Apr 20, 2008 Apr 22, 2008 Monday April 21, 2008
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Are there enough suckers in the world to make a market for Mac clones?
Much like the fascination one finds when driving by a traffic accident, the Mac community is abuzz with questions of whether or not the supposed Mac cloner Psystar is a real company and will sell real Mac clones. But the real question is whether anyone in their right mind will consider buying one.
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Jim Cramer: Stop trading, buy Apple
On CNBC’s Stop Trading! segment Monday, Jim Cramer advised viewers to “buy Apple.” Cramer said that there is a “grudging recognition” in the market, especially after Nokia’s cautious guidance, that the iPhone will continue to win among smartphones. He said the iPhone is “huge, and when we get the next iteration … it’s going to be [...]
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Windows Vista, 7, and Singularity: The New Copland, Gershwin, Taligent
Daniel Eran Dilger Microsoft's current and future operating system projects, Windows Vista, Windows Seven, and Singularity, share too much in common with Apple's failures of the mid-90s. Each project bears a striking resemblance to the three catastrophes that nearly killed Apple in the early 90s, and for many of the same core reasons. Here's why, and what this means for the future of the PC desktop, the Windows platform, and new emerging mobile markets. (more…)
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Something killed my MacBook Pro
Something killed my MacBook Pro hard drive yesterday and I can’t figure out what did it. The machine in question is a third generation MBP (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, a.k.a. Santa Rosa) originally shipping with OS X 10.4.9 (Tiger), manufactured between May 2007 and October 2007. At first I suspected MBP EFI firmware 1.5 (released two weeks [...]
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Apple files for iPhone instant messaging patent
Filed under: Internet Tools, Apple, iPhoneThe one feature that most of us iPhone owners want is native instant messaging. With the upcoming SDK release, instant messaging apps will most likely not be able to run in the background (in other words, they may not receive messages when the phone is sleeping or doing other things). However, AppleInsider is reporting on an Apple patent for instant messaging on the iPhone that was filed in August of last year, but just granted in March of this year. The drawing included with the patent filing looks identical to the SMS application on the iPhone, with some key differences, one of which is word suggestions that appear as bubbles above the keyboard. AppleInsider also reports that this service could be used as a substitute for MMS (multi media messaging) which the current iPhone is lacking. You can read the full patent filing on the USPTO's website. [via AppleInsider]Thanks, James!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Mac clone lust.
Ah, spring! When a gentleman's fancy turns to Mac cloning! Like ZDNet's Jason Perlow. ... I have to think that this whole idea of commercially produced Mac Clones has legs... Ah, so Perlow's a leg man. Well, Jason, the Macalope's not sure what you're into but, just so you know, these particular legs are likely to be of the short, stumpy variety. But despite all the lusting, is this relationship meant to be? Sure, cloners were able to legally have their way with Windows, but OS X ain't that kind of girl. She's gonna put up a fight. There is the obvious difference here that Apple owns Mac OS X and the rights to the hardware platform it runs on, whereas IBM had a non-exclusive license from Microsoft which prevented a loophole from being closed, but to use the hackneyed phrase -- when there is a will, there is a way. There are certainly going to be (more) attempts to create unlicensed Mac clones. The problem is, who wants to buy a computer from a company running an unsupported operating system from a company that has the life expectancy of a fruit fly? I have always said that it made absolutely no sense that Apple backed off from the prospect of cloned systems. And the Macalope has always said that the water fountains at ZDNet must be served with lead pipes. How easy is it? Well, along with legal copies of Mac OS X and a special EFI firmware emulator for PC BIOS-based equipment and instructions how to put it all together it doesn't really require any more effort than what it would have typically taken a PC homebrewer to assemble their own DOS or Windows-based white box 10 or 15 years ago. Hmm. The Macalope likes your American ingenuity, Jason, but he's not hearing the words that brings this sleazy scenario to its tacky nadir: steampunk casemod. Think about it. If you want a clone Mac or a "Hackintosh" that badly, you can have one, for just a small amount of effort and a very modest cash investment in a relatively generic PC motherboard, processor, RAM, video card and case with power supply assembled from an ever-growing list of compatible parts. Rob Griffiths might disagree with the "small amount of effort" part. Here's what he went through: After all of the parts arrived at my home, it took a few hours to build the machine. ... But building the hardware is actually the easy part of the process. ... Next, I installed Vista on the PC, just to be sure everything worked. From there, it then took many more hours to get OS X working right--while the process is relatively straightforward, there are a lot of steps involved, and BIOS settings to tweak. If you want to run Windows and OS X on the same drive, there are more hoops to jump through to get it all working. But after many hours of reading, assembling, disassembling, screaming, installing, uninstalling, reinstalling, saying bad words, pestering friends, and generally not having very much fun, I was done: my machine was up and running, and capable of booting into either Windows Vista or Mac OS X 10.5.2. Jason, the Macalope decrees your pimp name to be "Sugar-Coatin' Perlow". But over at ZDNet, hope springs eternal: In all likelihood, you probably can run it on the PC you have now... That's true! But, in the Macalope's case, that's because the PC he has now is a Mac. You see, time being money, this colossal exercise is only economically worthwhile if your only opportunity cost is the hours you'll lose from your job as a fry chef down at the DQ. Oh, you'll need to be your own support person, and it will probably be more than a little bit messy, but if you are determined to "screw the man" so to speak, than a private citizen can effectively do whatever