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Whew! Hopefully you made it through Monday’s April Fool’s Day unscathed and are ready to get back to business. With the first calendar quarter of 2013 already behind us, there’s plenty to look forward to in the months ahead, and Apple is giving developers their first taste of what’s to come with an initial beta for OS X 10.8.4 — which just so happens to kick off our Monday recap…
Apple Seeds First OS X 10.8.4 Beta
AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has begun seeding the first beta build of OS X 10.8.4 to developers, just over two weeks after finally releasing OS X 10.8.3 to the public. Very little is known about the new beta, which bears a build number of 12E27, although those testing the software have been asked to focus their efforts on Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers and Safari, with no other known issues singled out. One curiosity with the latest beta is that it’s not available for download from the Mac App Store as all of the OS X 10.8.3 beta builds were, but the reason for the change is unknown.
Reeder for Mac, iPad Free Until Version 2.0 Release
Now that the shockwaves over the demise of Google Reader have subsided a bit, developers whose products depended upon the service are getting down to business making the necessary changes. Among them is Silvio Rizzi, who announced Monday that the Mac and iPad versions of his popular Reeder software will be free until version 2.0, which is expected “in the coming months.” As previously announced, the iPhone version is adding support for Feedbin integration as well as standalone or local RSS with the next update, expected soon. One thing’s for sure: Reeder will live beyond the July 1 demise of Google Reader, and the developer plans to “add more services you can choose from in the next weeks and months” in its place.
Macworld/iWorld 2014 Show Moved to Late March
Macworld reported Monday that the Macworld/iWorld 2014 expo is shifting further away from the busy post-holiday season next year, with the show now taking place from March 27 through March 29, 2014 instead of the first three days in February. Along with the calendar change also comes a slight change in venue, from Moscone West to Moscone North in San Francisco. IDG World Expo’s show used to run concurrently with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January, but the move to late March further avoids that competition as well as the 2014 Super Bowl, which is scheduled for February 2.
Amazon Cloud Drive Update Adds File Syncing
The Verge is reporting that Amazon has updated its desktop-based Cloud Drive software for Mac and PC on Monday, adding the ability to sync files between computers and the cloud, rather than simply access files stored there. With dedicated folders for documents, pictures and videos, Amazon is clearly gunning for the likes of Dropbox — especially when they offer a more generous 5GB free compared to the popular third-party cloud storage service’s 2GB (which can be raised as high as 18GB with referrals). Amazon has also reduced its paid subscription prices, which start at $10 per year for 20GB and top out at $500 per year for 1TB.
Playboy for iPhone Perfect for Those Who Just Read the Articles
For as long as Playboy magazine has existed, men have made excuses to their wives and lovers that they “only read it for the articles,” rather than the photos of naked women. Now they can back up that claim courtesy of Playboy for iPhone, a free app that brings exclusive content into the palm of your hand, along with a selection of the best articles straight from the pages of the magazine. Pictorials are also included, but in compliance with Apple’s App Store rules, all of the ladies are non-nude — likely making it more attractive for your significant other than the print version. While the first taste is free, you’ll need to subscribe for unlimited access, starting at $1.99 per month.
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