Sep 24, 2007 Sep 26, 2007 Tuesday September 25, 2007
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Amazon MP3 Files Don’t Contain User-Identifying Metadata
The Associated Press: Bill Carr, Amazon’s vice president for digital music, said it will be up to customers to use the music they buy legally. To help stop music piracy, Carr said some record labels add a digital watermark to MP3 files that indicate what company sold the song, and Amazon adds its own name and the item number of the song, for customer service purposes. He added that no details about the buyer or the transaction are added to the downloaded music file. Apple’s DRM-free iTunes Plus files contain your name and email address (well, your iTunes user account ID, which is generally an email address). ★
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Photoshop Elements 6 coming to the Mac sometime in 2008
The Windows version of Photoshop Elements 6 has just been released, but we won't be seeing a Mac version until early 2008, according to Adobe. The company had better gear up for some competition in the lower-end photo editing arena if it's going to be that slow to make its Mac releases.Read More...
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gCal on the iPhone... a tailored fit
The Official Gmail Blog alerts iPhone users to modifications made to gCal with them in mind in a post titled "Updates from Google Docs and Google Calendar": The Google Calendar team, along with the mobile team, released an upgrade to the Calendar interface on the iPhone. It is now tailored for the iPhone, and you can now see your different calendars in distinctive colors. You can see the new Calendar interface by going to http://calendar.google.com on your iPhone browser. [ Via 43 Folders ]
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Bugfix update to Skitch Beta 4 posted (invites available but running low)
Plasq posted a little fix to the current beta build of Skitch today. This update remedies a problem which prevented .Mac webposts from completing. It also contains improvements to Photo-browser stability. To obtain this update, select "Check for Updates..." from the Skitch menu. To obtain Skitch, join our forums and ask for an invite. We started with a ton of invites but the supply has dwindled to single digit quantities, so get in quick!! It's first come first serve and you'll know when we run out because the forum thread will be closed.
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Pixelmator 1.0 released
Pixelmator Team today released Pixelmator 1.0, a GPU-powered image editing tool that allows user to create, edit, and enhance still images. Built from the ground up on a combination of open source and Mac OS X technologies, Pixelmator features powerful selection, painting, retouching, navigation, and color correction tools, and layers-based image editing, GPU-powered image processing, color management, automation, and transparent HUD user interface for work with images. Pixelmator is based on Core Image and OpenGL technologies that use Mac?s video card for image processing. Core Image and OpenGL utilize the graphics card for image processing operations, freeing the CPU for other tasks. And if a high-performance card with increased video memory (VRAM) is present, the user will find real-time responsiveness across a wide variety of Pixelmator operations, including editing tools, color correction tools, and filters. Pixelmator is lightning-fast on the latest PowerPC and all Intel-based Macs. Pixelmator 1.0 is available for USD$59 with a free demo version is available for download. [ Via Daring Fireball ]
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Forbes' Fake Steve Jobs Is Also Fake On Apple
Daniel Eran Dilger Daniel Lyons is the author of the Fake Steve Jobs blog and a columnist at Forbes. After developing a reputation for attacking bloggers, open source, and any alternatives to Microsoft, Lyons has shed his skin to escape from one scandal while at the same time squirming into position to choke the truth out of his next victim: Apple. (more…)
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Phil Schiller: Well, we don’t really Hate iPhone Unlocks, Nah Scratch That, Well Maybe…
The Associated Press managed to snag an interview with the Schillinator about Apple’s threatening press release declaring those who hacked their iPhones screwed once the new 1.1.1 update rolls out. Phil’s word and Apple’s stance seem to vary drastically but…
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Signal: turn your iPhone into an iTunes remote
Filed under: iPod Family, iTunes, iPhoneJust because installing third party apps voids your iPhone warranty doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun with it! Signal is a cool little app that won't void your warranty and lets you control your iTunes library right from the screen of your iPod touch or iPhone.Signal installs on your Mac, and starts up a little server that is accessible via the browser on your iPhone/iPod touch (or other device with a browser and internet access). Go to your special Signal URL and suddenly you have an iTunes remote control in your hands.It is important to note that this doesn't stream your iTunes music to a remote device, it simply allows you to control iTunes (start, stop, and skip songs) from afar.Signal costs $24.95, though a demo is available.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Determine your gaming specs with Aspyr Game Agent
Filed under: Gaming, FreewareHere's a cool freeware utility for Mac gamers (who love Aspyr especially). When you launch The Aspyr Game Agent (TAGA), it compares your machine's specs to the system requirements of their titles, and displays good matches. If you search for a game that won't run well on your machine (according to the system requirements, at least), TAGA suggests appropriate system upgrades.It's convenient and fun, though limited to a single manufacturer's catalog. It's also free (and Universal). If you're a hard core Aspyr fan, check this one out.[Via Twitter]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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iPhone hackers say 'relock' on the way
After Apple warned iPhone users yesterday that the next software update could break their phones, the group behind one of the unlocking projects says they'll have a fix next week.
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Western Digital makes Mac My Book
Filed under: HardwareIt was only a few days ago that our very own Mat Lu was talking up Western Digital's line of My Book external drives, and today Mac users have even more reason to check 'em out. The My Book Studio edition is aimed squarely at Mac users. The enclosure was designed to compliment Apple's hardware, and the drive is HFS+ Journaled formated. It also sports a quadruple interface (USB 2.0, FireWire 400/800 and eSATA) and backup software.Available in 320 GB to 1 TB capacities and priced from $199.99 USD to $399.99 the My Book Studio edition is worth checking out.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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User group night: Backup, Leopard and productivity rule
The discussion at a recent meeting of my local Mac user group centered around backup and networked storage. That's great news for Apple about Leopard upgrades. But in the same month as its release there was hardly a peep about the iPod.