the heck they want without any interference at all from the Evil Fruit. Who burned the Reichstag? Why, Steve Jobs burned the Reichstag, of course. Jason's just having a little fun, but when did the computer company with the 7% market share become the Great Satan? Don't get me wrong, Ubuntu Hardy Heron is nice and all, but a Mac OS X I could easily and legally install on any random $500-$700 Dell or Taiwanese special from Costco or Wal-Mart? OK, the Macalope may be an ungulate, but he still doesn't like it when other people make him throw up in his own mouth. It's baffling how someone could get through an entire article and neglect to address one simple question: what's in it for Apple? Attracting homebrew Linux users? No offense, Jason, but that's not exactly the gold ring of desktop computer market share. This is not business analysis. This is technology fantasy porn. And Apple's just not that into you. All things being equal, the brown and furry one would much rather steal market share from Windows than Linux. The Macalope has a lot of respect for the neck-bearded Linux gnomes who solder and compile long into the night. Sure, they're cheap, but they live by a noble, if smelly and hirsute, code. And the Macalope loves the idea of three viable desktop alternatives really competing against each other. In any event, licensed Mac cloning is simply not going to happen. The experience from the mid '90s is that licensees don't increase sales, they rob sales from Apple. And the amount of money to be made on licensing is never going to be greater than the sales of Apple hardware lost. That leaves unlicensed cloning which will never be really mainstreamed because of the obvious legal, technical and, well, moral implications. Sadly, this won't stop some fevered imaginations from going on and on about how very, very hot it gets them. Ew, indeed.
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Lenovo axes the 4:3 ThinkPad T61 -- are widescreens better?
Filed under: LaptopsLenovo's the latest laptop vendor to go to an mostly-widescreen lineup today, as it retires the 4:3 14.1-inch ThinkPad T61. All that's left in the standard ratio are the 12.1-inch X-series laptops, and even those are something of a novelty in today's 13.3-inch dominated market. It's not a formal move and there's no announcement, but it's clearly a growing trend -- Apple, Sony, and HP don't offer any 4:3 laptops either -- and it got us wondering what people prefer. Just amongst Engadget editors there's no clear agreement: some of us prize vertical real estate, while others say tiling windows horizontally provides maximum multitasking power, and one ed rocks both 16:9 and 4:3 displays side-by-side -- but that's probably crazy. What's your aspect ratio of choice? Hit us up in comments!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Psystar says it's shipping Open Computers, anyone get a tracking number?
Filed under: DesktopsIt's been a pretty hectic few days for wannabe Mac cloner Psystar -- its former credit card processor shut off its account when it learned what it was trying to sell, no one could figure out the company's true address, and company president Rudy Pedraza still has the disconcerting habit of not answering any questions and promising to call everyone back with a formal statement that's never arrived. Still, the company posted up a blurb today saying it's gotten a new credit card processor and that Open Computers are now being shipped in the order purchases were made. Of course, Rudy's been promising us a test machine since day one, so we're curious to see if he follows through -- has anyone gotten a tracking number? Anyone have their credit cards charged? Let us know.Read - Psystar: "Store up and running"Read - News.com article about Psystar's former credit card processorRead - ZDNet article on Psystar's addressPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Fair Oaks, Va. Apple Store ready to open
Filed under: RetailAccording to ifoAppleStore (we couldn't find a link at Apple.com/retail), Virginia's newest Apple Store will open this weekend. This time, Fair Oaks, Virginia will play host, joining McLean, Norfolk, Richmond and Arlington (they've got two. Lucky dogs).Doors will open on Saturday, April 26th at 10 AM. As usual, we're asking any TUAW readers who visit this store over the weekend to share their stories and pictures. The first 1,000 people to show up will receive a T-shirt, but there won't be a big giveaway this time around (sorry, Fair Oaks!).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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PayPal says it won't block Safari
Filed under: Internet Tools, SecurityThere's been some talk about PayPal blocking Safari from using its services, and I'm among those concerned about it... even if only from a convenience standpoint. Originally the news was gleaned from statements by PayPal Chief Information Security Officer Michael Barrett regarding browsers without phishing protection -- which most assumed included our beloved Webkit-based compass. But in a brief addendum to a post at the Wall Street Journal last week it was reported that -- while Paypal will be blocking older browsers (IE4-era) and older operating systems -- Safari is safe from the cut. I'm relieved, at least from the previously mentioned convenience standpoint. I prefer Safari as my surfing browser1 and I frequently use PayPal. It's too bad that there are still a good number of sites that, while not blocking Safari, just plain don't work with it yet. Add to that some of the great plugins available for Flock/Firefox and you'll almost always find me with multiple browsers open. In much the way that the iPhone is preventing Gargoylism* by consolidating peripherals, I'm hoping for a day when I open just one browser in the morning. I'm getting a little teary-eyed thinking about it. 1Since I know it will be bandied about in the comments, I'd like to offer these reasons for preferring Safari: It's faster (in general). It's more elegant (or prettier, either way it's subjective). It's AppleScriptable (which I make daily use of). And it's more elegant (redundant, but worth mentioning again).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Rivet media sharing for Xbox 360
