Aug 28, 2008 Aug 30, 2008 Friday August 29, 2008
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Two Decades of Portable Macs: 1989 - 2009
Daniel Eran Dilger What does Apple have in store for the next MacBooks? Knowing where Apple’s been helps point out where it’s going. Here’s a look at the company’s past, leading up to what’s on the horizon this fall. What’s Next from Apple: New iPods Sept 22, iPhone OS 2.1, iTunes 8.0 The Macintosh Portable and Outbound. Apple’s first [...]
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Article: Ask iLounge 8-29-08
This week's Ask iLounge topics: Disabling data on iPhone 3G, iTunes Plus and Apple Backup, Deleting photos from iPod, iPhone v2.0 and TV Out accessories, Consolidating multiple iTunes libraries, Restoring iPod touch from backup
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Rogers Communications extends iPhone data plan
Posted by Dennis SellersRogers Communications, Canada's exclusive iPhone carrier, is extending its iPhone data plan promotion another month, as it tries to figure out how best to price data plans for smartphone users, CBC reports.
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Sugar battery technology from Sony (video)
Posted by Dave MertenSony is working on ecological-friendly sugar battery technology that could possibly power portable electronic devices such as an iPhone or iPod. Also, Toshiba is working on a methanoll fuel cell technology that can power a laptop. Check the video out below.
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Yazsoft updates Speed Download, announces iPhone 3G drawing
Posted by Dennis Sellers Yazsoft has released Speed Download 5.0.6, the latest version of its Mac OS X download manager that combines four products: a download manager with auto-resuming downloads, a secure FTP client, a file sharing utility with full encryption, and .Mac/iDisk/WEBDAV connectivity.
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Jon Peddie Research looks at ups and downs in graphics add-in boards market
Posted by Dennis SellersGraphics industry observers and participants may have been a bit more anxious than usual to learn how the second quarter of 2008 fared. With economic conditions worrisome, and with new product releases from both Nvidia and AMD occurring near the quarter's close, would the quarter hint at future strength or...
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Apple and AT&T Play Tether Ball
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What Did You Say?
Like a few million other people I recently bought an iPhone 3G. But unlike a few million other people I bought TWO of them -- one for my young and lovely wife. That puts me in the rare position to actually speak from experience about a current networking issue: what's the deal with these iPhones? Is it the phone or the network that is causing problems? And the answer is: both. Our experience with the iPhone 3G is not good, though not terrible. It is a fantastic device, if flawed. The main flaw is the phone, rather than the iPod Touch bits that comprise the rest of the unit. Voice service is not good, calls are dropped, and the iPhone won't work places where my old Nokia N80 easily did. But my iPhone, oddly enough, works better than does my wife's. This variation is how I know at least part of the problem is with the phone, not just the network. But the network sucks, too. We switched from Verizon (I know you can't use an N80 on Verizon, smarty-pants -- I have more than one cell provider) which claims the best network but had the nagging problem of delivering the odd voicemail 7-10 days late. Verizon claims never to have heard of this problem but ask a few Verizon users and they'll confirm. Now that we are full-time on AT&T we might blame the lousy service on the phones except I also got a Samsung AT&T phone for Mimi, my mother-in-law, who is on our family plan. Her service sucks, too, so it is not just the iPhone. I'm sure AT&T has oversold their network. You can tell because the worst service of all is from one iPhone to the other. If the call doesn't spontaneously disconnect half the time you often still can't understand what the other person is saying. Service is somewhat better going to landlines or other mobile providers. I'm sure AT&T will fix this eventually but I don't like being treated this way. No wonder they are so hot to keep that iPhone exclusive, since half the iPhone users I know would jump to T-Mobile if they easily could. Last week's column about the population of CCIEs and global development raised quite a ruckus -- a word I include to confuse the non-native English speakers who saw last week's column as discriminating against them. We can argue a bit about the numbers and their meaning, but I think it is fairly obvious that: 1) Cisco dominates the Internet core router business, so this is a real issue no matter what your language, and; 2) CCIEs are NOT just network techs. It is an extremely difficult certification to get and typically costs in the neighborhood of $30-40,000 by the time you are finished, sometimes