May 10, 2008 May 12, 2008 Sunday May 11, 2008
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Maccast 2008.05.11
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 226. 3G iPhone coming soon? iPhone plans for total global domination. NBC back on iTunes, sorta? Applecare now available for Apple TV. Informal Maccast iPhone data usage survey results. Using an old Mac as a mail server. Exchange to iCal/iPhone syncing. Troubleshooting drives behaving badly. Review: iFrogz Nano Audiowrapz Treadz. Cloned vs. TimeMachine backups. Getting files into "special" iTunes libraries. New music, The Ballad of Indiana by High Adventure. Special Thanks to our Sponsors: Faronics Deep Freeze - Get a free trial. Audible.com - Free audio book Mommy's very angry. -- Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) Shownotes in: HTML or OPML Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3
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Eye-Fi launches Eye-Fi Home, Share, and geotagging Explore
Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, StorageEye-Fi's expanding from a single card to a family of three tonight. All are the same 2GB as before, but now we've got the new flagship Eye-Fi Explore ($129), which includes geotagging courtesy of Skyhook (the same WiFi-based location system that helps the iPod touch and iPhone find their way). Then you've got the Eye-Fi Share ($99) -- basically the same card we used to know simply as the Eye-Fi -- and finally the Eye-Fi Home ($79), which appears to only be able to upload photos through desktop software using your home network. Expect 'em all on sale come June 6th.Gallery: Eye-Fi launches Eye-Fi Home, Share, and geotagging ExplorePermalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple promo references 2.6GHz MacBook
Filed under: LaptopsNot that we wouldn't eventually expect a 2.6GHz MacBook, but Apple's Hot News site is running this promo that references a new, upgraded model of the laptop (which right now only reaches 2.4GHz). Our take? We're thinking typo, not premature announcement.[Thanks, Matthew and fr]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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From Vista to Zune: Why Microsoft Can't Sell to Consumers
Daniel Eran Dilger Microsoft's marketing of Windows Vista and the Zune have failed in large part due to the fact that Microsoft has not learned how to effectively sell consumer products. Consumers buy Windows and Office, but that's because they have no choice, not because of the company's marketing savvy. Microsoft only effectively markets its products to businesses, which represents a very different type of sales relationship. Businesses are so used to disgorging overloaded language about facilitating and empowering that they don't find Microsoft's marketing of the same caliber all that difficult to swallow. Consumers are a whole 'nother ball game, and Microsoft is striking out in efforts to reach them. This has big impacts on the company's future prospects. (more…)
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A Tale of Water Buffalo, Lions, Crocs and Two Lucky Ducks
While on safari, David Budzinski and Jason Schlosberg saw a group of water buffalo grazing near a water hole, which led to them witnessing and capturing what has become known on YouTube as the "Battle at Kruger," a sequence of events that rival any scenario a Hollywood screenwriter might type.
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Software Updates & New Release Highlights For Week Ending 05-10
My picks for the best program updates and new releases from this past week: VMware Fusion 2 Beta – this popular virtualization tool adds enhanced graphics & printing capabilities plus more diverse import options OpenOffice.org 3.0 Beta – one of the most comprehensive (only?) open source office suites adds native OS X Aqua support plus many enhancements to importing files, charting & layout viewing plus new spreadsheet collaboration options Transmission 1.20 – a full-featured BitTorrent client which has added support for https tracker connections, IP blocking via Bluetack Level 1 blocklist, better support for mutli-tracker torrents, faster UPnP startup port mapping, statistics resetting and updated Dock badge images CoverStream 2.0 – the application that brought CoverFlow to your Desktop has dramatically reduced its memory and disk footprint while also increasing speed twofold and adding new filtering & browsing features along with support for Apple Remotes and integration with Last.FM Parallels Desktop 3.0 Build 5600.0 – that other virtualization tools which has fixed many bugs and included support for Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 & XP SP3 OmniGraffle 5.0.1 beta 1 – the drawing tool for OS X smashes a slew of bugs & crashers OmniPlan 1.5.1 – this simple & efficient project management tool has also smacked a ton of bugs, enhanced AppleScript support and enhances security (the app is now code signed) Audacity 1.3.5 – this great, open source audio tools gets even better with the ability to record onto the end of existing tracks, updates to suppotig libraries, enhanced user interface elements and many bug fixes NetNewsWire 3.1.6 – the “gold standard” in feed readers fixes a nasty memory leak Vidnik – a new tool from the fine folks over at Google that lets you use the built-in camera on your Mac to create movies and upload them to YouTube Ascent 1.9.2 – this amazing GPS-enabled cyclist/runner/hiker application adds support for new devices, better track manipulation functionality and enhanced drag/drop features GPSBabel 1.3.5 – a handy GPS “Swiss Army knife” squashes bugs, adds support for new devices, enhances the user interface and improves document support/compatibility Full disclaimer: I either regularly use these apps and updated them or deliberately gave them a go this past week. I'm always on the lookout for new toys/tools, so drop me a note if you release new stuff!