Filed under: Gaming, SoftwareMac users who have wanted to share audio, video, and pictures with their Xbox 360s have had to depend on Connect360 from Nullriver Software. Now, however, there's a new option: Rivet from Cynical Peak Software. Frankly, it does about the same thing as Connect360, running in your menu bar and allowing you to share media to your Xbox 360, though it does add a few convenient features. According to the developer, Rivet allows you to "supply multiple search paths for your media" and display your folder media folder hierarchies properly (instead of in a long, flat list). So if you've been frustrated by those limitations, Rivet is worth a look. In my brief testing it worked just about as well as Connect360.Rivet is $18.95 and a demo is available from Cynical Peak Software.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple makes a nice jump on the Fortune 500
Filed under: Apple Financial, iPhoneApple's headed straight to the top with a bullet -- they went from 159 to 121 in last year's Fortune 500 ranking, and this year, they've pushed their way up to 103. On the list of the "20 most profitable tech companies," they are solidly at number eight -- Fortune says that the introduction of the iPhone and "record sales of Mac computers" have Apple on a rocket trajectory.Of course, Google's sitting upstairs at number 7, and you-know-who (not the Harry Potter villain, but close) is up at number one.But yes, there's no question that Apple has really been hitting it out of the park lately, and considering the future (the fruits of the SDK, another possible iPhone iteration, and whatever else they're brewing up in Cupertino), the trends will continue.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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More on Localized Folder Names
Jory K. Prum, on the confusion resulting from localized folder names in Mac OS X: Can I create a directory named “Desktop” in ~ when the Desktop folder is called “Skrivebord”? Can I create a “Skrivebord” directory when there’s already one in the home directory? The answer is simple and the results just add to the confusion of the clusterfuck: I cannot create a folder called “Desktop” in ~ even when the localized one is called something else, as I am told by the Finder (in Norwegian, in this case) that there is already a folder with the same name! Of course, the user cannot see this folder name being used, so there’s a great source of confusion. But it gets better! I can create a directory called “Skrivebord”, which leaves me with TWO directories of the same name within the same folder. ★
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Where is wireless HDMI?
Belkin FlyWire: A wireless HDMI product that's due later in 2008(Credit: Belkin)HDMI has certainly had its growing pains, but the connection is finally beginning to deliver on its original promise: a single-cable solution for delivering high-bandwidth all-digital HD video and multichannel audio. HDMI is nearly universal in the home video market, present on all current HDTVs and Blu-ray players, as well as nearly all HD-capable cable and satellite set-top boxes; DVRs; game consoles; AV receivers; upscaling DVD players and recorders; and network video streamers such as the Apple TV. In fact, you realize just how convenient HDMI is when you come across a product without it--I'm looking at you, Nintendo Wii--and then have 5 cables (3 component video wires plus two-channel stereo) instead of one crowding the back of your home entertainment system. But one aspect of the HDMI promise remains unfulfilled: wireless HDMI. It's an attractive idea, especially for anybody with a wall-mounted flat-panel TV or a ceiling-mounted projector: have all of your HDMI-capable gear running into an AV receiver or HDMI switcher with a wireless HDMI transmitter, and have the TV equipped with a matching receiver--thus allowing you to have all your AV sources across the room from the actual display. We've been hearing about it for years, but to date, there are few--if any--products that you can actually buy. Here's a quick update on the wireless HDMI products we've heard about to date--including when (or whether) we can expect to see them: ...
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MBP vs. MBA benchmarking showdown
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Macbook Pro, MacBook Air Bare Feats continues to pit Macs against each other in a no-holds-barred, up-against-the-wall benchmarking breakdown, and this time around it's the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air in the octagon together. And things go about as planned -- while the solid state drive in the MBA has its advantages, the processor and GPU (what little there is of it) in the MBA don't even really compare to the MBP. Sure, it's a small, super thin, super portable computer, but not only are you paying in cash for the portability, you're paying in performance, too.This doesn't mean the MBA is a bad computer at all -- for most tasks, it'll work just fine. But complicated 3D graphics (both Halo and Unreal Tournament 2004 were tested) will be almost unplayable in games, and there will be a substantial wait, sometimes up to minutes more, for certain processor intensive tasks. If speed is a high priority (at least higher than portability), the MBA isn't for you.I would like to see how the MacBook compares, though. It's not surprising that the MBP is a fast machine, but where does the MBA line up compared to the cheaper model?[Via IMG]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple Gazette Daily 251 - Apple Weekend News Round-Up
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: A round-up of the weekend's top Apple news. 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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Earnings Beat Rates and Key Reports
Slightly more than 200 US companies have reported earnings since Alcoa (AA) kicked things off on April 7th. As shown below, 57% of these companies have beaten analyst estimates. After a weak showing last quarter, the "beat" rate is currently even lower this quarter. But things still haven't gotten as bad as they did in late '98 and '01, and based on the performance of stocks since earnings season began, investors seem to like the 57% beat rate.
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Backstage: Making Apple TV Stickier - Your Thoughts?
Successful electronic devices are “sticky,” meaning that you keep wanting to use them rather than doing or using something else. If the device is designed from the start with the right set of features, it will be both appealing and sticky to all of its potential buyers; otherwise, it might take a few iterations—and added features—to get to the point where people can't live without it. A few examples of stickiness: * iPods.…
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Apple releases Aperture plug-in programming kit
Third-party programmers now can get started creating plug-ins for the company's Aperture software for editing and cataloging photos.