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Amazon's MP3 Store Fails To Suck
Perhaps having learned from the Amazon Unbox fiasco, the new Amazon MP3 Downloads Store fails to suck. Frankly, there is a lot to like here, and it might be the first viable iTunes competitor. Not that Apple should be concerned, I think, but more on that in a minute. The store’s songs are MP3’s with no DRM, encoded at 256 kbps (actually, it’s VBR, so your bitrate may vary slightly). The key consequence, and the reason that this store may succeed, is that these files work on iPods, as opposed to all the WMA-based predecessors that required Windows and players other than the iPod (you know, the ones that make up the 20% or so of the MP3 player market that isn’t iPods). Amazon’s not the first, of course. EMusic has been doing a subscription-based MP3 service for a while, and I’ve bought MP3’s from smaller services like Snocap (they work with video game music stars OneUp Studios, for example). But Amazon has two million songs, and at a nice high bitrate, with prices significantly lower than iTunes Plus. Speaking of pricing, one objection I do have is that if you want to get the discount for buying the whole album, you have to use 1-Click and install the Amazon MP3 Downloader, which is only available for Mac and Windows. That means Linux users will have to pay more to download each track individually, but then again, they’ve been largely cut out of music downloads thusfar, so it’s still a win for them. And I’d still prefer to work with a shopping cart than the pushy 1-Click, but whatever, if that’s how Amazon feels they have to be… Here’s a peek at the downloader app: When you get the downloader, it tests things by buying you a song of its choice for free. No, I wouldn’t ordinarily have been shopping for The Apples In Stereo, but it could have been worse (it could have been The Eagles). By default, the downloader puts files into an “Amazon MP3″ folder in your Music folder. If, like me, you’ve moved your iTunes library to another drive or partition, change this in the preferences before you do your first download. In another interesting default, the downloader automatically adds your purchases to your iTunes library. Overall, it’s a very nice service, and puts up a serious challenge to iTunes. Should Apple be scared? I doubt it. The iTunes store has always been only marginally profitable — all Apple’s power and money comes from the iPod. This store is just another way to get content into your iPod, and if anything, making it cheaper and easier to feed your iPod may make users even more enthusiastic about feeding their iPods. Sure, being MP3 makes it easier to migrate off iPod someday, but after all these years, we have yet to see rival hardware manufacturers make even a small dent in the iPod’s popularity, so as long as Apple keeps putting out great iPods, they’ve got nothing to be afraid of. Now if Amazon would only do this with video…
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Secure your Mac: Eikon biometric security
Filed under: Peripherals, SecurityTUAW has lately been trying to help you Secure Your Mac, and while a few options have been available, biometric security is one area in which the Mac has seemed to lag behind the Windows side. Now UPEK has released a preview of the Mac version of their Eikon Digital Privacy Manager. The software allows you to use the Eikon scanner to login to your account, control your Keychain, switch users, or lock down your Mac. The Eikon scanner is a USB device which costs about $40 and only comes with Windows software. Once you have the scanner however, you can download the Mac Protector Suite Preview for free from UPEK. If security is a serious concern and passwords are getting tedious then a biometric solution like this one looks increasingly cost effective.[via OhGizmo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Pixelmator Now Available
Pixelmator has been pretty tight-fisted about letting their image-editor-in-progress see the light of day. There have only been 1 or 2 screencasts released by the developers, and what few beta testers were out there weren't too loud about it. But today you can go download Pixelmator 1.0 and test drive it for yourself. If you like it, there's a $59 price tag. Given that it supports Photoshop .psd files, iSight, and much more, it may be a fantastic mid-way application for those not willing or able to plunk down the cash for Photoshop CS3. apps, editor, graphics, release
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Amazon Pounces on iTunes With MP3 Store
After years of speculation and preparation, Amazon.com launched its digital music store Tuesday, debuting Amazon MP3 and promising a wide selection of music unfettered by DRM restrictions. The e-tail giant launched what it's calling a public beta of the download store with 2 million songs available from 180,000 different artists. Given the DRM-free nature of the music, Amazon's massive customer base and its reputation for creating winning shopping experiences, the e-tailer's download offering may be in the best position yet to give the iTunes Music Store a run for its money.
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Apple to iPhoners: Hacking Kills
Apple issued a warning late Monday to iPhone owners who may have emancipated their device from its exclusive carrier, AT&T, that future firmware updates could cause the modified phones to stop working altogether. In addition, the company cautioned that once the phones have been unlocked, its Apple warranty becomes null and void. Several software programs have surfaced in recent weeks that allow users of the Apple cell phone to change out the device's SIM card and run it on another network. None have Apple's blessing.
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Whitehall, Pa. Apple Store set to open
Filed under: RetailPennsylvania's fifth Apple Store will open in Whitehall this Saturday, September 29th at 10:00 AM. The store is located at 946 Lehigh Lifestyle Center in Whitehall, near J.Crew and Cucina Italiana. You can get full travel directions here.Pennsylvania's other stores are in Ardmore, King of Prussia and Pittsburgh (they've got two).As usual, we're asking any TUAW operatives who visit this weekend to send us stories and photos. Good luck, have fun and we're hoping you score a T-shirt![Via ifoAppleStore]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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HTC to unveil Windows Mobile lineup at upcoming press event?
Filed under: CellphonesWhile Apple chose London to inform the world of the iPhone's international agenda, HTC is reportedly looking to make a few announcements of its own on that side of the pond. According to TheUnwired, HTC will hold two press events on the first two days in October, the first of which will be in the UK and the second in Germany. Best guesses suggest that we'll be learning a bit more about the firm's forthcoming Windows Mobile-based lineup, and we can only hope that the Kii, Omni and / or Polaris are part of the show -- but considering the location and all, we wouldn't bet the farm on hearing too much about the likely US-bound Juno. Hold tight kids, the events get going in under a week. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Missing Sync for iPhone to debut later this year
Mark/Space plans to release an iPhone-specific version of its popular handheld syncing software in the fourth quarter of 2007. While it may not seem like you need another way to sync your iPhone, most of these features are not (yet) available from Apple.Read More...
