Sep 16, 2007 Sep 18, 2007 Monday September 17, 2007
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A Mac-eye view of Microsoft’s EU defeat
European courts are still carrying the torch forward over Microsoft’s antitrust practices. That news may bring a smile to longtime Mac users who know all too well the ways that Microsoft can squeeze its competition, whether by withholding compatibility technology, or at times, even its products. Or at least, it certainly gave the appearance of [...]
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What to do when open source is not good enough
The obvious answer to the title is "Use something else." Some, however, don't like simple answers to obvious questions, so I'm now going to spend 1,000 words or so saying "Use something else." You have been warned.... For a variety of reasons, I've been thinking lately about what to do when open-source software is not good enough for a given set of needs/requirements. There are some who believe that we should use open-source software, even if it's rubbish. I'm not among that group. Fortunately, this is less and less an issue as open-source software becomes better - even superior, in a growing number of instances - to proprietary software. I use Adium (open-source instant messaging application) because it's better than iChat (though I turn to Apple's iChat when I want to do video chat because, well, Adium doesn't offer this feature). I use NeoOffice (OpenOffice for the Mac) increasingly because I actually prefer its presentation program to PowerPoint, but I have to head back to PowerPoint when I want to embed video in a presentation. And so on. For those who think that open source is something to impose, I disagree with you. I believe that open source can carry its own arguments. When it can't, I don't use it, but hope for people to come along who will fill the void. They almost always do. ...
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A great time to be a Mac user
So I don't know why Apple doesn't harp on this more in its marketing. If you are an Intel Mac owner (I guess everyone who bought a Mac in the last 6 months qualifies) and you want to run any modern software program: Mac, Windows XP, Windows Vista, etc. all you need is an inexpensive piece of virtualization software that transforms your Mac into what is basically a universal PC. The Universal PC. Let it roll off your tongue. Only the Mac can do this. I've been using both Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion since they both hit the streets. And let me tell you - my MacBook Pro is the envy of the office. Even though my company makes Windows-only software (right now, hint hint) I can still run any and all programs in the office. Our web development team is using Macs and virtualization software to check all the various browsers for compatibility. I can even improve my productivity by using Keynote and outputting into PowerPoint (yuck) and PDF. And these programs are getting better all the time. No need to reboot, just launch the program and pickup where I left off. Much faster - and cheaper - than having two laptops. I recently purchased a high end Sony Vaio for a demo I was doing for Walter Mossberg. Guess what? The Mac was more reliable and easier to configure. So I gave the demo on the Mac. Running Windows. The point being that Mac users used to live on a tiny island. Mac software required a Mac and vice versa. Now the Mac runs anything. And it does so beautifully. We don't live on an island anymore but the view is still breathtaking and the air cleaner. So hold your heads high and breathe deeply. You own a Universal PC.
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Apple looks out for my best interests
Filed under: iPod Family, iPhoneToday, Apple released iTunes 7.4.2. Apple kindly fixed that small problem where people inadvertently installed custom ringtones on their systems. Thank you, Apple. In related news, Apple momentarily blocked accidental Linux use. But then, as with the newt from Monty Python, Linux got better. Apple also looks out for iPod Touch users. Its new firmware transfer scheme protects users from themselves. You won't accidentally install custom software on the iTouch or access the underlying OS, at least for some time to come. Unfortunately, Apple forgot to protect the public Media partition from read/write access so tools such as Ecamm's iPhoneDrive still work with both the iPhone and iTouch. For now. Will the iPhone remain so dangerously open? Probably not for long. I give it until the next firmware update. I'll be delighted to be proved wrong. So where does that leave you? Do you want to tread those dangerous waters and not be protected from yourself? Right now, the realm of social networking seems strongest: Call and write Apple and let them know what you think. Ask them for a public SDK. Ask them to open the iTouch and keep the iPhone open. Otherwise? Welcome to the padded walls and your shiny white straightjacket.Update: Just to clarify: SendSong still works. All my custom ringtones are gone from iTunes. Renaming to m4r and using Cleverboy's metadata hack did not work.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Losing Money on the iPhone and Making It up on Volume
Apple is likely to make so much money from its cut of iPhone usage fees that it can sell the product at a loss and still make money, according to a new research report. It can even cover the cost of its $100 rebates to people who bought the phone before it cut the price to $399.
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Apple's long-awaited iPhone arrives in Britain
For many gadget geeks it is the most exciting piece of technology yet to emerge from Apple. Less than three months after its release in America prompted a flurry of sales and spread panic among competitors, and less than a fortnight after the launch of the sixth-generation iPod Touch, the iPhone is launched in Britain today.
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iTunes 7.4.2 hits, say goodbye to DIY iPhone ringtones (for a while)
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video Apple might be neutral towards third-party iPhone software development, but it's apparently downright hostile when it comes to DIY ringtones -- just 10 days after releasing iTunes 7.4.1, which killed off an easy way of getting your own ringtones on the iPhone, the company has dropped iTunes 7.4.2, which obsoletes the latest ways of getting your own sounds on the phone, including popular apps MakeiPhoneRingtones and iToner. DIY ringtones still make it into iTunes' ringtones folder, but aren't copied over to the iPhone -- a problem we're certain hackers will get around sooner rather than later. C'mon Apple, we know you're smarter than to play these cat-and-mouse games.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Don't break my third-party iPhone apps
Once upon a time, Rob Griffiths asked Apple to involve itself more with third-party development for the iPhone. Now he just wants Apple to leave the third-party developers to their own devices.
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iTunes update: 7.4.2 is out
You hardly have a moment to catch your breath here on the iTunes update desk (cue teletype sound effects); 7.4.2 has just arrived in the hopper. What's new? Well, believe it or not, bug fixes -- and a fix for issues when creating ringtones from iTunes Plus (EMI, high-quality DRMless) tracks. Note this warning from reader Patrick: "Download a copy of 7.4.1 while you still can from Apple! This update even deletes your old ringtones." YMMV.The update weighs in at 38 MB, grab it from Software Update or from here.Thanks to Mentalsticks, Patrick & Eric for the heads-up.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple releases iTunes 7.4.2, breaks some custom ringtones again
Don't click that download button for the just-released iTunes 7.4.2 yet ladies and gents--it might not be doing you any favors, especially if you're making your own ringtones.Read More...
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Reuters: ‘Apple’s iPhone Can Only Help Rivals in Europe’
Tarmo Virki reporting for Reuters: Major handset vendors have much more to gain than to lose from the buzz Apple Inc’s coveted iPhone will create when it arrives in European stores for the key shopping season ahead of Christmas. In other news, war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. ★
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Podcast #24: Is iPhone Unlocking Worth it? iPod touch Released and Does Astro Boy Have Feet?
Mac|Life weighs in on the prospect of unlocking the iPhone and wonders why the iPod touch is crippled.