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Apple brand surges in new ranking
Whether brand fuels sales or sales fuel brands, that familiar fruity logo is a worldwide phenomenon.Read More...
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Apple wants to improve online shopping
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Rumors, iTunes, Apple Here's an interesting idea -- MacNN is reporting that Apple is working on new ways to improve online shopping. Apparently the biggest music seller in the US thinks that online shopping can feel "sterile and isolating." Hmm.To counteract the isolation, Apple is reportly considering showing customers where other shoppers are in the virtual stores, and maybe even letting customers interact while shopping, via chat or other interfaces. This system would also allow for storewide announcements of special events or sales going down.It's quite a concept -- online store as virtual space -- but the fact for me as a consumer is that I shop online mostly to avoid exactly those things (chatting with less knowledgeable customers and annoying store loudspeaker systems). Even if this idea makes it through the gauntlet and we see this type of thing in Apple's online shopping environments, I doubt the old methods of clicking and browsing by yourself are going away anytime soon.[via MacRumors]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Spanning Sync plans Gmail Contact syncing for version 2.0
If you like easy iCal and Google Calendar syncing, Spanning Sync makes a good option. Version 2.0 promises to sync Address Book with your Gmail contacts as well.Read More...
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Speech to Text, the Next Step
Windows has developed what they feel is the next generation of computing, the tablet PC. We’ve seen Bill Gates strongly advocate the tablet the tablet as the true “next generationâ€? platform for computing. But I disagree, and here’s why. Handwriting schmandwriting I still argue that writing recognition on a tablet isn’t close enough to paper writing. I’ve used a HP Pavillion tx series tablet and what I’ve found is an intuitive hand writing recognition application. I think anything that can translate my handwriting into text is worth appreciating, but it still doesn’t replace the feel and use of paper. I think mainly because it still transforms my writing into text alone. Why not just type then, I’m faster at it anyways? I know with the Wacom Tablet (PC/Mac) you can maintain your actual handwriting but again the experience takes time getting used to, and is still confined by the limitations of its own application. I know there are people who live by their Wacom tablet as if they were extensions of themselves, for lectures and daily navigating, but I think if we break down the need, we can create a more intuitive system of input. (more…)
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JayBird reveals JB-200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset
Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables, Wireless Chances are, that JB-100 you picked up 'round Christmastime last year isn't even broken in yet, but JayBird's already launching the aforesaid device's proper successor. The just-introduced JB-200 features complete AVRCP music / call controls, an improved fit (25-percent narrower ear-tip), better sound isolation, higher-grade silicon tips, boosted bass performance and a 1-inch longer behind-the-neck cord. For those rolling without an A2DP-capable handset / handheld, the company still offers up its Bluetooth Adapter for iPod or the Bluetooth adapter for MP3, the latter of which functions with practically any DAP or PMP. You'll also get around 5.5-hours of music listening time, 6.5-hours of talk time and 110-hours in standby mode. The JB-200 should be shipping out as we speak for $129.99, but folks needing one of the previously mentioned adapters will be coughing up an extra $30.[Thanks, Donald] Gallery: JayBird reveals JB-200 Bluetooth Stereo HeadsetRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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My Fresh Start to Easy Invoicing Using FreshBooks
Easy to use web-based invoicing application leaves others in the dust.
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AndroidGuys on Google’s Laissez-Faire Development Model
Jamie Hunter, at AndroidGuys: How can Google and the Open Handset Alliance avoid this pitfall? Easy. Form an OHA quality control board that approves software applications for the Android platform. They would be responsible for testing applications before they are released to the Android public, but unlike Apple’s process developers would voluntarily submit each individual application to the board for approval. This would give consumers piece of mind when choosing whether or not to try a particular application. If it doesn’t have the board’s seal of approval they could still download and install it catering to the open source community, while developers and publishers could use this seal as a selling point on their websites or other points of distribution. What’s most interesting about the coming iPhone/Android rivalry is that Apple and Google are taking complete opposite approaches to the issue of openness. Still though, the first pass Android-based phones have to test is whether they’re any good technically. ★
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RIM, Palm also seeing smartphone shortages?
Apple faced iPhone shortages earlier this month, and it looks like it isn't the only company running low on smartphones at the moment.
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Mambo Italiano: iPhone for Italy looking likely
Filed under: Rumors, iPhoneEuro-iPhone purchasers note: there's something in the wind that says a 3G, revenue-sharing-absent and exclusivity-free iPhone may be on the way shortly for Italian (or iTalian) buyers. An article at La Repubblica indicates that the iPhone's arrival in Rome may be accompanied by a new sales model: no revenue kickback from subscriptions for Apple, but a higher selling price on the phone, and a very limited or nonexistent exclusivity period for the telecom partner (Telecom Italia at launch during summer 2008, with other carriers onboard probably by the holiday season).Sadly, my Italian is basically as nonexistent as the exclusivity for the iTPhone, so I'm depending on the machine translation here. If any of our readers can distill and inform based on the original, please do![via Engadget]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Get 20 percent off Apple print products for your mom
Mother's Day is just around the corner and Apple knows it. If you create photobooks or calendars through iPhoto or Aperture between now and May 11, Apple will even give you a discount on your order.Read More...
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3G Italian iPhone, PayPal Backpedals and More Wacky iPhone Rumors
iPhone browser, a phishers dream, more Psystar drama and 3G iPhone in May rumor emerges.
