We can file this one under rumor of a rumor — you’ve been warned — so please, proceed with caution. DigiTimes is reporting that Apple’s yet to be announced tablet device will be delayed until the second half of 2010 due to a last minute design change, specifically, the use of a 9.7″ OLED LG display. The report goes onto say that the delay is a strategic move by Apple due to the current cost of the OLED panels, which currently wholesale for around $500 a pop. The price of LG’s panels are expected to drop significantly in late 2010 as they revamp their production line with newer equipment. The report is oozing with speculation on release dates, price, manufacturer, and potential future models, so we’ll let you check out the dirt for yourself.

[Via Gizmodo]

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Attention Mac users: Drop whatever it is you’re doing and run Software Update, because OS X 10.6.2 has been released by Apple. Coming in at a rather large 499.9MB, the update contains a considerable amount of bug fixes with the most notable righting the big ol’ scary guest user bug that threatened to delete your precious data.  We’ve got the entire change log after the break, but let’s not kid one another; you’re gluttons for punishment and will install whatever updates your system tells you to.

General operating system fixes provided for:

• an issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account
• an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly
• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
• the reliability of menu extras
• an issue in Dictionary when using Hebrew as the primary language
• shutter-click sound effect when taking a screenshot
• an issue with the four-finger swipe gesture
• an issue adding images to contacts in Address Book
• an issue in Front Row that could cause sluggish or slow frame rates while watching videos
• creation of mobile accounts for Active Directory users
• reliability and duration of VPN connections
• general reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
• overall improvements to VoiceOver performance
• this update addresses video playback and performance issues for iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) and iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) computers that may occur in some situations while AirPort is turned on

Fonts fixes provided for:

• an issue with font spacing
• an issue in which some Fonts are missing
• font duplication issues
• an issue with some PostScript Type 1 fonts not working properly

Graphics fixes provided for:

• an issue when connecting monitors to DVI and Mini DisplayPort adapters
• an issue in which the brightness setting may not be remembered on restart
• addresses functionality with specific display models
• general reliability and performance improvements when using some applications

Mail fixes provided for:

• a situation in which Mail’s unread count may not update properly as messages are read on another computer
• an issue in which deleted RSS feeds may return
• an issue in which Mail cannot preview or Quick Look attachments when composing a new message
• an issue that can cause Address Book and/or Mail to stop responding when opened
• an issue in which email messages received from an Exchange Server are not formatted correctly
• an issue in which Mail reports “Account exceeded bandwidth limits” for some Gmail accounts

MobileMe fixes provided for:

• performance when accessing files from iDisk via the Finder and syncing iDisk files
• an issue in which syncing iDisk files does not proceed beyond “checking items”
• reliability and performance when syncing contacts, calendars, and bookmarks with MobileMe (syncing with iTunes and iSync are also improved)
• an issue that prevents some users from logging into MobileMe via the MobileMe System Preference pane

Network file systems fixes provided for:

• compatibility with third-party AFP servers
• file synchronization for portable home directories

Printing and faxing fixes provided for:

• automatic printer updates improvements
• Print dialog allowing you to enter and send to more than one fax recipient

Safari fixes provided for:

• a graphics distortion issue in Safari Top Sites
• Safari plug-in reliability

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Things always get a little chippy between Apple and Microsoft when Microsoft one company is preparing for a large OS release, and with Windows 7 it has been no different. Justin Long and John Hodgman have been all over our televisions throwing subtle digs at the newest OS to come out of Redmond. However, Apple is — from a support standpoint — singing a different tune as the Mac maker has announced plans to fully support Windows 7 in its Boot Camp software before the end of this calendar year. The announcement (if you can call it that) came via a knowledge base article on Apple’s support website and states a software update to the Boot Camp software and an Intel Mac will be required. All this bickering reminds us of a scene in The Dark Knight where the Joker explains to Batman, “I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? No, no, NO! No. You…you…complete me.”

