Knowledge base

iTunes Store: About Pre-orders

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

When a pre-order item becomes available, you will receive an email letting you know your pre-order is available for download.

If you've enabled iTunes to automatically download prepurchased content, then your pre-order content may already be downloaded to your library. If not, simply click the download link provided within your email notification, and your pre-order content will begin to download. Alternatively you can use the "Check for Available Downloads" feature in iTunes on your computer by choosing Store > Check for Available Downloads to begin downloading your pre-order.

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iTunes for Windows: Additional troubleshooting tips for burning issues

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

From time to time manufacturers publish updates to a CD or DVD drive's internal software (known as firmware). Check your computer manufacturer's website for firmware updates first. This is important because the internal drives used by some companies (including Dell) require special firmware. If an update is not available from the computer manufacturer, check with the company that made the drive.

Updating your drive's firmware is a particularly good troubleshooting step if iTunes is showing a 2122, 2123, or 2131 error when trying to burn a CD. For optical drives manufactured by Aopen, firmware updates can be downloaded at http://download.aopen.com.tw/.

Important: Use special care when installing firmware updates. Incorrectly installing a firmware update could damage the drive and make it unusable. Always check with the computer manufacturer first before checking with the drive manufacturer.

Tip: If you need help with the next two steps, contact the company that manufactured your computer or drive.

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iAd Producer 4: About importing image assets

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

In versions prior to iAd Producer 4.0, importing standard resolution ("1x") and high resolution ("2x") image assets could sometimes behave inconsistently. With iAd Producer 4.0, image assets are now managed according to the following rules:

  • High resolution files must have "@2x" added to the end of the filename (such as "image@2x.png").
  • Files without "@2x" in the filename (such as "image.png") are considered standard resolution.
  • Validation warnings will be issued for standard resolution images without a corresponding high resolution version.
  • Validation warnings will be issued for high resolution images that are not exactly twice the width and twice the height of the standard  resolution version.

As in previous releases, the best practice is to create, import, and use both standard and high-resolution versions of all image assets.

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iAd Producer 4.0: Release notes

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

iAd Producer includes:

  • A single-window interface for viewing and editing layouts and settings
  • Project templates with pre-built structure including banners, splash pages, and menus
  • An extensive library of interactive elements
  • Sophisticated object animation tools with precise control over event timing and object properties
  • Advanced JavaScript code editing and debugging
  • Simulation for Mac and iOS devices 

 

New in iAd Producer 4.0

This release contains a number of new features and improvements, including:

  • Improved Object library interface
  • Improved Actions library interface
  • Support for folder-based organization in the asset library
  • New HTML, Stack, Drawing, and Panorama objects
  • New actions for adding and removing CSS classes, animating background position, animating image masks, and text slide-in animation
  • Support for applying CSS filters as well as image and gradient masks to objects.
  • In-app quick preview
  • Project-wide search in the Code Editor
  • Better export performance
  • Improved menu layout
  • Improved font support, including support for OpenType fonts
  • Improved rulers and alignment guides
  • Enhanced inspectors, with pop-up color pickers, and gradient sliders that now represent opacity
  • Support for QuickLook previews in iAd Producer project files
  • Support for iTunes LP, iTunes Extras, and iBook Author widget project types
  • Other fixes and improvements

 

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iAd Producer 3.3

This release contains a number of enhancements and fixes, including:

  • Built-in documentation viewer for iAd JS JavaScript classes.
  • The overview now correctly displays page snapshots for pages designed for iPhone 5 and iPod Touch (5th generation).
  • The Store View inspector now supports setting text color, text shadow colors, button colors, and shadow attributes for button text.
  • Other fixes and improvements.

iAd Producer 3.2

This release contains a number of enhancements and fixes, including:

  • iAd Blueprints allow you to quickly create an iAd by simply replacing placeholder images and text in over 70 supplied templates.
  • New page states enable you to lay out an ad for both iPhone 5 and previous iPhone screen sizes without having to create separate ads for each size.
  • The Map View object now supports international ZIP and postal codes.
  • Other bug fixes and performance improvements.

iAd Producer 3.1

This release contains a number of enhancements and fixes, including:

  • Support for new iOS 6 actions:
    • Follow on Twitter
    • Save a Reminder
    • Save a pass in Passbook
    • Creating messages with SMS attachments
  • Support for building ads that access an advertiser's web site.
  • Medium banners available for iAd projects delivered to iPads running iOS 6.
  • iAd JS updated to version 1.6.1.

iAd Producer 3.0

This major release contains a number of new features and improvements, including: 

  • New templates
  • New project overview user interface
  • New layer list with search, reordering, and the ability to hide layers
  • Project-wide shared layers
  • Auto-advance between pages
  • New built-in actions including:
    • Add calendar event
    • Send email
    • Place a call
    • Add contact
    • Add ringtone
    • Take screen shot
    • Set content offset for scrollView
    • Add PDF to iBooks
    • Set wallpaper
    • Save to photo library
    • Open URL
    • Take photo
  • iAd JS updated to version 1.6.

iAd Producer 2.1.1

This update contains various improvements, including fixes that:

  • Correct handling of assets with normal and high-resolution versions
  • Address issues with animation preview on canvas.

iAd Producer 2.1

This update contains various improvements and fixes:

  • Provides improved load and save performance for iAd projects.
  • Improves the performance of exported ad units.
  • Facilitates better pre-load behavior for assets in exported ad units.
  • Allows ad upload and testing with iOS devices connected via USB.
  • Reduces device memory usage for image views.
  • Enables use of image sprites.
  • Provides support for on-device debugging.
  • Enables Twitter integration in iAd content.
  • Simplifies visualization of animations by providing an onion-skinning view.
  • Expands the types of assets that can be imported and managed in the asset library to include common document types.
  • Supports the new media object in iAd JS.
  • Provides support for integration of WebGL assets in iAd content.
  • Extends device support to include iPad (3rd generation).

iAd Producer 2.0.3

This update contains various improvements, including fixes that:

  • Provide compatibility with the iOS simulator in Xcode 4.3
  • Address problems with action values for some banners not being correctly saved and loaded

iAd Producer 2.0.2

This update improves the reliability of banner rendering in various orientations on older versions of iOS.

iAd Producer 2.0.1

This update contains various improvements, including the following:

  • Corrects an issue in which resize handles of on-screen objects did not display correctly after editing text in labels or buttons.
  • Addresses issues with incorrect presentation of objects' z-axis after editing operations in the code editor and basic editing view.
  • Improves performance and correctness of the Video Player object.
  • Updates behavior and improves performance of video on Preroll pages.
  • Improves performance and correctness of iAd content generated by iAd Producer.
  • Provides more robust support for repairing unusable project files on load.

iAd Producer 2.0

  • A single-window interface for viewing and editing ad layouts and settings.
  • Project templates with pre-built ad structure including banners, splash pages, and menus.
  • An extensive library of page layouts, controls, and interactive elements.
  • Sophisticated object animation tools with precise control over event timing and object properties.
  • The ability to create custom, reusable elements for use in iAd advertising.
  • Advanced JavaScript code editing and debugging.
  • iAd simulation for Mac and iOS devices.