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Review: Fake Steve Jobs' Options is funny, but optional
If you're a Silicon Valley insider, expect to laugh mightily at this send up of Northern California's movers and shakers. Others might not get the joke.
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First Looks: JAVOedge JavoClearCase for Apple iPhone
Available in two colors -- one totally clear and one smokey clear -- JAVOedge's JavoClearCase ($22) for the iPhone offers protection for most of the iPhone's body, except its screen, and includes a clear detachable belt clip and nub if you're interested in belt mounting it....
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First Looks: JAVOedge Universal Mobile Mounting Kit for Apple iPhone
Designed to hold the iPhone or other iPods, JAVOedge's Universal Mobile Mounting Kit ($30) has a padded holder for the iPhone, plus a suction-based arm mount and a vent clip mount in the package. You can mount the iPhone either on your car's windshield with the suction mount, or on one of the vents of your car's air conditioner with the clip....
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First Looks: JAVOedge JavoShield Aluminum Metal Case for Apple iPhone
Available in three colors, JAVOedge's JavoShield ($20) for iPhone is a weird padded metal accent plate that's designed to clip onto your iPhone, adding a black, silver, or red metal shield to its existing silver metal body. It's unclear whether the metal will interfere with iPhone's rear antennas, and one of our three samples arrived dented....
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The two million Mac quarter
Analysts predict a record quarter for Mac sales, meanwhile a featured article in the NY Times says Apple could do better.Read More...
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First Looks: NLU Products BodyGuardz for iPod classic
Just as with its BodyGuardz products for the iPhone and past iPods, BodyGuardz for iPod classic ($25) enables you to cover most of the new hard disk-based iPod with largely transparent, scratch-resistant film. The version here is specific to the 80GB model; a 160GB version is forthcoming. A Click Wheel protector is included in this year's edition, removable if you don't want it. Two sets of front stickers and two sets of back stickers are included,…
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Details seep out on eve of Apple's London event
Apple's press event in London is only about 12 hours away, and there's some evidence that iPhones may in stock and ready to sell right after the announcement.Read More...
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O2, Orange and T-Mobile: European Winners in the iPhone Competition?
Apple is widely expected to announce soon which companies it has selected to play a role in the European iPhone network, and it looks like O2, Orange and T-Mobile will likely be among the lucky winners. At a media event in London on Tuesday, O2 reportedly will be made the official iPhone company in the United Kingdom. In addition, Carphone Warehouse is expected to be the device's sole independent distributor for O2. Orange, meanwhile, may sell the iPhone in France.
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First Looks: Numark iDJ2 Mobile DJ Workstation
One of the longest-awaited iPod accessories has finally been released: Numark's iDJ2 ($799) is designed to allow professional disc jockeys to have truly pro-caliber control over iPod mixing and sampling, featuring an integrated screen, processors for realtime scratching and pitch control, and much more. We're putting iDJ2 through its paces and will have further comments soon....
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Secure your Mac: Crouching user, hidden folder
Filed under: How-tosHere are a few very simple steps you can take to enhance your Mac's security - not exactly the U.S. Government's Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm, but enough to thwart many end-users.Create a guest user accountOccasionally, someone will ask me, "May I quickly check my email on your computer? Just real quick..." (often these are Windows users who need an excuse to play with the MacBook Pro). "Sure," I say, but before I hand over the reigns, I switch to my guest user account. Here's how you can create one. Click System Preferences, then Accounts Click the small "+" icon at the bottom of the window In the sheet that appears, set up your guest account. I got fancy and named mine "guest," with a password of "guestpw," but you can choose whatever you like. De-select "Allow user to administer this computer." Now, when someone "borrows" my computer to check their mail, they see an empty home folder, blank email client...the works. Even the rude ones who try to quickly peek won't find anything.Create a hidden folderMac OS X automatically hides a folder that begins with a period. We can use this to our advantage and create a secret folder. However, it's not as easy as creating a folder in the Finder and naming it ".MyPrivateStuff." But it's not difficult, either. Open Terminal. By default, you're in your Home directory Create a new folder with a "." as the first character using the "mkdir" command, like this: mkdir .MyPrivateStuff Hit return. You're done! So how do you access that folder from the Finder? Navigate to your Home folder (open a new window and click the little house in the left sidebar). Now, select "Go to folder..." from the menu bar. Enter the name of the folder you created, including the period (in my case, .MyPrivateStuff). Presto! Your hidden folder appears in the Finder window. Now populate it with your "secret" stuff (financial in nature, of course). One caveat: The Finder "remembers" the last folder you visited with this method, so be sure to "Go to..." a benign folder before you walk away.Combine the two tipsIf you really want to get fancy, combine the two tips: Create a new user account that does nothing but store your secret folder(s). Again, this isn't military-grade security, but simple techniques that you can use as an extra layer of protection for some of your stuff. Good luck.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Steve Jobs arrives in London: jeans, turtleneck and New Balance expected soon
Filed under: Cellphones Listen folks, if you had even a slight bit of concern that tomorrow's "Mum is no longer the word" announcement from Apple was going to be anything less than monumental, you can now put those fears to bed. Steve Jobs, AKA El-Jobso, AKA the Jobs-man, AKA Jobbers is in London as we speak, undoubtedly standing in front of a full length mirror and practicing saying, "Oh, one more thing," with a fake British accent. You have been warned: there will be at least one human being in England tomorrow wearing stonewashed jeans and your dad's turtleneck. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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News: Apple releases iTunes 7.4.2
Apple today released iTunes 7.4.2, the latest update to the company's jukebox software, and the second update since iTunes 7.4 was introduced on September 5th. According to Apple's release notes, “iTunes 7.4.2 addresses an issue with creating ringtones using iTunes Plus song purchases and includes bug fixes to improve stability and performance.” iTunes 7.4.2 for Mac and PC is available as a free download through Apple's…