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Today’s earnings call with Apple has blown the minds of analysts as the Cupertino based company showed another strong quarter. Predictions for revenue was around $9.4 billion, but Apple topped it with $9.87 billion in revenue and a quarterly profit of $1.67 billion. Earnings per share is $1.82 where the consensus was at about $1.42 and whispers of $1.65. Strong sales pushed these substantial increases in profit: 3.05 million Macs (17% increase from last year), 10.2 million iPods (eight percent decrease) and 7.4 million iPhones (seven percent increase). Elated by the September quarter results, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer says, “For the full year, we grew revenue by 12 percent and net income by 18 percent in extraordinarily challenging times. Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2010, we expect revenue in the range of about $11.3 billion to $11.6 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share in the range of about $1.70 to $1.78.”

Is anyone really surprised? Amidst a recovering economy, Apple has been pulling impressive numbers and showing some solid growth.

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This bug report has some serious teeth. Apple’s discussion boards have a growing number of reports claiming that user home folders are being automatically deleted when utilizing Snow Leopard 10.6’s “Guest” account login feature. Apparently one wrong click and a log in to the guest account can end in your actual user account folders being wiped out. Yikes. So far the only recourse has been for those who have recent backups on external media. There has been no acknowledgment of the issue from the Cupertino fruit company yet. We also apologize to any Sidekick, Mac OS X users, who log into Guest accounts — you’re having a tough week.

[Via iTWire]

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How about some great news to get your Wednesday in full swing, Mac-sporting BlackBerry addicts? RIM has just made it official — BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac will be released at 1PM ET on Friday. We already gave you a thorough preview of the highly anticipated software back in August so you know exactly what you’ve been waiting for: Good, clean, phone-managing sweetness. We’re still not sure what caused the delay but hey… RIM products wouldn’t be RIM products without a delay here and there, right? So, Mac/BlackBerry users, it looks like you’re just two short days away from having one less reason to use VMWare Fusion. Excited?

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We know, we know — you are totally bummed about BlackBerry’s much-awaited Desktop for Mac software not launching yet. It’s definitely not coming in September. We have heard, however, that October 2nd will be the new general launch date for the application.

Seperately we’ve been informed that Verizon’s Hub “landline killer” device has officially been discontinued in all retail channels effective today.

We just got a heads up from one of our trusty ninjas and they’ve informed us that, yes finally, BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac will launch September 25th. While we haven’t confirmed this with other sources just yet, we’d put this high on the probability meter seeing as how the latest build is running beautifully.

Thanks, AR19!

Just like that. There’s a whole slew of new features and much-needed bug fixes in OS 3.1. Apple iPhone OS developers have been enjoying some of them for quite a while, but there’s also some new things that have snuck into the fold. Let us know what you guys find — here’s the official updated list for OS 3.1:

Being updated…

Thanks, Cori!

Looks like what we reported turned out to be true — social networking sharing (sending information to Facebook and Twitter as well as app organization). Apple’s iTunes 9 is now officially official and there’s some great features in here. Application organization for iPhone/iPod touch apps, home sharing which will share your entire iTunes content on up to five machines, support for iTunes LP (referred to as project Cocktail in the past) and much more. It’s available now.

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BlackBerry-addicted Mac users almost had cause for celebration this morning as RIM announced the official availability of BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac — and then pulled the announcement. Last month we gave you an extensive preview of the software many have been waiting on for years. RIM’s official BlackBerry notes page on Facebook finally made an announcement a short while ago, stating that Desktop Manager for Mac was alive and ready to rock. Woo hoo! Before we could even finish an announcement post however, the note was removed. We’re not sure exactly what’s going on here, but it could be safe to expect the highly anticipated software to go live later today or perhaps sometime later this week. To whoever accidentally hit that publish button and then pulled the note from Facebook, you’re just cruel.

