Apple has provided Mac OS X 10.7 Lion volume licensing information for education and business customers looking to upgrade to the newest version of the Mac operating system. The pricing and licensing information differs from the generous personal licenses, and is only relevant to those who require group licenses.

Business Licensing

Once Lion is released, business customers will be able to purchase Lion and Lion Server directly from Apple by calling 1-800-854-3680 or by purchasing through the Business Store on Apple.com.

• Volume licensing contracts are $29.99 per license, with a minimum purchase of 20 licenses
• Maintenance contracts that include the next version of OS X after Lion are $49.99, also with a minimum purchase of 20 licenses

Education Licensing

Schools and education customers will have the option to either buy Lion online through the Education Store, or to contact their Apple Education Account Representative directly. An addition bonus for education customers is that Lion comes as part of a software collection, which includes Mac OS X Lion, iLife, and iWork.

• Lion volume licenses start at $39 per license, with a minimum of 25 licenses

Anyone who currently holds a volume license will apparently receive one redemption code for each contract, which can then be used to download Lion from the Mac App Store. That copy of Lion can then be used to install Lion on other Macs throughout the volume licensing. There is no specific mention of DVD’s, but anyone can make a Lion install DVD rather easily.

Update: Here is the information repeated directly from Apple’s “OS X Lion for Business and Education” document:

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OK so Mac OS X Lion won’t be released until next month, but if you do a little preparation now you should be able to save at least 15% off the already low $29.99 price. How? Simple, buying iTunes Gift Cards on sale and redeeming them on the Mac App Store.

Here’s the deal with eligible gift cards, they’re labeled a million different things, ranging from iTunes Store gift cards, to App Store gift cards, to iBooks gift cards, but they’ll all redeem on the App Store, just make sure they have that Apple logo.

Here’s a few sale examples:

• RiteAid is currently offering $25 iTunes Gift Cards for $20
• Best Buy was recently selling all iTunes cards at 15% discounts both in store and online
• Target frequently has iTunes, iBooks, and App Store gift cards on sale for 20% off
• Walmart has sold $50 iTunes gift cards for as little as $35

This is one of the unseen advantages to Lion, or anything else for that matter, being distributed exclusively through the Mac App Store, easy discounts!

You’ll probably need to shop around a bit and check your local newspaper (you know, those stacks of thinly sliced trees) or even your good old fashioned snailmail junkmail, thats where I found the RiteAid offer that I took advantage of. I heard that Target is discounting packs of them right now, but this probably varies by store and their website doesn’t indicate any such sale.

So grab a couple iTunes gift cards on sale, add the balance to your Apple ID now, and wait for Lion to come out. If you’re not thrilled with the App Store distribution model, don’t forget you can burn a Lion installation DVD yourself too.

The latest version of iTunes includes the great “Automatic Downloads” ability which automatically syncs your new app, music, and book purchases to all of your other iOS devices. This is the first part of iCloud that is available free to iTunes users, but most users won’t see the benefit because it’s not enabled by default. Let’s change that.

Enable iTunes & iCloud Automatic Downloads

You’ll need to download iTunes 10.3 which includes iCloud beta support, and you will also need to use the same iTunes / Apple ID on the devices that you want Automatic Download to work with.

• Open iTunes Preferences
• Click on the “Store” tab
• Check the boxes next to what you want to automatically download and sync between your iOS devices: Music, Apps, Books

Once this is enabled, iTunes will automatically sync new purchases to your iOS devices. This means you can buy a song, app, or book on your Mac or work PC and it will automatically transfer to the iPhone in your pocket and your iPad at home, as long as you’re connected to the internet through Wi-Fi or 3G.

This is obviously a great feature, just keep an eye on data usage if you’re on a limited data plan and downloading via 3G frequently. iCloud itself is free, but your cellular data plan isn’t.

Update: this feature seems to be limited to iTunes users based in the USA for now, this will likely change as iCloud rolls out of beta.

