According to recent reports, a small number of iCloud accounts that were supposedly protected by secure, randomly generated passwords have been hacked, raising suspicion by users that a security breach has happened within Apple’s servers.

Details of the hack come from a thread found on the Apple Support Communities forum. Users of iCloud have since voiced their concern that their accounts have been compromised with one affected customers saying that their Me.com email address was hacked and began sending out spam emails to everybody in the user’s contacts.

According to the user, “I never use my @me email for anything, and I guarantee someone didn’t break into the account by guessing my password (or brute force methods) – it’s a pseudoly randomly generated string of 15 numbers, letters (upper and lower case) and symbols (I worked in IT for many years and am perhaps overly zealous about password security, which makes memorization a real pain). I’m worried that Apple’s iCloud servers themselves got hacked, as I see there are a few other people on the forums who are reporting that their account was used fro spam in the last few hours.”

An additional thread was also started by a separate user experiencing the same problems. Both threads have relatively low numbers of replies and reader views, which suggests that any coordinated hack of iCloud accounts wasn’t widespread. Those that do believe they were hacked say that they found a series of spam emails in their Sent folders for their iCloud accounts.

The silver lining to this is that the spam emails only went out to contacts synced with the users’ iCloud account. Any contacts from Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird did not receive any spam. In addition to that, most of the users on the thread stated that they do not use their iCloud or MobileMe email addresses. They found out that their accounts had been compromised when they received messages from friends notifying them of the spam.

If you think you have been compromised then contact Apple Support. One user has already done so and stated that Apple Support helped them remove all of their contacts from their iCloud. That seems to be the only response so far as Apple hasn’t officially acknowledged the problem or delivered a viable solution.

Source: Apple Insider – Users raise questions about Apple’s security after iCloud hacks

Apple seems to be getting sued a lot recently. First, it was the elderly woman suing Apple for a broken nose, and now we have parents suing the company. A host of parents have banded together to file a class action lawsuit against the technology giant for game apps that, according to the parents, have turned their kids into addicts. The main reason for the uproar seems to be expensive in-app purchases made by the parents’ kids.

Really? Parents are blaming Apple for their kids becoming addicted to apps? First off, Apple doesn’t even make the games that they put on their devices. The apps are made by developers who just use Apple devices as platforms for their product. It’d be like suing Sony because you are addicted to some television show you watch on your Sony t.v.; it just doesn’t make much sense.

However, the main thing here is that it isn’t Apple, or even the app developers’, fault that kids are becoming “addicted”, it’s the parents’ fault. First off, the parents should monitor what their children are doing on their devices. Don’t just hand over your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch all willy nilly without first checking up on what your kids are doing with them.

Second, explain to your kids that it is NOT OK to just go buying stuff whenever they please for that game they are playing. If you get a bill that shows you recently spent $100+ in app purchases, tell your kids that what they are doing is wrong. If that doesn’t work, then take the device away from them! No access to the device means no chance for your kid to go buying stuff. Problem solved.

What’s even worse is that these parents are suing Apple, the biggest technology company in the world. Not only will they probably not win, but even if they do, it won’t make any type of financial dent in Apple’s funds and has also given world-wide recognition to the idiocy and poor parenting skills of these individuals. Good luck living that down.

Source: The Stir – Outraged Parents Sue Apple Computer for Turning Their Kids Into Addicts

CNBC has just commissioned a new survey which depicts exactly why the stock price in Apple has been on such a rise over the past several years. According to the survey, over half of all the homes in the entire United States own a product made by the Cupertino tech giant. In addition to that, 1 out of every 10 homes that do not own an Apple product plan to purchase one in the next year.

According to Vice President of Hart Research Associates Jay Campbell, which conducted the CNBC survey along with Bill McInturff, “It’s a fantastic business model – the more of our products you own, the more likely you are to buy more. Planned obsolescence has always been  part of the technology industries sales model, but Apple has taken it to a whole new level.”

The survey discovered that a total of 49% of the homes in the United States didn’t own a single Apple product. A total of 16% owned a single Apple device with 12% owning 2 devices, 13% owning 3 to 4 devices and 9% owning 5 or more devices, totaling  51% of American homes.