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Sure Apple’s latest OS just found its way to market but according to rumor, Cupertino is already hard at work on the first revision. According to AppleInsider, Snow Leopard 10.6.1 was seeded to developers participating in the invitation-only AppleSeed program on September 1st — a mere four days after 10.6 launched. No word yet on what fixes/features 10.6.1 is sporting but there are several reported issues out there that could use some tending to. As to when 10.6.1 might see the light of day, speculation suggests a few weeks at most.

UPDATE: According to a tip we just got, here’s some of the 10.6.1 release notes:

“The 10.6.1 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes for:

• compatibility with some Sierra Wireless 3G modems
• an issue that might cause DVD playback to stop unexpectedly
• some printer compatibility drivers not appearing properly in the add printer browser
• an issue that might make it difficult to remove an item from the Dock
• instances where automatic account setup in Mail might not work
• an issue where pressing cmd-opt-t in Mail brings up the special characters menu instead of moving a
  message
• Motion 4 becoming unresponsive

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At this point we would be hard-pressed to find anyone who still doubts the impending release of an Apple tablet — or even several Apple tablets — but a little more supporting evidence never hurt anyone. Cult of Mac spent some time compiling a collection of conjecture surrounding Snow Leopard and the variety of new touch-friendly features found within. While none of this is concrete proof of the Apple tablet’s existence, combining these tidbits with the plethora of existing evidence leads us to believe that Snow Leopard will be Apple’s tablet OS of choice rather than the iPhone OS as had been rumored. Starting with the most in-your-face evidence, the OS X soft keyboard has gotten a touch-friendly overhaul. As you can see above, the tiny on-screen keyboard from Leopard has been replaced with an expandable board that should end up being very finger-friendly. To see it for yourself, hit System Preferences > Keyboard and then click on “Show Keyboard & Character Viewer in menu bar”. Now just click on “Show Keyboard Viewer” under the menu bar icon and enjoy. Other UI tweaks, such as a new scrolling layout for dock stacks that features nice big icons just begging to be touched, further support the claim that 10.6 will likely find its way to a tablet in the coming months. So boys and girls, any interest in a $700-$800 Macblet running snow cat?

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We all certainly remember what happens when sites doubt Gizmodo’s “reliable sources” — Steve Jobs’ health, anyone? As such, a particularly interesting rumor emerged this morning that Apple tablet hopefuls might want to take note of. Citing “a source that has always been 100% reliable”, Giz claims to have been informed that Apple is currently working on 13-inch and 15-inch tablet models in addition to the 10-inch model that is all but confirmed by now. The source states that two prototypes reminiscent of big aluminum iPhones currently sit in a factory in Shenzuen, China. He or she also claims that at least one is confirmed to be running OS X. The source could not confirm whether these units were prototypes of what will ultimately be production models, or simply demo units of some kind. While it’s known that next month’s Apple event will have absolutely nothing to do with tablets, it might be a pretty safe bet that some kind of tablet announcement might not be far behind.

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What better way to start off a work week than to completely ignore all of your responsibilities and order up a new OS for your computer? That’s right ladies and gents; tips came in droves earlier this morning to let us know that the Apple Store went down in the wee hours. Well it’s not yet back in action but Apple’s Mac OS page is up and it now bears info on the OS upgrade Mac users have been clamoring for… OS X 10.6, a.k.a. Snow Leopard. It was due to arrive in September but the final beta was issued way ahead of schedule so Apple apparently decided to launch it early. It’s definitely a smart move if you ask us — allow students to upgrade just before the new semester starts, as opposed to a week or two into their term when the panic finally sets in. Snow Leopard can be pre-ordered now and it will begin shipping this Friday, August 28th. The new OS will run you $29, as we’re sure you recall, and Family Packs run $49.

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Sure it’s been announced and even previewed, but there’s nothing like having our very own copy to mess around with. (Someone should check if Zach and Michael are still breathing, though — they might have fainted). If there’s one thing I’ve learned about BlackBerry lovers, it’s that they are relentless and won’t give up. Having said that, it isn’t a complete surprise to see Research In Motion finally move towards a Mac solution. Hit the break for an awesome walkthrough with commentary!