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Cure You Boredom With SummerBoard
Are you tired of that same boring Apple motif on your iPhone? I’m getting there. I change my wallpaper a lot, but once I slide to unlock, I am back at that same black theme. There are a few ways to…
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News: zCover offers iSA silicone cases for 3G nano, classic
zCover has introduced its iSA micro3 for the third-generation iPod nano and iSA classic for the iPod classic. The silicone cases feature an integrated .2mm-thin Click Wheel cover, belt clip, hard screen protector, and a flip port cover, as well as compatibility with the company's lanyard, armband, window clips, and universal belt clip. The iSA micro3 is available in clear, blue, grey, black, and pink, and sells for $25; the iSA classic is available…
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New iPod Reviews: 3G iPod nano, iPod classic, iPod touch
Daniel Eran DilgerCan a 6.5mm thin device really deliver a usable Keynote presentation on a TV? Why doesn’t the iPod Touch offer a hard drive option? Is the Touch really an ‘iPhone without the phone’? Is the new iTunes WiFi Store usable? I did a series or reviews for AppleInsider ferreting out the details on Apple’s new iPod lineup to find out. Apple's new 3G iPod nano is a 5G video iPod in a nano-thin shell.The new third generation Nano has the same small and ultra thin form factor as previous Nanos and similarly occupies the same sports-centric product position in the Apple's iPod line. However, it adds full video iPod features on a screen smaller than the existing 5G video iPod. How well does it deliver?A rundown of the new video playback, video presentation, and games features, and the new iPod software menus and software used in both the Nano and the Classic:[3G iPod nano review][New iPod Nano No Fatty (photos)]Why the iPod classic May Be the End of the Line for Hard Disk iPods.Released alongside the all new third generation iPod Nano, the new iPod Classic offers a refined all-metal case, the same new graphical interface of the Nano, and the most battery and storage capacity of any iPod model (thanks to its hard drive and hefty battery). However, as outlined in this review, the Classic may signal the end of the road for hard disc drive-based iPods, as Apple aggressively moves its entire media player lineup to Flash memory storage.What’s new in the standard iPod model, and why the Classic is the only iPod that still uses a hard drive. Also, why the uniquely OS X-based iPod touch and iPhone do not offer a hard drive option, and may be unlikely to ever do so:[iPod classic review]The Ultra-Thin Touch is a Great Media Player, but Not an ‘iPhone Without the Phone.’The iPod Touch delivers an advanced new generation of the iPod using technology developed for the iPhone. However, it's not an "iPhone without the phone," and that reality is likely to upset lots of users who want it to be. For everyone else, the new Touch is an amazingly thin and sexy new media playing, web browsing, photo viewing, widescreen, multi-touch member of the iPod family that simply changes the game in handheld media players.A photo tour of the Touch out of the box, with a comparison of how it differers from other iPods and from the iPhone. Includes a rundown of the software changes in the OS X version 1.1 that ships with the Touch, compared to the latest version 1.0.2 available for the iPhone:[iPod touch unpacking tour and first look photos][iPod touch Review]The original iPhone ReviewWhile the iPhone is primarily marketed as a mobile phone, it's also the latest generation of iPod, a handheld computer with a web browser, an organizer, a note taker and a camera. Are all of its features worth its $500-600 price, particularly in view of criticisms lodged against AT&T's service and the missing features in the device itself?A first in depth look at the iPhone’s features from July 2, 2007, which shares some--but certainly not all--of its tricks with the new iPod Touch:[iPhone review]I spent Sunday at the Treasure Island Music Festival, held on the Great Lawn of San Francisco’s little island with sweeping views of the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline. It’s like having a mini Coachella in our own backyard! The weather was great, the people were friendly, the event was well organized, and they even had a tent full of old arcade games.
That means I now have a sunburnt neck and some Joust fatigue, and a bit behind on Reverse Bingo for iPhone apps. New articles coming up tomorrow. [Treasure Island Festival September 15/16, 2007]What do you think? I really like to hear from readers. Comment in the Forum or email me with your ideas. Like reading RoughlyDrafted? Share articles with your friends, link from your blog, and subscribe to my podcast! Submit to Reddit or Slashdot, or consider making a small donation supporting this site. Thanks!
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Run Widgets (kinda) on your iPhone
Filed under: Hacks, How-tos, iPhone I've kinda sorta almost have Macintosh Dashboard widgets running on the iPhone. Some run okay, others not so much. The Weather, ESPN and Calendar widgets are some of the best; the Flight Tracker, Dictionary and Phone Book are among the worst. If you'd like to give this a try, download a copy of Widgets.app with the following understanding: Widgets uses the XLaunch icon and splash screen and the Unknown icon is the wrong size. Sorry about that. You must install System/Library/WidgetResources from your Mac onto the iPhone. Same folder, same name, same contents. Most Widgets will not run properly without these support files. Install your widgets into /var/root/Library/Widgets on the iPhone. Widgets.app runs plain old ordinary OS X widgets. You must copy over the entire file structure, so scp -r YourWidget.wdgt root@youriphoneip:/var/root/Library/Widgets is going to be your best bet. And yes, you need to create the Widgets folder if it does not yet exist. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Singing the iPod touch LCD quality blues
A post in Apple's discussion forums could shed some light on why some iPod touch displays are having quality issues. The bad news is that this could very well be another Apple first-generation problem, but relief may be in sight.Read More...
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News: Mix: iFixit, iPhone baby, Laptop, touch
iFixit has posted a teardown of the iPod touch. Of note in the teardown article is the iPod touch's battery, the volume of which is 81 percent that of the iPhone, and the fact that the display can be separated from the glass, allowing for more simple repairs. iPopmybaby (formerly iPodmybaby) has introduced its new iPhone/iPod touch-styled one piece baby outfit. The design, printed on the front, features iPhone-like icons representing various…
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New iPod classic has "badly engineered" audio circuitry?
