Cody Fink

1547 posts on MacStories since January 2010

Former MacStories contributor.

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Highland Village Retail Store to be Texas’ Little “Upper West Side”

Houston, Texas is about to get a new Apple Store that’s getting an early sneak peek thanks to a curious Apple fan. The Upper West Side Retail Store, a massive glass-roofed complex unveiled at the end of 2009 (and pictured above), appears to be the inspiration for the Highland Village Retail Store said to be currently under wraps on the west side of Houston. The same all glass front, limestone walls, and glass roof made up the construction of the retail space, though not at the same scale as it’s older NYC counterpart. There is a difference, however, as the back of the store will also be all glass (there will only be one entrance to Apple’s new retail space). Inventory will apparently be held in next door in an adjacent space instead of in the retail store itself.

The future Palo Alto (N. Calif.) and Third Street Promenade (S. Calif.) stores—both expansions of existing stores—will also feature the UWS design, according to renderings submitted by Apple to city planning officials. However, the scale of the stores will be smaller than the original Upper West Side store that opened to rave architectural reviews in 2009.

Photographs posted on ifoAppleStore show off the similarities in architecture between the NYC and Houston retail spaces. The open design, featuring high glass ceilings overlooking open spaces, looks like it’ll be a common theme for Apple heading down the road.

[ifoAppleStore via TUAW] image via Apple

YES! Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition to Land on iOS and Android December 15th

Grand Theft Auto fans are going to have an early Christmas present come December 15th as Rockstar Games celebrates the 10 year anniversary of Grand Theft Auto III with a launch on iOS and Android mobile devices. Grand Theft Auto III made waves when it was launched on the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox back on October 22nd, 2001, introducing players to a vast open world with a gripping story line and hours of endless gameplay. There’s nothing quite like GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas, and I’m terribly excited to see games from my youth (in hindsight that I probably shouldn’t have been playing) find its way onto iPads and iPhones. Here’s the list of supported devices:

iOS:

  • iPad, iPad2
  • iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
  • iPod touch 4th generation

Android:

  • Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive
  • HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, T-Mobile G2x

The game will only cost $4.99 when it launches. An official trailer will be released next week with the launch of the mobile remake. Be sure to check out Rockstar’s post for more iOS and Android screenshots.

[via Rockstar Games]

How the iPad 2 Became My Favorite Computer→

How the iPad 2 Became My Favorite Computer

This hasn’t been one of those experiments-for-the-sake-of-experimentation in which someone temporarily forsakes a PC for another device in order to write about the experience (like, say, this). No, I’ve been using the iPad for my daily activities–running Technologizer, writing for TIME, CNET, and AllBusiness.com, and more–because I find it to be the preferable tool in multiple respects. I’ve been using it about 80 percent of the time, and using my MacBook Air about 20 percent of the time. I have no desire to go back.

I think Harry McCracken is an excellent example of how and where the iPad can be used to replace a laptop computer in a professional industry (i.e. journalism). McCracken’s setup relies on three main benefits of the iPad: its ten hour battery life, 3G integration (AT&T), and its unique app ecosystem. To bolster the lack of a keyboard, a combination case+keyboard is used. While I don’t agree with McCracken’s desktop-OS comments, and while I personally couldn’t use the iPad as a replacement for a MacBook, I do agree with his conclusion. And yes Harry, I do think you’re ahead of the times.

Personally, I don’t see how McCracken’s setup is vastly different from the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Samsung’s Windows 8 Developer PC is another example of this, where you can dock the Metro-based tablet for use with a keyboard. What you want is a tablet to futz around with on the couch and in bed, but a working, cool, and quiet laptop with long battery life when you want to be productive. What tablet makers are starting to present is the coveted all-in-one solution. While there’s accessories (like an external keyboard) to manage, these qualities have even replaced the MacBook Air (which is surprising to me) for McCracken. As CES 2012 rolls around, I’m willing to bet you’re going to see a lot more of this. But for now, the iPad’s glowing qualities in all the categories mentioned have it coming out on top for the tech-savvy individuals bold enough to try going iPad-only.