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Want your iPod Nano to look like Raw Meat? No Problem!
Now I know there are at least a few of you out there that have been dying to have your iPod Nano look like raw meat. I mean, who wouldn't? Imagine the kitchen-based prankery that could ensue if you had an iPod Nano that looked like meat! You cut put it into a steak cut and BOOM! Run a hilarious video while your family is trying to prepare dinner. It would be a gas! Or not. Either way, if you want your iPod Nano to look meat-based…now you can have it. Thanks to a link from the Raw Feed we now have proof that there is absolutely nothing left that can be done with iPod cases. This one wins the award for odd. This company is selling an iPod Nano case that not only looks like raw meat, but comes in a packaging that looks like you purchased it straight from your local grocer. You can't make this stuff up. It does, however, remind me of one of my favorite online comics strips, Dinosaur Comics, which has a collection available that has a very similar cover. Ahh…meat.
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Report: Italian iPhone deal shuns revenue sharing?
Apple and Telecom Italy might be getting ready to sign a deal for iPhone distribution that doesn't involve revenue sharing or exclusivity.
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Office 2008 vs. iWork ’08: Can they get along?
We’ve compared Word and Pages, Excel and Numbers, PowerPoint and Keynote. But one question is still on readers minds: What about file compatibility?
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O2 and T-mobile eat it while Europe gears up for 3G iPhone
O2 and T-Mobile have slashed prices on current iPhones to clear stock for a 3G model expected this summer. Italy reportedly already has a deal in place for an updated model.Read More...
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Apple Q2 earnings call preview
Filed under: Apple FinancialOver at Apple 2.0, Phillip Elmer-DeWitt has an excellent preview post on Apple's earnings report, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the market close. We'll be liveblogging the earnings call at 2 pm PT/5pm ET if you care to join in for the fun.Despite spectactular sales and earnings growth for AAPL over the past couple of years, the Q1 earnings report (which featured extra-conservative guidance by Apple and some indications of a softening on iPod demand) triggered a selloff in the stock, with a drop in price from the lofty $200 highs at the end of 2007 (seen above) as profit-taking and recession fears drove investors to take their money and run. Will iPhone sales and Mac unit growth push profits (and the stock price) back towards the roof? Tune in Wednesday to find out.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Propellerhead Reason 4
Sick Synths With All The Trimmings
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Under The Radar News - Monday
Biofuel bias. GM (GM) CEO Rick Wagoner says a UN report linking biofuel production to rising food prices is "shockingly misinformed." Skyrocketing oil prices, he says, are a "far bigger driver" of increased food prices than the corn used for ethanol production. He bemoaned the lack of more ethanol stations in the U.S. Wagoner thinks China will be the first country to build the necessary infrastructure for clean cars -- which he says could give it a strategic advantage. GM is a leading advocate of E85 use. Buongiorno 3G iPhone. An unlocked, untethered 3G iPhone will being selling in Italy "in a matter of weeks." The move would be a radical departure from Apple's (AAPL) insistence on a revenue-sharing model. The phone will be sold through Italy's Telecom Italia Mobile for a higher price than in other European countries. Italians are the #1 consumer of pre-paid wireless contracts. Bloomberg denies he's interested in NY Times. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is being encouraged by aides to merger Bloomberg LP with the troubled New York Times (NYT). The idea was floated in the May issue of Vanity Fair by Michael Wolff. "It's the most logical idea in the newspaper business," Wolff said yesterday. "The New York Times is vulnerable, and Bloomberg is a potential buyer who has the money, the credibility, the interest and the chops." Chatter of a rumor is growing louder as a redesigned WSJ (NWS) prepares to take on the Times. CNBC says Bloomberg categorically denied the report, saying he's "not a buyer of other people's problems." Whitney whacks Citi, Wells Fargo. Influential Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney tripled her 2008 loss estimate for Citigroup (C) to $0.45/share and predicted Citi would further cut or even eliminate its dividend. She also said Wells Fargo (WFC) may soon face a $4.5B reserve shortfall. At 11:15 AM, Citi is down 2.35%; WFC is off 3.5%. Influential union looks for Citi split. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, one of America's largest unions, plans to call for a breakup of Citigroup's (C) investment banking and commercial banking units at tomorrow's shareholder meeting. Traders bet on bank failures. Put buying on large financial institutions has increased in recent weeks despite a recent bounce in share prices. Puts on Lehman Brothers (LEH) jumped 13% for the month to last Thursday; puts on Morgan Stanley (MS) were up 8%; for Merrill Lynch (MER) they climbed 20% over the same period. Are we better off now than five years ago? According to a recent Pew summary, only 41% of Americans think so -- a 44 year low. Microsoft / Google prepping for regulatory battle. Microsoft (MSFT) has hired a lobbyist firm to lobby federal regulators to approve the not-yet-agreed-upon Yahoo (YHOO) merger. Meanwhile Google (GOOG), which opposes the deal, recently took on lobbyists to help with "competition issues in the Internet industry." Five-year notes claim sweet spot. Five-year Treasurys are trading at five-year high spreads relative to two-year notes as bond traders grow increasingly wary of further Fed rate cuts amid accelerating inflation. Experts say the five-year notes are presently the fixed-income "sweet spot"; two year notes are "horrifically rich," while 10 and 30-year Treasurys "look awful