In addition to those findings, the survey discovered that a home’s income level is a strong indicator of Apple product ownership. 28% of homes making under $30,000 per year only own one Apple product while 77% of homes making more than $75,000 per year own one or more.

63% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 and between 35 and 49 own Apple products, whereas only 50% of the 50 to 64 age range do, with those aged 65 older having 26% owning an Apple product. 61% of households with children also own an Apple product, as opposed to the 48% of households without children.

The average home in the South owns 1.2 Apple products, which marks the smallest in any region, while the average household in the country owns 1.6 Apple devices. In addition to that, CNBC noted that the survey polled 836 Americans from March 19th to the 22nd and contained a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.

Source: Mac Rumors – 51% of US Households Own An Apple Product

While I’m not a huge user of Apple products (all I have is the newest version of the iPod Classic), I will say that I do like their stores. Apple stores just look so fun and inviting that I always have to stop in when I pass one. I think one of the biggest draws for me is the typical all-glass front of the store. It’s like looking into another world. However, some people don’t appreciate the style, like 83-year-old Queens, New York native Evelyn Paswall.

According to reports, Paswall is suing the technological juggernaut because she accidentally ran into one of the company’s glass doors at a store. That’s right, she ran into the door and is blaming Apple for it. The total amount Paswall is seeking is reportedly $1 million but what she needs to do is ask herself if it’s all going to be worth it in the long run?

It was reported that Paswall broke her nose on the door of a Long Island Apple Store. Man, those post-modern glass-like doors, walls and floors that are used in almost every Apple store mean business! Paswall claims that she was unaware that she was walking into a “wall of glass” as she approached the Apple Store entrance, noting that she broke her nose after hitting the surface.

In her suit Paswall claims that Apple was negligent in “allowing a clear, see-through glass wall and/or door to exist without proper warning.” It was reported that she is seeking a total of $75,000 for her medical expenses and the remaining $925,000 for negligence on Apple’s part.

I don’t care how old you are or how senile you’ve become, to sue a company because you were too ignorant or because you didn’t think that a store filled with expensive and valuable technology wouldn’t have doors on it is your own fault entirely. Did she not see the metallic handles that completely contrast the door? Or the drastically different tile of the store floor that in no way resembles concrete? Or maybe it was the reflection from all the lights in the store that she didn’t notice.

Even if Paswall does win the $1 million she is seeking, it will barely make a dent in Apple’s mountain of money (I’m pretty sure Tim Cook has a literal mountain of money that acts as his office). Apple is by far one of the most (if not the most) successful companies in the history of the world. $1 million to them is like a nickle to everybody else.

Source: PC World – Million-Dollar Lawsuit for Running Into Apple Store Glass Doors?

If you haven’t heard by now, Apple’s official website has secretly been updated to take full advantage of the new Retina Display on the new iPad/iPad 3. If you want to see what the site looks like with its new update, you can, even if you don’t have an iPad 3. All you have to do is perform a simple tweak on your Apple Safari web browser from your Apple desktop or laptop.

Apple has started upgrading different sections of its website with new high resolution images large enough to fit on the iPad 3′s Retina Display. What’s more is that these images can currently be found on the homepage of Apple.com and even on the site’s dedicated iPad page.

It was initially believed that Apple users needed to enable HiDPI resolutions with developer tools on their Mac computers in order to view these particular images. However, a shortcut has recently been discovered which will allow any desktop using Safari to view the Retina Display enhanced images on Apple.com.

In order to view the images you need to open Safari and choose Preferences. Once inside, go to Advanced and check the option labeled as “Show Develop menu in menu bar.” Once you do this you will be able to right-click on the Apple.com homepage and choose “Inspect Element”.

After you do all of this, choose the “Console” option, paste the following and hit return:

AC.ImageReplacer._devicePixelRatio = 2
new AC.ImageReplacer()

After that is done, the Safari developer console should respond with “klass”. You can now close down the “Inspect Element” and head over to View and choose to Zoom In. By using this method, users will be able to get a close-up look at the graphically enhanced Retina Display pages on Apple’s website, whether they are using Mac OS X or Windows.

