Apr 16, 2008 Apr 18, 2008 Thursday April 17, 2008
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Maccast 2008.04.17
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 223. iPhone 2.0 analysis triggers speculation. iPhone 3G Chipset revealed? Apple releases Pro applications update. Apple beefs up new legal team. Company offers OS X compatible clones. Apple confirms graphics glitches in notebooks. US Apple shipment rise, while PCs fall. Removing Files from Old TimeMachine Backups. Review: Audioengine W1. Some other ways to use Windows browsers on a Mac. Use your Mac as a WiFi hotspot. Too many Airports can be confusing. My thoughts on FileVault. Enable menu bar item to screenlock your Mac. How can I use Apple TV with Standard def TV? Special thanks to our sponsors: Circus Ponies - Free 30-day Trial of Notebook Smile on My Mac, check out Textexpander New music, Rockin' Our Sales by Bruce ServicePack and the Vista [video] Get your patchouli stink outta my store. -- High Fidelity (2000) Shownotes in: HTML or OPML Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3
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iPhone JavaScript Character Counts
After reading my indictment of the text editing fields in the current crop of web-based iPhone clients (slow typing performance and inaccurate character counts after deleting), Andrew Hedges wrote four different implementations: Now, I don’t have an iPhone, but I do have the SDK. Typing with a mouse in the iPhone simulator, I found the interval pattern to be the most responsive. Of the 4 techniques, only the instant updating one failed to provide an accurate count (it was always one key press behind). I’m interested to hear from users of actual iPhones which they think is best (most responsive and most accurate) when using the on-screen keyboard. On my iPhone, I’d describe his four implementations as poor, best, good, OK (respectively). Except for the first (poor) one, the character counts are always accurate, and the typing speed is good in the second and third. Twitter web client developers, take note. ★
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MacUpdate Parallels bundle $64.99
Full disclosure: MacUpdate is currently a sponsor of MacMerc.com MacUpdate has released the MacUpdate Parallels bundle. It is a software bundle that, depending on how well it sells, will include Parallels and 9 more top Mac apps. You can purchase the bundle for USD$64.99 which is less than the price of Parallels by itself. This event is time limited and runs April 16-29th. In 2007, MacUpdate... [read more at MacMerc.com]
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Article: Ask iLounge 4-17-08
This week's Ask iLounge topics: Ripping CDs to external hard drive, Zeppelin speakers and USB port, Bluetooth stereo on iPhone, Converting TV shows to iPod, Audio recording on iPod touch, Wireless security on iPod touch
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PayPal Plans to Ban Browsers Which Lack Anti-Phishing Features
Ryan Naraine, reporting for eWeek: PayPal, one of the brands most spoofed in phishing attacks, is working on a plan to block its users from making transactions from Web browsers that don’t provide anti-phishing protection. […] “In our view, letting users view the PayPal site on one of these browsers is equal to a car manufacturer allowing drivers to buy one of their vehicles without seat belts,” said PayPal Chief Information Security Officer Michael Barrett. Current versions of Safari lack the anti-phishing features PayPal plans to require. ★
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Psystar Web store goes down again
The Mac clone maker is currently unable to sell Open Computers with Mac OS X preinstalled after experiencing an outage for the second straight day.
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First Look: Fring
VoIP becomes a reality on the iPhone, sort of.
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New head-mounted laser display patent surfaces
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple A new Apple patent showing a head-mounted laser display surfaced today. The patent, which looks like a rather odd pair of sun glasses, would allow you to view video (or your Mac's screen) in a manner similar to the MyVu products. This patent also includes a geeky looking device that attaches to the belt, probably for image/video processing, and battery. Just as you see white ear buds on many iPod owners, you may soon see Mac users with frickin' lasers mounted on their heads. This would bring a whole new meaning to the word "Machead."You can read the patent application on the US Patent & Trademark Offices' website.[via Engadget]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple number 17 on list of biggest US companies by market cap
Posted by Dennis Sellers The financial analysis web site, Seeking Alpha, has updated its list of the largest US companies by market cap—and Apple comes in at number 17.
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Mac software updates for April 17
Posted by Dennis SellersMozilla has updated Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, fixing a JavaScript security issue.
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'Macsimum Recommended Reading' for April 17
Posted by Dennis Sellers“Mac Owners Are Still Snobs: According to new research, Mac users are, well, just like the guy in the Mac ads.” —TheStreet TV
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'Popular Mechanics': Macs run Windows faster than PCs
Posted by Dennis SellersIn its “Mac vs. PC: The Ultimate Lab Test for New Desktops & Laptops” Popular Mechanics concluded that Macs with Boot Camp run Windows Vista faster than the PCs it tested. “In both the laptop and desktop showdowns, Apple's computers were the winners,” the article says.
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Review: Creative TravelSound for iPod nano (i80)
Different though they may be, these two systems have a lot in common. Both are made from matte-finished silver metal with glossy white and clear plastic, housing 15-hour rechargeable batteries, and connecting via mini-USB ports to included white plastic wall chargers. Though TravelSound for iPod nano is a little larger, measuring roughly 2.25” wide and 0.88” thick to i50's 1.75” wide and half-inch thick body, it's around…
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April 16th issue of 'iProng Magazine' released
Posted by Dave MertenTristan Prettyman, whose new album Hello is currently at #2 in iTunes, is the cover story for the April 16th issue of iProng Magazine. Also in this issue: a look at who the iPod touch is really for, PodCamp NYC preview, Social Media 101 with Chris Brogan, and a tribute...