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How To: Relock Your iPhone
“I unlocked my iPhone, and I don’t want to be screwed when the next iPhone update comes. What do I do?� Good question. When browsing forums, I have seen a few questions such as these. There is a solution--relock…
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Mark/Space to release Missing Sync for iPhone
Filed under: Software, iPhoneWhen I saw that Mark/Space was planning to release a version of Missing Sync for iPhone my first reaction was: what for? But as it happens I think they've hit upon some needed features that are actually missing from the out-of-the-box iPhone experience. First is a Migration Assistant for moving contacts, calendar entries, and photos from a Palm, Windows Mobile, or Blackberry device onto your Mac and thence to the iPhone. It also syncs your SMS messages and call log to your Mac so you don't lose information when you hit the storage limits on the iPhone. Best of all, perhaps, is Notes syncing, which will allow you to view iPhone notes in Yojimbo, Entourage, or Mark/Space's Notebook application. Unfortunately, however, it appears that it's only one-way, from the iPhone to the Mac, and not vice versa. This lack two-way Notes syncing remains a puzzling lacuna as far as I'm concerned, and I'm looking forward to somebody, whether it be Apple or Mark/Space, filling this obvious hole in the iPhone feature set.Missing Sync for iPhone won't be available until the 4th quarter and will sell for Mark/Space's normal price of $39.95, but crossgrades will be offered from other Missing Sync products.[via MacNN]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Supreme Court to hear LG vs. Quanta patent case
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops It looks like LG and Qaunta's ongoing patent squabble is headed for the big time, with Reuters now reporting that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to step in and sort things out. This is not, however, the DVD-related LG vs. Quanta case that was filed back in July, but rather an entirely different LG vs. Quanta case that ultimately found the U.S. District Court for Northern California ruling against LG, only to have that ruling later overturned by a federal appeals court in July of 2006. According to Reuters, this particular case centers on the touchy issue of whether patent-holders can demand royalties from multiple companies during the manufacturing process -- a patent trail that's also caused a range of other manufacturers including Bizcom, Compal and Scepter to be roped into the case. If all goes as planned, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case "early next year," with a decision "likely" by the end of June. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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First Looks: ifrogz 3GNanowrapz and Treadz
Changing up its prior Nanowrapz and Treadz case designs to accommodate feature shifts in the third-generation iPod nano, ifrogz' new 3GNanowrapz and Treadz ($15 each) are rubber cases with interestingly molded bodies. The 3GNanowrapz come in at least seven colors -- clear, gray, pink, red, black, red, and green -- and have side bumpers for anti-drop protection, with holes on the bottom for headphone port, Dock Connector port, and Hold switch, as well…
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First Looks: Marware Sportsuit Convertible for iPod classic
As a revamped version of the company's earlier Sportsuit Convertible for fifth-generation iPods, Marware's new Sportsuit Convertible for iPod classic ($35) bundles a neoprene iPod case with multiple attachments: a semi-hard front shell with an exterior pocket, an armband, a handstrap, and a belt clip, all based upon the Multidapt clip system. The front shell compensates in protection for the case's Click Wheel hole, giving you the choice of protection…
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First Looks: Marware SportGrip for iPod classic
Based on the earlier, excellent SportGrip for iPhone, this iPod classic-specific SportGrip ($15) is a silicone rubber case with separate screen and Click Wheel protectors made from clear film. Black or clear versions of SportGrip are available; each is made in separate 80GB and 160GB versions tailored to fit the new iPod classic models. A cleaning cloth is also included with each case....
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Adobe Photoshop Elements delayed until 2008
Filed under: Software, Universal BinarySometimes it seems like you can always count on Adobe to disappoint. Today they released Photoshop Elements 6 for Windows, but according to Macworld the Mac version will have to wait until "early 2008." This is because the two versions are on "different development schedules." The Mac version of Elements has long been missing some features from the Windows side (particularly in image management), so perhaps this is not surprising. Nonetheless, it's sad to note that as long as we were waiting for a Universal version of Photoshop, this means that Elements will end up taking nearly a year longer still! Fortunately, I suppose, you could just give the newly released Pixelmator a try instead and not worry about it.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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First Looks: Marware Sportsuit Sleeve for iPod nano (video)
Marware's "discreet" iPod case has shrunk to a third-generation iPod nano-fitting size: the Sportsuit Sleeve ($20) mixes standard and Orca-style neoprene to form a case with a front pouch for earbuds. A rear detachable belt clip is included, along with a cleaning cloth, screen and Click Wheel protectors. It's available only in black....
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First Looks: Marware Sportsuit Relay for iPod nano (video)
Designed to be Marware's Nike + iPod Sport Kit-specific armband solution for the third-generation iPod nano, the Sportsuit Relay ($30) comes with a wristband-sized holder with space for the Sport Kit receiver, an extension to transform the wristband into an armband, and a Sportsuit Sensor+ to mount the Sport Kit's Sensor on your shoe. It's available in a single black and red version....
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First Looks: Marware Sportsuit Convertible for iPod nano (video)
As a more deluxe version of the Sportsuit Runabout, Marware's Sportsuit Convertible ($30) is more than just an armband -- it's a neoprene third-generation iPod nano case, plus a belt clip, an armband, and a handstrap. You can choose from three colors -- blue, gray, or black -- each with a Multidapt clip-based system that lets you flip from attachment to attachment. It's not designed for use with the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, and has small holes for the…
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Microsoft Sets Stage for Office 2008's Debut on Mac
Microsoft will release three versions of its Office 2008 for Mac suite in January, with the most expensive of the bunch aimed at creative professionals overwhelmed by the task of organizing their digital media files. Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition, which includes three licenses for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage, an e-mail/calendar/contacts program, will cost $150. A $400 version aimed at professionals who use Apple computers, simply called Office 2008 for Mac, includes the same programs as Home and Student, plus the ability to connect to a Windows Exchange server.
