A Chinese developer gets a brand new iPad and a bonus e-mail from Steve Jobs, Apple reverses course on an App Store removal, and the iPad modding contest may have a winner. It’s the remainders for June 14, 2010.
Chinese developer gets robbed, Steve Jobs shows concern (M.I.C. Gadget)
A Chinese developer got robbed while visting San Francisco for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and, in the ensuing struggle, his iPad screen was shattered. Fortunately, the Genius Bar replaced the unit and he even got a nice e-mail from Steve Jobs. I hope somebody gave him a hug—the developer, that is, not Jobs. Steve doesn’t do hugs.
Foxconn Chief’s Brother Plans 100 China Apple Stores (Bloomberg)
We stay in China for this next story, about businessman T.C. Gou (brother to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou), who has announced his plan to open 100 stores in China that will sell Macs and iPods. On the one hand, all that hardware will get to make significantly shorter trips; on the other, that’ll really kill Apple’s frequent flier miles.
Facebook CEO disses iPhone (Valleywag)
Mark Zuckerberg just got an iPhone, and the Facebook CEO is telling it like it is: “This weekend I got four chargers so I can keep it charged everywhere I go and a land line so I can actually make phone calls.” Whoa, whoa, back up: Mark Zuckerberg just got an iPhone?
Apple rethinks its ‘Ulysses’ ban (New York Times)
After removing an illustrated Web comic version of James Joyce’s Ulysses from the App Store due to the fact it contains non-pornographic nudity, Apple reversed course and says it will approve the original version. However, in a tricky move the text will actually be entirely replaced with that of Finnegans Wake, but nobody will be able to tell because seriously, have you ever read Joyce?
USB Typewriter (USB Typewriter)
An iPad modded into an iBook? Paugh. Modded into a Mac Classic? Whatever. We declare the USB Typewriter the winner of the best hardware mod for the simple reason that it works (video below). You can buy one of the existing models for $400-$500, get your own typewriter adapted for $200, or buy a kit for $150. We expect it to remain the uncontested champion until somebody comes out with a telegraph mod.