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TAB Weekly: April 17, 2008
It's the second TAB Weekly Podcast! This week we're covering everything from the “Psystar Scandle” to Blockbuster and more. As usual, I'm joined by Brian Warren. You can listen to the podcast here in the player below or subscribe to the feed in iTunes. You can also subscribe directly to the our podcast feed. We'd love to get your feedback on what you'd like to hear and if you have anything you'd like us to talk about or questions you'd like answered, we'll be glad to put them in the show. Download audio file (tabweekly-04172008.mp3)
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O'Reilly releases tome of Apple hacks
O'Reilly's newest "Hacks" book takes on all thing Apple, including Macs, OS X, iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV. And hey, there are a few contributions from an Ars writer, too!Read More...
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Apple files for head-mounted laser display patent, death of style imminent
Filed under: Wearables Dorks we may be, but we're just not ready for head-mounted displays to hit the mainstream -- which is why this patent application for laser-based headgear from Apple makes us cringe just as hard as the MyVu product line. Apple wants to up the nerd factor immeasurably by putting all the image processing and generation hardware in a belt-clipped processing box, which will allow the glasses to shrink down and potentially be indistinguishable from regular glasses. Laser-generated images from the box are then transmitted to wedge optics in the glasses via a fiber optic cable, and hey -- you're watching The Office on your glasses with a processing box clipped to your belt. Can you say "coolest guy in school?" Yeah, didn't think so -- no amount of white plastic and brushed aluminum will ever make this okay. The application was just filed today, so there's a long way to go before Apple actually gets this patent -- here's hoping we get a similarly long reprieve from ubiquitous head-mounted displays.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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GrabUp makes Mac screenshot uploads painless
Okay, so taking screencaps is one of the more mundane activities you can do on your Mac, but doing so and putting it online for someone still takes more steps than it should. With GrabUp, a busy person can reduce that process to two steps: screencap, paste URL.Read More...
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Apple Gazette Daily 249 - NBC and iTunes, Apple Design Awards, and more
podcast sponsor link:Click Here to check out Audible! Click the link above to get your free audio book from Audible, and help support Apple Gazette at the same time! Today's Show: NBC and iTunes, Apple Design Awards, O2 price drop, and more You can subscribe via iTunes, or by RSS feed, or… you can listen to the episode right here: In addition to that, you can also download the Apple Gazette Daily Widget and listen to every episode of the show right on your Dashboard. Click Here to download.
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OWC announces 500GB portable storage
Posted by Dennis SellersOther World Computing has announced its highest capacity portable, bus-powered storage drive to date: the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 500GB, 5400RPM portable storage drive.
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Safari Fix Makes Macs a Little Less PWNable
Apple issued four security updates Thursday for its Web browser Safari, one of which patches the highly publicized -- yet secret -- hole that let security expert Charlie Miller burrow his way into a MacBook Air at the CanSecWest security conference last month. The vulnerability was immediately disclosed to Apple from the conference, but today is the first time it's been widely identified. The software updates come in an upgrade to Safari 3.1.1. Two are only for the Windows version of Safari, while two others affect vulnerabilities in WebKit.
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Mac 101: Zoom and pan images in Quick Look
Filed under: OS, Tips and tricks, Mac 101Is your laptop not among those that can do Multi-touch? Don't feel badly, you can replicate those great features!Well, kind of. First, open an image with Quick Look. Next, hold down the Option key while performing a two-finger scroll. The image zooms in and out! Finally, let go of the Option key but keep your fingers in place on your trackpad. The cursor turns into a four-point directional, and then you can pan the image within the Quick Look window.This also works with a mouse and scrollwheel.Thanks, Max!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Logitech Control Center interfering with Growl on Mac OS X
According to Growl developer Peter Hosey, a recent version of the Logitech Control Center application interferes with the Growl notification system, rendering it inoperable. Luckily, there's a fix.Read More...
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Global PC Sales Remain Hardy in Face of Tepid US Market
Sales of personal computers continued their growth trends in the first quarter despite the U.S. economic slowdown, according to studies released simultaneously by Gartner and IDC. Notebook sales are driving the PC market worldwide, according to the reports, and there are sharper PC sales in developing markets, such as India and the Asia-Pacific region, than in the U.S. The numbers from the two studies differ somewhat, but the findings are parallel in general. For example, IDC notes that first-quarter sales increased 14.6 percent globally year-on-year; Gartner says there was growth of 12.3 percent worldwide.
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Sketchy pictures of new MacBook, MacBook Pro, and 32GB iPhone surface
Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops Whoops! Apple's gone and leaked its brand new aluminum MacBook and redesigned MacBook Pros to the interblogs. Yeah, it seems old Jobsy has really loosened the binds over in Cupertino -- he doesn't care what gets out these days. No, but seriously, some cats on the internet supposedly discovered a .Mac page which appears to display mockups (or actual product renderings) for a new line of laptops, as well as adverts for iTunes 8 and iPhones in the 32GB variety (for Australia, naturally). Of course, this is wild, crazy, unfounded speculation, and likely has no basis in reality at all. Then again, you never know... stranger things have happened. Steve, we await your takedown requests. See full pages for yourself in the gallery after the break.[Thanks, al]Gallery: Sketchy pictures of new MacBook, MacBook Pro, and 32GB iPhone surfaceRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Mac shipments suspended from NYC Schools over WiFi flaw
Scheduled delivery of Apple computers to schools run by the New York City Department of Education have been temporarily suspended due to problems related to connecting to the DOE's wireless network infrastructure. Continues: Mac shipments suspended from NYC Schools over WiFi flaw
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Largest U.S. Companies by Market Cap: Wal-Mart Gains; Google Drops
Last October, Google (GOOG) had climbed its way all the way up to the 5th largest US company. Below we have updated the list of the largest US companies by market cap, and as shown, Google has dropped down to 13th. While Google moved down the list the most, Wal-Mart (WMT) has taken its place, moving from the #13 spot to #5. The top 5 in order are Exxon (XOM), General Electric (GE), Microsoft (MSFT), AT&T (T) and WMT. Procter & Gamble (PG), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Chevron (CVX), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and IBM (IBM) round out the top 10. Other stocks that moved up the list since last October include JPMorgan (JPM) (18 to 12), Coke (KO), ConocoPhillips (COP), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Pepsi (PEP), Schlumberger (SLB) and Oracle (ORCL). Along with GOOG, stocks that moved down the list are Bank of America (BAC), Cisco (CSCO), Pfeizer (PFE), Apple (AAPL), C (Citigroup) and American International Group (AIG).