Source: Apple Insider – How to preview the Retina display enhanced Apple.com in Safari on Mac or PC

DVD Video Projectors are exactly what they sound like, a combination unit that combines a DVD media player with a video projector, cutting out the need for multiple pieces of electronics and wiring.

Many reports believe that the Sandy Bridge E server chips, better known as the Xeon E5 series, from Intel are set to debut this week. There are lots of rumors that the chips have been in the distribution channel for a couple weeks now which means that manufacturers using the chips will be able to launch seamlessly with the actual release of the chips. One such company is Apple.

Nobody who “has the chips” has been permitted to release benchmark tests yet as that honor is being restricted to next week. However, the Xeon E5 series will definitely be a much improved version over the ones currently found in Apple’s highly popular MacBook Pro, a device that hasn’t seen an update since the middle of 2010.

Aside from Apple, other companies, like Dell, have already started announcing new products that are based on the new Xeon E5 series which means that Apple could very well be ready with an all new MacBook Pro update in the very near future.

In addition to that, Apple is likely to take advantage of the E5-2600 series 6-core and 8-core chips. These chips would most likely be used in the company’s dual-processor MacBook Pro devices with the E5-1600 series quad-core and 6-core chips focused on Apple’s low-end, single-processor models.

The new processors aren’t the only things coming out that are vital for a brand new MacBook Pro upgrade. However, there have definitely been far fewer specific MacBook Pro rumors over the past couple of months. A recent report did claim that the company is planning to switch to Nvidia graphics in the next update, moving away from Apple’s current AMD partner.

The main thing that will determine if we see a new MacBook Pro update is, of course, whether or not Apple thinks the line is worth keeping in production. Apple was reportedly questioning last year whether to discontinue the model or not, examining if the MacBook Pro should continue offering the professional-level workstation since sales have been down thanks to a shift towards notebooks.

What do you think? Would you want a new MacBook Pro with the Xeon E5 series chip or do you think it’s time for Apple to retire the trusted device in lieu of something a little more fresh?

Source: MacRumors – Mac Pro Update Now Possible with New Xeon E5 Chips Next Week

Apple recently purchased a 160-acre plot of land in Oregon and plans to use the space to build a giant Apple data center. This confirms long-standing rumors that Apple was, in fact, planning on building a new data center in the near future. The piece of land is located in Prineville and cost the company $5.6 million.  The deal, known as “Project Maverick”, has been quietly in the works for months.

A representative of Apple confirmed that the company had indeed purchased the land for a data center though declined to comment on the project further. Before Apple had the deed signed over last week, no one was allowed to speak about it due to the non-disclosure agreements signed by county officials.

Despite those agreements, however, the deal was leaked back in December by a local newspaper. A lot of web companies have come to Oregon due to the state’s sizable property tax breaks and low power costs. Companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon all have data centers in the same area.

This data center expansion by Apple comes at a time when the company is placing an increased reliance on servers as part of its products. Apple unveiled last week its newest operating system, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which is due out this summer. The software has a deeper integration with iCloud, allowing users to store desktop files in Apples cloud. Apple was also seen signing leases to expand its data center capacity and has reportedly invested $1 billion in its North Carolina data center.

Apple just released an environmental report that announced its North Carolina data center will be powered by the largest end-user owned solar array and will also have the largest non-utility fuel cell in the country. That center has already been awarded LEED Platinum certification from the United States Green Building Council with Apple planning on making the new Oregon facility green as well.

Source: CNET – Apple confirms plans to build data center in Oregon

Everybody has heard about the working conditions in Apple’s factories overseas, mainly with regard to Foxconn. Every so often the media will catch wind of people living and working in horrible conditions or killing themselves because of their job. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook is once again defending the company’s track record of improving work conditions at these facilities, noting that Apple has done more to address the problems than any other company.

In a recent statement from Cook on the subject during a recent investor conference, the CEO stated, “No one in our industry is doing more to improve working conditions than Apple.” This statement comes after growing criticism over the working conditions at factories used to build Apple products like the iPhone and iPad.