After the application is installed this is the first screen you see. What’s even more awesome? There’s no restart required after installation.

Wait — saving the password in my keychain? So it will automatically connect to my password-protected BlackBerry without me entering my password every. single. time? Sweet marshmallow covered megapixels.

I named my BlackBerry Tour BlackBerry Tour. I think it gives it character…

What ruined an otherwise pleasurable syncing experience is the slow USB transfer speeds. This isn’t limited to just Desktop Manager as Media Sync suffers from the same issue, but it’s worth pointing out since this is probably the only area that isn’t zippy fast in DM.

Oddly, backups aren’t in the traditional BlackBerry .ipd format, they’re using a .bbb extension on the Mac. Whatever works, we suppose.

One interesting thing we have to share with y’all is that there doesn’t appear to be an option to load different operating systems manually. This is probably RIM’s way of “blocking” unofficial OSes, but it’s not really just blocking it, it’s disallowing anyone from installing a BlackBerry OS who doesn’t have an internet connection as they are downloaded directly from RIM.

This isn’t final software by any means, but to be honest, it looks pretty darn close. We’ve been going at it for over three days and have not come across any crashes, issues, or even quirks. Things just work and to be honest, Desktop Manager for Mac is probably a good 2-3x faster than it’s PC counterpart — possibly due to it not being so bloated — and we’ve already deleted our dedicated Virtual Machine in Fusion because this is so nice.

Maybe RIM should focus more on BlackBerry for Mac software. It’s cleaner, faster, less-bloated and generally more pleasurable to use than the horrid excuses they call software for the PC.

Behold! The latest “no seriously, this is the real thing!” image of Apple’s forthcoming, maybe real, definitely imminent, 100 percent fabricated, probably not, kind of confirmed tablet computer hit the net this morning. This time around, it comes from a French blog with a fair track record and its source is not disclosed. Right on. The image shows a device that certainly fits in with the design of the iPhone/iPod touch and iMac, though the placement of the home key is a bit odd considering such a device would be held by its ends. The most interesting aspect of this particular iPad/MacBook Touch/Macblet/iTab/Aplet/etc is the depiction of OS X on the display. Recent analyst guesses indicated that the device would run some iteration of the iPhone OS rather than some iteration of Leopard, but this image suggests otherwise. Whatever. Hit the jump for a zoomed out version of the shot and then hit the comment section to tell us how you know with absolute certainty that this image is fake because you’re a forensic scientist who specializes in Apple tablet authentication.

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Forget the fact that we’re in the second half of 2009 and Microsoft is still releasing new versions of software with “2008″ in the name because the day countless Mac users have been waiting for is finally here: say goodbye to Entourage and hello to Outlook. Soon, anyway. That’s right ladies and gents, Outlook for Mac will ship with the next generation of the Office suite, hopefully some time in early 2010. Entourage, you will not be missed. Actually, Entourage isn’t going away completely just yet — a “Web Services Edition” is available immediately, free for current Office 2008 users, and it will continue to be supported indefinitely. The interim version of Entourage will also be included in the newly announced Business Edition of Office 08, which will be available for pre-order starting August 18th and will launch on September 15th. Pricing will run $399.95 for a new copy of Business Edition, $239.95 for a Business Edition upgrade.

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Now before we get into these screen caps our disclaimer must be made explicitly clear: This is superduperultramegaturbo rumor/skeptical status. Right then. A German blogger claims to have dug up a hand full of iTunes 9 screenshots while sifting through a Chinese Apple forum. Yeah, we know — did you not read our disclaimer? For those of you who are late to the party, we exclusively scooped a handful of features said to be coming to the next version of iTunes and then followed up this morning with some tasty new info. Should these screenshots be authentic, they definitely firm up several of the items we listed including Last.fm integration and some kind of integration with Facebook and Twitter as shown in the first screenshot below (social playlists?). Hit the jump for the rest of the shots and a bigger version of the image above.

