFI Firmware Update 2.7 for the mid–2013 MacBook Air, which comes with several Boot Camp-related bug fixes for the MacBook Airs that were released in June.MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.7This update is recommended for MacBook Air (mid 2013) models. This update addresses an issue which may cause a black screen to appear when installing Windows 7 or Windows 8 using...

Following an extended effort over the past several years, Apple is set to open its first retail store in Istanbul, Turkey at beginning of 2014, reports The Wall Street Journal [Google Translate]. The store will reportedly span over 2000 square meters (over 20,000 square feet) and will be located in the heart of Istanbul's new multi-use Zorlu Center, between luxury retailers Burberry and Louis...

Frog Design founder and former Apple design consultant Hartmut Esslinger's upcoming book Keep It Simple - The Early Design Years of Apple is set to be released next month, with the book discussing the foundation of Apple's design from the creation of the original Macintosh and throughout the 1980s. Fast Company has released a few excerpts from the book, which includes new details about early...

Microsoft is preparing to launch an updated version of its Remote Desktop tool for OS X and a new version for iOS later this month, reports ZDNet. The company will also reportedly release a version of the app for Android and its new Windows RT platform, which comes as the company is pushing to make access and communication with its Windows operating system universal and throughout various...

The Apple Design Award-winning Capo has long been an excellent app for those looking to learn and improve their guitar-playing abilities, but the new version adds a significant new feature to help learn individual songs.Capo 3 can automatically detect chords and let's users create guitar tablature -- musical notes -- from songs in the iTunes library in order to help guitar players quickly learn ...

Apple is moving its current Palisades Apple Store located in West Nyack, New York to Nanuet, New York, approximately three miles away. The Apple Store will be in an open-air center known as "The Shops at Nanuet," which has recently undergone an extensive redevelopment. The mall’s grand opening will take place on Thursday, October 10, which is the same day the Apple Store will open. In...

While Apple's Power Nap feature is currently limited to a small selection of MacBook Airs and Retina MacBook Pros, it appears that some iMacs utilizing flash storage or Fusion Drives may be able to take advantage of the technology when Mavericks is released. First introduced with OS X Mountain Lion, Power Nap is a feature that performs various background functions while a Mac is charging and...

Apple has begun to make significant progress on the construction of its future campus in Austin, Texas, judging by photos of the project sent to AppleInsider. The last report of progress on the campus came in December of 2012 as basic work began, with the new photos showing advancements toward the construction of multiple buildings, a working fountain and a filled pond, along with complete fences ...