Can Apple thrive without its visionary CEO?

SLIGHT TUMBLE: Pedestrians walking past an Apple Store in San Francisco. Shares of Apple Inc fell modestly on Jan 18 following the company's disclosure that Jobs is taking another medical leave of absence. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO: If investors were as visionary as Steve Jobs has proved to be during his 35 years of tech wizardry, they might be able to figure out whether Apple can still thrive if its founder and CEO doesn't return from his indefinite medical leave.

But Jobs' prescience is a rarity, which is why doubt and anxiety will probably hang over the company until his fate is clearer.

The iPod-iPhone-iPad revolution that Jobs unleashed over the past decade should ensure that Apple's revenue and earnings keep growing for at least the next two to three years, according to analysts.

What's more, Jobs has assembled and trained a savvy, hard-driving management team that should be capable of following his road map for the company.

The question is whether Apple can remain a step ahead and develop products that reshape technology, media and pop culture if Jobs isn't around to divine the next big thing.

Read more »

10 Best Security Apps for iPhone

Apple's App Store currently holds about 85,000 applications for you to download to your iPhone or iPod Touch. Of course, about 84,900 of those programs consist of free and 99-cent games that your seven-year-old would probably find more compelling than you do. So we've scoured reviews, App Store search sites, and recommendation directories to compile this concise list of some of the best security apps currently available.

1. Video Surveillance Camera Views

EyeSpyFX has developed mobile applications that allow you to check surveillance cameras from Axis, Sony, D-Link, Linksys, Mobotix, and Vivotek. Each edition lets you set up a camera list and check the views for up to 100 cameras. You can also add cameras and bring up an edit screen to adjust camera details. When a camera goes offline, a status indicator will point that out. And the app will remember your passwords.

http://www.eyespyfx.com/ 

Price: $4.99 and less
Size: Under 0.5 MB

2. iPortScan and Portscan

iPortScan from Whiteside Solutions (better known for its paintball training tools) is a port scanner that lets you check what services are listening in on a known system--handy for making sure nothing is open that shouldn't be. You can also do a port scan from a 3G or EDGE network to test what TCP ports are open from the Internet. Features include the ability to set up a profile for the port scan, do a random port scan, adjust the delay time from 0.05 to three seconds, scan using a hostname/URL or IP address, and e-mail your port scan results.

Portscan from digitalsirup.com lets you adjust your speed from aggressive to sneaky. For every discovered service, you get a cell in a table with the port, a short name, and the full name of the service. You can use the integrated browser to explore http ports from within the app.

http://www.digitalsirup.com 

Price: $1.99
Size: 0.4 MB

3. iPEToolbox

You can find a bunch of little utilities that'll look up MAC addresses (MacLookUp) and do subnet calculation (iNetmask from Steve Weiland), but here's one that integrates several tools: iPEToolbox from Kid Mun Yap.

This collection of tools can help you check subnet allocations, route summarization, and configuration register settings for Cisco routers. An IP subnet calculator lets you find the next or previous subnet and provides additional information on subnets being used, such as private range and link local range. An aggregate tool calculates the optimal aggregates given a range of IP addresses (for use in route summarization and to assist in constructing access lists). A configuration register tool provides configuration register values. And a VoIP bandwidth calculator tool estimates bandwidth requirements given the voice codec, payload size, and other details.

http://sites.google.com/site/ikidyapps/Home 

Price: $0.99
Size: 0.3 MB

4. SNMPmon

SNMPmon from TTrix Software Design lets you retrieve information from SNMP-capable devices--routers, access points, switches, printers, IP phones, IP cameras.... This utility can display system contacts, network interfaces, routing tables, address resolution protocol tables, TCP connections, UDP listeners, file systems, and printers. One feature allows you to retrieve a subtree of management values displayed in raw format. You can also transmit the information you've just retrieved as an e-mail attachment. This one requires a WiFi or 3G or EDGE connection. The latest edition also lets you copy a configuration file to another device.