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Pixelmator 1.0 for OS X ships
Pixelmator—"the image editor for the rest of us"—has emerged from beta as a 1.0 product. While some small details are still missing, the release lacks the "quirks" from its early days and is looking good.Read More...
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iPod touch 101: Free Tuesday selections on the wireless store
Filed under: iPod Family, iTSThe secret to using the iTunes wireless store resides on your personal computer. Log into your iTunes account before you sync your iPod touch. The mobile music store then uses your account information from iTunes to facilitate your purchases. To take advantage of the iTunes weekly freebies, point Mobile Safari to the most recent TUAW freebies post. Tap on any of the links. Your iPod touch launches the mobile music store and loads a page containing the free selection. Tap the "free" button next to the item you wish to purchase. The button turns green and the label updates to read "Buy Now". Tap it. Using an adorable animation, the song "jumps" into your downloads folder. The touch prompts you for your password. When you enter it, the download begins.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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News: Ministry of Sound micro system packs iPod dock
Ministry of Sound has released its MOSMC1319 Micro System, the latest stereo from the company to sport an iPod Dock. In addition to the Dock, which features the ability to charge the iPod while attached, the 1319 features 2 x 10 watts RMS power, a FM tuner, USB, a VFD function display, an SD/MMC card slot, MP3 and WMA compatibility, a built-in CD player, preset equalizer, and a full remote control. The Ministry of Sound MOSMC1319 Micro System…
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First Looks: Marware Sportsuit Runabout for iPod nano (video)
As one of several workout-ready case designs for the third-generation iPod nano, Marware's new Sportsuit Runabout ($20) is a simple armband with full nano body protection and tiny bottom holes for the headphone port and Hold switch. It is not designed to be used with the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, but does include an extension piece for use on larger arms. Like Marware's other cases, it includes separate screen and Click Wheel protectors -- here, unnecessarily…
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First Looks: Marware SportGrip for iPod nano (video)
This third-generation iPod nano-specific design is a follow-up to Marware's earlier, excellent SportGrip silicone rubber iPhone case. Priced at only $10, SportGrip for iPod nano comes with a cleaning cloth, screen and Click Wheel protectors; it is available in five nano-like colors....
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Apple Gazette Daily 125 - iPhone unlock issues, lawsuit, and Amazon MP3
Jobs in Forbes, Universal called Apple contract “indecent”, and reader question - iPod Touch or iPhone? You can subscribe via iTunes, or by RSS feed, or… you can directly download the episode right here. In addition to that, you should be able to play every episode of the podcast directly in your browser by using the widget which is now located in the side column of the site. Just click on the headphones to play the podcast inside the widget with full audio controls.
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Gruber hacks iPhone Notes with Helvetica
Filed under: Hacks, iPhoneRegular readers of Daring Fireball know John Gruber has an almost unhealthy fascination with the Helvetica font, but sometimes fanaticism pays positive results. Today he posted a hack to make the iPhone Notes application use Helvetica rather than the much despised Marker Felt font. The hack involves actually modifying the MobileNotes.app binary with a hex editor on your Mac and is thus probably not for the faint of heart. Needless to say you'll also need to have already hacked the iPhone enough to get access to the MobileNotes.app binary in the first place, but if you just can't stand Marker Felt here's a way to fix it. Gruber also warns, however, that there's no telling how long this hack will work, particularly with the forthcoming firmware update.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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★ The Amazon MP3 Store and Amazon MP3 Downloader
The new Amazon MP3 Store looks like no previous iTunes Store rival. The music is completely DRM-free, encoded at a very respectable 256 kbps, includes a ton of songs from major record labels, and offers terrific software support for Mac OS X. When you purchase singles, you can download them directly via your web browser. When purchasing entire albums, however, Amazon requires the use of a helper application called Amazon MP3 Downloader. When you download it, you get a disk image containing an installer. Reminiscent of Google’s installer for Google Desktop for Mac, unfortunately, there’s no indication of what the installer is going to install. As far as I can tell, though, the only thing it installs is an application called Amazon MP3 Downloader in your top-level Applications folder. When you purchase albums from Amazon, your browser downloads a .amz file, which opens in Amazon MP3 Downloader. Amazon MP3 Downloader then begins downloading the tracks from the album. By default, tracks are stored in a new “Amazon MP3” sub-folder inside the Music folder in your home folder. Amazon MP3 Downloader also opens the files in iTunes, importing them into your iTunes library. This means, assuming you have iTunes configured to copy files when importing (which is the default), that you get two copies of the songs: one in the ~/Music/Amazon MP3/ folder, and one inside your iTunes library folder, which, by default, is ~/Music/iTunes/. This seems utterly reasonable. There’s very high “it just works” factor here. Music is easy to find, easy to buy, and easy to download once you have the Amazon MP3 Downloader installed. When you download music with Amazon MP3 Downloader, it simply shows up in iTunes, as you’d expect, with no manual importing or additional action required on the user’s part. Sync your iPods, and the new music shows up there, too. The songs sound great and come with high-resolution album art. Singles cost $.89 or $.99, and album prices start as low as $4.99 — i.e. they’ve introduced variable pricing to sell music for less, not more, than the iTunes Store. When you search for songs from an artist whose entire catalog is not available through their MP3 store, Amazon provides a direct link to the artist’s catalog in their CD store. Two million total songs is far less than the six million Apple offers at the iTunes Store, but it’s a pretty good start, and all of Amazon MP3’s songs are DRM-free. I’m not sure how many DRM-free iTunes Plus tracks Apple offers, but it certainly seems like far fewer than one-in-three, and thus far fewer than two million. So while Amazon can’t claim to offer the most songs, they might be able to claim the most DRM-free songs. In just a few minutes of shopping, I found plenty of songs at Amazon that are only available from the iTunes Store with DRM. Given the Amazon MP3 Store’s audio quality, prices, and user experience, I can’t see why anyone would buy DRM-restricted music from iTunes that’s available from Amazon. And given that Amazon is quite a bit cheaper than iTunes Plus, you might as well check Amazon first. I plan to. (Amazon’s biggest shortcoming compared to iTunes might not be the selection, but the fact that it’s currently limited only to the U.S.) The Amazon MP3 Store is clearly the biggest and best rival to the iTunes Store. It’s not a coincidence that they’ve eschewed DRM completely.