10 years ago Apple opened their first Apple Store in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and this video shows CEO Steve Jobs giving the first tour of the store. It’s a fun look at Apple’s recent past, and you’ll see a lot of hardware from yesteryear, including iBooks, flower power iMacs, PowerBook G4 Titaniums, PowerMac G4’s, you’ll even catch a glimpse of Mac OS 9 and the original Mac OS X 10.0 box. Watch carefully and you’ll hear Steve reference “MP3 players” that are sold as accessories in the store, because the iPod wasn’t even out yet. Oh how times have changed!

Facebook is about to release an official iPad app, according to the New York Times. The app is said to be freely available “in the coming weeks” and not just a rescaled iPhone app version, instead it is optimized specifically for the iPad’s larger touch display. From the NYT:

People who have seen the application said it has a slick design that has been tailored for the iPad and its touchscreen interface. Facebook developers and designers have also overhauled the Facebook Chat and Facebook Groups features for the application. And the app will go beyond the features available on the Facebook Web site by allowing users to shoot and upload photos and videos directly from the iPad’s built-in cameras.

“The photo and video experience is amazing, offering full resolution and full-screen images,” said a person who has seen the app.

Currently, iPad users are forced to either run the iPhone and iPod touch version scaled up 2x which provides a rather unattractive user experience, or just load the Facebook website directly in mobile Safari. Neither of these are ideal solutions, and a native app has been highly anticipated by Facebook users, although there are also several interesting alternatives like the Facebook photo frame & news feed web app that was designed for the iPad in mind.

You can set any image on the web as your Mac desktop background wallpaper directly from Safari. This means you don’t even need to download the picture to your computer to set it as the desktop background, you can just find a picture on the web and immediately use it as the wallpaper on the Mac.

The next time you’re browsing the web and you find a nice picture you’d like to use as your Mac desktop background wallpaper, just use this quick little Safari trick.

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Updated Mac hardware will not ship until Mac OS X Lion is publicly released or at least finalized sometime in July, this is to insure that new Macs will include Mac OS X Lion and iCloud preinstalled, according to a new report by AppleInsider.

The decision is expected to impact the release dates of several unannounced products, including a refreshed MacBook Air, a new Mac Mini, and even a Thunderbolt Apple Cinema Display.

For instance, new Thunderbolt-enabled Sandy Bridge MacBook Air models expected to go into production this month have been ready and waiting for some time, according to people familiar with the matter. But management is currently unwilling to usher the new models into the market with the current Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system.

Instead, the Mac maker is said to be locked on waiting till it can image the new notebooks with a Gold Master build of Lion so that buyers are afforded the latest and greatest Apple experience. This includes complimentary iCloud services that will come built into the software

In a similar manner, AppleInsider also suggests that refreshed iPhone and iPod touch models will also depend on the release of iOS 5, which is set for Fall of this year.

If you use multiple monitors on a regular basis, you might care about how Mac OS X Lion handles Full-Screen Apps when hooked to an external display. In short, it doesn’t work that well.

To be clear, multiple monitors work fine in Lion, everything is the same as past versions of Mac OS X, you can mirror or extend your display as usual, that’s all dandy. The problem arrises when you put an app into Full-Screen mode; this causes only the default display to go into full-screen view, and the external screen becomes just a large and unusable linen wallpaper filled placeholder.
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Apple has launched their annual Back to School Promo for 2011, this year the offer includes a free $100 App Store credit. To qualify for the $100 Back to School promo, you must be a college student or teacher of any grade level, and you must make an eligible Mac purchase through Apple’s education store anytime between June 16 and September 20, 2011.

If you buy a Mac directly from an Apple Store, it sounds like you’ll get the credit immediately in the form of a redeemable gift card, otherwise it will ship with your order from the online store. The cards are said to work on both the Mac and iOS App Stores, as well as the iTunes Store and iBookstore. It’s also worth mentioning that any Mac bought from now onward also qualifies for a free upgrade to Mac OS X Lion when it is released next month.

Some international Apple Stores are also participating, MacRumors says the UK is getting £65 promo cards and the rest of the EU will receive €75 App Store credits.