a lot more. While it may be patently obvious that China and Korea will be more important 30 years from now than India and Japan, that wasn't my point. Anyone can express that opinion. What I was trying to do was to show a reason WHY that might be the case as evidenced by this CCIE data. Why shouldn't India be just as successful as China? Their populations are comparable and they both have good educational systems with large numbers of graduates. They both value science and technology. India even uses English as one of its official languages. Both have booming economies with plenty of room for growth. Well this CCIE analysis gives one empirical reason why it should be so. While the Indians are developing their IP expertise, the Chinese are developing their IP networks, simple as that. Another reason to talk about this subject is because there is far too little actual thinking on the Internet these days. The blogosphere is full of opinions but not very much solid discussion of why things are the way they are. Agree with me or not -- I don't care -- but I'll always make you think. The whole point of this column is getting people to think and discuss. Now to the problem from last week of how YouTube and similar video services can better appeal to advertisers. I foolishly thought last week's tease might coax a few bucks out of the bushes at a time when I could use them, but no. So I'll reveal my solution anyway, even without a reward. YouTube would love to make lots of money from ads that would play before its 100 million videos per day, but they have had difficulty appealing to traditional advertisers, not because of the quality of the viewers but because of the quality of the videos, themselves. There is a huge variety of content on YouTube and while advertisers are willing to stretch a bit in what they'll sponsor, they are afraid of making a mistake and sponsoring the wrong videos, like those that contain nudity or other objectionable content. Short of watching all the videos, how do we best avoid this problem? That's what has Google scratching its GoogleHead. It all comes down to the quality of the metadata -- the data describing each video. I think the answer is obvious and is composed of three parts: 1) notification, 2) structure, and 3) standardization. I'm probably listing these backward, but I want to get notification out of the way first. Whatever system YouTube chooses to manage its metadata won't be perfect. There will be errors -- the Internet equivalent of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction." So there should be a facility for viewers to notify YouTube if they feel that there is a significant mismatch between the likely target of the content and the target of the accompanying ad. No condom ads before Dora the Explorer clips, for example. No bacon commercials with vegan cooking shows. Having a way to report such errors will diminish them in both number and importance. Next comes structured metadata. It floors me that YouTube doesn't enforce this already. If you ever took a journalism class you learned that the first paragraph of any news story (called the "lead" or "lede" -- same pronunciation) is supposed to answer the questions who? what? why? where? when? and how? YouTube could use a form for each video submission that used these categories, possibly minus the highly suggestive "why." To submit your video you have to fill in all five blanks. Leave any blank unfilled and your video bounces. These five metadata categories really ought to cover the gamut of describing most any video. If they don't, or if they are improperly used, then we are back to notification and getting users to help fix our mistakes. Finally there is standardization. Even within the five structured metadata categories there can be great variation in the meaning of the chosen terms. That's why we need to standardize those terms. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I would rely on the best current system of standardized metadata, which is Wikipedia. Behind each structured entry would be those Wikipedia terms that would seem to be appropriate, along with links to their definitions, just to be sure. With this system it would take a minute or two longer to submit each video, but what the videos were about would be much clearer to viewers and advertisers alike. Paris Hilton is a "who." The Paris Hilton is a "what" or perhaps a "where," though the system would probably force them to be separated. Either way you end up with a hotel if you want a hotel and a sex video if you want a sex video. Now it's time to recharge my iPhone (again).
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Delta Electronics releases Full HD LED home theater DLP projector
Posted by Dennis SellersDelta Electronics Delta Electronics (http://www.deletaww.com) has completed the development of aFull HD LED projector for the consumer market. It sports LED optics, 1080P resolution, plus a wide color gamut. And the life of the LED module is estimated at over 20,000 hours of normal operation, says Jeff Fu, director for...