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Apple's iPod classic experiencing issues of its own?
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video If you were considering picking up one of Apple's capacious new iPod classics whilst casually snickering at those poor saps dealing with faulty screens on the iPod touch, you could be in for problems of your own. According to a number of reports around the web, users are experience a myriad issues with the new player, including high processor utilization, excruciatingly long connect / disconnect times, and random crashes that seemed to occur when the device attempted to "display preview images taken from album cover art." Some users are also reporting that iTunes will actually "freeze up and stop responding" after the classic is plugged in, and attempts to install firmware updates have apparently not remedied the issues. So, dear readers, how's your iPod classic faring? Are these quibbles legit, or is the intarweb working itself into an unsubstantiated frenzy?[Thanks, Rahul B.]Read - One new iPod classic, two new iPod bugs Read - Mysterious problems with new iPod classic Read - Discussions about iPod classic troubles Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Minireview: Rogue Amoeba's new Radioshift Internet radio recording utility
Rogue Amoeba has brought TiVo to Internet radio with a new application called Radioshift for Mac OS X. Aside from a few version 1.0 setbacks, Radioshift offers some powerful features in a simple UI that is likely to become an instant hit with fans of internet radio.Read More...
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Amazon MP3: a quick review
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Audio, iTS, Internet ToolsBeing the intrepid blogger that I am, I thought I would go ahead and give Amazon's new MP3 store a whirl, since it works with iTunes and offers up high quality DRM-free MP3 files. What better way to compare and contrast the Amazon experience to the iTunes Store experience than purchasing the same song? The song in question is Rehab by Amy Winehouse (mostly because it was the first song that caught my eye on Amazon's page, and I enjoy it whenever I hear it).Continue reading Amazon MP3: a quick reviewPermalink | Email this | Comments
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I used to be table to open a stack of images in Preview and trash them with their thumbnail but not since Mac OS 10.4.
Deprecated functionality can be the worst.
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News: Mix: Helium, Google, Virgin, Ramones, Woz
Helium Digital has announced the launch of their new HD-005 3.5mm Headphone adapter, which allows all headphones that use a standard 3.5mm headphone jack to be used with the iPhone's recessed headphone port. The HD-005 adapter sells for $4. Google has launched a new iPhone-specific interface for its Google Calendar application. The new interface can be accessed by visiting calendar.google.com from the iPhone or iPod touch. iTunes competitor…
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Apple not looking to 'proactively disable' unlocked iPhones
Filed under: CellphonesShortly after Apple released a brief statement yesterday regarding iPhone modifications and their impacts on warranties, the firm's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing has stepped up to clarify a few issues. In a recent interview, Phil Schiller was quoted as saying that the upcoming software update "has nothing to do with proactively disabling a phone that is unlocked or hacked." Furthermore, he added that it was "unfortunate that some programs have caused damage to the iPhone software," but he noted that "Apple could not be responsible for... those consequences." All in all, it doesn't sound like Apple is changing its stance, but it seems safe to say that Cupertino won't be listening to any crying should subsequent updates render your hacked iPhone useless.[Via AppleInsider] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Pixelmator hits 1.0
Filed under: iLife, Multimedia, Software Long-fabled image editor Pixelmator (arguably one of the hottest, and most discussed Mac applications of the year) has finally left beta testing, and version 1 is available to download and buy. Compatibility with layered Photoshop PSD files (and over 100 other file formats too), Core Image-driven editing, Automator actions, iSight and iLife integration and a heck of a lot more await, and it's certainly a compelling option given that a licence costs just $59.If you're wanting to get a quick look at the features in Pixelmator (and our very own screencast didn't whet your appetite enough), then in conjunction with the launch of the app, well-known screencast producer Don McAllister of ScreenCasts Online has produced a brief screencast that takes a look at the basics of the application.Pixelmator requires OS X 10.4 Tiger, with a Core Image-compatible graphics card recommended.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Amazon MP3: Look out iTunes
Today Amazon launched its public beta of Amazon MP3. Amazon MP3 is Amazon.com's foray into the digital music scene…and a it's an extremely solid effort to say the least. Pricing per song is between 89 and 99 cents and albums between $4.99 and $9.99. The Top 100 albums are being priced at the lower amounts, which I assume is to try and give themselves a little bit of competitive advantage. The really big kicker here is that this music is DRM free. Yes, free. There is nothing tying in the files to a specific player, application, or operating system. On top of the music being DRM free, it's all encoded at 256kbps. On iTunes you've gotta fork over an extra 30 cents if you want the 256k bringing the total to $1.29 for a 256kbps encoded song that is not DRM free. Talk about a punch in the gut. The obvious downside to Amazon MP3 at this point in time is that it only has a selection of 2 million songs, compared to iTunes 6 million+ songs. I would imagine Amazon will have significantly more work ahead of them to reach the size of selection iTunes offers mainly because record execs are stuck in the dark ages and won't wise up to the digital age of music. Amazon MP3 really is the first solid effort at tacking on the beast that is the iTunes Store. It will be exciting to see where Amazon takes things. amazon mp3, drm, itunes
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FileMaker Pro 9, Pro Advanced, Server, and Server Advanced
The best database gets better.