You can read more on Apple’s website.

Did you get an iTunes gift card or three? My cousin just did too, but they didn’t want to buy music with the balance, they wanted iPhone apps, so naturally as the family Apple guy I get a text asking what to do. Here’s the thing to remember with iTunes gift cards: they can be redeemed for anything available on the iTunes Store, iOS App Store, or Mac App Store. This is why they make great gifts, someone can buy music, movies, TV shows, games, iPhone apps, iPad apps, Mac apps, whatever, all with an iTunes gift card, you just need to add it to your Apple ID. Here’s all three ways to do this:

Redeem an iTunes Gift Card through iTunes

This is the same whether you are on a Mac or PC, and in all versions of iTunes:

• Launch iTunes and click on ‘iTunes Store’ in the left hand sidebar
• Click on the “Redeem” button on the right hand side of the iTunes Store screen
• Enter the coupon code that is on the bottom of the gift card, it’s a randomized 16 character hexadecimal string looking something like this: XRXP RYPM YCQL 3K3K
• Click on “Redeem” and you will be asked for your Apple ID login and password, this is so you can add the gift card balance to your iTunes account

If you have another gift card to redeem, click on “Redeem Another” otherwise click on “Done” and you are free to browse the iTunes Store.
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Apple has pushed out another software update to Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview, it’s labeled simply as “Lion Developer Preview Update” and is recommended for all users running Developer Preview 4. This is the first update to DP4, but Apple is not referencing it as Developer Preview 5. Build is 11A494a and downloads as a speedy 656 MB delivery via Software Update.

The update likely focuses on bug fixes, but you’ll notice there is a restyled login screen, showing the Apple logo over the linen background wallpaper that is seen elsewhere in Lion.

This version of the login screen was shown briefly at WWDC when Phil Schiller logged into OS X.

Apple is pushing closer to the scheduled release of Lion in July, when it will cost $29.99 as a download through the Mac App Store.

Edit: Yes, Mac OS X is still called Mac OS X here too.

Update: Courtesy of @MacRumors another gorgeous screenshot showing the new login screen with multiple user accounts:

Apple seems to be pruning the word “Mac” from “Mac OS X” in favor of just “OS X” when it comes to Mac OS X Lion (or rather, OS X Lion). This was originally noticed at the WWDC 2011 keynote and all the subsequent Lion marketing materials on Apple’s OS X website and elsewhere, but we didn’t think much of it other than being a branding exercise for Apple. So why the post about this now? Well, there have been several conspiracy theories propping up in our comments and elsewhere on the web based on the slight name change.

Conspiracy 1: “OS X” Sounds Kind of Like “iOS” Therefore it Must Mean “iOS X”
The prominent theory is that by dropping the Mac from Mac OS X and just calling it OS X, it’s one step closer in name to iOS. Furthermore, the theory goes that we’ll get some merger of OS X and iOS, it’ll be named iOS X, and soon after the world ends just as as the Mayan calendar predicted would happen in 2012 (OK I made that last part up). Additional fuel to the iOS/OS X fire comes from features like LaunchPad in Lion, since it’s admittedly iOS influence coming to the Mac platform.

Conspiracy 2: The Mac is Dead
The other paranoid theory is that by dropping “Mac” from the name “Mac OS X”, the Mac platform must be dead. This then goes into a tailspin of speculation based on the cat naming convention, with Lion being the biggest cat so therefore it must be the last cat and the last Mac OS X, and that the Macs we are using now are the last we’ll ever see before the iPad takes over the desktop.

Reality: The Mac is Alive and Well, DaringFireball to the Rescue
Does dropping Mac from the OS name really matter? The well-connected John Gruber of DaringFireball has decided to chime-in with his thoughts on the matter, and it should dispel some of the paranoia. The most important message from Gruber: “I wouldn’t read too much into this.”