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'Macsimum Recommended Reading' for Aug. 29
Posted by Dennis Sellers“Apple's beating up Dell—it's almost ugly: The battle between Apple and Dell continues apace, and it's not the low-cost computer company that's winning the war as the world jitters on the edge of recession.”—9 to 5 Mac
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Apple patent filing details touchscreen tablet
Filed under: Tablet PCs Trying to divine what Apple's up to from patent applications is never easy, but every now and again the diagrams actually make it obvious -- and it looks like Steve and his elves are hard at work on large-format touch interfaces, possibly for a tablet Mac of some kind. The latest touch-related filing is some 52 pages long and details everything from working with multiple finger inputs to onscreen keyboards how window controls would work, but we're mostly transfixed by the claw-like demon-hands that seem to be operating all this kit -- apparently Apple engineers have the same nightmares as the rest of us. If we had to bet, we'd say that a tablet Mac is still a long ways off, but we've been wrong before -- and there's always a chance Steve's got something wild in store for next month.[Via AppleInsider]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Mac Excel users rejoice: Solver for Excel 2008 now available!
Many users were left in the lurch when VBA was cut from Mac Office 2008, which also meant that Solver had to be cut as well. But with the release of the AppleScript-based Solver for Excel 2008, you can finally get your work done and do a little cubicle dance before heading out for a three-day weekend.Read More...
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Psystar claims Apple violates Sherman antitrust rules
Posted by Dennis SellersPsystar claims Apple has violated Sherman antitrust rules and other U.S. laws. A Psystar victory in court “could pave the way for other PC makers, including big vendors like Dell, HP and Lenovo, to enter the Mac market and offer alternatives to Microsoft Windows PCs,” says InformationWeek (although, I personally...
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Apple Gazette 337 - AT&T and Rogers Data Plan News, iTablet stuff and more!
podcast sponsor link:Click Here to check out Blogflux Groups! Today's Show: AT&T and Rogers Data Plan News, iTablet stuff 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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MacOSG: How to protect your iPhone until the security software update is released
Posted by Dave MertenA recently discovered security flaw that would allow access to a locked iPhone will be fixed next month, Apple said on Thursday. Until then, follow the directions below to protect your iPhone until the security update is released.
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TinyBooks for Mac OS X gets not-so-tiny upgrade
Posted by Dennis SellersKin Winograd and Space-Time Associates has released version 6 of TinyBooks, its US$49 (per individual) accounting and bookkeeping software for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. The app is designed for sole proprietors, home and other small businesses, and family finances.
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Now That’s Gratitude
The page is in Dutch, but DF reader Rene Brouwer sent the following translation: 27 year old Frisian developer Eric Wijngaard won $275,000 in Google’s Android Developer Challenge for his ‘PicSay’ application. In an interview with a Dutch website he says he likes Google’s SDK but “What I really wanted to do was develop an iPhone app. The iPhone SDK wasn’t out yet, though.” Asked what he would do with the cash, his response was “I guess I could invest it in my software company, but first I want to port PicSay to the iPhone.” Here’s a Google translation of the whole article. ★
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Apple adds ProRes codec support to QuickTime
Apple's native video player can now play back video files encoded with ProRes, a codec that is meant to bring HD video to you over SD data rates. The tool is available for both Mac and Windows. Read More...
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News: Still time to enter the iDuo Dock Giveaway
There's still time to enter our iDuo Dock Giveaway if you haven't already. iLounge and Atech Flash Technology are giving away 50 iDuo Docks with built-in multi-format memory card readers. To enter, simply fill out and submit the entry form. The contest ends on September 18 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time; for official rules and more info, visit the official contest page. Good luck! ...
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News: ShadesCases unveils Shades for iPhone 3G
ShadesCases has introduced its new Shades for iPhone 3G. Shades for iPhone 3G are made from 100% polyurethane, measure only .4mm thick, and offer built-in clear screen protection, while allowing for full usability of the iPhone’s touch screen and full access to all ports and controls. Shades for iPhone 3G are available now in 11 different colors, and sell for $17 each. ...