New features in iAd Producer 2.0 include:

  • New animation tools with pre-built effects as well as precise control over object position, scale, opacity, and other attributes.
  • New page objects: Map View, Mosaic View, Multi View, Store View, and Zoetrope.
  • Improved tools for validating iAd projects and identifying optimization opportunities.
  • Page-by-page controls for image pre-loading.
  • Code editing improvements. 

iAd Producer 1.2

iAd Producer 1.2 improves overall stability and performance and includes these new features:

  • Automatic loading indicators when navigating between pages in an iAd
  • Support for TrueType fonts on devices running iOS 4.2 or later
  • Smaller, more efficient banners
  • Support for creating custom analytics in the iAd Producer inspector
  • Support for multiple users editing a project maintained in an external version control system
  • Improved stability and performance for both iAd Producer and generated iAd content

iAd Producer 1.1

iAd Producer 1.1 improves overall stability and performance and includes these new features:

  • Support for full screen banners in ads that target an iPad running iOS 4.3
  • Creation of ads with multiple banners
  • Improved compatibility between iAd Producer project files and version management systems
  • Support for importing and editing JavaScript (JS) and CSS files
  • Sample projects and plug-ins that demonstrate iAd Producer and iAd JS capabilities
  • iAd JS is updated to version 1.3.1 and includes numerous bug fixes and enhancements, including the following:
    • TransitionController now provides notifications that the view will disappear when the visible view controller is changed, rather than when the animation starts

Known issue

In iAd Producer 1.0, the built-in "Purchase" template accesses the US iTunes store by default. For details, refer to iAd Producer: Unable to find music or album from iTunes Store outside of US.

 

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Apple Configurator: Redemption Codes Not Imported - The spreadsheet provided has redemption codes for "(null)."

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

Symptoms

When importing a Volume Purchase Plan (VPP) spreadsheet into Apple Configurator 1.2.1, you may see a message like the following:

"The spreadsheet provided has redemption codes for "(null)." Please provide a spreadsheet with codes for 'Numbers.'"  (Where "Numbers" is the name of the application for which you are importing codes.)

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Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4: About sharing to DVD

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

In Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5, the "Share to DVD" option automatically chooses the maximum quality bit rate that will allow your project to fit on the disc. The maximum allowable bit rate is 7.7 Mbps (high quality) and the minimum bit rate is 2 Mbps (low quality). Note: The maximum duration that can fit on a DVD (per layer) is approximately 2.5 hours.

If you need more control over the quality of your DVD, use Compressor 4 to modify the automatically selected bit rate. For more information, see Compressor Help: MPEG-2 bit rates and formats and Compressor Help: MPEG-2 Encoder pane.

Another option when using Compressor is to choose two-pass encoding which will allow for better video quality since the bit rates are tailored to the video content. Note that sharing to DVD in Final Cut Pro X uses one-pass encoding.

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About Safari 6.0.4 and 5.1.9

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

When you first visit a website that requires the Java web plug-in, Safari presents a prompt similar to this one but containing the specific website:

Once you have chosen to block or allow the Java web plug-in on a website, you can manage Java settings for that website in the Security pane of Safari Preferences. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Safari > Preferences.
  2. Click the "Security" tab, then click the "Manage Website Settings…" button.

  3. For each website you have visited that uses the Java web plug-in, you can choose one of four settings:

  •  Ask Before Using: Safari presents the option to Block or Allow the Java web plug-in. If an update is available for Java, Safari directs you to download the latest version.
  • Block Always: Safari presents "Blocked Plug-in" text in the place of the Java web plug-in content. Clicking "Blocked Plug-in" will bring up the option to Block or Allow the Java web plug-in for that website.
     
     
  • Allow: Websites set to "Allow" can run the Java web plug-in as long as the installed version of Java has no known critical security issues. If an update is available for Java, Safari directs you to download the latest version.
  • Allow Always: The Java web plug-in will run without prompts from Safari. This setting is only recommended for trusted websites that require the Java web plug-in, such as websites that are only accessible on your company's intranet. 

 

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Aperture 3.4.4: Release notes

Posted in Apple Portable Computers

The Aperture 3.1.3 Update supports compatibility with Mac OS X Lion, and also addresses overall stability and performance. This update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3. Minor issues addressed include, but are not limited to, the following:

Library

  • Improves reliability of library rebuild and repair operations in Aperture Library First Aid.
  • Aperture now automatically rebuilds image thumbnails after a library is restored from a Time Machine backup.