generally." (Government bond ETFs) All aboard. GE Rail Services (GE) is for sale. The sale process is in the first round of bids. DellShack? RadioShack (RSH) jumped on speculation of a Dell (DELL) buyout. Sources say Michael Dell's MSD Capital is one of the private-equity investors in a rumored $6-7B cash infusion being finalized by National City (NCC). India BlackBerry to roll out sans government blessings. India's Tata Teleservices is rolling out Research In Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry without waiting for governmental approval. Tata told the government the delay was costing it "significant loss of business opportunity and recurring revenues." Tech M&A to stand firm. M&A activity in the recently-hot tech sector will remain strong, notwithstanding the credit crunch and a broad M&A pullback. "Current activity levels and deal pipelines suggest strategic and transformational deals are still very much on the boardroom agenda of technology companies, and the demise of the leveraged buyout has been overplayed in the sector," a PricewaterhouseCoopers report says. Overall, global M&A is down by 1/3. MySpace turns analysts off. Analysts are cutting ratings and earnings estimates on News Corp. (NWS) after recent warnings highlight Rupert Murdoch's inability to turn social-networking powerhouse MySpace into a profitable enterprise. "When you have such a powerful asset as MySpace and you can't successfully monetize it, that's a problem for investors," National City's Daniel Poole says. They say marketers are reluctant to place their ads next to unpredictable user-generated content. YRC hit by credit crunch fallout. Shares of YRC Worldwide (YRCW) are down after the company said in an SEC filing it expects an interest expense increase of $1.5-4M per year due to a rate hike on its $950M revolving facility and a $150M term loan. YRC will have to pledge physical assets to the credit line if its credit rating [BB] falls any further.
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LP Dock Brings Vinyl Into the Digital Age
While testing Ion Audio's new LP Dock -- a USB turntable and iPod dock -- I was quickly reminded why I hated LPs so much back in the day. Yes, the tactile feeling of holding a big record and album-cover art is cool. Yes, the analog sound might be "warmer" than today's digital ditties. And, well, blah, blah, blah. LPs are simply a pain -- being careful not to scratch the record, fussing with the turntable's tonearm, guarding against vibrations from people walking across the floor, and so on.
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Forum Activity: April 21, 2008
iPod Touch, the future? Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse iPhoto 08 Making the Icons Bigger Using Photoshop/Adobe Suite with Expose
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Port Map: easy UPnP port mapping
Filed under: Freeware, Internet ToolsOne of the nice things about the Airport Extreme Base Station is the Airport Utility application used to manage it. Most other routers these days are managed with a web interface which can sometimes be a little wonky. So it was with some interest that I discovered Port Map, from the Coding Monkeys of SubEthaEdit fame.Port Map is not a full-fledged management application, but it does bring Cocoa lickability to one standard management task: port mapping, an essential task for iChat or Back to my Mac. If your router supports UPnP / NAT-PNP Port Map provides an iPhone-esque Ui for setting up specific ports, including "presets and URL templates." You can see it working above with my DD-WRT Linksys router (don't worry, I turned it off after the screenshot).Port Map is a free download from The Coding Monkeys. They've also open-sourced some of the coding goodness that makes this possible and created a framework available to other developers on a Google Code page.Thanks constantin!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple offering Photo Book discounts for Mother’s Day
If you're perfect Mother's Day gift involves a nicely printed photo book filled with family memories, then you may want to fire up iPhoto or Aperture and get to work. Apple is offering a 20% discount on all photo book purchases between now and May 11, 2008. All you have to do is enter the coupon code: LoveMom at checkout. Apple recommends that you get your orders in by April 20th, 2008 for standard delivery and May 4th if you're going the express delivery route. If you'd like more information on the deal, you can click here and check out the official page on Apple's website.
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10.5: Show file in Finder from the Open dialog box
I found this by accident while trying to find a target for a broken alias. While browsing the file system in an File » Open dialog box, pressing Command-R will open (and bring to the front) a new Finder window showing the chosen item's folder in the Finder. Note that you must have a file or folder selected in the dialog box for this to work. Curiously, the File » Save dialog box also tries to perform this behavior, but only switches to the Finder without the desired folder appearing in a new window. Presumably this is because you cannot select a file in the Save dialog box.
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Reorder Firefox 3 toolbar bookmarks within their menus
We all know that you can create folders in Firefox (I'm using Firefox 3's public beta) into which bookmarks may be placed; this aids in organization and, when these folders are placed into the bookmarks toolbar, they consume less space as the bookmarks now appear in little menus. I discovered that you may actually drag the bookmarks that are in these Bookmarks Toolbar menus right in the menu and reorder them with having to actually open the Bookmarks dialog. Just click-and-hold, and when you drag, you'll see a small insertion line. Drag it to the desired spot, then drop. [robg adds: This only works in Firefox 3, which is currently in developer (but public) beta -- I've actually been using Firefox 3 as my primary browser for the last month or so. While it's very stable, there are still a few bugs and things that don't quite work right, so you may not want to use it full time just quite yet....