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Good Enough
Charles Jade suggesting that Apple abandon hard-to-negotiate revenue sharing agreements with phone carriers around the world: Every day that goes by is a chance for someone, even Microsoft, to pull its collective corporate head out of the nether regions and create a “good enough” iPhone competitor that costs half as much. Just like how every day is another chance for someone, even Microsoft, to create a “good enough” iPod competitor for half the price? No one’s going to beat Apple by being “good enough”. The only way to beat the iPhone is by creating something better. Someone may well soon deliver such a worthy rival, but if so, it sure isn’t going to be at half the price. ★
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Reminder, talkcast at 10 pm ET Sunday night
Filed under: TUAW Business, PodcastsLast week's talkcast was a lively evening's chat, as Dave, Erica and I diverted from Mac geekery into Trekker nerd bingo (yes, that's not a $6 cab ride away, so no big surprise). Download the show from Talkshoe, play it from the Flash player in the continuation of this post, if you like, or pick it up on iTunes.Tonight we'll be welcoming at least a couple of our newest team members to the Sunday night festivities, along with your veteran favorites, so do drop by and join us for all the fun at 10pm ET / 7 pm PT. Bring your Mac and iPod/iPhone questions along (no, we don't know when the 3G phone is shipping -- yes, we will be talking about the availability constraints) and we'll do our best to tackle them live on the show.Continue reading Reminder, talkcast at 10 pm ET Sunday nightRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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AT&T: free iPhone wifi is coming at some point
Filed under: iPhoneAT&T has been teasing us with free iPhone wifi. First it was on then it was off, and AT&T didn't seem to be saying anything. Well the New York Times finally got somebody to say something official and apparently the launch of the service was "human error" but AT&T "has long planned to offer free Wi-Fi to customers with iPhones and other phones that have Wi-Fi capability" as a "way of differentiating the AT&T network and giving customers another reason to choose us over a competitor."The upshot: free iPhone (and other smartphone) wifi is coming from AT&T, but they're not saying when. My guess is that they may roll it out to coincide with the launch of the 3G iPhone.[via Gizmodo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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3G iPhone Preference Found in Beta 5Â Firmware
Seems like I just posted about 3G iPhone. Actually, that's because I did. It's not my fault the internet is aflutter with iPhone love. At any rate, this morning I was greeted by some interesting news regarding the 3G options found in the Beta 5 Firmware plist file. As you can see, the ability to turn 3G on or off is present — accompanied by the standard message about decreasing battery life for data speed. From this random and very unverified blog post (via MacRumors): Note that this is not fake, it is in the beta 5 .ipsw, but will normally not show up on an EDGE iPhone. Turning 3G on will just crash the phone if you use an EDGE phone. If you do not believe me, then decrypt the beta5 rootfs dmg, and see for yourself in /Applications/Preferences.app/Network.plist So what does this mean, exactly? It appears that the old Edge phones are going to run the same set of software as the new models when released. Unless there's further implementation of features that expand upon the options for screen size, battery life optimization and other factors, it's likely we may not see a drastic change in iPhone hardware in this next version. If they both can run the same software and that software doesn't account for a lot of differences, there might be some heavy depression in the camp of people that were expecting high end new features (like videocalls, believe it or not). Nope, it's starting to look like the device will simply be a bit lighter, look a bit different (for example, the all black cover rumors) and support 3G. This would be somewhat of a disappointment for me. I was hoping to see a fairly different phone. Now that I really give it some thought, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Apple has a winning model here, they need to tweak some things to broaden the market availability of the device. And… that's about it. Other than 3G support, we don't need to go too crazy with features that involve a lot more than simple software updates for this round.
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iPhone uber alles
The imminent release of the 3G iPhone sees Apple invading markets all over the world.Read More...
