What's up, Apple Byters?
Brian Tong here and welcome to the Apple Byte for all the good and bad stuff inside the world of Apple.
Now you know we keep it real here on our show and a couple months ago I said my sources pointed to a Mac Pro refresh in early August, but it just hasn't panned out.
So I apologize but I can assure you we'll continue to bring you the best reliable intel we can and own up to it when we don't.
So,
I'm sorry.
All right, on to the show; over the week, Apple reached a historic mark thanks to the seesaw ups and downs in the stock market, but after the market closed midweek, Apple held on to its position as the most valuable company in the world surpassing Exxon Mobil which is pretty amazing and even more valuable than our own CNET, believe it or not.
Now, it's an envious position to be in but sometimes the power trip can get to you.
Apple removed the ability for iOS apps to allow users
to go outside of them to purchase content.
The Kindle app was a perfect example where you can read and purchase content within the app until the big app holes shut it down, but Amazon is getting smart and built their own HTML5 compatible app that works through the web browser called the Kindle Cloud Reader.
It's completely independent from the app store.
You can read and purchase books from it, use it offline and Apple doesn't get a single cent.
Now online video service VUDU has released their own HTML5 compatible web app and you can be sure there'll be
more to follow.
So, job well done, Apple.
Be a control freak, discourage business partners and you know, let them innovate without you because that's a solid business plan.
Now there are things that Apple does right like the beautiful new MacBook Air.
Oh my gosh, I finally got one.
I went big with 13 inches and I can tell you, we are definitely in the honeymoon phase.
Don't judge me, guys, because you know you'd do exactly the same thing.
Now that's what's hot now, but what about cool things Apple
is thinking about for the future?
According to Patently Apple, a new patent app reveals plans for the Cupertino kids to integrate projectors directly into iOS devices.
They've been working on this for awhile and we've seen patents for projectors in their laptops but in the even cooler stuff, the patent describes how they'll introduce advanced gesturing that will be able to interpret shadow and silhouette gestures to control actions on screen and hopefully hand shadow puppets will still be allowed, the butterfly.
So
pretty.
All right, let's take a break and bring you a video from our Tap That App series for all of you that want to trick out your iOS device, got you covered.
Hey, guys.
Welcome to Tap That App.
I'm Brian Tong and this is the show where we cover the hottest apps in the mobile space.
Now, everyone talks about how customization is king on Android phones with their widgets and skins but iOS users, you don't have to be left out and you don't have to jailbreak your phone either thanks to a 99-cent app called
Pimp Your Screen.
Now it's compatible with every single iOS device that has existed.
That's right.
I'm talking to you first gen iPhone guy, so pay attention.
Now, Pimp Your Screen includes a variety of home screens with something for everyone, lots of colors and lots of fun.
There's themed app shells that can be used in portrait or landscape mode and some really trippy neon combos for the raver in you.
Plus, they're constantly adding new styles.
A killer feature allows you to preview what the theme looks like with the app icons on top of it, to get a
real good idea for how you wanna pimp your Pad.
But the best feature is the Lock Screen Maker and the Home Screen Maker.
The Lock Screen Maker allows you to pick a background but also customize the frame that will wow your friends.
Wow.
The Home Screen Maker lets you go to town by picking a background and then mixing and matching a shelf type or a skin to go on top.
I prefer skin.
Now, once you're done with everything, press save and it will add your creation to your camera roll, go into your photo app and
find the picture, select the sharing options and you'll be able to set your masterpiece as a wallpaper and make it your lock screen or home screen.
And just like that, you'll be pimping in no time.
Now, if you have any other apps you like to show us, send them to tapthatapp@cnet.com <mailto:tapthatapp@cnet.com>.
I'm Brian Tong.
Thanks for watching.
Keep pimping.
Thanks for that, Brian, but where do you get that outfit?
Why am I talking to myself?
All right, iOS 5 guys, it released its 5th beta update with a new feature,
a couple features that I haven't seen in previous releases.
Two changes you'll benefit from is that video content in all applications and websites are now all AirPlay enabled by default, and in the one real useful one, the Maps Apple now display alternate routes for you to get from one point to another with a recommended path highlighted blue with a solid line and you can switch between them.
So, that's a pretty cool stuff.
Also in other news, the battle between Apple and Samsung over patent violations rages on.
This time a German court has blocked the
sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 in all of Europe after Apple claims that it infringes on the patent and design of the iPad2.
Obviously we're all still thinking the Galaxy Tab is the iPad and dominating over 75% of the current tablet market still just isn't good enough.
Plus, you should add the Motorola Xoom to that list as well.
Apple is now suing them, too, because that infringes upon the design of Apple's products, too.
And in an amazing story of courage and bravery,
Chinese police have arrested 6 people after they smuggled over $40,000 of Apple gear into China using a zip line that was fired 300 yards with a Rambo-like crossbow.
Now the zip line crossed the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the hopes of avoiding exchange rates and taxes on the Apple goodies.
I don't know about you but I love zip lining and on top of inventing in the world like paper, the compass, gunpowder and printing, this makes me proud of my Chinese heritage.
Now, did you guys also know we've created the first burrito and pizza?
From Shoe Port, baby.
Look it up.
All right, that's gonna do it for this week's show.
Send me your e-mails to theapplebyte@cnet.com <mailto:theapplebyte@cnet.com>.
I'm Brian Tong.
Thanks for watching and we'll see you guys next week for another byte of the Apple.
Oh, it's amazing.
Okay.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
[unk].