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Surprise, Mac users — Apple released an update to OS X this afternoon and it is now available for download via Software Update. The update to Leopard, 10.5.8, seems to be a relatively minor one with the following changes listed in the updater:

• compatibility and reliability issues when joining AirPort networks.
• an issue that could cause some monitor resolutions to no longer appear in Displays System Preferences.
• issues that may affect Bluetooth reliability.

The install will also upgrade users to Safari 4.0.2. Woo hoo. Apple listed two new support entries related to the update for those looking for more details. They can be found here and here. Get a move on, Apple fans.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

We’ve had a number of unconfirmed tips over the last few days about this so we figured we’d post it… apparently it seems that Rogers in Canada is in the process of shipping iPhone 3GS 8GB flavor handsets to stores. Again, unconfirmed, no idea on pricing (we have no clue where to start on that) but we felt it was newsworthy to at least let you guys know what we’re hearing. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe the iPhone 3G stock is finally sold out and Apple will quietly (or not quietly) replace the $99 model iPhone with an 8GB 3GS?

UPDATE: Added screenshots. Definitely looks legit to us! One more shot after the breakage.

Thanks, sneaky tipsters!

Flying straight in the face of recent claims from various Apple blogs, The Financial Times is reporting that Apple is aiming for a September launch of its internet tablet. The Cupertino-based company has also apparently found itself some rather unusual partners for its rumored device — EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group. The partnership, supposedly codenamed Cocktail, is an effort to combat slumping music sales by creating albums that include such things as liner notes and video clips. One thing that isn’t new however, is the claim Apple is preparing for a Christmas-time blitz against both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s e-book stores and readers. As for the possibility of a cellular radio, FT is reporting that it’s slim to none which really makes us wonder what’s up with all of those Verizon/Apple tablet rumors. Separate device? Complete BS? With September just over a month away, information should start flowing pretty soon if the FT rumor has any credence.

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Who doesn’t love a little bit of Skype action? If you’re a Mac user, though, Skype 2.8 Gold adds (or improves on if you were using a beta version) some awesome features like screen sharing (you can even share just a part of your screen for privacy reasons), Skype Access, and improved audio and video support. Skype Access is a way to pay for Wi-Fi hotspot access using your Skype account balance which can simplify things for those on the move we guess. Here’s a couple more updated features:

• Improved chat management (sort chats, set priorities)
• Quick add (self explanatory but let’s you add new people to chats)
• Mood message chat (”it’s a bit like Twitter”)
• Support for large profile pictures
• Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests
• Add notes to contacts

Skype 2.8 Gold is available for download immediately from Skype’s website.

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Feet feeling a bit cold this afternoon, BlackBerry fans? Don’t worry, that’s just hell freezing over thanks to an announcement from RIM earlier this afternoon. No, seriously. By way of its Inside BlackBerry blog, RIM has put the world on notice — BlackBerry Desktop Manager is coming to OS X in September. Wooo! A quick rundown of highlighted features:

• Sync your iTunes playlists, calendars, contacts, notes and tasks [if Apple doesn't find a way to kill it, of course]
• Add/Remove applications
• Update your device when new software becomes available
• Backup and restore your device data with such features like automatically scheduled backups and optional encryption (security is #1 as always…)
• Manage multiple devices

We’re sure RIM will leave a bit of functionality out of its initial Mac builds but at least Mac users won’t have to bother with Fusion/Parallels/etc every time they fish a new leaked OS out of the swamp. Hit the read link to register for updates on DM for Mac.

[Via Inside BlackBerry]

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Now this is some news we’re most definitely not happy to report. Back in February we told you about Syncplicity, an awesome sync solution that, in our opinion, is far superior to any competing product. In a nutshell, Syncplicity allows users to mirror any folder on a computer (in two clicks) with an always-in-sync online copy, “in the cloud”. Folders can also by synced across computers and shared with anyone in just a few clicks. Syncplicity had just opened its Mac beta when we covered it and since then it has become a staple on every system that hits BGR HQ. Unfortunately, bad news struck our inbox this past Thursday that will change all that:

Our engineering team has recently completed a ground-up analysis of the Mac beta client and the investigation found some issues which require some major changes in the client. Because of this, we’ve decided to pull back the Mac client beta until which point the engineering team has time to make some major changes. We intend to reassess our engineering schedule early next year.