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Another Flocking Mac browser
Posted by Dave MertenThere's a new browser on the block. It's called Flock—the browser for people who like being connected.
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New MacBook and MacBook Pro designs "leaked" online
Images that appear to be an updated MacBook and MacBook Pro designers were reportedly discovered on a rogue .Mac account this morning, in addition to udated iTunes and iPhones. These all seem to line up perfectly with previous rumors and speculation, but it may be too good to be true, too.Read More...
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Apple Soars to Number Four, Patches Safari, and Wants to Put Lasers on Your Head
Today's headline roundup also has a full rundown of the Psystar saga, rumors of a new MacBook coming soon, and essential Mac security tips.
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Article: One “Breakthrough,” Three Cases: The SeeJacket, Xylo + Naked Case Story
We love new ideas. And old ideas done in new ways. And, on occasion, we can even appreciate an old idea that has been redone in a familiar but really good way. But what about when one idea is done the exact same way three times? Last November, we reviewed the SeeJacket Crystal, a brand new case with a hard plastic touch-through faceplate. Released by Germany's Artwizz, it was in fact the first iPhone case with a fully protective, single-piece…
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LCD Scrub cleans those stubborn stains from your screen
Filed under: Cool toolsBack in the day, we ran screen savers for more than just meditative entertainment, eye candy or news updates. We ran them for one good reason -- to save our freakin' screens! Burn-in was a serious problem on CRT monitors, and many displays ended up with a permanent menu bar shadow or outline of a high-contrast desktop pattern stuck there for posterity.While LCD screens aren't nearly as likely to run into image persistence issues as older CRTs, they aren't immune to damage, as developer Daniel Sandler (author of screensaver Pyrothèque) learned to his dismay a year ago. After his flat-panel got munged by green static overnight, he whipped up a pattern-shifting screensaver to repair the burned-in pixels (based on Apple's recommendation of leaving an all-white image over the affected areas). Whaddaya know, it worked -- hence the $18 LCD Scrub screensaver/display repair tool. Just updated to version 1.02 with registration and other bug fixes, LCD Scrub might just save you the cost of a new display. It's the fluoridated water of screensavers: secretly doing good behind the scenes.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Red Giant Magic Bullet Looks 1.0
Instant Visual Effects Recipes
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News Aluminum MacBook & iMac-like MacBook Pro (spy photos)
Posted by Dave MertenA Web site, thought to be owned by an Apple employee, posted images depicting an all aluminum 13-inch MacBook design in addition to a MacBook Pro that takes design cues from the company's existing line of all-in-one iMac computers.
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Apple eyeing retail store at Maine Mall
Posted by Dennis SellersApple is apparently looking to open its first retail store in Maine in the near future. According to the Portland Press Herald, the company has “quietly made moves to open an Apple Store at the Maine Mall, according to job listings on Apple.com.”
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VMware Fusion video contest offers a MacBook Air
Filed under: Video, Universal BinaryThere are so many ways to get your hands on a MacBook Air (and apparently several ways to lose your grip on one, as well). You could visit the Apple Store, or Best Buy, or shop online. You could take up a collection with friends and family, or prevail upon your spouse to get one for you.Here's another idea: make a video about how VMware Fusion has helped you switch to the Mac, and you could win an Air. Submit your video by May 15 (every entry gets a Fusion t-shirt, so there are no losers) for your chance to walk, or trip, away with the laptop.Despite a couple of high-profile callouts on the Fusion 'switched' minisite, I'm afraid that Mat and Chris aren't entering the contest. Too bad, guys!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Bug Labs' Hiro P edition BUGbase kit gets unboxed
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets You may not be able to get your hands on one at the moment, but those that missed out on the initial shipment of Bug Labs' open source BUGbase Hiro P edition kit can now at least make believe like one arrived on their own doorstep, thanks to the set of unboxing photos kindly provided by Flickr user finsprings. That set also helpfully includes size comparisons to a Blackberry and a first gen iPod nano (the base is bigger than both, but not by as much as you may think), and of course plenty of shots of the packing itself. Check all that out at the read link below.[Thanks, Dave] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Gartner marketshare data shows a bushel of Apples
Filed under: AppleThe numbers are preliminary, but Gartner's analysis of the US personal computer market for the 1st quarter of 2008 shows some remarkable market expansion year-over-year for Apple. With a 6.6% share of the US market (behind Dell, HP and Acer), Apple shipped over a million Macs in the quarter and had 32% growth in unit sales, far outpacing the 3% growth of the overall market and blowing past sales leader Dell's otherwise stellar 15% growth.Gartner's report notes that "Apple enjoyed strong retail sales, and there were indications that Apple showed decent growth in the professional market as well." Someone's got to be buying all those machines![via MacRumors]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Possibly the Toughest iPod Dock ever
Built for garages, construction sites, and workshops, this things hard side frame protects your iPod from damage while you listen, and also include several features that you don't typically find in an iPod dock/case. Sure there are the more common things like an AM/FM radio tuner, but this one goes a step further - not only including USB Flash memory or SD card support, but also including a spotlight, two DC power ports, a 5V DC USB charger for cellphones, and two aC outlets so you can plug your tools right into your music source. This is one hard core piece of equipment, and doesn't seem at all over price for the paltry sum of $129. To me, that seems pretty cheap for an iPod dock/case that you could kill a man with. You can pick one up right here.