Filed under: iPod FamilyContinuing our theme today of possible problems with the new iPods, now it's the classic's turn. Personally, I doubt could hear the difference but there seems to be a number of people who think the new 6G iPod classic sounds noticeably worse than the 5.5G iPod that it replaced. In the words of Marc Heijligers the new iPod classic "sounds precise, crisp, but lacks 3D image and has an electronic haze to the sound... [which] becomes fatiguing after a while. The 5G sounds less precise, but its timbre contains more harmonic information and sounds less electronic." To back up these "golden ear" impressions Marc ran a bunch of tests comparing the 5.5G iPod and the new classic and has posted his results. His conclusion is that the 6G iPod Classic displays: A slight uplift in treble. A group delay that depends on frequency. A strong modulation with 22.1k, causing intermodulation distortion. Apparently the cause of this change is Apple's switching from a Wolfson (5.5G) to a Cirrus Logic audio codec chip. As I said before, you'd probably need golden ears (and good cans) to hear the differences, but if you do you may want to give the 6G a good listen before replacing a 5.5G iPod with a new classic.[via Infinite Loop]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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iPod touch dark screen problems
Filed under: iPod Family, TroubleshootingThere are increasing reports out there about problems with the screens on the new iPod touch. Apparently many folks (including here on TUAW) are complaining that the screen is very dark and lacking in details. Above you can see a comparison on Apple Touch comparing the iPhone to the iPod touch (right). Over at the Apple Discussion boards a third-party LCD engineer weighs in with a possible answer: bad quality control in manufacturing led to an error with the anti-reflective coating. If this is right, he suggests the problem might be fixed at the factory in the near future. The upshot is simply that it may be worth waiting a bit if you want an iPod touch to see what Apple is going to do.[via Digg]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Adobe Photoshop CS3 for iPhone
“Also, we’ve done away with warning dialog boxes in Photoshop. Instead, Photoshop actually calls your iPhone and tells you the warning!” (Thanks to Dan Benjamin.) ★
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iTouch Jailbreak Update: Still Not There
Filed under: iPod Family, Hacks For those of you keeping track of the iTouch Jailbreak, here's a quick progress report. After I modified iPhuc to send arbitrary commands to the iTouch in recovery mode, the team has gotten as far as sending the StartRestore command (that's a third command on top of Goodbye and QueryType.) .If you'd like to try this out yourself, download a copy of iPhuc from the Google Code repository and use the following modified files: Restore, Recovery, and Main.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Article: iLounge Blocks Product Comment Astroturfing
Reader comments are important to us—and to other readers. But recently, corporate marketers have been anonymously abusing our comments system, attempting to mislead readers with overly positive comments about their own products, or overly negative comments about their competitors. This practice is known as “astroturfing,” or the creation of artificial grass roots support, and has been banned on iLounge since January, 2006. Today,…
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Qumana blogging client
Filed under: Software, Freeware, Internet ToolsThe Qumana blog editor is a free cross-platform blogging client with support for a variety of blogging platforms including Wordpress, Blogger, MoveableType and others. It offers WYSIWYG editing, offline composing, and a variety of other features. Setting it up to work with a public blog is quite easy, requiring you just to enter the blog's root URL. It will then prompt you for your username and password and you're pretty much set. Unfortunately, there are two catches. First, it appears to be a java application with all that entails for resource usage and UI inconsistency. Second, it's free because Qumana wants you to use their Q Ads service (which is built into the editor). Q Ads are text advertisements that you can manually add to your blog (by defining keywords) and Qumana will share some of the revenue with you. Fortunately it appears you can use the Qumana editor even without inserting Q Ads. It's not as Mac-like as MarsEdit by a long shot, but if you'd like to try a free editor that works easily with a variety of blogging platforms then Qumana is worth a look. The Qumana blog editor is a free download from Qumana.[via MacApper]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Devicescape Connect
Glenn Fleishman: Devicescape has released a simple application for the iPhone that lets you connect to Wi-Fi hotspots without all the fuss of tapping in user names and passwords, clicking Accept buttons, or remembering WEP and WPA encryption keys. Devicescape’s Connect application requires the Nullriver AppTapp application installer, a third-party hack that enables easy installation of software on the iPhone. ★
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My Mac's startup chime doesn't work anymore. Can I turn it back on?
It's prime time for chime time.
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iPhone Update 1.1.1 In the Near Future?
After posting details for the $100 store credit, giving most people a chance to spend over the weekend, Apple posted some pictures on the instruction page that revealed version 1.1.1 of the iPhone software. We all know the iPhone…
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News: Macally rolls out BTCUP FM transmitter
Macally has announced the release of its BTCUP, an iPod accessory that combines a cup holder, FM transmitter, and Bluetooth hands-free device. It features a backlit LCD display for selecting radio stations at night, auto-switching between iPod and phone modes when users receive an incoming call, and the ability to charge the iPod when docked. Andrew Saldana, vice president of sales and marketing for Macally, said, “iPod users can now comfortably…
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Is this Orange's French iPhone?
Filed under: Cellphones As we quickly approach Apple's "mums the word" event in London, the reports have been flying in concerning all sorts of carriers rocking the iPhone in the very near future. Now, we've got France's Orange joining O2's supposed UK deal and Germany's Vodafone / T-Mobile juggle. The rumors are saying we can expect a €300 French iPhone (sans 3G and unlimited data plans) on November 29th, with an announcement during the Apple Expo in Paris on September 24th, though the picture we're seeing clearly shows the blurry-as-all-get-out phone touting the T-Mobile carrier name. They say it's roaming, we say; don't sign anything yet.[Via TechCrunch] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Kensington rolls out accessories aplenty
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals In addition to those hyperbole-laden mice and keyboards Kensington introduced the other day, the company also busted out a whole range of other accessories, including everything from FM transmitters to power adapters to notebook cases. On that first front, the company has introduced no less than four of its LiquidFM Transmitters, including two designed specifically for iPods and two that'll work with any old MP3 player. All four boast features like QuickSeek to automatically find the clearest frequency and RDS functionality to display song information on compatible car stereos. In other forms of accessorizing, Kensington's introduced a slew of "Connect it" and "Power it" devices, the former of which includes a variety of laptop docks and stands replete with USB ports, while the later consists of adapters of various sorts to let you use and charge your USB-powered devices in your car, on a plane, or at home using a regular power outlet. As if that wasn't enough, the company also has a pair of new laptop cases, which will neither charge your devices nor transmit audio, but which should keep both your laptop and your wrists safe, thanks to Kensington's trademark Contour ergonomic support panel. According to Kensington, the whole lot should be available in time for the holiday season, with everything available for pre-order now. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Why iPhone Hacks Won't Upset the Apple Cart
Apple probably isn't worried too much about all the people working to unlock the iPhone. It has the technical upper hand, and the vast majority of consumers aren't interested in putting their iPhone at risk. It's all about planning. There are plenty of upgrades and new services to be offered by the iPhone over the next two years. Customers will, by and large, want those free services. That means when cool new services are offered and the iTunes Update alert flashes alluringly, 99.9 percent of users will go for the update.
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How not to drive Mac market share.