http://www.ttrix.com 

Price: $4.99
Size: 0.5 MB

5. Wyse PocketCloud

Now, this is thin computing. Sure, PocketCloud from Wyse Technology is a bit pricier than a typical App Store download, but it delivers great value for the money. PocketCloud lets you access and manage a PC or VMware virtual machine from your iPhone. The software uses the Remote Desktop Protocol on a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows operating system or the VMware View client. To keep the connection secure, it supports federal standards for the former and secure sockets layer for the latter. You'll need to load a free Windows companion application on your 32-bit client machines to do server-side Web browsing with the iPhone and achieve keyboard detection. (The companion software lets the iPhone know to invoke its virtual keyboard.)

http://www.wyse.com 

Price: $29.99
Size: 1.9 MB

6. Snap

Snap from 9Bit Labs scans the network it's on and discovers nearby PCs, servers, routers, and other iPhones. When Snap finds a device, it displays the manufacturer of the device, type of device, any name information it could discover, along with the device's MAC and IP addresses. For each device that Snap finds, you can also scan it for common services such as HTTP, remote login, AppleTalk, and Microsoft networking. It also links directly to Safari for any HTTP services it finds, enabling you to easily explore devices on the network around you. Snap is useful for discovering open ports and probing public networks to see who else is on.

http://www.9bitlabs.com 

Price: $1.99
Size: 0.4 MB

7. IP Port List

George Dimidik has created a utility that allows you to search and view all Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)-registered IP port numbers and view the name and brief description of those assignments--handy when you're monitoring a network, managing a firewall, or managing network security and traffic. Since the port list is stored locally, you don't need a network connection to use the tool. Plus, you can download updates from IANA.org at any time by touching the update icon.

http://www.wideopenwest.com/~gdimidik 

Price: $0.99
Size: 0.4 MB

8. RSA SecurID Software Token

If your organization is using RSA Authentication Manager, this RSA-developed app lets you use your iPhone as a two-factor software authenticator, such as VPNs, wireless LANs, and Web applications. Administrators can deploy software tokens to user devices and users can import the token with a tap.

http://www.rsa.com 

Price: Free
Size: 1.1 MB

9. Splash ID

SplashID from SplashData is a password keeper to maintain your usernames, passwords, and other vital information. It has unlimited and customizable record types and categories, 256-bit Blowfish encryption, backup and wireless sync to your PC, a password generator to create hacker-resistant passwords, and URL icons that can be customized for delivering you to the right address so you don't have to type. The latest release--version 5.0--provides a tab that shows you the records you view most often for quick access.

http://splashdata.com 

Price: $9.99
Size: 1.6 MB

10. Network Security Books

O'Reilly Media isn't the only publisher with network security books available, but it's the only major one we know of that publishes its books in iPhone app format. These digital editions include full book text search, a built-in dictionary, the ability to add your own annotations, a landscape view, working hyperlinks, and a zoom function for images.

http://oreilly.com 

Price: $4.99 and less
Size: Under 10 MB

Bonus App! Antivirus, the Game

Welcome, Artificial Intelligence Agent 1.4.3. Your assignment from Dead Rat Games is to defend the interweb data in Grid 817 from attacks by cyber-terrorists. To do this you must manage deployment of a new system code-named Defender 001 using tools like a proxy-blaster, decrypter, and authenticator. After all, you have to keep up your security skills, right?

http://www.deadratgames.com 

Price: $0.99
Size: 4.6 MB

Apple iOS 4.2 is expected to be delayed

Apple mobile device users have to wait for the release version of iOS 4.2. Apple plan to announce it tomorrow on Nov 12, but have to cancel the announcement of the expected iOS 4.2 release. Rumors said, the controversial may be related to one that might or might not be lacking AirPrint. No word on exactly when a new version will be available, but it should still drop within the next few weeks.

Quick Review of 4th Generation iPod Shuffle

It's short on features and small, but the iPod Shuffle is good at its job.