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Backstage: Internet Radio via Logitech's Squeezebox Boom
One of the product categories that we've been following with some interest—perhaps tepidly—is the dedicated Internet Radio and speaker system, essentially a standalone device capable of tuning and playing back audio broadcasts from around the world. We use the word “tepidly” because these devices aren't strictly necessary if you already have a computer with speakers, and frankly suffer from tuning limitations that…
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Rumor: Apple and AT&T working on tethering deal
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Software, Odds and ends A few weeks back on the Talkcast, we had an interesting little discussion about just where Apple's boundaries were on the App Store -- so far, you really only get kicked off if you charge too much, if your apps vibrate wrong, or if you steal someone's copyright. Oh, and there's that one more little exception: if you provide folks with the ability to tether the iPhone's networking ability to your own Mac.But now the rumor mill says that last one might just have been removed because Apple is planning a tether solution of their own. Gizmodo claims that one of their readers is corresponding with His Steveness himself (a fact we find obviously dubious, but hey it's Friday of Labor Day weekend, so we'll give 'em a pass). You'd think that Steve Jobs would reveal the fact that AT&T and Apple were trying to offer a tether solution through a slightly better venue than a quickly jotted "Sent from my iPhone" email, but remember how we first heard about the SDK -- the man knows how to stick important pieces of news in strange places.The original emailer mentioned tethering for the fee of an extra $30 a month (which seems exorbitant considering that Netshare did it for a one-time charge), but then again, AT&T's networks are going to get even more waterlogged should something like this come down. So odds are if Apple does work out a deal, it's not going to be cheap.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Following up on letting iPhone apps run my life
After experiencing problems with several apps when Daniel Terdiman let the iPhone take over for a day, he decided to give them another try at home.
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Yet another beta for Yahoo! Messenger 3.0 fixes 10.5 crashes
If you've been experiencing crashing in Yahoo! Messenger 3.0 for Mac on Leopard, a new fix is available.Read More...
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Article: iPhone Gems: All 30 Tip Calculators + Meal Splitters, Reviewed
If you're like us, you probably find the weekend an ideal time to go out to the movies and try new restaurants. Unless you've developed one of those special friendships where you and your lunch or dinner pals take turns picking up the entire check, there are probably times when you need to need to figure out how to split the bill. And most people stumble when trying to figure out how much of a tip to leave at the end of a meal, as well.…
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CNET News Daily Podcast: You only need 250GB of downloads a month, says Comcast
Cable Internet provider outlines bandwidth usage cap policy; Apple and AT&T might allow tethering of the iPhone; and Nintendo Wii sales continue to propel the company forward.
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News: Our weekly iPodweek summary is coming later today
iPodweek, iLounge's weekly newsletter recapping the last seven days in iPod, iPhone, iTunes and Apple TV news, articles, reviews, and more, will be sent out later today. In addition to rounding up the week's top stories, iPodweek also features giveaways and accessory discount offers from various companies. If you haven't yet signed up to receive iPodweek, there's still time to register and receive this week's edition…
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Working with Windows and Linux, playing with the Mac
Featured links from the CNET Blog Network Working with Windows and Linux, playing with the Mac-- Google Insights data suggests that we enjoy our Macs for more than we enjoy Windows and Linux. You don't really need an iPhone 3G--The iPhone 3G is popular because people want it. And after a few weeks of using it, they realize quickly that they really didn't need it. IBM tests 4-terabyte solid-state drive tech--Big Blue announces solid-state drive technology that achieves high speed and power savings, even if only in the labs so far. Google's weird ways with open-source licenses--Company takes an odd, circuitous route to reapproving two popular open-source licenses, Mozilla Public License and Eclipse Public License, for its Google Code open-source repository.
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Apple: Forget iCards, try Mail
Saddened by the departure of iCards from MobileMe? Apple suggests you try the Stationery feature in the OS X 10.5 version of Mail.
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Apple: Forget iCards, try Mail
Saddened by the departure of iCards from MobileMe? Apple suggests you try the Stationery feature in the OS X 10.5 version of Mail.