CNet's Randall Stross thinks Apple missed a market share opportunity with Microsoft's missteps. And he's hell-bent on proving it! The biggest problem here is that Stross largely relies on one source for Mac market share, a source that conveniently places it at its lowest possible threshold, 3 percent. There are plenty of other sources you could use that will give you other results, and this piece comes across as a conclusion in search of the evidence. That forlorn number looks even worse compared with Apple's peak worldwide share of 14 percent in 1984, the year the Macintosh was introduced and sales of Apple II computers were the company's mainstay. Ah, that's some sleight of hand there, Randall! Note that that's Apple's market share at the time, not the Mac's. Sure, you could argue that the Mac was the Apple II's replacement, but that's not completely accurate. Again, Stross is simply using the largest possible number to make the difference look bigger. You probably don't want to include the iPod in Apple's current market share, do you, Randall? The horny one thought not. And it's not like his source for Apple's market share doesn't have an axe to grind in this. Here's Roger Kay back in 2005 arguing that the iPod halo effect was more a result of the cyclical buying pattern of Mac heads than a discernible conversion of customers from other platforms. From the overall market's point of view, it's a tempest in a teapot. I believe the company continues to make suboptimal strategic decisions, even as its marketing and short-term tactical execution are astounding. What will trip it up again are the standards and pricing issues. Ah, the old pricing saw. The Macalope's not going to get into that again, but suffice it to say when you compare name brand computers, Apple's products are similarly priced. Kay's one example of Apple not using "standards" is choosing to use Bonjour (n&eacuts; Rendezvous) instead of UPnP. Here Kay defines "standard" as anything Microsoft uses. Here's Kay's take on Apple's dispute with Cisco over the iPhone trademark. "This was just brass balls on the part of Steve (Jobs), to go in there and just grab that trademark and not pay a license for it or negotiate. It's the height of arrogance," Kay said. "He basically thinks he can get away with it." However, it's likely that the two companies will settle their differences, as prolonged litigation doesn't really serve either company, Kay said. "Apple is playing chicken with Cisco, and there's other companies I'd rather play chicken with," he said, referring to Cisco's deep pockets. And then here he is eating his own words a few weeks later. Roger Kay, of Endpoint Technologies Associates, agreed. "It certainly looks like Cisco gave away the store." Surprise! There were a number of so-called analysts calling Apple all kinds of awful names at the times and lamenting the horrible effect on intellectual property this would have all while turning a blind eye to the evidence that Cisco would fold like a cheap card table. But back to Stross' piece, he continues to go to great lengths to try to make his point. The Mac's share of personal computers has actually edged a bit lower since Vista's release in January, and the various flavors of Windows a bit higher, according to Net Applications, a firm in Aliso Viejo, Calif., that monitors the operating systems among visitors to 40,000 customer Web sites. "A bit lower". A bit lower than what, pray tell, Randall? Oh, a bit lower than 6.38 percent. First of all, Stross is using numbers that aren't measuring the same thing. One is sales, the other is web traffic. The two are not necessarily comparable. Second of all, if you're going to compare them, you're going to have to somehow deal with the fact that one says Mac market share is 3 percent and the other says its 6 percent. If Apple had begun wooing Best Buy two years ago, and perhaps appointed an ambassador to look after the relationships with the chain and other resellers, the Mac would have been much better off. Right. Because Apple's best chance at increasing market share is through resellers that stick its products in the back of the store with the peripherals that time forgot and that have sales people that know little about the Mac and tend to push customers to Windows machines. That's a sure-fire recipe for success! And it's always worked so well in the past. CompUSA, Best Buy, Sears. Those relationships all really drove up Mac market share. Stross is clearly hung up on Apple's relationship with stores not exactly noted for their sterling sales experiences. Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson, fortunately, are not. The key to increasing the Mac's market share is not trying to shove units through a sub-standard channel (although that can be part of the mix). The key is in making a premium end-to-end user experience that people will drive miles to get.
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iPhone Tip: Dump That Dirty iPhone
Chances are if you’re someone like Jason Bourne or James Bond, you wouldn’t dare be caught dead with an iPhone. For the rest of us who walk in fear or have a tin foil hat for every day of the week, there are some simple methods to dump that dirty…
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Parallels and VMware Are Gateway Drugs to Windows:
I'm seeing it more and more. Friends, family, co-workers are enamored by the Mac not because of OS X, but because now they can, if they need to (or want to) run Windows on it. First it was Apple itself incredibly releasing Boot-Camp and then others have come along, notably Parallels…
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SpiralFrog's "free" music download service goes live
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable VideoSpiralFrog, the badly named, ad-supported music and video download portal has gone live today after months of beta testing, or so we're told. The site allows users to legally and freely download media from a catalogue of over 800,000 songs and 3,500 videos (most provided by Apple ship-jumper Universal Music Group, as mentioned way back in August 2006), and requires only that users register on the site and log in once a month (otherwise the DRM'd files go belly up). It's not all lollipops and rainbows, however, as just mentioned, the files are full of nasty, fun-murdering DRM which prevents your new tunes from being burned onto a CD. In other gloomy news, SpiralFrog's content won't work on your Mac or your iPod, and can only be placed on two media players or phones at a time. "We believe it will be a very powerful alternative to the pirate sites," said company chairman Joe Mohen, adding, "With SpiralFrog you know what you're getting." Yes Joe, and we know what we're not getting, too. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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UK iPhone, Touchy touch and Unlocking the iPhone with Ease
iPhones for the UK, coming tomorrow, maybe. The iPod touch isn't as easy as it's iPhone brother to hack. Why pay for unlocking when you can get for free?
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Mac 101: Keychain
Filed under: Mac 101The Keychain on your Mac is a little application buried in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder. I say buried because I think Keychain is sadly neglected by most users. Here are some things you can do with it: Save web page passwords Save login info (aside from websites, like your IM logins) Save protected notes (secret stuff) This 101 will be a little longer than usual, so I can show you how to use Keychain to store passwords and other secret things. Later, in our Secure Your Mac series, we'll talk about making a good password so all these things stay private. Full details on how to easily use Keychain after the jump.Continue reading Mac 101: KeychainPermalink | Email this | Comments
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iPods unblocked from syncing with Linux
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable VideoAs we recently reported, the latest batch of iPods brought with them a few changes that weren't exactly evident at first glance, not the least of which was the ability to sync with third party apps. That proved to be especially problematic for iPod-loving Linux users, who had gotten used to apps like gtkpod and Amarok to sync the players with their OS of choice. As expected, however, that blockage now appears to have been cleared by some enterprising Linux users, and the iPod classic (and seemingly other new other new iPods as well) is now back to its Linux-syncing ways. For the time being, that unfortunately still appears to be a somewhat complicated process, although we're sure some less time-intensive solutions will be arriving before too long.[Via Digg] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Mark Cuban Switches to the Mac
Billionaire captain of industry Mark Cuban — who really does capitalize and punctuate his writing as you see below — got frustrated with Windows, bought a MacBook, and loves it: First is that when I close my MacBook without turning it off, it doesn’t lose power. It can sit there for hours and then work when I open it up. The 2nd is that it rarely freezes up. Maybe 3 or 4 times in months. Finally, i LOVE the fact that it boots up in 1/1000000000 of the time it takes my PC. It probably will add years to my life .. (ok an exaggeration). Im not an Apple fanboy, but I love me some MacBook There’s a whole class of recent switchers who define “Apple fanboy” as “anyone who’s been an enthusiastic Mac user since before I switched to the Mac”. ★
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Apple event tomorrow at 10:00AM BST / 5:00AM EDT, set your alarms (really!)