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Stolen Mac helps nab burglary suspects
A remote desktop access feature found in some Macintoshes is being credited with leading police to two suspects in the burglary of an apartment in New York. In addition to flat-screen TVs, iPods, and DVDs, the thieves made off with two laptop computers, one of which belonged to Kait Duplaga, ...
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Apple, Google, Research In Motion Dominate the Nasdaq 100
As of the close Thursday, the Nasdaq 100 index was up 15.19% since the March 10th bottom. A look at the impact of the stocks that make up the index shows that the gains have largely been concentrated in just three stocks -- Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and Research in Motion (RIMM). As shown below, AAPL has been responsible for 35% of the gains in the index, GOOG 9.87% and RIMM 8.50%. Collectively, these three names have accounted for more than half of the gains in the index during the post-correction rally.
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Apple settles on iPod batteries, power adapters
Filed under: Laptops, Portable AudioOwners of yesteryear Apple products (and consumer advocates) had a pretty solid week. Friday it came to light that more than two million 2001-era PowerBook owners could be eligible for refunds between $25 and $75 in a class-action settlement (which is set for final approval on September 8th) over faulty, sometimes even sparking power adapters. But that's not all: Apple is also offering up $45 credits to any Canadian iPod owner that bought before June 24th, 2004 as part of a class-action suit claiming Apple misrepresented the advertised battery life of the players.Read - Power adaptersRead - Canadian iPods [sub req'd]Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Why Dell Will Not Bounce Back
Fake Steve Jobs on what’s wrong with Dell: Bottom line is this: the only innovations worth making are the ones involving product ideas and product design. I mean, Duh. Right? It’s pretty obvious. What’s amazing to me is how few companies actually seem to realize it. To sustain an edge in any market you must make better products than your competitors, consistently, over and over and over again. Just making the same products as everyone else but taking a little friction out of the system can give you an advantage, but only a temporary one. ★
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How to watch live TV on an iPhone/iPod touch (video)
Posted by Dave MertenThere is a new application that you can install on an iPhone or iPod touch that will allow you to stream video media and live TV from your computer to your iPhone/iPod touch. You could also setup a webcam for security purposes and monitor that remotely via an iPhone/iPod touch.
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Hands-on with Pixelmator 1.2's new Curves, Rulers, and more
Pixelmator 1.2 introduces some significant new features just in time for the Apple Design Awards deadline. Ars takes the new version for a spin.Read More...
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TUAW Best of the Week
Filed under: Features, TUAW Business, Weekend ReviewWelcome to the latest installment of TUAW's best of the week, where we gather up our favorite posts for your easy clicking enjoyment. TUAW would like to give a big welcome to our three new bloggers: Robert, Steve, and Joshua. AT&T disables free iPhone WiFi?Just as quickly as we saw it appear, it suddenly disappeared -- leaving many angry iPhone owners. The free service later reappeared on the iPhone AT&T service plans, but once again AT&T took that down. TUAW Faceoff: Screenshot apps on the firing lineThere are tons of applications out there to make taking screenshots "easier," but Christina shows you which ones are worth your time and money. Broken iPod: fix it or replace it? Every iPod owner is (or will) be faced with this issue at least once in their lifetime: what to do with that broken iPod? Well, look at this article to find out! Vodafone to sell iPhone in 10 countries With iPhone sales soaring through the roof, Apple is looking to move into several other countries. No doubt that iPhone will be the most-sold device in Apple's history (excluding, of course, Macintosh). Boston's Apple Store to open May 16 With Boston's first flagship Apple Store fixing to open in just a matter of days, there's only one question ... will the members of the Boston Red Sox show up? Well, you might just have to go to the opening and be sure to say "hello" to Dave! iMac turns 10The iMac was a defining point in Apple's history back in 1998. Apple was down to life or death, and the iMac saved it. Therefore, TUAW gladly celebrated the iMac's 10th birthday this past week. Rumor: .Mac relaunch to coincide with iPhone 2.0? Could .Mac be revamped and include some new iPhone specific features at the WWDC '08? Well, our tipster seems to think so. BREAKING: New iPhone SDK & Firmware releasedEarlier this week a new iPhone SDK and Firmware for iPhone 2.0 was released. There were a couple new features in the firmware too. iTunes: Free TuesdayGet some free tunes. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Stolen laptop recovered with Back To My Mac