Import

  • Resolves an issue that, in rare cases, could cause imports from iPhone 4 to not complete.
  • Fixes an issue that could cause Olympus E-5 image thumbnails to appear with black borders in the Import window.
  • Metadata presets are now correctly applied to imported audio files.

Multi-Touch Gestures

  • Pinch to zoom gesture can now be used to resize thumbnails in full screen Browser.
  • Multi-touch gesture can now be used to rotate images in the Viewer.
  • Pinch to zoom gesture can now be used to resize the cropping rectangle when using the Crop tool.
  • Gesture support can be enabled or disabled in Preferences.

Faces

  • Fixes an issue that could sometimes cause the Faces view to be displayed without the Show Unnamed Faces button and zoom slider.
  • Resolves various issues naming faces using accented, Japanese, Korean or Simplified Chinese characters.
  • Profile photos attached to contacts in Address Book are now displayed with suggested names in the Faces auto-complete menus.
  • Shift-clicking snapshots on the Faces corkboard now allows you to make contiguous selections.
  • The Home key and End key can now be used to scroll to the top or bottom of the Faces view.

Places

  • Fixes an issue that could cause the map in the Edit Location window to draw incorrectly when assigning a location to a Project in Full Screen view.
  • In Places, the Show Unplaced Images filter now correctly maintains its state when the Back button is used to navigate the Places map.

Adjustments

  • Scrubbing numeric fields with the Shift key held down no longer causes the Adjustments inspector to temporarily disappear when the HUD is docked on the side of the screen.
  • Addresses an issue that could cause the Inspector HUD to be incorrectly positioned when exiting and entering Full Screen while the HUD is docked.
  • Aperture no longer quits unexpectedly if a trackpad gesture is used to change the size of the Retouch brush during a brush stroke.
  • Aperture now correctly displays the correct cursor type when switching between draw mode and erase modes when using brushes with a Wacom tablet.

Web sharing

  • Published MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr albums now appear in a Web section in the Library Inspector
  • Addresses a problem that could sometimes cause Aperture to became unresponsive while syncing to web published albums.

Audio/Video

  • Resolves an issue that could cause Aperture to quit unexpectedly when trimming audio in full screen mode.
  • Resolves an issue that could sometimes cause Aperture to quit unexpectedly while browsing videos.

RAW+JPEG

  • Resolves an issue that could cause Aperture to stop responding when using the Undo and Redo commands after switching from JPEG to RAW master with RAW+JPEG pairs.

General

  • The keyboard shortcut to show Tooltips has been changed from “T” to “Control + T” to prevent accidental activation.
  • The Reset All Warnings button in the General Preferences now correctly resets all warnings.
  • Fixes an issue that could cause a blank sheet to display when placing a book or print order.
  • Addresses an issue that could cause the browser filmstrip to scroll unnecessarily when enabling or disabling various options in the Query HUD.
  • Stacking or unstacking images that have been placed on a Light Table no longer Images placed on a Light Table now maintain their proper positions when added or removed from stacks.
  • FIxes an issue that could cause the List View to display the incorrect sort order when switching between projects.
  • Resolves an issue that could render images incorrectly when viewing them at magnifications of over 400% using the Loupe.
  • Resolves an issue that could cause Aperture to stop responding on quit while updating previews.
  • Folders in the source list now spring back closed after objects have been dropped into them, or dragged over and then away from them.
  • Slideshow exports are now handled as a background operation and are listed in the Activity window.

 

Availability of Future Updates

If you are running Aperture on Mac OS X Version 10.7 (Lion) or later, Apple may provide you with free upgrades or updates to Aperture, up to, but not including, the next major release of Aperture. After the next major release, Apple may also continue to provide minor updates and enhancements to Aperture. These updates may not necessarily include all existing software features or new features that Apple releases for newer models of Apple-branded computers and may, at Apple’s discretion, be provided with or without charge.

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