THERE were a lot of complaints on the previous version of the Shuffle and Apple listened.

The fourth-generation Shuffle incorporates a lot of improvements that make it a better device. The simple five-button design for music playback which was left out in the previous version, is now back.

The buttons - volume control, rewind, fast forward, pause and play - go a long way in making the Shuffle easier to use.

It still maintains a minimalistic design as there are only two other buttons on the music player.

One is a slider that powers on the player and sets it to play songs in order or shuffle mode, and the other is the VoiceOver button that lets you know the current track that is playing.

If you press the VoiceOver button twice, the Shuffle will tell you the battery power left and holding the button down will allow you to choose your playlists.

Music on the go

The Shuffle makes it easy to flip through songs and often without having to look at the device.

Selecting your playlist is as easy as holding on the VoiceOver button and pressing the play button. However, this can be slow depending on the number of playlists you have on the Shuffle because it will read them out one by one.

COMPACT: The power slider and VoiceOver buttons are located on the top.

The audio quality is fantastic and is comparable to the iPhone and iPod touch. The standard earphones bundled with the Shuffle delivered clear and crisp music.

As the Shuffle only has 2GB of built-in memory, it probably isn't big enough to hold your entire music collection and because it doesn't have a memory card slot, you cannot expand the storage capacity.

It's amazing that Apple has managed to make the Shuffle so small. The compact size makes it easy to carry it around but, unfortunately, also easy to misplace.

The Shuffle can easily get lost in bags and drawers unless you use the clip on the Shuffle's body to attach it to something.

Another drawback due to the size is that it's very easy to accidentally press a button especially when you are reaching for the clip.

In terms of battery life, the Shuffle can last between 10 to 15 hours depending on usage.

Conclusion

The new Apple iPod Shuffle is a great portable music player as it inherits some of the best elements from the previous versions of the device.

It now has buttons for controlling music playback, something that was left out in the previous version, and also the VoiceOver function for selecting playlists.

The Shuffle's most attractive feature is still it's small size and weight - it's easy to carry around and listen to your favourite songs.

You can also easily skip songs and playlists even without looking at it which is really handy if you like to listen to music while, say, jogging.

The Shuffle, which is available in five different colours such as blue, black, green and pink, is also affordably priced.

The only downisde is the limited 2GB memory and the lack of an expansion slot.

Overall, the Apple iPod Shuffle is a great easy-to-use portable music player.

Pros: Very small; good battery life; easy to use; affordable.

Cons: Limited space.

iPod Shuffle
(Apple)
Portable media player
DISPLAY: None
SUPPORTED FORMATS: AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
STORAGE: 2GB
BATTERY: Lithium-ion
BUNDLED ACCESSORIES: Earphones, sync cable
OTHER FEATURES: VoiceOver function
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 31.6 x 8.7 x 29mm
WEIGHT: 12.5g

Apple open invitation for Mac Apps Developers

Developers who have created applications for Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, began receiving e-mail invitations on Wednesday to submit applications to the coming Mac App Store.

Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, announced the company’s next foray into software delivery through the Mac App Store, a system designed to let users download software to their Macs, during product announcements last month. Mr. Jobs said the company had learned a lot about software, gaming and content delivery through the Apple iTunes store and the iPhone and iPad and wanted to bring these resources and simplicity to the Mac desktop.

Screen shot from Apple e-mail sent to developers

In the e-mail, developers were asked to submit their ideas for Mac applications, which would first need to go through an Apple approval process before being accepted into the store. Some developers have questioned how the new store will work and whether the kind of applications submitted will be content-based like games and media apps, or if they will primarily be traditional service applications like word-processing and photo-editing suites.

John Gruber, the author of Daring Fireball, an Apple enthusiast blog, has speculated whether some developers will be able to submit iPad apps to the Mac App store and tweak the code and design for a desktop interface. The Mac App Store is not expected to open to the public for another two months. By inviting developers now, the company hopes to ensure that it opens for business with stocked software shelves.