Filed under: LaptopsHere's a little story for you: An Apple Store employee had a party in her apartment. A couple weeks later her place was cleared out to the tune of about $5,000 worth of electronics, including her new Mac. Days later, a friend sees that she's online and alerts the Mac's rightful owner. Since she was running Leopard with Back to My Mac, owner-girl logged in remotely and activated Photo Booth via the screen-share function. And what do you know, it turned out that the thieves were some "friends" who were at the party a few weeks back. She took the photos to the cops and -- voila -- busted! The thieves, Edmon Shahikian, 23, and Ian Frias, 20, both of the Bronx, have been charged with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Go go crafty nerdy girl![Via TUAW]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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iPhone Out-of-Stock Rumors and Buzz
Probably like most of you, I have been reading post after post and article after article about how the 3G iPhone is right around the corner because the Edge iPhone is listed as “currently unavailable” in the Store. Of course, saying that this means our beloved iPhone won't be making a return to the shelfs until the imminent release of the 3G version is pure speculation. It is also entirely possible and perhaps plausible. As with any business where you update product lines with new models, it makes sense to start shortening the stock before the hype of a new release starts drastically hurting sales. In my opinion, this could very well be just a mismatch of timing on Apple's part. It's not logical to keep pumping out iPhones when there's stock on the shelves that needs buying and a new (better) model is just around the corner. The theory might also be evidenced by the fact that, according to this ARS Technica post, there were apparently some shortages of iPhones by UK reseller O2 earlier this week (although temporary). However, ARSt doesn't think these developments are necessarily a rock-solid indication of new iPhones right away but admitted that “there is at least some circumstantial evidence that iPhones could be running out.” Previously there have been temporary shipping setbacks of between 5 to 10 days on new orders — depending on where you're reading. The good old physical world Apple Retail Stores seem to be doing OK with supplies though. I called 2 local stores here in South Florida and they both said they were perfectly fine on the iPhone front. Remember though, this is precisely the extra old shelf stock they should be liquidating. Over at AppleInsider, the somewhat blunt opinion is that “most analysts and observers now estimate that Apple will only truly recover from the shortages with the launch of its next-generation iPhone, which is widely predicted to surface in June.” Like I said before, this seems logical. Cut back on (or stop) production and sell out as much iPhone stock as possible to release the brand-spanking new version. The question is, did Apple just get the timing wrong and ran out in some markets a little prematurely or is iPhone 2.0 coming even sooner than expected?
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UBS: Research In Motion Plans to Launch Four New BlackBerries this Year
Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIMM) 3G BlackBerry could be certified as early as this month with a release to follow soon after, but a U.S. launch at AT&T (T) won’t come until late in the summer or fall given the carriers plans for Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) 3G iPhone, UBS said in a report. This could bode well for RIM as other operators battle it out with the iPhone, analyst Jeffrey Fan told clients. He believes at least four new BlackBerries are slated for this fiscal year: the 3G 9000 series, a clamshell version, a 3G World BlackBerry, and a Nextel iDEN/WiFi device.
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Environmental Group Puts More Heat on Apple
Apple has been given a failing grade by Climate Counts, and was placed at the bottom of a list of 12 electronics companies also ranked by the organization. Climate Counts ranks companies on their practices to reduce global warming on a scale of zero to 100, and Apple was given a score of 11, some 66 points behind sector leader IBM, which scored a 77. In the second annual Scorecard, Climate Counts evaluated 60 companies in nine different categories. The companies are rated on publicly available information in regards to their own approach, efforts and policies to reduce global warming.
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Apple finally settings its legal sights on the HiPhone?
Filed under: Cellphones Oh, there are plenty of bad Chinese iPhone knockoffs out there, but the HiPhone may be the reigning champion these days -- so it kind of seemed like a matter of time before Apple loosed the hounds on distributors of the device. We don't have confirmation or proper human translation of the above legal notice, but it would appear Apple's European counsel Bird & Bird has delivered at least one notice to an unnamed distributor threatening €25,000 in damages (and €15,000 in legal fees) for HiPhone sales. Hardly the case of the century, but we'll let you know if we hear anything.[Thanks, Ricardo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Problems with refurbished iPhones?
Posted by Dave MertenIf you have a hardware problem with an iPhone and it's under warranty, Apple will most likely give you a replacement iPhone rather than repair yours. You will more than likely get a refurbished iPhone that comes in a white box, unlike a new iPhones that come in black boxes....