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Apple: Forget iCards, try Mail
Saddened by the departure of iCards from MobileMe? Apple suggests you try the Stationery feature in the OS X 10.5 version of Mail.
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Mac OS Ken: 08.29.2008
Bloomberg Publishes, Retracts Jobs Obituary (Since Jobs Is Not Dead) / ZDNet: Bloomberg Obit a Result of Jobs Health Scare / Music Industry Strikes Up the âI Hate iTunesâ Chorus / Forbes: Success Paints a Target on Apple / Report: BBC Worldwide to Launch Music Store / Reports: Apple Preps Belfast, Northern Ireland Store
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Android Market
Eric Chu: Developers will be able to make their content available on an open service hosted by Google that features a feedback and rating system similar to YouTube. We chose the term “market” rather than “store” because we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available. Similar to YouTube, content can debut in the marketplace after only three simple steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe your content and publish it. We also intend to provide developers with a useful dashboard and analytics to help drive their business and ultimately improve their offerings. I have a tangentially related question. I wonder whether anyone is planning to create an iPod Touch-like Android device? Something without the phone features but with Wi-Fi. ★
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Week in review: Taming the wild Web
Microsoft, Mozilla, and Apple all make strides in the browser battles, while courts rule on copyright cases. Also: Politics, tech-style.
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iPhone tethering rumored
When I travel I carry a second phone alongside my iPhone – for one reason. Tethering. I need to be able to get online wherever I am and Wi-Fi isn’t exactly ubiquitous and free Wi-Fi seems to be getting scarcer with each passing day. To make matters worse, Apple removed NullRiver’s NetShare tethering software from the [...]
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My favorite iPod touch apps: Mike R.'s picks
Filed under: iPod Family, App StoreIn contributing my share to our ongoing series of favorites for Mac and iPhone apps, I think I'm the first of our crew to focus on the iPhone's sleeker sibling. The iPod touch may not have the communications and GPS capabilities of the motherphone, but what it lacks in circuitry it makes up for in panache. I've found apps that are kid-pleasers, apps that leverage the touch's native WiFi location capability, and apps that challenge the brain. (All links are directly to the App Store.)Comic Touch from Plasq. Although the iPhone's camera is absent, the ability to edit, annotate and humorize synchronized photos on the touch is a delight. Comic Touch may not be the only app in this space but it's proven its worth to me during evenings out or when traveling, as my daughters derive endless fun from captioning family snapshots with thought balloons.Pandora Radio. Making the portable device into a full-featured internet streaming tool is a work in progress, but a WiFi-connected iPod touch with Pandora is an astonishingly fun and surprising music source, a glass-front Airport Express. I love the Pandora web app, so I was prepared to like the miniaturized version -- what I didn't expect was how connecting it to a stereo and letting it play would lead to "Wow, who's this?" moments. Lacking a microphone, I can't run Midori or Shazam on my touch -- but I can make iPhone users want to use those apps to find out what Pandora is playing through my speakers.Scrabble. Yes, I know that Facebook users have dartboards covered with pictures of Hasbro's legal team -- I still enjoy the EA version immensely. It's colorful, easy to play and has the feel of the tabletop game and the tactile letter-dragging fun you expect. Shaking the device to shuffle the rack aside (it feels gimmicky and I never do it), all I really want to add is a copy of the Scrabble dictionary for training and reference.Location-aware touch. Even without the GPS of the iPhone, I've been pleased that so many location-aware apps work just fine on the touch. Where To?, Twitterrific, Urbanspoon and Now Playing -- assuming there's a WiFi network around -- behave just as they would on the iPhone, and whether it's due to the solid location frameworks or thoughtful work by developers, I'm appreciative.Honorable Mention: Simplify Media, Dot Game, City Transit NYC, and Facebook.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Apple Adds ‘Blocks’ to Clang
Chris Lattner, who manages the Clang, LLVM, and GCC groups at Apple, announces Blocks support for Clang. Blocks are, more or less, closures for C and Objective-C — and [Clang], the C language front-end for LLVM, is Apple’s replacement for GCC. ★
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Tethering coming soon to iPhone 3G?