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Microsoft's Live Maps are now Safari and iPhone compatible
An update to Microsoft's Live Maps adds compatibility with Safari, both desktop and mobile. This makes it accessible from an iPhone, if Google Maps isn't cutting it for you.Read More...
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Handwriting recognition comes to iPhone (photos)
Posted by Dave MertenApple's iPhone can now understand handwritten letters, after an application initially developed to allow input of Chinese characters was tweaked to make it understand English.
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Amazon Gains Share of Shrinking Paid Music Market
Amazon's five-month-old digital download store has become the distant No. 2 in that market to Apple, according to NPD. But other data show that people are still borrowing and stealing music more and not buying it.
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iPhone Price Cuts in Europe Lift Apple Shares
Apple shares rose Wednesday as a Piper Jaffray analyst predicted promotional iPhone price cuts in the United Kingdom and Germany will pave the way for the release of a new iPhone model with 3G technology in June. Apple shares rose $4.69, or 3.2 percent, to $153.07. In the past year, the stock has traded between $89.60 and $202.96. Piper analyst Gene Munster said in a client note that starting Wednesday, Carphone Warehouse and wireless carrier O2, which sell the iPhone in the UK, cut prices on the 8-gigabyte iPhone to about $333 from about $530.
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First Looks: Sony MDR-EX85LP Stereo Headphones
As a $40 less expensive version of Sony's earlier and somewhat unusual MDR-EX90LP earphones, the new MDR-EX85LP ($60) continues Sony's evolution of the classic earbud into a shape that still rests in your outer ear but uses a silicone tip to channel most of the 13.5mm driver's sound more directly into your ear canal. MDR-EX85LP is available in high gloss black or white versions, each with silver metallic accents, rubber stems, an asymmetrical cable…
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VoodooPhone plug-in puts VoodooPad docs on your iPhone
Wish you could access your VoodooPad data on your iPhone without running a webserver? VoodooPhone can make it happen.Read More...
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First Looks: Sony MDR-EX55LP Stereo Headphones
The latest evolution of Sony's budget-priced MDR-EX50 series of earbuds, the in-canal earphone MDR-EX55LP ($40) combines flashy metal stems with silicone tips and plastic driver housings, and is available in black, blue, white, and pink versions. As with other Sony earphones, the MDR-EX55LP features an asymmetrically split cable design intended to keep an accidental tug from pulling them out of both of your ears; an iPhone-compatible, thin L-joint…
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TUAW On Scene: from the premiere of Welcome to Macintosh
Filed under: Interviews, Apple HistoryHere's to the crazy ones. TUAW reader Tony Walla got to attend the Wisconsin premiere of the new Mac-doc film that's sure to be a crowd pleaser (depending on the crowd), and he sent us this report.On April 6th, the documentary "Welcome to Macintosh" premiered at the Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison, WI to a packed theater of about 275 festival goers. Josh Rizzo and Rob Baca, who co-directed and produced the film, were in attendance. Before the film began, attendees could be seen checking email on their MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and iPhones. Even a Newton or two was in the crowd. One audience member even used the iSight on his MacBook Pro to snap a picture of the audience. To the attendees, this was not just a documentary, this was an Apple event.Rizzo and Baca's goal is to tell the story of the Macintosh experience. "In order to do the Mac experience, you've got to put it in context of the Mac history," notes Baca. Rizzo added, "You can't appreciate where it is today without knowing some of the past and the fact that there is a sprit, a personality. There is a flame that lives in Apple, that lives through some of the products that is dispersed though the creativity of the people that make them."Continue reading TUAW On Scene: from the premiere of Welcome to MacintoshRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple patent is for head mounted display system
Posted by Dennis SellersSeveral Apple patents patents for a head mounted display system have appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Patent number 20080088936 is for a head mounted display system that includes a remote laser light engine that generates laser light associated with a display signal.
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O'Reilly Media releases 'Big Book of Apple Hacks'
Posted by Dave MertenWhen you get a new computer, iPhone, or iPod, the device comes preconfigured in the way Apple feels will be the most useful to the greatest number of their customers. But what if you want your exciting new gear to conform to your wishes and requirements rather than Apple's preferences?
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iPhone vulnerable to DoS attack
Posted by Dave MertenRadware, a security firm, claims to have uncovered a denial-of-service vulnerability in version 1.1.4 of Apple's Safari web browser for the iPhone. An application-level DoS attack could crash the Safari browser.
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Apple patent is for multi-functional handheld device
Posted by Dennis SellersAn Apple patent (number 20080088602) for a multi-function handheld device has appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. According to Apple the patent involves a multi-functional hand-held device capable of configuring user inputs based on how the device is to be used.
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IntelliScanner releases Media Collector 300 for Mac OS X
Posted by Dennis SellersIntelliScanner Corp. has introduced Media Collector 300, a US$149 barcode reader and software solution for organizing media that's compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista.
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Corsair announces high-density memory line for Mac Pros
Posted by Dennis SellersCorsair has launched their new Corsair high-density memory line for Mac Pro desktops.
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Decrease the size of Automator applications
If you are one of those people that are crazy about the last little extra kilobyte of space on your hard drive, then this is the tip for you. Most people know that in Automator, you can save your project as a workflow or as an application (assuming you're not making it a plug-in). Applications work with a double-click, but workflows must be opened and run from Automator, which takes both time and CPU. Applications, however, take up more drive space than workflows. Here's how to get the best of both worlds. In the Save As dialog in Automator, save your project as an Application. Back in the Finder, Control-click on the newly-creatd application and pick Show Package Contents from the pop-up menu. Open the Contents folder, and inside there is a file called document.wflow. Drag this file to your desired destination and delete the original application. Now you have a small file -- like a workflow -- but one that can be run with a double-click, like an application.
