The Big Apple Blog

Filemaker released their newest version on Tuesday.  Version 11 boasts the ability to make charts (see pic below), and have quick reports (much like that of spreadsheet).  It also has better and faster layout and portal features, for those who want to build their own database.  Version 11 retails for $299, and upgrades for $179, if you are on FileMaker 9 or 10.  Filemaker 8/8.5 users have until Sept 23, 2010 to get the $179 upgrade price.

For more information pop over to the Filemaker site.

So ABC aired the first (I’m sure of many) Apple iPad commercials.  For those who didn’t watch the Oscars (or have Cablevision and didn’t get to see the Oscars) it’s posted on Apple’s website here.

Enjoy!

We don’t usually like to copy other people’s stories but this news is so hot hot hot we have to.

According to 9to5mac.com, Steve Jobs answered a question from a Swedish user asking if the wifi-only version of the iPad will support tethering through his iPhone.  Jobs emailed him back with “No.  Sent from my iPhone.”  That’s it!  Just a “No”.

But just because Steve says so, is it true?  Those who have jailbroken their iPhones know they can tether to a computer, so who knows what the Jailbreaking community has to say about this or better yet what they will do, when they get their iPads on April 3rd!

The Apple iPad has finally received it’s official release date of April 3rd for the WiFi model.  You can pre-order on March 12th from the Online store, or even reserve it for pickup at the Apple Retail Store (for those who are super impatient).  No word yet on the 3g model.

The Apple Developer Connection (ADC as it once was known) is no more.  All day yesterday the Developer Connection was down, and in mid-afternoon it was revealed as the Mac Developer Program!!!  No longer is there a free version and a really expensive version, now there is a low low price of $99 USD per year.  Benefits of being a developer include beta releases of Mac OS X and technical support for development programs.

Y Combinator has put out an RFS (Request for Startups) for iPad Developers.  For those unfamiliar with Y Combinator – It’s a venture firm that helps startups from the very beginning stages all the way through becoming a full on company.  Paul Graham, who started Y Combinator helps developers focus on their product, and has them work for 10 weeks before introducing them to potential investors.  It’s kind of like a boot camp for the development of ideas.  As of Jun 1 2009, Y Combinator has helped launched 145 companies, including Loopt, Reddit, and Justin.tv.

Bravo to Y Combinator for taking on such a task, and we REALLY hope they come out with some awesome iPad applications.  Psst…if you guys need Beta testers – HELLO!! ::waves hands franticly in the air::

So you have a new MacBook Pro, and you really want to get your computer screen on your Television. There are a lot of companies out there that make cables to do that. Monoprice has it’s mini-display port cable that will convert Mini-DP to HDMI, but Expansys just released an all in one Mini DP + USB Audio to HDMI cable by TeleAdapt.  For $40 USD this cable will convert the USB audio output and integrate it into the already existing wiring of the HDMI port.  For those who aren’t yet familiar with HDMI standards; HDMI can carry video and audio.  This allow for 1 cable to be run from your HD cable box to your flat screen TV.  Many of us have a home theater system with a Stereo receiver with HDMI ports, so this would work great for you.  Check out the tech specs here.

Whispers are circling the Apple community…march 26th, march 26th, march 26th. That is the possible date for the iPad to be going on sale. From what we’ve learned, it’s the same kind of whispers that were spread right before the iPhone launch date. According to the Examiner Apple store employees will get a glimpse of the iPad March 10th, ads will start on March 15th, and the sale date will be March 26th, with those who camp out receiving a “special gift”. We are curious to find out what the gift is so if you do camp out and find out let us know!

Picture © Apple Inc.

A great VPN connection application is Equinux’s VPNtracker. In their most recent revision they’ve added support to connect to Cisco ASA 5500 series VPN appliances. This brings the total to over 300 VPN devices that come pre-configured this $270 piece of software. We atVirtua Computers use VPNtracker and we can attest to how easy the program works.