If the latest e-mail claiming to be the work of Apple's CEO is accurate, iPhone 3G owners might soon be able to get their laptops online using their phone.
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Build Your Own GarageBand Loops From Any Music File
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Android Developer Challenge Gallery
Generous cash prizes — 10 developers were awarded $275,000; another 10 got $100,000. Most of the apps look interesting, but I can’t say any of them really jumps out to me. Update: Not much visual consistency in the UIs, either. This gets back to the iPhone having no SDK until March, and the App Store not debuting until a year after the original iPhone. By the time the SDK arrived, developers had a sense of what an iPhone app should look and feel like. With these initial Android apps, developers created apps without ever being able to use them on an actual phone. ★
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Sports news: Macsimum softball team splits double-header with Motley Crew
Posted by Dennis SellersThe Macsimum coed softball team split a game with Motley Crew on Thursday night. The team is now 4-2 overall and in second place (one game behind Echo Hills). Games are played at Madison Park in Nashville, TN.
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Clump 011: Weasels are Everywhere
Posted by Frank PetrieStores. Car lots. Politicians. Regis. The OJ legal team. The Facts of Life cast. Verizon. Verizonwireless. The Bush Cabinet, Ron Popei, Donald Trump's hairpiece. Ryan Seaquest. The Stienbrenner family. Squidworth. Any leader of any religion that requires you to wear a funny hat. Arnold. The Spice Girls. Barry Manilow. Postal...
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KeyTasks
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Meet Spore's creator at Regent St. Apple Store
Filed under: GamingGamers, are you excited for next weekend's release of Spore? We sure are (even though the iPod game got pulled from the iTunes Store, darnit). I've created my first species in Creature Creator and he (it?) is ready to go.If you're also anticipating the game, and happen to be at London's Regent Street Apple Store on Sept. 3rd at 3:00 PM, you can meet Spore creator Will Wright. He'll be talking about the game and showing it off. Here's your chance to talk with Will!If you just can't wait, or if you want a little background to help you formulate a killer question, check out this interview Will did with cnet.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Final Cut Express 4.0.1 released
Filed under: Software, Video, Software Update Final Cut Express owners, check Software Update because FCE 4 has just been updated to 4.0.1. The detailed (and I'm serious, for Apple especially, these are detailed) release notes go over what is new and what has been added, but here are the highlights: Permission issues resolved - There was an issue on Leopard systems where FCE 4 would not open a project if it contained media that the user didn't have permission to access. This has been fixed. Tons of AVCHD improvements - There are now Easy Setup options for the AVCHD format/codec and better support for AVCHD cameras. Improved plugin support and stability You can download the update from Software Update.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Style.com announces fashion app for iPhone, iPod touch
Posted by Dennis SellersStyle.com has announced the availability of an application for iPhone and iPod touch. This free app, available worldwide from the Apple App Store, displays the latest fashions from the runways of New York and Europe .
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More US consumers plan to buy a Mac in the next 90 days than any other brand
Posted by Dennis Sellers More US consumers plan to buy a Mac in the next 90 days than any other brand, according to a new ChangeWave survey of over 4,000 folks (as reported by Computerworld).
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Tethering possibly coming to an iPhone near you, says Steve
So you can't tether an iPhone (3G or otherwise) to your computer to make further use the device's data connection. That could be changing, if an e-mail allegedly from Steve Jobs is to be believed. The companies are apparently "discussing" adding a tethering option.Read More...
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Study: Online movie sales in US to skyrocket
Posted by Dennis SellersIn what can only be good news for Apple and the iTunes Store (as well as, hopefully, the Apple TV), the total annual revenue from the sale of online movies in the US is estimated to reach US$1.8 billion by the end of 2011, according to a new report from...
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ShadesCases releases Shades for iPhone 3G
Posted by Dennis Sellers ShadeCases has released Shades Cases for the iPhone 3G model. The new cases are now available to purchase online at the company's web site, starting at US$16.95.