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Use a photo feed as screen saver or Desktop background
I've created a small script that runs against a web app built on Google's new App Engine. The app parses a few photo feeds, stores the photos in a database, and can generate custom feeds which will enable the use of the photos in the feed as a Screen Saver, or Desktop background photos. So far, two feeds are parsed (with the approval of their owners): Chromasia: http://deskfeed.neophytou.net/feed/chromasia Daily Dose of Imagery: http://deskfeed.neophytou.net/feed/ddoi These feeds are ready to be placed in iPhoto, and be used as Screen Savers or Desktop backgrounds. The disadvantage of using iPhoto however is that only one feed can be used at a time (there isn't a feed that produces the photos from both blogs together - yet), whenever iPhoto refreshes it has to download all the photos from the server again, and to update the stored photos one must launch iPhoto and click refresh, manually. To get around this, I created a sma...
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Download any band's song off MySpace using Safari
So I have seen people using all types of ways to download songs off MySpace band pages, but I just found a very easy way using Safari and TextEdit or any type of text editor. First, open TextEdit (or any other program you can make a web file with) and make sure the new document setting (in Preferences) is set to plain text, then open a new file. Put in the following HTML code: asdad Then choose File » Save As, and change the default .txt extension in the filename to .html and hit Save. A window will appear; click Use .html to confirm the extension. Test the file by control-clicking and selecting Safari from the Open With menu. Safari should open the file and display a link. Leave the file open in TextEdit for later use. Next, find the band page you would like to download the song from. In the menu bar in Safari, select View » View Source. In the menu bar, select Edit » Find » Find (or just press Command-F), ...
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Lingon - Use a GUI to create recurring events
The macosxhints Rating:[Score: 9 out of 10] Developer: Peter Borg/ Product page Price: Free (Open Source)Lingon has been mentioned in many hints, including one of its very own. However, it's never been a PotW, so now I'm taking care of that oversight.Lingon is a GUI interface (10.5 only) to the launchd process in OS X. launchd is a way to run things on a schedule -- previously, cron could be used to to this (and it still can, but launchd is the preferred solution). As a user,...
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AudialHub 1.0
Filed under: Audio, Software, ReviewsWe here at TUAW have expressed our love of VisualHub, Techspansion's great video encoding app, time and again. But what if those crazy folks at Techspansion decided to take the video part out of VisualHub? The resulting app would be very much like AudialHub, an audio converter that takes many UI and functionality cues from VisualHub. Read on for our full review.Continue reading AudialHub 1.0Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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MacBook battery calibration
Colleague and PowerPage contributor Kenn Marks Sr. contributes some tips on calibrating your MacBook battery. A customer’s MacBook Pro was shutting down while displaying that it still had 20 percent power remaining. Following are some links to calibrating your battery so that the power remaining indicator is more accurate. This should be done every 3-6 months as [...]
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Apple Second Quarter Results Conference Call this Wednesday
Apple will have its Second Quarter results conference call this Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. EDT. Apple will, as always provide a live audio stream of the call which you will be able to access here. Before the actual call, Apple will release the numbers via a press release, but it is sometimes still interesting to see what gets discussed on these earnings calls.
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Pfizer Fizzles, Fast Money Recap (4/18/08)
Recap of CNBC's Fast Money, Friday April 18. Click on a stock ticker for more analysis. Financial Services Select SPDR (XLF), Merrill Lynch (MER), Wachovia (WB), TD Ameritrade (AMTD), Charles Schwab (SCWH), E* Trade (ETFC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), Lehman Brothers (LEH)
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Pfizer Fizzles, Fast Money Recap (4/18/08)
Recap of CNBC's Fast Money, Friday April 18. Click on a stock ticker for more analysis. Financial Services Select SPDR (XLF), Merrill Lynch (MER), Wachovia (WB), TD Ameritrade (AMTD), Charles Schwab (SCWH), E* Trade (ETFC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), Lehman Brothers (LEH)
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Google tops Microsoft, Apple in brand power
It seems Google has solidified its dethroning of Microsoft in at least one regard: the global power of its brand. ...
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Google tops Microsoft, Apple in brand power
Annual rankings by market researcher find that the search giant's brand has grown in value to more than $86 billion.
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Zune getting Audible
No, not audible as in the ability to be heard from beneath the strain of a million screeching iPod fanboys. Rather, the Microsoft Zune is about to be Audible book capable. At least if you believe Paul Thurrott (which we do) and others who have received confirmation from Audible Amazon that the Zune will be AudibleReady "before years end." Of course, it's not official until Ballmer shouts it out in a sweat splashing rampage across stage... but it's close. [Via ZuneBoards]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Blank MBP displays after EFI firmware update
Both Ars Technica and AppleInsider are reporting problems with some MacBook Pros after installing the Apple EFI firmware update that was released on 08 April 2008. According to a thread on the Apple discussion forum symptoms include blank displays (including external displays) after installing MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5 and restarting their MacBook Pros (and [...]
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PayPal may ban Safari if security isn’t beefed up
PayPal is reportedly stepping up security measures to prevent phishing scams, and that new security may just kick Safari users to the curb. Chief Information Security Officer, Michael Barrett, posted a new policy last week that outlined his plans to put an end to phishing scams which includes blocking fraudulent e-mails, criminal charges against phishers, and blocking access to browsers that don't have anti-phishing security built in. This would mean that the current version of Safari would be unable to access PayPal. “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 seatbelts,” he said. Before they move to full fledged blocking, the company plans to issue warnings against using any browser that doesn't provide adequate security. If Apple doesn't add some additional security precautions like those found in Firefox, and Internet Explorer soon, it may be left out in the cold…at least when visiting PayPal.