Here’s his full response, in a post titled “Apple Dropping the ‘Mac’ From ‘Mac OS X’?”:

It’s often been referred to colloquially as just plain “OS X” ever since it was announced, but this is the first time Apple has dropped the “Mac” from the name in marketing materials. I have no idea why, but I wouldn’t read too much into this. I think they — where by “they”, feel free to substitute you-know-who — just think it sounds better. And it clarifies that Mac is the hardware, OS X is the software — just like how iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad are hardware, and iOS is the software.

Soon after posting that, he updated with some more thoughts that should further clarify the naming convention:

Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure the only reason “Mac” was ever put into the name of the OS was for the ill-considered cloning era. Prior to the clones, it was just called “System 7”, “System 6”, etc. They renamed it “Mac OS” so there’d be some sort of Mac involved on machines that themselves could not be called Macs.

Gruber doesn’t specifically mention the conspiracy theories about the Mac operating system, but I think his post clearly aims to address them.

Further Proof… The “Mac” is Still in “Mac OS X” After All
Despite Apple’s recent branding changes regarding Lion, “Mac OS X” as a name is alive and well, and it’s actually all over Mac OS X Lion itself. Here’s a few examples:

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Warning: the above video is going to make you envious and may inspire hardware upgrades.

This video from MacRumors shows a top of the line build of the latest iMac 27″, upgraded with a 3.4GHz Quad-Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD launching all of its apps in a freakishly small amount of time. According to MacWorld, this is the fastest Mac that has ever been shipped when tested on individual application tasks, whether it’s encoding MP3’s, handling Photoshop filters, or just importing movies and photos.

What’s a speed demon like this going to cost you? $3399 as a build to order option from the online Apple Store. That’s taking the top of the line base model ($1999), upgrading the CPU to an i7 ($200), maxing out the ram ($600), upgrading to a 256GB SSD ($500), and finally, jumping up to the best possible video card – the AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 2GB of VRAM for another $100. That’s not cheap, but when you consider that you get a beautiful 27″ LCD with that price, it comes out to a pretty good deal when compared to the starting Mac Pro price point of $2499.

Obviously the complete package is what makes this such a monster, but any Mac user can get speed increases from RAM upgrades and an SSD drive. If you use a ton of apps, you’ll see a nice performance boost if you upgrade to 8GB of RAM, but if you want to feel pure speed when doing everyday tasks and launching apps, you can’t beat the immediacy of an SSD. RAM upgrades have gotten really cheap, and SSD’s are coming down in price as well, and the cost of upgrading your current Mac is just a small fraction of that $3399 iMac.

You can retrieve extended wireless connectivity data and details from anywhere within Mac OS X by using a nifty trick that toggles the Wi-Fi menu bar item to display additional specifics about any wireless router. To do this, hold down the Option key and then click on the WiFi menu icon found on the Mac.

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Apple appears to be dropping the AirPort branding in favor of the universally accepted Wi-Fi moniker, at least in Mac OS X Lion. The subtle change was noted in the latest Lion builds by MacRumors, and is noticeable in the Airport, errrr, Wi-Fi menu drop down.

Simple Name Change or a Sign of New Products?
A possible side effect of the name change could impact the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, Airport Base Stations, and even the Time Capsule, who all rely on ‘AirPort’ as part of their branding. Are these going to be simply renamed to Wi-Fi Express and Wi-Fi Extreme? That doesn’t sound too Apple-like, so I doubt it, however there are some rumors that suggest the entire AirPort and Time Capsule product line is going to get a major refresh soon. Variations on the rumor include some sort of syncing with iCloud for backups, and others say the new devices may even include A5 processors and to run iOS, similar to an Apple TV. If this is true, that minor name change in Lion may be an indicator of some new products in Apple’s pipeline.

Name Change to Alleviate Confusion or Is Everyone Overthinking This?
On the other hand, MacGasm speculates the name change could be aimed simply at distinguishing LAN and WAN usage:

Curiously, Apple’s introduced AirDrop with Lion. This could be another tell. Until now, Apple’s use of air in their products that directly connected to the internet, wirelessly in some way. That changed with AirDrop, the new Lion technology is only available on local networks, and is not available over WAN, at least as it is at this point. Apple could be making the move to rid the confusion of AirDevices being WAN related AirPlay is also a local area network device. Is Apple in the process of distinguishing between the LAN and WAN with Air and iCloud?