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A better Gmail IMAP to Mail.app sync
This workaround fixes many of the problems reported all over about the inconsistencies syncing Gmail IMAP with Mail.app. It keeps your inbox and sidebar nice and clean with proper mail counts. All other Gmail behaviors (trash vs. archive) remain the same. Within Gmail.com's web interface, make the following labels (Mail.app treats labels as folders): IMAP/Sent IMAP/Trash Then, within Mail.app's Accounts Preferences, on the Mailbox Behaviors tab, check/set these things: Uncheck "Store draft messages on the server." (I noticed that Gmail.com erroneously keeps several incremental copies of each message and later deletes them, so I just disabled this option to avoid the problem altogether.) Check "Store sent messages on the server" and select your deletion interval -- mine is set to one week. Uncheck "Store junk messages on the server." Check "Move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox." Check "Store de...
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One way to 'link' to files, folders, etc. in iWork documents
iWork apps only allow hyperlinks to web pages, to create email messages, and to bookmarked pages in your iWork document. However, I find it useful to have links to other files in the iWork document, as it saves digging around the file system. I normally create links by selecting the file in the Finder then going to Services » TextEdit » New Window Containing Selection. This opens a TextEdit window with a link to the file, which I can then copy into any Cocoa based document. iWork apps, however, only paste this link as text. To overcome this, I type in a line of text in the document (or in a comment) that specifies some combination of Spotlight type, attribute, and search text. I can then highlight this text and use a keyboard shortcut for the Spotlight Services menu item to bring up a Finder window containing matching items. This search can be very precise if required, and has the additional benefit that if the files are moved, they can still be found -- a traditional l...
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Ease Mac OS / Windows Boot Camp switching
I use a 2.33Ghz MacBook Pro as the main workhorse for my production business, and I have Windows XP SP2 installed via Boot Camp to run some Windows-only software that I need to run natively (ie not in Fusion or Parallels). However, I soon tired of switching the boot disk from 10.5.2 to XP and back. So I came up with this little timesaver by putting shortcuts to the System Preferences Startup Disk panel (in OS X) and the Boot Camp Control Panel (in Windows XP) on their respective desktops and dock. It saves me a couple of steps and makes the rebooting process acceptable. In Mac OS 10.5.2, navigate to /System/Library/PreferencePanes, and find StartupDisc.prefPane. Create an alias of the StartupDisc.prefPane, and drag the alias to the Desktop or the Dock. I changed the icon to a Windows icon, and the text to Shortcut to Win XP. While in Windows XP, open the Control Panel, then right-click on the on the Boot Camp Control Panel item. Select Send to Deskto ...
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Apple Design Awards 2008 Call for Entries
The 2008 Apple Design Awards call for entries went out late yesterday afternoon. This year there are seven categories including 2 new ones for the iPhone. Applications can be uploaded and entered before 5pm on May 12th, in any of the following cateogires: iPhone Developer Showcase - “Highlights innovative and compelling new iPhone applications built using the Beta iPhone SDK. Entries in this category must be pre-release, feature complete versions which run within the iPhone simulator or on an iPhone or iPod touch. Apple reserves the right to award more than one winning entry in this category.” Best iPhone Web Application - “Highlights web applications designed specifically for Safari on iPhone, which offers iPhone users innovative, compelling, valuable, and highly desirable capabilities.” Best Mac OS X Leopard Application - “Highlights trendsetting, innovative, best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard applications. Entries in this category must be release versions.” Best New Mac OS X Leopard Game - “Highlights games introduced on Mac OS X Leopard after June 2007, which take full advantage of relevant Leopard technologies and offer the best entertainment value to all ages. Entries in this category must be release versions.” Best Mac OS X Leopard User Experience - “Highlights excellence in design, aesthetics, ease of use, compelling and appropriate use of animation, and pervasive integration with built-in Mac OS X Leopard system services and sharing technologies. Entries in this category must be release versions.” Best Mac OS X Leopard Graphics and Media Application - “Highlights best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard graphics and media solutions providing unparalleled functionality, performance, innovation, and stunning visuals and/or audio. Entries in this category must be release versions.” Best Mac OS X Leopard Student Project - “Highlights Mac OS X Leopard applications developed exclusively by Student Developers. Entries in this category must be release versions.” Winners will receive two 15-inch Macbook Pro laptops, two 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays, one 16GB iPod touch, one 8GB iPhone, an ADC Premier Membership, reimbursement for one WWDC 2008 E-ticket including airfare and accommodations, and one 2009 ADC Macworld Expo Exclusive Marketing Package. The best Student Product category winner will receive one 15-inch Macbook Pro, one 30-inch Cinema Display, one 16GB iPod touch, one ADC 2008 Student Membership, reimbursement for one WWDC 2008 E-ticket including airfare and accommodations, and one 2009 ADC Macworld Expo Exclusive Marketing Package. If that prize list doesn't get you motivated to submit your app, I don't know what on earth possibly could. Click here to enter your app.
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O2 slashes the price of the iPhone
Wireless carrier OS and Carphone Warehouse have slashed the price of Apple's 8 GB iPhone in the UK, only adding fuel to the speculative fire that a new iPhone is just around the corner. 02 cut the price of the least expensive iPhone by 100 GBP on Tuesday. The device now costs 169 GBP or $333. This follows cuts by T-Mobile in Germany which slashed the iPhone down to only 99 euros with their most expensive service plan. France's Orange is expected to follow suite in the near future as well. The price cuts are effective until June 1st, and only apply to the 8GB iPhone. The 16GB model remains unchanged. An Apple spokesperson stated that the company was not involved in the price cuts, and that pricing in Apple stores would remain the same.
