Firefox 3.6.4 is somewhat available.

I saw an update notice for Firefox 3.6.4 on one of the computers today. As always, I let it update. Wen I tried updating Firefox on other computers for some reasons no updates found.

Was Firefox 3.6.4 released and immediately pulled?

Mystery solved! Apparently someone installed Firefox 3.6.4 beta on that particular computer.

Apple hints iPhone OS 4 and next iPhone release sometimes in early July 2010.

According to an imaginary source who claimed to be an Apple Executive that is definitely not Phil Schiller, Apple is aiming for early July 2010 for the release of iPhone OS 4 and the next iPhone (dubbed as iPhone 2010). July 2nd might be a possible release date.

Apple is somewhat planning to announce the public availability of iPhone 2010 and iPhone OS 4 at WWDC on June 7th, 2010 in San Francisco.

In addition to iPhone OS, Apple is also somewhat planning to reveal a thing or two or five about its Mac OS X platform.

iPhone SDK 4 beta 3 and iPhone OS 4 beta 3 are released.

Details are scarce due to Apple Developers NDA. According to sources iPhone SDK 4 beta 3 and iPhone OS 4 beta 3 are released.

Notes from the imaginary sources:

  • So far beta 3 is using less memory than beta 1 & 2.
  • Lots of bug fixes.

As usual, please do not install any beta releases unless you understand the risk. Beta softwares are generally buggy.

Since the knuckleheads at 9 to 5 Mac already revealed some of the features from iPhone OS 4 beta 4:

Portrait Orientation Lock and iTunes Control

More info if they’re made available.

Anything Sorta Goes: GizmodoGate, Microsoft vs. Android, and South Park!

It has been a busy week and I somehow forgot to write anything for this site. As a matter of fact, everyone are busy with their day job, personal life, etc. I told myself that I should be the first to break the streak this time.

Anyway, huge story from last week, even though I don’t really want to talk about it. The GizmodoGate! The San Mateo DA issued a search warrant to seize evidence in the “lost” Apple 4th Generation iPhone Prototype. Jason Chen, Gizmodo and Gawker Media are yelling “FOUL!” and trying to hide behind the Journalist shield law. The evidence in a way is pretty damnig. Jason Chen is smart enough to have video of himself with the iPhone, which turned out to be considered a stolen item. In addition to that, Gizmodo admits that they paid some money for the iPhone from the person who “found” it. Jason Chen also smart enough to take the iPhone apart and document it; you can find the videos easily, Google is your best friend. Jason Chen has now hired a defense lawyer. The EFF for sure scrutinizing the conduct of the San Mateo and the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT). EFF is great but sometimes they could go overboard. Personally I do not like Gizmodo for all the attention-grabbing stunts they have done in the past, and most likely in the future. Anyone remembers 2008 CES?

——-

This one is a shocker and predictable. Microsoft is asserting the rights to collect royalty payment over Android Operating System. HTC has agreed to pay Microsoft for using Android Operating System. Where are the torches and pitchforks? The last time I saw them marching to Cupertino after Apple sued HTC for Patent Infringement. Where is the rage Mr. Laporte?

——-

Now, let’s get on to the finale of this post. South Park, Censorships, and Muhammad. For those who care already know what happened to South Park. April 14th, 2010 South Park celebrated its 2ooth episode with an episode aptly titled “200.” The episode drew somehow offended some Muslims and a group based in New York posted a warning against South Park creators.

RANT ALERT!
Seriously? You’re based in New York and you’re enjoying the Freedom Of Speech to threaten others for their Freedom Of Speech. Why don’t you move to a cave somewhere in the Middle East and then you can complain about other’s Freedom Of Speech. Wait, it’s still ironic. The Qur’an has never specifically or explicitly forbidden images of Muhammad. Now you’re threatening other human being over it?
/END OF THIS RANT

April 21st, 2010 Comedy Central aired “201” with tons of extra audio bleeps. Sure they bleeped out profanities. Comedy Central also bleeped out any utterance of “Muhammad” from the episode. Even further, Comdey Central bleeped out the closing speech that didn’t even mention anything about Muhammad. According to South Park Studios, Comedy Central does not approve the airing or streaming of Episode “201” in its original form. The episode was subsequently pulled off the air and has not been approved for sale on places such as iTunes Store and Amazon Video On Demands. In addition to that Comedy Central also pulled Episode “200” off the rebroadcast and the online stores.

Thousands of complaints from readers of this blog were sent to Comedy Central. Who’s to blame? Comedy Central is acting to protect their employees while subsequently caving in to terrorist’s demand.

ANOTHER RANT ALERT!
I for one values the First Amendment to The United States Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Comedy Central is acting within their rights to censor South Park. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have the right to express their opinion through their creation that is South Park. The fans have the right to complain to Comedy Central.

I am so appaled by the action of the party responsible for the death threats against Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Are there any Muslims out there who agree that the death threats is against everything what being human is all about? I do not want to be associated with anyone who supports violent against the South Park Creators. This is not the 13th century. For the Muslims who still thinks the custom of one region of the world from hundreds of years ago is the way the world should be, please leave us be.
/END OF THIS RANT – FOR NOW

iPhone OS 4.0 beta 2: Emoji is back!

According to our source, Emoji is available again in iPhone OS 4.0 beta 2. In beta 1, for some reasons Emoji option could not be enabled, unless the OS was upgraded from iPhone OS 3.x. It is now categorized simply as “Emoji” inthe International Keyboard selections. Previously it was part of Japanese Keyboards.

If you’re reading this on an iPhone, 

Another note from our imaginary source that iPhone OS 4.0 beta 2 is a lot more stable than beta 1 as expected.

No screenshots provided as no explanation given why there’s no screenshots.

iPhone OS 4 requires newer version of iTunes.

UPDATE 2010.04.20:
If you have iPhone SDK 4 beta 2 installed, iTunes 9.1 will have no problem backing up the iPhone with OS 4.0 beta installed.

UPDATE 2010.04.10:
iTunes 9.1 definitely does not support iPhone OS 4.0 Folders. If you have folders in your iPhone home-screen, iTunes 9.1 will definitely fail to backup the iPhone. In one test, we’ve successfully performed backup and sync an iPhone 3GS (OS 4.0 Beta 1) with iTunes 9.1 where Folders were not present anywhere on the Home Screen.

According to reports, developers are having backup-problems with iPhone OS 4 and iTunes. iTunes 9.1 displayed a message “backup failed because it was refused by the iPhone.” It is apparent that a newer build of iTunes is required to fully interact with iPhone OS 4. Some Developers also reported that Folders on iPhone home screen were undone right after syncing with iTunes 9.1.

As Apple has done in the past, a special build of iTunes should be made available to developers.