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ABC Pushes 'Daisies' With Sweet Tour
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- If you've got a hankering for a piece of apple, cherry or peach pie, ABC hopes to convert it into enthusiasm for its offbeat, death-obsessed drama, "Pushing Daisies."
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Reminder: No new hints Monday
Monday is the Labor Day holiday in the USA -- so I have the day off, which I'll spend not laboring on hints :). If you have the day off as well, enjoy the long weekend with friends and family. We'll be back as usual on Tuesday morning.-rob.
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iPhone's arrival in Russia confirmed
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors, iPhoneEarlier this week, Russian communications company VimpelCom announced their intention to bring the iPhone to Russia, the first company to do so. The particulars aren't available yet, but VimpelCom representatives said they hope to be selling the iPhone "...later this year."Earlier rumors were pointing to this announcement. Last week, Reuters reported on a rumor about a deal that would bring the iPhone to Russia, identifying Mobile TeleSystems as the carrier. That rumor suggested an October launch. Also, when Steve Jobs spoke with CNBC shortly after the launch of the 3G iPhone, he said that a deal with Russia would likely happen "...later this year."Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Put the quoted form of POSIX paths into Script Editor
As a beginner learning the basics of do shell script in AppleScript, I'm finding that most of my file and folder names have spaces in them. As such, I have two choices when writing paths: either escape all the spaces as I type them, or use the AppleScript quoted form of POSIX path construct.Both methods still require significant typing and exact spelling, and I'm from the generation that didn't learn to type. To ease my discomfort, I wrote this script for use in Script Menu:tell application "Finder" set Itms to selection set als to Itms's item 1 as alias set aPath to quoted form of POSIX path of alsend telltell application "Script Editor" activate tell front document set contents of selection to aPath end tellend tellThe script takes the currently-selected file or folder in Finder, and puts its quoted form of POSIX path into Script Editor's front document at the insertion point (or replaces the selection if text is selected)...
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Import Address Book contacts into a new Verizon phone
Here's the scenario:You have a phone with Verizon, and you have 1,000 contacts in your Mac's Address Book. Perhaps you've had a previous Verizon phone, but you've never backed up your contacts from that phone -- but you do have your contacts on your computer and want to get them into your phone. I'm here to tell you that yes, it can be done, I promise. What this does is turn your Firefox web browser into an input robot that fills out the stupid little manual input forms on Verizon's website automatically, over and over, using a CSV file as the input source.Read on for the step-by-step... Here are the steps:First, you need to activate Verizon's Backup Service -- this allows you to download contacts from (yes from) your phone, as well as manually type in contacts to your phone (don't panic, just keep reading).You'll need to make a text file list of your contacts or Address Book. It must be saved in CSV (comma separated values) format....
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One way to scroll in form boxes on the iPhone
As many have discovered, the trick for scrolling in list boxes on the iPhone (using two fingers) doesn't work in form boxes. If you've ever tried typing a post on a forum or elsewhere from the iPhone, you've discovered that editing what you've typed is a near impossibility if the text entry box is too small, as two-finger scrolling doesn't work. By tapping/holding inside a form and bringing up the magnifying glass, you can scroll up and down by dragging and holding the magnifying glass in the direction you wish to scroll.
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Student Mac sales to buoy Apple despite economic woes
The economy hasn't exactly been doing well lately, and some folks are still worried that the general state of the economy will mean missed earnings and lower guidance from Apple. But one writer isn't buying it, and has put up a $50 wager that Apple will keep on kicking thanks to its sales to students.Read More...