Filed under: Announcements Europeans have been waiting in constant anticipation since June 29th to hear when and in what form their version of the iPhone will take. The rumors pretty much revolve around which carriers in which regions will get the phone, with a hint of speculation about a 3G update in HSDPA and UMTS rife Europe. Will Apple give us what we all want, or are we looking at the same ol' locked EDGE phone, this time with three or more different equivalents of AT&T? Or will Apple throw a fast one on us all and announce one more thing? Tomorrow morning -- or evening, or afternoon -- we'll be there to find out.Go here and bookmark this page, it's where the action takes place in London tomorrow morning.11:00PM - Hawaii (September 17th)2:00AM - Pacific3:00AM - Mountain4:00AM - Central5:00AM - Eastern10:00AM - London11:00AM - Paris6:00PM - TokyoGot any more timezones / comments / predictions? Now's the time to let loose in the comments. Of course, you can still opt out of all this Apple news by checking this link. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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iPod Touch Dissected
Want to take a look at the guts of an iPod Touch? Now’s your chance. The guys at iFixit have done it again, and ripped the new device to shreds, spilling it’s guts out, and photographing it for all the world to see. Click Here to take a look via TUAW
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How to "Get things done" with a Newton
Filed under: PortablesSeveral of the TUAW bloggers are fans of David Allen's Getting Things Done. There are also a couple of Newton fans among our numbers (myself included), so it's inevitable that the two would come together.Eckhart Köppen took it a step further and described the evolution of his Newton GTD system, from the very start to his detailed solution. With simple applications like DateMan, Super NotePad and More Folders, Eckhart has constructed a nice solution for his Newton.Thanks for posting this, Eckhart! I'll try it myself.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Review: Apple’s new keyboards (Verdict: Atrocious)
Apple released an entirely new keyboard design with nary a peep. It flew under the radar arriving with the newest iMac launched on 07 August 2007. The new design wasn’t a complete surprise though, it was leaked a couple of weeks before it was launched. The new keyboard is mentioned on the new iMac’s design [...]
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Audio measurements on iPod classic reveal codec changes
Some tests done by people in the know show that an audio codec change in the 6G iPod might lead to less-than-stellar audio performance when compared to previous iPod models.Read More...
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News: Kensington unveils LiquidFM iPod FM transmitters
Kensington has introduced its latest FM transmitters for the iPod. The LiquidFM and LiquidFM Deluxe for iPod feature ClearFM technology, the ability to charge the iPod while it plays, three station presets for instant tuning to any FM station (88.1-107.9), an on/off switch to avoid car battery drain, and an enhanced custom digital LCD screen for easier viewing. The LiquidFM Deluxe adds QuickSeek technology to quickly find the clearest station,…
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O2 reportedly paying through the nose for iPhone deal
O2 has apparently won the UK iPhone contract according to somereports, but the company may have agreed to some very Apple-friendly terms in order to secure the deal.Read More...
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Why I’m happy with AT&T’s EDGE Network
So, this weekend I’ve been moving to a new home. I’m sure any of you that have done this can attest to how much fun it isn’t. For starters you have to move heavy things. You also have to turn off your electricity, phone, cable, internet, etc…and you have to have it hooked back up. Well, I had my Internet scheduled to be hooked up on Saturday evening. Between the hours of 5 and 7. Of course, it’s a transfer of service, so the installer knows that we’re moving. This individual, Technician 2878, decided to show up to my house 30 minutes before he was scheduled. Of course, we weren’t home….we were at the other house…loading up stuff to move to the new location. According to the company, he then called my cell phone, and the person that answered said it was a wrong number. yeah right. Then, after I called and yelled at the cable company, they proceeded to try and get in touch with him for the rest of the evening…he never once answered his email, pager, or cell phone. It sounds to me like somebody wanted to kick back a little early on Saturday, so he ditched me. My guess is, after I get out of the cable company’s office this morning, he’s going to regret that decision. Regardless, I spent the weekend without the Internet on my Mac. That makes it hard to do my job, as I’m sure you can imagine. I usually like to get ahead of the following day, by doing some advanced blogging the night before. That is impossible without an internet connection on my Macbook…or is it? Thanks to AT&T and the Edge network, I was able to dig through the weekend news stories and find a few gems. I was also able to search through YouTube and find a new commercial that I’d never seen before. All things that you have seen, or will see, throughout the day here on the site. Edge does not run “slowâ€? in my area. It can take 20 seconds for a webpage to fully load, which can seem excruciatingly long at times, but it is heads and shoulders above the old dial-up days when I used to wait all afternoon (or sometimes days) to watch movie trailers (Episode 1, anyone?). YouTube video load in seconds, and web pages are up and running very quickly. My email only takes seconds to check, and - overall - I have no complaints about Edge. I see the constant complaints about the service from all the people in the San Francisco area who do this tech reporting thing for a living, and I have to wonder if we’re even using the same service. I wonder if the Edge network in that area is older, so it’s not as fast…I don’t know what the problem is…all I know is that, for me, Edge is a great alternative to Wi-Fi, and I have no trouble using it. I’m happy with Edge. Are you?
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Fix broken Safari RSS article count updates
I have experienced this problem several times in the past few years, both on a G4 PowerBook and Intel iMac. For no reason, Safari will stop updating my RSS feed counts in the Bookmarks bar. RSS still functions and will update whenever a particular feed is selected, but the parenthetical numbers for each feed or folder do not change. The fix is simple and doesn't hurt any of your RSS subscriptions. Just quit Safari, remove the Database3 file located in ~/Library » Syndication, and then launch Safari again. I move mine to the Desktop and trash it only after I've successfully restarted Safari and confirmed the problem is fixed. Safari will create a new file in its place. Easy enough, but I've never seen it anywhere else online, and have forgotten it myself a few times.
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10.4: Create new iCal events from anywhere
I've been looking for a way to add new events to iCal without having to switch to iCal when an email or a phone call comes in. While an internet search came up with Event Maker which lets you add iCal events based on an email, I wanted something I could pull up regardless of the app I was working in at the time. Then I discovered that Automator had what I needed. Open Automator, and click on the iCal icon in the Library column (under Applications). Drag the New iCal Events action into the workflow window. Save the workflow as an application, and you're done. Now you can: Put the application on the dock, in the sidebar, in the toolbar, or... ...add it to your Butler configuration and assign it a hot key, or... ...pull it up with Quicksilver, Launchbar, or Butler when needed. When you run it, you can set the date, time, calendar, etc. The o...
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USB hubs and the new Apple keyboards
Owning a G4 Mac mini, I can't use the new Apple keyboard to its full potential -- using power-consuming USB 2.0 devices, like some sorts of USB sticks or an iPod. I was experimenting with my new keyboard the other day and found out that if you plug in a USB hub, in my case this one, you can use high-powered USB devices. Note that I am not using the USB hub's power cord. I've been able to use my Mighty Mouse, iPod nano, and powered USB stick all at the same time when plugged into the USB hub, which in turn is plugged into my new Apple keyboard. Good luck trying it out. [robg adds: I can't confirm this one, though is seems strange that it would work without the USB hub's power cord plugged in. If anyone has the new keyboard and can test with one or more USB hubs, please post your results.]
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iWork '08 trial and time zone changes
Not really a hint, more a warning... Yesterday while flying from old Europe to the US, I suddenly found that despite still having two weeks remaining on my trial version of iWork, it claimed the trial period was over. I was quite upset, even more so as I have ordered it through my company, but have not received the final key yet. It appears that the culpridt is the Date & Time System Preferences panel. I had switched my time zone from Paris to San Francisco time, and that seemed to trigger the expiration. So if you plan to test iWork and travel, do not change the time zone during the trial period. [robg adds: I can't easily confirm this one, as I have the full iWork installed on all my machines. If someone can confirm, please post in the comments.]