It’s also entirely possible that everyone is reading too much into this, and that Apple is just making things easier for new Mac users with Lion. Most Windows PC people associate an 802.11 wireless network with “Wi-Fi” rather than Apple’s branded “AirPort”, so renaming it Wi-Fi in the connection menu could be another move to accommodate the hoards of switchers and newcomers to the Mac platform.

Are 3D images the future of tablets? I’m not so sure, but this video claims to show off a 3D capable first gen iPad. Now before anyone gets too excited here, this is a third party modified iPad that includes a 3D capable screen, this is not a true prototype from Apple.

The host of the video seems to suggest Apple is working towards 3D imagery on their screens, but I find it hard to believe that Apple would require a user to wear some goggles to get 3D. Maybe they’d take the approach of the Nintendo 3DS, or maybe they’d lean towards the illusionary effect of that i3D demo app, or maybe they’ll never go 3D at all.

This comes from 9to5mac, who suggests the entire thing could even be a publicity stunt to drum up attention for either the video producer or the product maker.

You can watch what’s going on behind the scenes during a Mac OS X system installation by accessing the Logs window after the installer has begun. From Logs, use the pulldown menu to select “Show All Logs” to see a live stream of all activity pertaining to the OS X installation and/or upgrade process.

“Show Errors Only” is what you’ll want to watch if you’re only concerned about things going wrong, while “Show Errors and Progress” shows errors and installation milestones.

Outside of troubleshooting, this is an interesting feature to access for those curious about what’s actually happening during a system install. It’s also slightly more exciting than just staring at a progress bar.

Update: this feature might be limited to Mac OS X Lion.

Update 2: apparently this feature has been around for a while, at least since Snow Leopard, thanks readers!

Thanks for the tip AJ

Apple is now selling carrier unlocked iPhone 4 GSM models in the USA, making it the first time the devices have been legitimately offered through the primary market in the country. An unlocked iPhone can be used on any other GSM network, in the USA or otherwise, assuming you have an active micro-SIM card for that network.

How Much Do the Unlocked iPhones Cost?

Unlocked iPhones don’t come cheap in the USA or anywhere else for that matter. The price is the same for both black or white models, the cost differentiation relates to storage capacity:

• Unlocked iPhone 4 16GB – $649
• Unlocked iPhone 4 32GB – $749

If you’re wondering why the prices are high, Apple answers:

Carriers typically subsidize the purchase price of the phone when purchased with a service contract. By purchasing your iPhone unlocked, you are not committing to a service contract up front, so you can use any micro-SIM card from a supported GSM carrier, including your current one.

What are the Advantages to an Unlocked iPhone?

There are several answers to this, but the primary reasons to own a factory unlocked iPhone are:

• No Carrier Contract – you pay full price for the phone, but the iPhone is not bound to a carrier contract, meaning you can start and stop service at will without any penalties
• Move from Carrier to Carrier – want to use T-Mobile? No problem. AT&T have better reception? Switch. There’s no hassle, no fees, nothing that voids the warranty, just plug in a new carriers SIM card and go
• International Travel – the same carrier transportation mentioned above applies to international travel, forget about roaming charges and instead grab a local SIM card

All you need is an active compatible micro-SIM card from a GSM carrier and the phone will use that network.

Why Now? AT&T & T-Mobile Merger or Another Jailbreak Killer?
Carrier unlocked phones are somewhat of an anomaly in the United States, but they are ubiquitous elsewhere in the world. It’s not clear why Apple is choosing to sell the unlocked devices at this point, but there is some speculation that this move is intended as preparation for the AT&T and T-Mobile USA merger. Others are suggesting this is intended as another blow to the jailbreaking scene, since carrier unlocks are a popular reason for users to jailbreak their iPhones.

Nice find by MacRumors!