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Apple Could Set Up Shop Next to Facebook’s Server Farm in Oregon

Facebook could have a new neighbor as Apple decides whether Prineville, Oregon, would make a suitable location for their next data center (codenamed Maverick). Apple is reportedly looking at a 160 acre plot of land in Crook County that’s a quarter mile south of Facebook’s nearby sever farm. Apple’s option to buy the land will expire at the end of the month, so a decision has to be made soon.

Sources with inside knowledge of Apple’s plans have told The Oregonian that Apple might be looking to take advantage of Oregon’s low power cost and property tax exemptions. Server farms are popular in Oregon, where rural “enterprise zones” free companies from paying property taxes on computer equipment, and the mild climate helps offset energy costs.

There are a couple of snags hanging up the decision. One revolves around a tax on intangibles, which take the value of a company’s brand into consideration. Intangible fees can undercut the tax exemptions that companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google are granted.

On the topic of energy, Apple’s plans aren’t finalized as they await word on whether Prineville can provide enough electricity for their Data Center. Apple will have to wait behind other local companies as transmission capacity is increased via the Bonneville Power Administration. Rackspace has already opted to build their new server farm elsewhere (Morrow County). However, the region’s transmission capacity is looking to be expanded a year ahead of schedule thanks to state delegation, and it’s possible Apple might have an open door thanks to recent developments.

To serve Facebook and other data centers in Crook County, the BPA says that it must upgrade the nearby Ponderosa Substation, add transmission lines and eventually add another substation. The full build-out would take two or three years and cost around $26.5 million.

Apple’s next data center will continue bolster their online offerings such as iCloud, which will require 31-Megawatts of power to operate. Currently, electrical transmission in Prineville is maxed out.

Data centers also generate franchise fees for local governments with their high electricity use, and Apple would bring its Prineville property onto local tax rolls by acquiring it from the county.

Apple’s data center will bolster their online offerings such as iCloud, mirroring the data center that was constructed in Maiden, North Carolina. The Maiden data center came under scrutiny as it was questioned whether the tax exemptions granted to Apple was worth the number of jobs (only 50) it brought to the region. While the data center won’t solve Crook County’s record 15.8 percent unemployment rate, the data center would provide a short term stimulus as construction of the facility (and expansion of other facilities like Facebook’s) takes place.

[The Oregonian via Macgasm]

Thailand Flooding Affects iMac Shipments, Western Digital Resuming Hard Drive Production

Flooding in Thailand has caused a worldwide shortage in hard drives as manufacturers of platter based hard drives and hard drives components have gone underwater. Hard drive motor supplier Nidec (whom supply 100% of drive motors to companies such as Seagate, Toshiba, and Western Digital) have many factories that are offline and inaccessible, straining the supply. Consequently, hard drive prices have risen dramatically and products are seeing longer wait times. 14,000 factories in the region have shut down, suspending work and leaving 600,000 people without a job. Over half of the world’s hard drives are made in Thailand.

On Friday, AppleInsider wrote that Apple’s build-to-order iMacs were seeing wait times up to 5-to-7 weeks as 2TB hard drives are running short. iMacs with smaller hard drive configurations will ship within a few days. During Apple’s conference call in October, Cook noted that there would be an industry shortage of hard drives (and that they sourced many components from Thailand), though Apple’s thoughts remained with the people affected by the flooding.

As factories are scrambling to pump out water and refurbish damaged equipment affected by the flooding, there is a glimmer of hope as the year ends. Western Digital announced on Thursday that the production of hard drives has resumed in one of its buildings.

Specifically, the company indicated it [has] re-started production of hard drives this week in one of its buildings in Bang Pa-in (BPI), Thailand, one week ahead of internal schedules. This facility had been submerged in some six feet of water since October 15, the estate was pumped dry on November 17, main power was restored on November 26 and production restarted November 30.