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Mark/Space’s Missing Sync for iPhone
Mark/Space has announced Missing Sync for iPhone. This application allows you to sync your iPhone with devices and your computer by giving you all the migration and syncing tools that you need. The application gives you a step-by-step utility that allows you to…
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iTunes: Free Tuesday
Filed under: iTS, Features, iTunes, Deals Once again, it's Tuesday and TUAW is pleased to present you with a selection of free songs and videos from around the world. Many of these iTMS items won't be free for long--so grab your copies before the week is up.Continue reading iTunes: Free TuesdayRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Soaked
Some slipups, but mostly smooth sliding.
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First Looks: Sena Cases MagnetFlipper Case for Apple iPhone
As an alternative to its Dockable Case and LeatherSkin Case offerings, Sena's new MagnetFlipper Case ($52) comes in your choice of smooth or crocodile-style leather in 14 colors, each with a flip-open front lid that's held closed with magnets. Unlike the Dockable Case, MagnetFlipper opens from the bottom rather than the top, and doesn't fit into a standard iPhone dock, but still provides openings for speaker, microphone, and accessory cable access.…
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Western Digital intros quad interface My Book Studio Edition
Filed under: Storage Don't say Iomega is the only bunch using the Apple Expo to unveil a new hard drive, as Western Digital is expanding its (recently expanded) My Book lineup once more with the Studio Edition. This unit comes formatted for Macs, is available in sizes ranging from 320GB to 1TB and features a quadruple interface giving users the option of using USB 2.0, FireWire 400 / 800, or eSATA. Additionally, the drive offers up "automatic, continuous backup," a capacity gauge, five-year warranty, SmartPower feature, a fanless design to keep things quiet, and of course, an "elegant silver metallic finish that perfectly complements other Mac products." The new crew is available now from $199.99 to $399.99 depending on capacity. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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First Looks: Sena Cases Dockable Case for Apple iPhone
As one of two new iPhone cases from Sena, the Dockable Case for Apple iPhone ($52) is made from Nappa leather in your choice of 12 colors or color combinations, including single-tone and two-tone versions as shown here. Designed to enable you to dock the iPhone without removing the case, Dockable Case has a flip-open front shield and a detachable rear belt clip and nub system....
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Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs
Continue down the warpath in your fight for your piece of the new world.
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Mac Office 08 Pricing and “Flavors� Revealed
TUAW has the scoop on the Mac Office 08 versions and pricing. It looks like we'll be getting 3 versions to choose from (which, in my opinion, is two - possibly three versions too many). * Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac: This is the core version of the productivity suite which includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Entourage. This version includes some Automator workflows, as well as Exchange support in Entourage (you'll see why I mention this in a moment). You can pick this version up for $399.95 (US) for the full retail version and $239.95 for an upgrade. * Microsoft Office for the Mac Home and Student Edition: This is aimed at the segment of the market that needs to edit documents and such, but isn't in an Exchange environment. As such the version of Entourage included in Home and Student Edition does not support Exchange, nor do you get Automator workflows with this edition. This edition only comes in the full retail flavor for $149.95 * Microsoft Office for Mac Special Media Edition: This one is interesting. It includes everything in the core suite (including Exchange support) as well as a full version of Microsoft Expression Media for Mac for $499.95 or $299.95 for the upgrade. $149.95 for the basic edition isn't a bad price at all - but I honestly think that most “basic” users would enjoy iWork as much, if not more, than this - for the lovely price of $79.
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Myvu intros solo plus HMD with support for new iPods
Filed under: Displays, Portable Video Just in case you were worried during "The Beat Goes On" that the new iPods wouldn't work with the current generation of head-mounted displays (which they apparently won't), myvu has come to the rescue with a new model that -- besides a shared distaste for capitalization -- also features an Apple authorization chip for guaranteed compatibility. The solo plus follows the nearly-identical solo that we saw earlier in the year, sporting a low-profile design, wired remote, and integrated, noise-canceling, earbud headphones, while playing nice with the touch, classic, and 3G nano. Also like the solo, the solo plus will retail for $200 when it hits stores in October, so start filling out those return slips if you happened to have purchased an original unit recently.[Via iLounge] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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NBC's Chuck is very Mac-heavy
Filed under: Video, Odds and endsI'm not sure what happened to the memo from top NBC brass, after the iTunes negotiations broke down, saying that Apple was firma non grata... but it clearly didn't make it to the Warner Bros. production offices of Chuck in time to excise all the Mac gear from the geek-themed spy comedy's pilot episode. The corporate rage may have found some outlet, however, in the sheer destructive energy expended on the show's poor, defenseless Macs. Even the presence of a nasty Windows virus (the kind that causes laptops to emit smoke and sparks!) as a plot point doesn't make up for the carnage.There's the protagonist's doomed home machine, a G5 tower with a convenient sticker over the side logo -- which a) must be a lot lighter than a production model, seeing how it got tossed about; and b) suffers a grim fate as a gravity-test victim/close-combat weapon -- and earlier, there's another Mac that makes a key appearance in the opening sequence before getting blown to smithereens. (OK, seriously now, the CIA and NSA keep all their classified information -- all of it -- on one lonely Mac Plus? I sincerely doubt it.) You can review the carnage at NBC's full-episode playback page; the Mac Plus detonation is in the first four minutes, and the G5 breakdown is at about 16 minutes in. Too bad you can't watch it on your iPhone, unless of course you EyeTV'ed it last night. Also spotted during this week's premieres: Emmy-nominee Doogie Neil Patrick Harris sporting an iPhone on How I Met Your Mother, an iPhone in the time-traveling toolkit of Journeyman star Kevin McKidd (more on this later), and another iPhone gag on the Simpsons season premiere. It's looking like a good year for Apple on TV; send us your spotter reports in the comments, or add your sightings to our "appleontv" Flickr pool.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Software Update fixes possible journaling issue in some Macs
Apple has released an update for some "mid-2007" MacBook and MacBook Pro machines that fixes a problem with the (lack of) journaling being enabled. The process isn't as simple as most of Apple's updates are, though.Read More...