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Apple patents involve digital audio processing, image processing, stereo windowing
Posted by Dennis SellersApple patents for digital audio processing, image processing, stereo windowing and more have appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
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Ellen Feiss movie making one-time online airing next week
Fans of Apple switcher Ellen Feiss will be happy to hear that they will be able to catch her 2006 movie soon online. We'll just pretend like it doesn't have an average score of 1.6 on IMDB.Read More...
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Penumbra: Requiem game announced
Posted by Dennis SellersParadox Interactive has announced Penumbra: Requiem, an expansion to the horror series, reports Inside Mac Games. Like previous installments for the atmospheric game world, independent team Frictional Games is developing the expansion.
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Apple patents involve input devices, gimballed scroll wheels
Posted by Dennis SellersSeveral Apple patents involving user input devices and gimballed scroll wheels have appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
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Small Tree introduces software support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet CX dual port product
Posted by Dennis SellersSmall Tree Communications has announced the immediate availability of software support for the Intel 10 Gigabit Ethernet CX4 Dual Port product for Apple's Intel processor-based systems running Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”). This US$995 solution provides network transfer speeds up to 10 GB/second.
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Apple patents regard online store features
Posted by Dennis SellersTwo Apple patents involving online store features have have appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Patent number 20080091549 is for user supplied and refined tags.
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Entries open for Apple's 2008 design awards
Filed under: WWDC, DeveloperEvery Mac developer wants a small, softly glowing cube -- as long as it's not made from unstable isotopes or anything like that. The Apple Design Awards 2008 entry period has now begun; with competition in seven categories this year, including two for the iPhone, it's going to be fun to see what bubbles up to the top at WWDC.Applications in the following areas can be uploaded and entered before 5 pm May 12: iPhone Developer Showcase Highlights innovative and compelling new iPhone applications built using the Beta iPhone SDK. Entries in this category must be pre-release, feature complete versions which run within the iPhone simulator or on an iPhone or iPod touch. Apple reserves the right to award more than one winning entry in this category. Best iPhone Web Application Highlights web applications designed specifically for Safari on iPhone, which offers iPhone users innovative, compelling, valuable, and highly desirable capabilities. Best Mac OS X Leopard Application Highlights trendsetting, innovative, best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard applications. Entries in this category must be release versions. Best New Mac OS X Leopard Game Highlights games introduced on Mac OS X Leopard after June 2007, which take full advantage of relevant Leopard technologies and offer the best entertainment value to all ages. Entries in this category must be release versions. Best Mac OS X Leopard User Experience Highlights excellence in design, aesthetics, ease of use, compelling and appropriate use of animation, and pervasive integration with built-in Mac OS X Leopard system services and sharing technologies. Entries in this category must be release versions. Best Mac OS X Leopard Graphics and Media Application Highlights best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard graphics and media solutions providing unparalleled functionality, performance, innovation, and stunning visuals and/or audio. Entries in this category must be release versions. Best Mac OS X Leopard Student Product Winners get plenty of goodies: WWDC tickets and travel, MacBook Pros, Cinema Displays, iPod touches and iPhones, and (far and away the most valuable) a free mini-booth to exhibit at Macworld Expo 2009. See Apple's official site for all the rules and regulations, and best of luck! (Yes, that's the developer team of 2007 ADA winner Panic giving a full-on geek salute there in the winner's circle. Seems like they're pretty pumped.)Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Under The Radar News - Thursday
BoE to copy Fed. The Bank of England is expected to launch a new lending program for UK banks to help thaw frozen credit markets. The plan will be similar to the Fed's recent move, allowing banks to swap mortgage-based assets for government bonds, and could be launched as soon as next week. Today's BoE auction drew £50B in bids on the £13.7B it offered, the most in three months. "It shows the scale of the problem," a strategist said. Dollar's not going away. Soros says the dollar's here to stay as the global reserve currency. "I don't think the euro can replace the dollar, and a system with two major reserve currencies is not a stable system," he said. He called the current downturn a time of wealth destruction, and said investors should preserve capital until things cleared up. On bubbles: "There is a commodities bubble still in the growth phase while other bubbles are being deflated," he said.
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USB Fever ships Nano 3rd Kick Stand Photo Frame Hard Case
Posted by Dennis SellersUSB Fever has released the Nano 3rd Kick Stand Photo Frame Hard Case, an US$13.99 “three way” case for the third gen iPod nano.
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MacUpdate offers MacUpdate Parallels bundle
Posted by Dennis SellersMacUpdate has released the MacUpdate Parallels bundle. It's a software bundle that includes Parallels and nine more top Mac apps.
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News: Mix: iPhone in India, Ireland, and Switzerland
Apple may launch the iPhone in India this year, according to a new report. The Business Standard, citing “Apple sources,” says the 8GB model will appear on the market first, with Vodafone as the carrier. “The carrier deal for India is being worked out with Vodafone,â€? said the source, adding: “Vodafone could also become the carrier for the Australian market once iPhone is launched there, though more than one carrier is likely for…
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More WWDC '08 sessions, Apple Design Award categories posted
Yesterday, Apple posted an expanded session list for WWDC 2008, as well as the Apple Design Award categories. If you want to win some serious hardware, you have until May 12 to submit your product.Read More...
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Apple releases Safari and Macbook Pro EFI updates
Apple posted an update to Safari late yesterday that patches several vulnerabilities on both the Windows and Mac versions of the browser. Apple also issued a Macbook Pro EFI Firmware Update that will apparently fix several issue to improve stability of the machine. As always Apple is kind of light on the details here, but if you haven't seen them yet, and want them now, just pop-up to the top left hand side of your screen and click Appe>Software Update to download.