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The iPhone Heads to Europe; Euros Head to Cupertino
Apple's reportedly will announce deals to sell the iPhone in Europe this week. Carriers O2, Orange and T-Mobile are said to be giving huge portions of the usage fees back to Apple.
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News: Marware debuts new cases for iPod classic, 3G nano
Marware has introduced its first cases for the new iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano. The Sportsuit Relay and Sportsuit Runabout for third-generation iPod nano are armband-style active cases that feature a clear plastic cover for the nano's screen and Click Wheel, and include a wristband for wearing the iPod like a watch, and a adjustable extension piece for wearing the case like an armband. The Sportsuit Relay adds room for the Nike…
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Linux coders hash out support for new iPods
Linux programmers say they've surmounted a new obstacle, providing Linux support for the latest-generation iPods.
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3 Mac Specific Features That Would Make The iPhone Rock
Although Apple is gaining market share at an unprecedented rate, it still pales in comparison to the ever dominant PC and other platforms such as the iPhone and iPod have to be leveraged in order to generate success. Utilizing those platforms, here are 3 Mac specific things that tie in…
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BMW's iPhone runs on Vodafone (not T-Mobile) at Frankfurt Motor Show
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video So, if you believe the rumor mill, then T-Mobile (Deutsche Telekom) has clinched the iPhone for Germany right? Perhaps, but that hasn't stopped BMW from showing off this picture of the iPhone running with Voda...(fone) at their Frankfurt Motor Show website. Now we'd chalk this up to some speculative Photoshopping on BMW's part but we also received a tip from a reader claiming to have seen a Vodafone iPhone in the BMW area over the weekend. What the? Anyone at the autoshow care to sneak out some snaps?[Via itrafik, thanks Jay A.]Read -- Photo above found in the iPhone section Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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When a window of Mac opportunity closes, several doors open
[Photo featured on the front of Sunday's New York Times]This weekend's New York Times had what I thought was a seriously flawed article written by Randall Stross titled, A Window of Opportunity for Macs, Soon to Close. In that article, Stross trots out the old canard of Apple's three percent market share in the PC industry, and blames it all on Apple missing an opportunity to distribute its wares through Best Buy and other big box retailers when Windows Vista was sucking wind (i.e., most of this year). He also adds the following throw-away:Apple has not even begun to try to re-enter another domain from which it had withdrawn its Mac sales teams: large corporations. Given such strategic decisions, the Mac has limited room to expand.With that out of the way, Stross declares that that improvements in Vista will soon lock Apple out of the market because it will become unstoppable. Cue the Darth Vader theme, end of story.So I was most amused this morning to read a series of headlines that seem to refute this screed, I'll just run down three of them:Apple's market share is rising. Ars Technica notes recent studies that say Apple's US notebook computer market share was 17% in the last quarter, and 28% of prospective buyers are planning to buy an Apple notebook in the next 90 days. That doesn't sound like retail channels are standing in the way of those buyers.Switching trends are getting stronger. Jason Fry over at the Wall Street Journal considered switching to a Mac last week and asked for reader feedback. This week, he writes that readers pushed him overwhelmingly to make the switch -- and in the process cited Vista as the final straw that was pushing them out of the Microsoft camp.Corporate use is growing despite Stross's arguments. Roger Ehrenberg at Information Arbitrage notes that consumers are forcing IT to accept Macs as corporate platforms because they just work better, in contrast to the typical "Do only what we let you, otherwise it might break!" IT philosophy. He concludes saying that corporate Mac adoption is "nothing if not inevitable."But the first and best rebuttal to Stross's article came when I opened the Times newspaper on Sunday, and I was greeted with a large front page photo of a woman considering preventive surgery for possible future cancer. The article wasn't about computers or technology, but the photo (shown at the top of this article) told a very compelling story about Apple's increasing influence with consumers: she was using a MacBook Pro to do her research. Technorati Tags:Apple, Marketing, Randall Stross, New York Times, Roger Ehrenberg, Macintosh
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YouTube Find: Kevin Costner Apple Ad
Here’s an ad that I haven’t seen before. Released to promote Apple’s Lisa, this ad stars a young Kevin Costner in a performance that may be just as good as any he’s ever done in his career.
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Is Apple's Play to Grab a Bigger Market Share Working?
All it took was 74 days for the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone unit sales to hit 1 million.
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Companies Warm To the Idea of Office Macs
I've long believed that one needs to expect the "impossible," and if events in the financial markets over the past several months teach us anything is that the impossible is not only possible, it is inevitable.
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1.0.1 firmware update to new iPods improves UI speed
Reader reports have been telling us that the newest firmware update to the iPod classic and 3G iPod nano greatly improves UI speed on the two devices. We're definitely glad to hear it, too.Read More...
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iPhone and Virtual Sexuality
Back from a long, enjoyable, Rosh Hashanah holiday weekend to say I was very happy to read Jason Swifter’s iPhone Porn Wish here last week. A little historical context: Porn has frequently…
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The iPhone will launch in France on Nov. 29th
TechCrunch France has the scoop on the launch of the iPhone in France. The price is 300 euros, and it WILL NOT be a 3G phone. It will be exclusively available through Orange France. The part that is really disappointing? There will be NO unlimited data plan available. That could get pretty pricey pretty quick. via CrunchGear
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European iPhone Update: 02's "Mad" Terms, T-Mobile's Expanded Empire
With an Apple (AAPL) press conference set for 10 a.m. London-time tomorrow (see Apple's iPhone Heads for Europe), new details are emerging about the company's plans for rolling out the iPhone across the pond. The most intriguing revelations come from Richard Wray in The Guardian, who tells the story in this morning's paper about how Steve Jobs played the four major European network operators against each other -- signing contracts for the U.K. market with three of them and even dispatching Apple technicians to help configure their networks to work with the iPhone -- only to extract terms from O2 at the last minute that one source describes as "madly money-losing." According to Wray, O2 is sharing its retail sales business with the Carphone chain and kicking as much as 40% of its iPhone revenue back to Apple, an arrangement he says is raising eyebrows in The City (London's version of Wall Street). Meanwhile, Financial Times Deutschland, sister paper of London's FT, reports that T-Mobile is holding a press conference on Wednesday to announce that it has secured the rights to sell the iPhone not just in Germany, but in Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary and Croatia as well. The terms of this deal are said to be less onerous and more in line with the 10% revenue sharing model mentioned in earlier reports. Finally, TechCrunch France reports that Apple and Orange will wait until next Tuesday -- the day before the opening of the big Apple Expo in Paris -- to announce the terms of their deal (contradicting The Observer, which had the Orange press conference set for Thursday). According to TechCrunch France, which ran a blurry photo of a French-language iPhone screen, the device will be available in France on Nov. 29 and sell for 300 euros ($416) without 3G service or an unlimited data plan. (See here for the English-language version.)