Quick review of 4G iPod Touch

There's very little to dislike in the newly improved iPod touch 4G.

AS APPLE'S premium music player, the iPod touch has benefited from consistent hardware and software updates that makes it one of the most popular Apple products next to the iPhone.

The new 4th generation (4G) iPod touch gains some significant enhancements, many that are found in the iPhone 4 - a fancy new Retina Display, A4 chip processor and FaceTime to name a few.

Lots of changes

At a glance, the 4G iPod touch looks identical to last year's model with the same round-edged curve design and reflective metal back plate. However, the latest version sports a much thinner profile that is just 7.2mm thick.

While there is no major physical redesign, the 4G sports many new features both seen and unseen. Key hardware enhancements include the HD video recording camera on the back as well as a front facing camera for FaceTime.

THIN AS A STICK: The new 4th generation iPod touch is just 7.2mm thick.

That's not all, the device's 3.5in multitouch screen has also been upgraded to a Retina Display, showing off very eye-catching and crisp images that make watching videos and playing games look much better on the device.

Updated games with support for Retina Display such as Angry Birds, Flight Control and Modern Combat looked sharper and had more detail.

Other subtle physical changes in the design include redesigned volume buttons that are now two individual buttons and the Sleep/Wake button shifted to the right-hand side of the device.

Disappointingly, the iPod touch ships with a regular pair of headphones instead of the microphone- and volume-control-equipped headphones included with last year's model.

Lots of different uses

On the inside the iPod touch sports Apple's new A4 processor, which is the very same processor used to power the iPhone 4 and the iPad. The performance gain is quite noticeable when compared against our older iPod touch.

Running applications in general feels a lot smoother and faster. Normal actions like web browsing, listening to music and watching movies felt the same though the 4G really shines when it comes to playing games.

NEAT: The new iPod touch benefits from a faster A4 processor and built-in gyroscope that enhances the overall gaming experience.

Games in general look better and ran incredibly smooth as we played Retina Display-optimised games such as Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, Real Racing and N.O.V.A.

Another unseen new addition on the 4G is the built-in gyroscope that works in conjunction with certain games like N.O.V.A. - you can use it to aim your gun while you move your character with the virtual stick.

FaceTime video calling makes use of the front-facing VGA camera, allowing you to call other iPod touch users as well as iPhone 4 and Mac users over a WiFi connection.

The feature works surprisingly well by using your e-mail address instead of your phone number as your identity. All you have to do is sign in with your Apple ID and you're good to go.

Calls typically take four to five seconds to connect even after you hit the accept call button, but once you're connected the call and video quality is clear.

You still get Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity on the new iPod touch for web surfing and use with location-based apps.

The device's battery performance is tricky to measure as it is highly dependent on usage. We found the new iPod touch able to last a full day of regular usage with some power to spare, thanks in part to its energy-efficient A4 processor.

But the battery obviously drains faster when you constantly play games and edit videos on iMovie for instance, so keep these activities to a minimum if you want to prolong the battery life.

All about videos

One of the most talked about features on the new iPod touch is the built-in camera that shoots both stills and videos. While the camera does not share the same lens and sensor as the iPhone, it is still capable of capturing HD videos.

The 4G is capable of recording 720p quality HD videos at 30 frames per second. Changing the exposure is quick and as simple as tapping on the screen.

The omni directional mircophone does a good job of picking up sound and the recorded voices sound clear upon playback. Videos generally turn out well under bright conditions with lots of light and the camera's low light performance is also admirable despite the high amount of noise present in videos.

In short, the video quality is almost up to standard with a compact camera and it appears smooth during playback.

In fact, the quality is good enough that you can compile videos in iMovie to create a simple but pretty good looking clip. We made several on the iMovie app and were pleasantly surprised by how effective and simple it was to make a home video on the go.

Admittedly though, the camera doesn't fare so well when it comes to taking still pictures. The camera is limited by its fixed-focus lens and it doesn't have the tap-to-focus feature used in the iPhone 4. Instead tapping on different parts of the screen only changes the exposure of the photo.