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Apple iPhone Unlock: Cat, Mouse, Brick
Coming on the heels of Steve Jobs' "cat-and-mouse" press conference, Apple's (AAPL) warning yesterday that its forthcoming software update could permanently disable unlocked iPhones represents a fork in the road. On one side you have the users who dutifully signed on for a two-year stint with AT&T. They can update their iPhones with the official software upgrade due to be released later this week and receive the benefits of the latest Apple apps -- which according to several reports will include the ability to download songs and videos wirelessly through the iTunes Music store. The will also be eligible for an updates Apple releases in the future. On the other you have all those people who either bought an unlocked iPhone form a commercial reseller or installed free iUnlock software from the open source iPhone Dev team. These users can't afford to update their iPhone without risking turning it into the proverbial brick. They are now dependent, perhaps permanently, on whoever modified their device to provide workarounds or restore it to its original, pristine state. True to Jobs' cat and mouse anology, the iPhoneDev group has already responded to Apple's announcement, challenging the company's assertions that they have somehow damaged the phones and promising a workaround in short order. Describing the code that tied the iPhone to AT&T as "bugs" and "problems," their statement reads in part: The removal of those firmware problems, which were built in in favor for AT&T, does not cause "damage" as they want to make us believe. We will provide you with a tool in the next week which will be able to recover your nck counter and seczones and even enables you to restore your phone to a Factory-like state. In the meantime we advise you not to update your free iPhone with the upcoming firmware. Wait for the next version to be fixed to work properly with your carrier and not break your phone. (link) Nobody knows for sure how many iPhone users are affected. Shaw Wu of American Technology Research described the number as "immaterial," representing "only a small group of users, namely hackers." The iPhoneDev group, based on the number of people who downloaded their software, puts it at "hundreds of thousands." The truth is probably somewhere in between. For background, see "Steve Jobs Picks a Fight with iPhone Unlockers"
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Amazon MP3: DRM free downloads from Amazon
Filed under: Audio, iTSAmazon today unveiled Amazon MP3 Beta (because if it isn't in beta, it isn't cool), a music download service that offers up music as it was meant to be: DRM free. EMI is onboard, as well as iTunes hating Universal, and a host of smaller record labels. Prices for single tracks vary but most are between $.89 and $.99 with most of the top 100 tracks going for $.89. Album prices are also variable ranging from $5.99 to $9.99.Thanks to the lack of DRM, and the fact that these files are MP3s (encoded at 256 kilobits per second which is the same encoding as iTunes Plus but for less money) you can save money (in most circumstances) and enjoy this music in iTunes and on your iPhone and iPod.I hope Apple is ready for some healthy competition in the digital downloads market.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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iPhone Dev Team promises relocking app within a week
The iPhone world is in a fuss right now to try to relock unlocked iPhones before Apple's software update drops, but the Bat-signal has shined and the iPhone Dev Team says that it will issue a relocking program within the next week. Read More...
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Leopard to exclude 800MHz systems
Apple Insider has a report that speculates that Leopard is getting too powerful for some older Mac models - namely the 800MHz PowerBook G4 (Titanium), 800MHz PowerMac G4 (Quicksilver), 800MHz iMac G4, 800MHz iBook G4, and 800MHz eMac. While these machines are ancient by some's standards of computing age, there will be a small handful of dedicated Mac faithful sure to outraged by this sad news. The article goes on throw fuel onto a completely unecessary fire by speculating that OS X 10.6 will not support PowerPCs at all, and will force Power PC users into joining those of us that have already switched to Intel machines. Some might even say that this as yet non-existent move is designed to drive Mac sales…in a year where Apple sales are the best they've ever been…I think it's safe to say those people are probably full of crap. Just my opinion.
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Apple Announces Release of Potential iBrick Update, Office Announcements and TV on the iPhone and iPod touch
Apple announced that the software that unlocks your iPhone could be potentially harming its software.
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With Apple Promo, Starbucks Names the Tune
iTunes users in select cities will soon be able to walk into a Starbucks coffee shop to satisfy two cravings at once -- one for a cup of joe and the other for free music downloads. The freebies will begin Oct. 2, Starbucks and Apple announced Monday, and will include songs performed by Annie Lennox, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Joni Mitchell, Joss Stone and Paul McCartney. Starbucks will give away some 50 million downloads to promote its tie-up with Apple to provide use of WiFi hotspots at 10,000 locations nationwide in order to access iTunes.
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iPhone on NBC’s Journeyman?
Hey, did anyone catch the premier of NBC’s new series, Journeyman, last night? It was on right after the Heroes Season 2 premier, and I’m think it (Journeyman) has the potential to be one of the best time-travel shows ever on television. My review of it…
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"iPhone Dev Team" issues statement
Filed under: iPhone A spokesman for the iPhone Dev Team, the group that developed the iPhone unlock has issued a statement condemning Apple and promising a tool in the next week which will restore your iPhone to a factory-fresh state. The unlock, he writes, made the iPhone free and useful world-wide, not just in certain countries. The text of the statement, with modifications for grammar and spelling, follows after the break.Continue reading "iPhone Dev Team" issues statementPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Amazon launches beta version of DRM-free music store
Remember when Amazon.com was just a bookstore? On Tuesday morning, the online retailer launched the public beta of its much-anticipated rival to Apple's iTunes Store: Amazon MP3, which features over 2 million songs free of digital rights management copy protection, which means they'll play on any computer, ...
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Amazon launches beta version of DRM-free music store
The online retail giant finally unveils its long-awaited music store. In a double punch to Apple, it's DRM-free--and cheaper.
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Amazon Launches a Music Store, Not a Service
Amazon waited to offer digital music until it could sell unrestricted MP3 files, rather than songs with digital rights management. It may force Apple to compete on price and terms.