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News: iPhone Dev Team announces GUI-based iPhone unlocking app
The iPhone Dev Team has released anySIM, a GUI-based iPhone application that allows users to unlock the iPhone for use with any SIM card. The app simply needs to be copied on to the phone and executed — it is fully automatic, and therefore makes unlocking a much easier process for those users who lacked the technical experience to take advantage of previously released, more challenging unlocking methods. anySIM is available as a free download…
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News: Apple releases iPod software version 1.0.1 for nano 3G, classic
Apple has released an updated version of the iPod software, version 1.0.1, for the third-generation iPod nano and iPod classic. The release's notes are limited, but the update appears to be a routine “bug fix” release. iPod software version 1.0.1 for iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano is available now through the devices' “Sync” tab in iTunes. ...
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The Price of Freedom: YouTube, Warranty and Visual Voice Mail
The day the iPhone was released in June, a cottage industry sprang up with the goal of freeing the phone from the restrictions Apple and its partner, AT&T, have placed on it. The top goal has been to eliminate the requirement that all iPhone buyers sign up for two years of AT&T service. It appears they have succeeded, but the results are not for everyone. I've spent the past week or so testing an "unlocked" iPhone supplied by a Canadian company called "PureMobile." To release the phone from AT&T's control, the company modifies Apple's hardware.
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AMD's Barcelona, iPhone/iPod Conflicts, Analyzing Blu-ray's Failure, Product of the Week
I just came back from the Atlantis resort and a nice vacation playing on some incredible water slides, swimming with dolphins, and floating on a mile-long endless pool. I had a ball, but it appears that others decided to be very busy in my absence. AMD, for one, brought out its long-awaited Barcelona chip. In thinking about it, however, I no longer believe Intel and AMD are Apples and Apples. AMD's strengths come from being dramatically different in other key areas. Apple brought out its new iPods and, I think, now has some ugly line conflicts.
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Mac OS Ken: 09.17.2007
Gizmodo: Darks Washed Out on iPod Touch / PowerPage: Other Touching Facts / iPod Touch Requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or Later (for Mac) / iPhoneAtlas: Touch Not (Yet) as Hackable as iPhone / Report: Apple Kills Linux in New iPods / First-Gen Nano Lanyards Work with Third-Gen / Chernin: News Corp Talks with Apple to be Prickly / CBS: Watching NBC/Apple Fight / Apple Details Receiving Early iPhone Credit / No iTunes with iPhone Rebate / VNUNet: O2 CEO Parises iPhone and Revenue Sharing / Apple Issues iMac Software Update v1.1
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iPod Touch Designed to Push iPhones?
Earlier this month, Apple delivered on what fans had long been asking for - a widescreen iPod video with the touch screen capabilities of the iPhone, but without the hassle of going though AT&T to gain phone service. It even debuted with a WiFi-enabled iTunes Music Store. The new iPod Touch looks like an iPhone and has similar capabilities of an iPhone, including Safari Web browsing, YouTube, iCal and other features. But if you look at the iPod Touch, you'll see half the screen devoid of icons - while the iPhone is full. As iProng's Bill Palmer points out, there are a host of features you'll miss out on from the iPhone if you buy the iPod Touch. And as I look at the iPod Touch, I can just see myself longing for the convergence of one device, instead of having the iPod Touch in one pocket, and the Blackberry in the other. This feeling is reinforced by Apple's leaving half the screen empty of icons - a subtle reminder every time you fire up the iPod Touch that you made a compromise. Its introduction coinciding with the controversial $200 price drop on the iPhone, the 16 GB iPod Touch is the exact same $399 price tag as the 8 GB iPhone. If it wasn't for the hassle and issues with AT&T, the additional features of an iPhone would make purchasing that product a no-brainer over the iPod Touch. As amazing as the iPod Touch is, you can imagine the number of times you would be asked, “Oh is that one of those iPhones?”, only to answer no, and set yourself up for a long explanation. I find myself getting this close to ordering an iPod Touch, only to stop, because at that point, I might as well get an iPhone. And just maybe, that's what Apple wants me to do. iphone, ipod, ipod touch
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How Cramer Beat the S&P 500
There have been many remarks made as to whether or not Jim Cramer of Mad Money has been doing better or worse than the S&P 500.
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Why Apple Isn't Worth the Risk
Many people believe that to be short a stock, traders must believe that the company has fallen upon hard times and that sustainability is in question.
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Corporate Use of Macs On the Rise
I've long believed that one needs to expect the "impossible," and if events in the financial markets over the past several months teach us anything is that the impossible is not only possible, it is inevitable. Consider corporate use of the Mac.
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Will Linux Steal Apple's Thunder?
As Apple Computer (AAPL) surpasses the one million iPhones sold mark and Wall Street has to some degree sold the "news" about the iPhone, not to mention getting lost in the mortgage morass, Apple still remains one of the strongest stocks in the market and should for some time to come.
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Corporate Use of Macs On the Rise, As Expected
I've long believed that one needs to expect the "impossible," and if events in the financial markets over the past several months teach us anything is that the impossible is not only possible, it is inevitable. Consider corporate use of the Mac.
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O2 apparently locks up UK iPhone deal, pays through nose
Filed under: Cellphones, HandheldsSo at one point or another, we've heard nearly every European carrier mentioned as the likely frontrunner for Apple's European iPhone rollout. On the one hand, you can chalk that up to the ugly nature of the rumor mill, but on the other hand, it sounds like the carriers themselves were led to believe the same thing, all part of Apple's grand scheme to play them off one another and put together a gloriously lucrative (for itself, anyway) exclusive distribution agreement. The Guardian is reporting that O2 will be announced as the winner of that Pyrrhic prize for the UK market on Tuesday; the win is an enormously costly one, though, with as much as 40 percent of plan revenue (yes, revenue, not profit) going straight back to Cupertino. In other words, Apple turned up the heat on the UK carrier scene until everyone -- Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile -- had blinked except for the good chaps at O2. The article also suggests that Carphone Warehouse has been roped in to provide some backup on the retail front out of concerns that O2's retail presence isn't enough to push the iPhone properly, but let's be honest: if you really want an iPhone, you're going to seek it out, aren't you? We can apparently expect similar announcements from T-Mobile for the German market and Orange for France on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, making for a pretty enthralling week for iPhone-starved Europeans (the ones that haven't unlocked, anyway). Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Steve Jobs, My Fruit Vendor and How to Keep Customers
It's almost as if Steve Jobs was channeling my fruit vendor. First, they both totally annoyed their customer bases -- in Jobs' case, his Apple acolytes, in my fruit vendor's case, me.