The quality of photos is also noticeably softer, lacking detail and is much more grainy in low light conditions. You probably won't be making large prints with these photos, but they are good enough for posting on Facebook or Twitter.

Conclusion

All in all, the 4th generation iPod touch is really like a Swiss army knife - it offers all that you need in a multimedia device: Music and video playback, games, web browsing and now HD video recording along with the ability to make video calls.

The new features certainly add value to the device and it can do almost everything the iPhone 4 can with the exception of voice calls, text messaging and GPS navigation.

There isn't much to dislike about the iPod touch though we did find the camera's still picture quality poor in contrast to the otherwise great HD video quality.

In a nutshell, if you are looking for a media player that has almost everything that a smartphone has, the iPod touch is certainly worth considering.

Pros: Sharp-looking Retina Display; speedy performance for apps; HD video recording.

Cons: Poor still photos; no microphone-equipped earphones provideEndd.

iPod Touch
(Apple)
Portable media player
DISPLAY: 3.5in Retina Display screen (960 x 640 pixel)
SUPPORTED FORMATS: AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
STORAGE: 64GB (also available in 8GB and 32GB models)
BATTERY: Rechargeable lithium-ion
BUNDLED ACCESSORIES: Earphones, 30-pin cable dock connector to USB cable
OTHER FEATURES: Camera with 720p HD video recording, built-in speakers, FaceTime
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 58.9mm x 7.2mm x 111mm
WEIGHT: 101g
PRICE: RM1,399

Apple shows off new Mac OS X 10.7 (Codename Lion) features

Mac OS X Lion

Apple recently showcased its upcoming Mac OS X Lion as well as the new iLife '11during a special event held at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.

The much anticipated Lion is expected to ship next year and will feature a host of new features, many of which are inspired by the iPad.

Among the new features that Lion will have is the Mac App Store, an online store that functions just like the iOS App Store. Here, users will be able to discover new apps, purchase and install them, all through the store.

Apps can be purchased using an iTunes account and will be downloaded and installed all within one simple step, Apple said.

The Mac App Store will also act as a centralised location for app updates. Users will be able to purchase Mac applications such as iMovie, Pages, Keynote and Numbers through the store, it was announced.

The store will be available for Mac OS X Snow Leopard users within the next three months and will come bundled with Mac OS X Lion next year.

Other enhancements

Launchpad is another feature on Lion that houses all applications. The interface is similar to that of the iPad's home screen and it allows users to find applications by swiping through pages and even organise them by folders.

Another new feature in the Lion is that it will support full screen mode for all applications. This means that applications like iPhoto will take up the entire screen, reducing the clutter of multiple open windows and allow you to focus on using a single open application.

To allow users to easily navigate between different applications, Lion will have "Mission Control" that consolidates elements of Expose, the Dock and Dashboard all within a single interface.

This will give the user a full view of all open applications as well as widgets and applications running in full screen mode. They will then be able to navigate to any application they chose to use.

A new iLife

At the same event, Apple also announced the new iLife '11 suite of programs that include updated versions of iPhotos and iMovie.

iPhoto '11 has a new full screen mode for easy browsing, editing and showcasing your photos that can be organised by Faces, Places and Events.

It's all about sharing with the latest version of iPhoto as you will be able share photos via e-mail within the application and post them on your Facebook wall. You can also create enhanced slideshows that incorporate slick new effects and integrate data such as the GPS location to the slideshow.

Other new additions to the program include an integrated photo album that allows users to post and pull photos from their Facebook and Flickr account.

iMovie '11 has also received a major update that will give users the ability to create movie-style trailers with dynamic effects, letting you choose the type of graphics, titles and cinematic soundtrack used within the trailer.

Video editors will also gain advanced options like precise audio editing as well as the new People Finder feature that analyses videos and marks sections that contain single or multiple faces.

iLife '11 is available now and is priced at RM199.