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TUAW hands on with CrossOver Games
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Features We posted about the release of CrossOver Games a little while ago -- it's a version of Codeweavers' Windows virtualization software that allows Windows games to be played on OS X and Linux. I grabbed a copy of the software for TUAW, and spent an afternoon running it through its paces.You can check out the hands-on after the break -- after installing CrossOver Games, I first tried to load up Guild Wars using their installer's package interface, and was able to get it working pretty well. I then tried one of my favorite games, Civilization 4, and unfortunately, that one didn't turn out quite so well. And just for kicks, I also gave F.E.A.R. a shot -- it's not on CrossOver's compatibility list at all, but I've had a copy sitting around for a while that I haven't played yet, so I let the virtualization app take a crack at getting it working.The hands-on is in this simple and easy-to-use (which is more than I can say about CrossOver Games) gallery format -- just click the picture furthest to the left down there and begin our journey into the exciting world of virtualization and game installation. I can tell you're excited already.Gallery: TUAW's Hands on with CrossOver GamesRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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NBC would ‘love’ to be back in iTunes, they would also love to keep your files out of it
George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer for NBC Universal is singing a different 'tune' about iTunes according to CNET. The “chief digital officer” stated in a interview at the Ad:Tech conference that NBC would ' love to be on iTunes…It has a great customer experience. We'd love to figure out a way to distribute our content on iTunes.' However, they have some concerns about piracy. Gee — who's surprised? He says, “If you look at studies about MP3 players, especially leading MP3 players and what portion of that content is pirated, and think about how that content gets onto that device, it has to go through a gatekeeping piece of software, which would be a convenient place to put some antipiracy measures.” I wonder what kind of antipiracy measures he's thinking about? Does he really think Apple is going to put some kind of scanning application into iTunes that watches all your video before hand and can somehow tell if you're loading an episode of 'The Office' onto your iPod that you didn't buy from iTunes? The only true way to ever do what he wants is to only allow video that has been purchased from iTunes to play on an iPod. As I'm sure you'll all agree…that would kill the iPod. It's not going to happen. Ever. If it does, you can kiss the iPod goodbye, because people will not stand for it. Forget piracy, I may want video of my kids on the iPod - hell, I DO want podcasts on my iPod - that's 90% of the video on the thing in the first place (mine, anyway). So, to Mr. Kliavkoff, I say “Good luck with that.” What do you think? Do you think there is a way to pull this off? If they did pull it off, would you stop using your iPod and move to something else?
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A Look at Apple's Q2 EPS Estimate Trend
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is scheduled to release earnings for Q2 2008 Wednesday, April 23rd. Below is some brief information on the historical trend of consensus estimates and reported earnings. This is a primer for a follow-up analysis I am currently working on- which I plan to publish within the next couple of days. Data from Yahoo Finance reports 26 total estimates for Q2. High Estimate: $1.18 Low Estimate: $ .94 Mean Estimate: $1.06 Q2 Previous Yr: $ .87 Apple Guidance: $ .94 Yr/Yr Growth: Analyst Estimate:22% Apple Guidance: 8% The estimates have changed little in the last 60 days. Three months ago, the consensus stood at $1.09 until Apple announced its Q2 guidance of $.94 which caused analysts to trim there forecasts. Within the last month, the mean estimate ticked up one penny. In February, there were a wave of negative reports: suggesting lower iPod shipments, weak iPhone and Macbook Air sales. The reports would support the lower than expected guidance, questioning whether Apple is really low-balling again this quarter. In March, a flood of reports suggested iPod sales weren’t as dismal as previously thought. Also, there were indications that Mac sales were very strong. The iPhone SDK release renewed enthusiasm and a shortage at retail stores hinted at healthy sales. Even with positive industry data reports on Mac shipments, the consensus estimate only rose a penny. I believe the consensus is a bit low, calling for 22% Yr/Yr EPS growth. I predict Mac sales are up more than 50% to over 2 million units. The general trend of Mac strength should be further bolstered by the new MacBook Air and upgrades to MacBook and MacBook Pros released during the 2nd quarter. The year-ago quarter saw no new introductions or upgrades to the Mac line. The Street is forecasting Mac unit sales of 1.9 million. Below is table of selected individual estimates reported by Zacks. The table below depicts Apple’s earnings history reported by quarter. Percentage changes are displayed for Yr/Yr change for individual quarter, Yr/Yr change for last 4 quarters, and sequential change for last 4 quarters. Apple’s EPS announcement history- Estimate vs Actual and 1 day change in share price. Last year, Apple beat Q2 estimates by 36% and shares rose 3.7%. Stock price activity around announcement dates.
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Create a PDF of newspaper headlines with Automator
Filed under: Software, Internet, Internet Tools, Terminal TipsSome of you news hounds may be aware of Newseum, the "interactive museum of news." Every day, they publish the front pages of over 600 newspapers from several companies. Wouldn't it be cool to get just the ones you like delivered to your (virtual) door as a single PDF? Automator to the rescue!Dave Bednarski sent a great script he wrote to the folks at 37signals which serves that purpose. Basically, you enter the addresses of the papers you'd like to receive, filter for PDFs, download the result to the desktop and combine the lot by appending the pages into one big file. It's just that easy.For an added bonus, attach this script to an iCal event and have your news waiting for you each morning. All that's missing is your mug of coffee, and the muddy pawprints of the family dog on the carpet after he runs out in the rain to chase the paperboy.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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'Good Housekeeping' finds iPhone's keyboard function lacking
Posted by Dennis SellersA recent Good Housekeeping review of Qwerty keyboard cell phones rated the Motorola Moto Q 9h Global (US$150) above the iPhone for devices for use with the AT&T network.