Unfortunately, this does mean that as of July 31st, you will no longer be able to use Syncplicity with a Mac computer.

We truly strive to have Beta software become Final Release software. In the case, we felt the Mac beta client didn’t meet our standards for quality. I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you, and I thank you for participating in the trial period.

If you have any questions or concerns, I invite you to email me at macbeta@syncplicity.com.

The line, “We intend to reassess our engineering schedule early next year” has us particularly worried as it leads us to believe the company won’t even begin serious work on the Mac client until some time in 2010. Ouch. While Syncplicity’s Windows solution will remain alive and well and we’ll continue to use it on our Windows boxes, it looks like Mac is down for the count until some time next year. If you’re a Syncplicity user with a Mac, make sure you have everything in order so you’re not blindsided when the lights go out two weeks from now on July 31st.

Do you have an iPhone 3GS and a burning desire to fire up Backgrounder but no access to a PC? Well dry those eyes Mac addicts, as Geohot’s baby is now ready to go on OS X. Cohorts AriX and westbaer helped Geohot pack purplera1n into a tight little Mac OS package and it’s now available on the site alongside a new and improved RC2a version for Windows. Sweet. Standard disclaimer: we’re not sure how purplera1n and the ensuing jailbreak will affect your iPhone as new OS builds come out, so proceed with caution.

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We just got word from a couple tipsters telling us that Apple has posted iPhone SDK 3.1 as well as iPhone OS 3.1 for developers. While everyone was expecting a 3.0.1 update, version 3.1 seems to be here to stay. Let us know if you find anything interesting in the new build.

UPDATE: Just a word of warning — we’re getting reports from several Mac users that 3.5 has issues with restoring sessions/tabs after exiting and reopening the browser. By issues, we mean it doesn’t work. Windows users are seemingly not affected.

UPDATE 2: If you’re having the problem mentioned above, go to Firefox > Preferences > Privacy [tab]. If “Clear history when Firefox closes” is checked, click on Settings and uncheck “Browsing History”.

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You heard that right, folks. People complaining that Apple’s very-much-delayed push notification service might be delayed again can all relax — Beejive 3.0, the fantastic new version with push support will be going live in about an hour or so from now.

We exclusively gave you a look at Beejive for iPhone almost a year ago, and you have to give us some credit — we called it the best IM application for the iPhone, and were we right? Now think about push notifications and a whole slew of other additions and tweaks and you’re looking at a desktop-class IM application. We’ve been using a version with push for a pretty long time and can safely say it doesn’t disappoint. Here’s a breakdown of the new goodies and let us know when you try the new version!

• Push notifications
• Meta contacts (link IM buddies to address book entries!)
• Various UI enhancements, updated layout and color schemes
• Performance enhancements

Oh yeah, two more things… the price is now $9.99 (down from $15.99), and we’re testing a version that allows videos to be sent over AIM. (You could always send photos) Look for this in the near future.

Are you enjoying your brand new iPhone 3G S? Did you get a 16GB or a 32GB? Well, that won’t matter if people are experiencing what we are. There seems to a problem with sound files on the 3G S and the result after they’re triggered. After they are done playing — like the unlock sound, SMS sound, for instance — the iPhone emits a high-frequency tone. No, we’re not kidding. Something pretty high around 15KHz. We’ve confirmed this isn’t a local isolated issue with our phone, and since some people can’t hear these types of high-pitched tones, your iPhone might produce it yet you’d never notice.

We’re 99% sure it’s software related because if you set the phone to vibrate, big surprise, no high-pitched tone. So, anyone out there experiencing this? It’s amazing this was skipped over in the many reviews published, but oh well. Hopefully Apple fixes it soon because this is kind of painful and pretty outrageous. Hit us up and let us know!