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News: Report: TIM to launch 3G iPhone in June
Italian carrier Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) is set to launch the 3G iPhone in June, according to a new report. La Repubblica, a well-respected Italian daily, claims (Translated Link) the Italian selling price of the 3G iPhone may be substantially higher due to the lack of a revenue sharing agreement, and that TIM would begin carrying the phone several months before competitors in lieu of long-term exclusivity. It is unclear whether a change of this…
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Apple Should Rise on Bold Citi Call
Citigroup is raising their estimates on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to a new Street high. Firm now expects $7.0B revenue (prev $6.9B, consensus $6.95B), 36.5% GM (35.2%, ~33.5%), and EPS of $1.23 (prev $1.14, consensus $1.06). New 1CQ08 rev and EPS ests reflect solid PC sales and, more importantly, sharp ~40% declines in DRAM/flash pricing. Citi now expects PC unit shipments of 2.1M (+38% yoy) versus our prior estimate of 2.0M and consensus of 2.06M, with upside coming from Mac Pro desktops and MacBook Air notebooks. They now expect iPod unit shipments of 9.5M versus prior estimate of 10.0M and consensus of 10.5M; iPod should struggle until the line is refreshed in 3CQ.
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MacNotables #817: Tonya Engst Discusses the Challenges of Changing Email Clients
Tonya Engst discusses one of the most challenging computing processes one can experience: switching email programs. A long-time Eudora user, Tonya talks about the issues that led her to make the switch to Apple Mail, the process and software she used, and what she did wrong that you can avoid. Two weeks into the transition, Tonya shares the goods and the bads, talks about dealing with email overload and POP vs IMAP. (more…)
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Banshee JiSS 550 iPod Speakers Pack Big Bass in a Small Package
The Jensen Banshee JiSS-550 Docking Speaker Station for iPod sports several desirable features and sounds better than most iPod speaker systems in its price range. It's a two-piece system with the iPod dock in a separate cup. While its specifications aren't spectacular, its 25 watt amplifier and five small speakers provide surprisingly rich and satisfying sound at most frequencies. High and mid-range response is clear and sparkling. and bass response is far better than you'd expect from a system with such small speakers, even if there are five of 'em.
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The Secret Global War to Beat Apple
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been meeting with vendors all over the country that range from those that build PCs to those that build tools and parts, to those that build back-end solutions. One common message has come through. They all are targeting Apple as the company whose performance they most want to beat. This has more implications for those who don't currently buy Apple products than -- at least near term -- it has to do with Apple fans.
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Review: PictureMate Zoom PM 290 a fine small-format photo lab
Posted by Dennis SellersBy Steve Baczewski Epson's small-format printers continue to evolve with the high-end PictureMate Zoom – PM 290 model (US4199.99). It boasts faster printing speeds, a larger 3.6-inch flip-up LCD for easier viewing and editing of files, a handy built-in CD burner for backing up files, a simplified control panel, and...
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3G iPhone confirmed in Italy without revenue sharing?
Filed under: CellphonesWe've been avoiding the 3G iPhone rumor mongering as much as possible recently. After all, we know it's coming as both AT&T and Apple have confirmed. Now this: one of Italy's most respected newspapers, La Repubblica (like the WSJ with red sauce), is claiming in no uncertain terms that the 3G UMTS iPhone is coming shortly to Telecom Italia without a revenue sharing deal and without long-term exclusivity. If true, this change in strategy opens the doors for a true, global, 3G iPhone launch on GSM networks around the world come summer time.We contacted Telecom Italia who refuse to comment on the matter.[Thanks, jimbojambo and Claudio]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Forrester is wrong; companies should consider skipping Vista (and Windows altogether)
Posted by Dennis SellersCompanies should think twice about skipping Windows Vista and should get started sooner rather than later on updating their client desktops to the latest Microsoft operating system, according to an report, “Building the Business Case for Windows Vista,” issued by Forrester Research (as noted by Infoworld). Uh, I don't think...
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Houdah Software publishes HoudahSpot & HoudahGeo video tutorials
Posted by Dennis SellersHoudah Software has published video tutorials for both HoudahSpot and HoudahGeo. They're now available for free viewing on the Houdah web site.
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Blogged.com designed to connect bloggers with readers

Posted by Dennis SellersBlogged.com is a relatively new site designed to “help blog authors connect with their audience and to allow readers to discover new and interesting blogs in the directory.”
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Movie review: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' combines sweetness, raunch
Posted by Dennis SellersBy Ramona Bissudo From the producers of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Superbad (not to mention the Walk Hard and Drillbit Taylor bombs) comes another raunchy sweet romantic comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, with mixed results. There are plenty of laughs be had, but there's also raunch for raunch's sake.
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Mac OS Ken: 04.21.2008
Caris and Company: Apple Likely to Beat Expectations / Apple Drops iPod Shuffle Prices in India / Report: Orange and Apple Talk French iPhone Price Cut / Morgan Stanley: On iPhone Models and Business Models / Apple Changes Software Updater for Windows / WiFi Problems Freeze NY Schools Mac Buys / Forbes: PsyStar President Speaks / Visit Big Organ Trio Online at www.BigOrganTrio.com! / Get âRoad Rageâ and âDown and Dirtyâ by Big Organ Trio on iTunes!