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Review: iFinance a work in progress
Posted by Dennis SellersSynium Software recently released version 2 of iFinance 2, a personal financial manager for Mac OS X that lets you mange your cash flow over multiple accounts. There's a lot to like about the software, but it still feels like a work in progress.
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The PC of Doctor Moreau
Here's why I can't have nice things: Sometimes I like to tinker, and when I do, I can't stop swimming out of my depth. Nothing in my home is safe from a screwdriver, or worse. Not my car, not the thermostat, not the guitar amp, nothing. My "nice" PC has seen its fair share of registry edits to the operating system -- don't even ask about the test mule. I even "upgraded" the battery door on my BlackBerry with a sliver of cardboard and some behind-the-scenes scotch tape. The damn thing slipped open too easily -- why should I endure that when better living can be had through office supplies?
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Wanted, Dead or Alive: The iPhone Killer
Just got back from CTIA in Vegas, and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed this year. There were very few of the blockbuster product launches typical of the show. In the ever-present race to discover the elusive ‘iPhone killer’, there were only a few notable device announcements (Sprint’s (S) Samsung Instinct being a highlight), even though a number of companies positioned their next device as the latest and greatest to take on the AT&T (T) / Apple (AAPL) juggernaut. This story has been the same since Apple announced the iPhone over a year ago. Now that the shine has worn off, it is time to take another look to see if anyone has emerged as the Apple assassin. Given that the majority of wireless shoppers plan to use the online channel to research their next purchase, we took a look at the online interest in the iPhone and its competitive set. What we found is that the biggest competitor for the iPhone is . . . wait for it . . . the iPhone!
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Lawmakers eying taxation on digital downloads
Filed under: Portable Audio Color us completely unsurprised, but it's being reported that a number of state politicians are looking at the possibility of imposing new laws to levy taxes on digital downloads as a method of taping up shattered budgets. Yep, anything from music to videos to books are at risk, as a growing number of lawmakers are looking to start collecting taxes from each iTunes track and Kindle eBook you purchase. Of course, this idea is far from new, and a number of US states already impose such taxes, but it seems that the ever-growing amount of content purchased online has caught the eye of those looking for new streams of tax revenue. Needless to say, the issue as a whole is about as far from black and white as you can get, but we're not asking you to take our word for it -- tap the read link to get a good feel of just how sticky the situation really is.[Image courtesy of Izzy]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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OnScreen DNA visualization software price reduced by 70 percent until 'DNA Day'
Posted by Dennis SellersIn a “DNA Day” promotion, OnScreen Science has announced a time-limited price reduction of over 70 percent on OnScreen DNA, the standard edition of its suite of DNA visualization software for Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista.
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'Tech Night Owl LIVE' looks at Mac minitower, Mac clones, more
Posted by Dennis SellersOn the new Tech Night Owl LIVE podcast, host/pundit Gene “the Night Owl” Steinberg looks at music, web site design and more.
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'MacVoices' offers a look at NAB 2008
Posted by Dennis SellersOn the new MacVoices there's a look at this week's 2008 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) even in Las Vegas.
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The Mac Night Owl: 'A fast look at bogus Apple Inc. issues'
Posted by Dennis SellersOn today's commentary, Gene “Mac Night Owl” Steinberg offers “A fast look at bogus Apple Inc. issues.”
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Mac OS Ken: 04.17.2008
Apple Fixes Vulnerabilities for Windows and Mac with Safari 3.1.1 / Apple Updates AppleTV Software to v2.0.2 / Apple Acknowledges Some Graphics Problems for MacBooks and MacBook Pros / Apple Adds Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro / Forrester Report Defends Vista for the Enterprise / ChangeWave Survey Shows Downturn in Consumer Electronics Over Next 90 Days / O2 Drops England iPhone Price / O2 Ireland Leaves iPhone Price Unchanged / NBC Digital Chief Praises (and Criticizes) Apple / Variety: Fox Adds Juno For Sale Through iTunes and Digital Copy to Juno DVDs / Juno B-Sides Exclusive to iTunes / iTunes and Starbucks Give Away Pick of the Week / NPD: AmazonMP3.com Growing But Not Hurting iTunes / Ars Technica: Woz Talks PsyStar OpenPro / Wired: Apple Lawsuit Against PsyStar May Not Be Easy / More Sessions Announced for WWDC / iPod Joins Design Icons Exhibit / Barry Sonnenfeld Fears the Internet (and Tells a Bunch of Broadcasters)
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★ The Unsatisfying State of Twitter Web Clients for the iPhone
Twitter and the iPhone seem, at a glance, a perfect match: bite-sized micro-content paired with the world’s best mobile web reader. But here’s the thing: there’s not yet a single good iPhone Twitter client. The main things I want in a Twitter interface on my iPhone, roughly in order: A readable, attractive list of tweets, with the ability to page back to previous tweets so I can catch up if I haven’t looked at Twitter in a while. A good text input field for posting, including a live character count and responsive typing speed. The ability to mark tweets as favorites. An easy way to create @username replies. A way to view a list of replies directed at me. There’s not a single available Twitter client for the iPhone that offers all of the above. And the single biggest problem is out of the hands of third-party developers: paging. The API only returns the 20 most recent tweets, and the optional parameter to request previous pages (20 tweets at a time) has been marked “Temporarily Disabled” for over six months. This means when you use a third-party Twitter client, you see the 20 most recent tweets in your stream, and that’s it. It’s a deal-breaking limitation for third-party clients, because when you read your stream via the Twitter.com web site, paging works just fine. It’s unclear what the rationale behind this API limitation is — I can find no public explanation for it from anyone at Twitter. If it’s to prevent API clients from overwhelming Twitter’s servers by paging back through the entire history of users’ timelines (say, for the purpose of building a database for a Twitter search engine), this could be solved by allowing paging, but limiting the results to t