There was even a story published in the New York Times highlighting some of the poor conditions Chinese workers face. Activist groups SumofUs and Change.org delivered a total of 250,000 signed petitions calling for a more ethically built iPhone. However, the company is taking it all in stride with Apple allowing the Fair Labor Association to audit its Foxconn plants.

In addition to that, Apple has gone on the offensive in defending its actions. Supporters of Apple are also pointing out that rival companies, like HP and Dell, use the same manufacturing facilities.  Critics argue that since Apple is a leader in the industry, the company should lead in its call for better working conditions.

Cook also mentioned that Apple finds the use of child labor “abhorrent” and said that the practice is extremely rare in the company’s supply chain. It is a “top priority” for Apple to eliminate child labor all together, according to Cook, who also noted that a supplier who intentionally uses underage labor could be fired. “We don’t let anyone cut corners on safety,” he said.

Source: CNET – Cook: Apple’s improved working conditions more than anyone

Computer Service Now

Apple decided to unleash a whole host of Mac OS X upgrades on the Apple community on Wednesday. These updates included version 10.7.3 of Max OS X Lion and Lion Server, which also brings you a plethora of different system improvements and expanded language support. The updates also included Safari 5.1.3, a new version of Server Admin Tools, fixes for Apple Remote Desktop and security updates for Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Updates to the newest operating system from the Cupertino, California company, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, mainly consist of fixes to existing problems that offer more stability, compatibility and security. In addition to that, the update has a ton of new features like support for a lot of new languages, WiFi connectivity fixes and Windows file sharing compatibility.

Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 can be downloaded through a Software Update or through Apple’s support page, which also offers Client and Client Combo versions that are 997.01 MB and 1.2GB respectively. For this to work, however, you have to be running Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 or you won’t be able to update.

The Mac OS X Lion Server update, aside from bringing the updates to the Client Version, adds fixes and features to the server side of the OS. This includes things like file sharing and VPN server app improvements, enhancements to the web and Wiki server applications and updates to the profile manager. In addition to that, you will find some new components, different bug fixes and security upgrades.

A refresh of Apple’s Server Admin Tools was also released on Wednesday and adds supplementary applications for use with the Mac OS X server. There are also new versions of Podcast Composer, Server Admin, Server Monitor, System Image Utility, Workgroup Manager and Xgrid Admin, all of which require Mac OS X Lion or Lion Server.

Source: Apple Insider – Apple rolls out Mac OS X Lion, Snow Leopard updates

Apple has just released Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3, the latest version of the company’s popular video editing application. This new version introduces multicam editing that is designed to automatically sync up to 64 angles of video and photos. In addition to that, v10.0.3 adds advanced chroma keying for complex adjustments as well as enhanced XML for a richer interchange with third party apps and plugins that support Final Cut Pro X.

Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 is available from the Mac App Store as a free update and includes a beta for broadcast monitoring that supports Apple computers with Thunderbolt and PCIe cars. The software itself is available from the Mac App Store as well for $299.99 to new users who can also test the program before buying with a free 30-day trial available via Apple’s site.

v10.0.3 of Final Cut Pro X includes a collection of new tools for editing multicam projects, as I mentioned earlier. Final Cut Pro X automatically syncs clips from your video shoot using audio waveforms, time and date, or timecode in order to create a Multicam Clip with as many as 64 different angles that can include mixed formats, frame sizes and frame rates.

In addition to that, the Angle Editor feature allows users to jump into the Multicam Clip in order to adjust it to their liking while the Angle Viewer also allows users to play back multiple angles simultaneously and cut between them seamlessly.

Aside from that, v10.0.3 builds upon its one-step chroma key capability with the addition of advanced controls like color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap. Users will also be able to take advantage of complex keying challenges directly in Final Cut Pro X without ever having to export to a motion graphics application. Users will also be able to view their results instantaneously with real-time playback.

Source: eWeek.com – Apple Final Cut Pro X Update Adds Enhanced XML

Power Point Projectors
Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.