This doesn’t mean hard drive production will dramatically pick up anytime soon. Many factories have to assess damages, and Western Digital has said that specific components such as head sliders aren’t likely to resume production until March, 2012. It won’t be until after the next quarter that hard drive component manufacturers will finally be able to have a handle on the situation, but it’ll likely take much longer to resume production at scale thanks to the scale of the Thailand flooding.

[via AppleInsider, Ars Technia, and OWC] Header image via NikonRumors.

Apple’s Grand Central Retail Store Opening This Friday at 10 AM

Apple’s already teased Grand Central commuters with a December 9th unveiling on their storefront, but today Apple updated their Grand Central Retail Store page with a 10 AM date for the store’s grand opening. The Grand Central Retail Store will open regularly at 7:00 AM for early commuters (stores typically open at 10:00 AM) on weekdays, and Apple has published an Extended Holiday Hours guide for late shoppers still buying gifts for the holidays. The store will of course be closed on December 25th for Christmas.

[via MacRumors]

iPhone 4S will Go on Sale in Russia and Brazil on December 16

Our South American and chilly Siberian friends will have the opportunity to grab an iPhone 4S as soon as December 16th. While Apple themselves haven’t indicated any upcoming launch dates, advertisements and announcements are confirming the details. Currently the iPhone 4S is available in 44 countries, with plans to bring it to 70 countries by the end of the year.

Russian retailer Digital.ru has already announced they’ll be selling the iPhone 4S on the 16th. Brazil carrier Claro has published their promotional page noting the 16th as well.

MacRumors:

Brazil and Russia are not the only countries set to see iPhone 4S launches on December 16th, as reports are also coming in from Taiwan, the Philippines, South Africa, and Malaysia citing that same date for their iPhone 4S debuts.

Thanks to a quick international rollout, it looks like plenty of new iPhones will be available just in time for the holidays.

[MacRumors via iDownloadBlog]

MarkdownMail 3 Adds Mail Templates and Signatures

Formatting emails can be a chore if you’re using Mail’s standard RTF text selectors, but it doesn’t have to be. While MarkdownMail is niche tool of choice when it comes to composing messages — after all not many people write in Markdown as a second language — our audience of geeks will love having an outbox where they can quickly program their documents into to something presentable without going through three taps and a popover.

MarkdownMail allows you to draft and compose HTML emails on your iPhone or iPad using the Markdown markup syntax. New users unfamiliar to the formatting won’t be lost thanks to a syntax reference sheet available in the app. If you’re second guessing yourself, HTML output can be previewed before sending the message. Power users can take advantage of TextExpander integration for easily expanding snippets, addresses, and names into their emails. And for those emails that are often sent, MarkdownMail 3 adds a couple new features that make life even easier.

Email templates are great if you’re constantly sending announcements are messages from MarkdownMail to your coworkers or clients. Templates can be saved and used as a base for formatting your emails. Combined with TextExpander, shooting off important information will be done faster than ever. MarkdownMail 3 also introduces signatures support so you can maintain various business, personal, and family identities in the app. The iPhone interface gets an overhaul as well, enabling you to dynamically swap between preview and compose views. The updates address

MarkdownMail 3 is a universal application available on the App Store for only $2.99.

Small Demons and the Indexing of Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography captures some of the mystique and intrigue of a visionary who was set apart by not only his personality, but his exquisite tastes and passion for excellence. His personal likes — minimal and beautifully designed products — pertained to brands like Mercedes and Braun. His love of Bob Dylan eventually saw the sale of a $199 box set in the iTunes Store. Of course he was a film critic, making business deals during his time at Pixar while providing colorful commentary on the works of Disney.

The book is full of references related to his personal life and Apple’s, from the places he traveled through the development of the iPod and more. All of this documentation — newspaper entries, advertisements, and even the things Steve Jobs interacted with — is being preserved and shared online in a visual browser.

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