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This Day: September 25: Lisas Head to the Landfill
The Lisa was an ambitious computer. Featuring the first GUI, mouse and integrated suite of programs aimed for mass distribution, the machine was in many ways ahead of its time. As forward looking as the Lisa was, it also had some fundamental shortcomings. There were very few developers thanks…
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notMac challenge completed with mixed results
The notMac challenge to build an open source alternative to Apple's .Mac has been met. The winning solution, however, isn't for everyone (but then again, neither is .Mac).Read More...
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Is Apple in danger of losing its following?
With Apple releasing threats of 'bricked' iPhones and Amazon debuting its new music download service, Don Reisinger can't help but wonder if Apple is heading down a slippery slope.
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Is Apple in danger of losing its following?
When the iPhone first hit store shelves, Apple was on top of the world. Not only did the company enjoy the biggest product release of the year, its stock price was on the rise, Mac sales were soaring and for the first time, it looked like Apple may be able to supplant Dell and HP as the proven leader in the hardware business. But just a few months later, it was amazing how quickly things have changed. Mac sales are still strong, but the iPhone has become the topic of heated debate, Apple has come under fire for dropping the iPhone price too early and too substantially, and its iTunes store is under attack from content producers and new, formidable competitors. Could it be that Apple has lost its touch and is doomed to follow the path of Microsoft -- loved, highly regarded, then utterly hated? Will the Mac faithful finally lose confidence in the company it feels so strongly about? Even worse, will Apple's two big moneymakers -- the iPhone and iTunes -- meet an early demise? It could happen. ...
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MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0
Filed under: Software Update, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBookIf you have recently bought a MacBook or MacBook Pro you should check Software Update posthaste. Apple has just released MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0 which corrects an issue with Journaling on those machines. It would seem that a number of MacBook and MacBook Pros left the factory without Journal turned on. This update simply enables Journaling on your Startup volume.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Japanese Windows users unable to unlock the iPod touch
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video Are you a Japanese Windows user? Did you just buy an iPod touch? If you answered yes to both of those questions, you may find yourself in a boiling rage in a matter of moments. Apparently, you are unable to unlock your new WiFi-device / media player if you're using Japanese Windows -- the player just remains in the holding pattern of a "connect to PC" prompt when you hook it up to your computer. According to reports, Apple Japan has yet to issue a statement or updates to solve the problem, which is causing a number of Japanese buyers to take matters into their own hands. Word on the street is that lines have been forming outside of Apple stores, where new buyers are taking their useless touches to be brought magically to life by the in-store Macs. First the screen problems and now this? Come on Apple -- get it together. 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: Amazon launches public beta of DRM-free music download store
Amazon has launched a public beta of Amazon MP3, its new digital music download store offering DRM-free 256kbps MP3 files. According to Amazon, the service boasts “Earth's biggest selection of a la carte DRM-free MP3 music downloads.” The service currently offers over two million songs from more than 180,000 artists. Individual tracks are available for $.89 or $.99, with full albums available from $5.99 to $9.99. In addition, the…
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iPhone Giveaways Cropping Up in Asia
Well the iPhone hasn’t officially hit Europe yet and there hasn’t been any Asia release announcement, but people seem to be getting restless anyway. In fact, in the China Construction Bank in Hong Kong they are offering applicants for their loan service a…
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The iPod touch Coming Up Short? A Thorough Analysis.
The iPod touch has created a remarkable schism in the Apple community. There are those who feel certain that the device is as compromised as a Pontiac Aztek, something trying to be good at everything while failing in every regard (though the touch wins the looks battle inasmuch as it does…
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Fix broken SSH Public Key Authentication
Ever since I learned of SSH, I have wanted to set it up so that I could automatically run remote commands (like rsync) on the other Macs on our home network. The proper way to do this, of course, is with passphrase-free public key authentication. But try as I might, I simply could not convince SSH to use public key authentication! Eventually I discovered the reason in an obscure mailing list: If permissions are set incorrectly on the home directory, SSH will refuse perfectly good authentication keys.The solution: Open Terminal and type chmod g-w ~/.SSH is now entirely happy to authenticate using keys.[robg adds: Running Disk Utility's permissions repair should also fix home folder permissions, though I'm not 100% positive about that.]
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Take notes on an iPod touch
Many users have complained about 'missing' features in the iPod touch, like an email application, the ability to add entries to the Calendar, and a note taking application. Until the iPod touch is 'hacked' to allow the installation of third-party apps, or for those who don't want to hack the iPod touch, it is possible -- and not entirely inconvenient -- to use the Contacts database to take notes that are then automatically uploaded to the home computer when the iPod touch is synced.What I do is create a new Contact with a number for the first name and A for the last name, so it shows up at the top of the contacts list. Then create a new field in the contact named Notes and type away. It will probably hold as much as you're likely to want to type with the iPod touch's keyboard. When you next sync the iPod touch, the note(s) will show up in your Address Book, in whatever folder you have designated in iTunes. The default new folder is named Added.
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A script to add icon previews and retain time stamps
sips is a fantastic command line tool which can add icons to image files so that they don't have to be auto-generated when you open a folder that has Show Icon Preview enabled. However, I never used it on my important images because it updates the files' time stamps as well. This means that if I generate icons today for images I took last year, those files would show up in the Finder as having been created today.I finally couldn't take it any more, so I wrote a bash script to generate icons while preserving file times. It works on a variety of test files that I've used, including filenames with spaces, but since I'm no bash guru, it could contain some pitfalls.[robg adds: This worked for me in testing on a few different image files; the icons were created without changing the files' time stamps.]
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iPhone as a flash drive? No thanks.
Some people have figured out a way to use iPhones and the iPod touch as a portable storage drive, but the hack is kind of dirty and not very easy-to-use for the average person.Read More...
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What if Apple Never Existed?
This article from PC Magazine imagines a world where Apple never existed. I'm not sure if it would be quite as bleak as this, but the author Lyod Case, explains his opinion on the matter: You might wonder how this rather bl