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First Looks: SwitchEasy CapsuleNeo for iPhone 3G
Coming off the success of its Capsule Rebel and Colors cases for the iPhone 3G, SwitchEasy has debuted CapsuleNeo ($30), another unique case with interesting ideas for protecting the plastic-bodied iPhone. Though the case consists of four major pieces -- a rubber body, a hard matte plastic frame, a second hard glossy plastic frame, and a clear screen protector -- SwitchEasy actually includes two of the rubber body cases and two screen protectors,…
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False Data Clobbers the Markets
What is real? Up until this point, 2008 has been a year marred by false data. The market has had no trouble digesting the real numbers. It's the false numbers that have put us into a recession-like sell off. The list of market moving inaccuracies continues to grow, here are the three latest: 1. Government GDP Report. Why doesn't the government just hold off a few weeks before releasing its reports? No data is better than false data. The latest GDP growth revision is absolutely inexcusable. I can handle a small revision from 3.1% to 3.2% but 1.9% to 3.3%? Wouldn't it be better to just wait another 3 or 4 weeks and get the numbers correct?
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iPhone data plan promotion extended in Canada
Rogers Communications, the exclusive iPhone carrier in Canada, is extending a promotional data plan to attract more smartphone sales, including that of the BlackBerry Bold.
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My Favorite iPhone Apps: Mat's Picks
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, iPhone, App StoreFor my shot at iPhone favorites I'm going with three apps I find myself returning to over and over.Zenbe Lists (iTunes link) - this is the third-party app I find myself using most often. It's basically a TO DO list manager, but with a big difference: online syncing. The Zenbe iPhone application interfaces with the online lists that you can manage from your desktop at lists.zenbe.com (free account required). But unlike some other iPhone apps that are front-ends for online services, Zenbe on the iPhone caches all your data locally. That means that you can access and edit your lists even when you can't get online (e.g. on a plane) and then sync when you get back online. With the absence of notes syncing on the iPhone I end up putting all kinds of things into Zenbe: shopping lists, travel info (flight schedules, etc.), various ideas that come to me on the go, and much more (free).Moonlight Mahjong (iTunes link) - games are naturally a matter of personal taste, but this 3D implementation of mahjong on the iPhone is first class. It utilizes the standard iPhone gestures for zooming and panning, as well as automatically recognizes device orientation. The full version includes 19 different tile layouts for a very reasonable $4.99; there's also a free lite version (iTunes link), which will give you a good taste the gameplay but is limited to 3 tile layouts. Moonlight Mahjong does not include sound, but that makes it perfect for listening to your own tunes, which I much prefer.Pandora (iTunes link) - Pandora has long been my favorite streaming music site, so much so that I run the dedicated Pandora client PandoraJam on my Mac. So I was thrilled when the iPhone version was released with full access to your custom stations. Unfortunately, Pandora is facing problems these days so there's no telling how long the service will remain up. But for the time being Pandora is my go to app for streaming music (free).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Why Apple Stock Is Poised To Go Flat - At Best
Apple (AAPL) has been one of the best performing stocks of the last two years. The stock has gone from $45 to $180 in about a year and a half, which is impressive especially given the size of the company. The nature of the rise was momentum trading at its core; however I must admit that the ascent was also supported by very solid fundamentals. The company has continuously beaten both its top and bottom line by a large margin, while Steve Jobs and his team has brought about some of the most revolutionary products of the last decade to the market. As an equity investment, however, I think that Apple has found itself struggling with multiple headwinds lately and therefore I think the stock will perform poorly, at least relative to the overall market, in the mid-term. I detailed these headwinds below and I am curious to hear back from all of you Apple fans out there. I don't trade the Apple stock but as a trading story the stock has really struck me as a case study and I continue to follow the news about Apple.
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Rogers extends special data offer through September
Rogers is extending its $30 6GB iPhone data plan until the end of September. Originally the promotion was only going to last through the month of August, but the head honchos at Rogers have decided to extend an olive branch to customers who think their pricing is absurd, by offering this program for a bit longer. The company also plans on offering a new data plan on October 1st, which will reflect the way that iPhone users use their data. The company has been looking at what iPhone owners use, and even with (most of) the “real” Internet in their pocket, most users don't cross the 1GB mark. It's also worth noting that this program doesn't apply to just iPhone customers. Blackberry Bold users will also have the opportunity to take advantage of this program as well.
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News: Harman/Kardon announces MS 100 audio system
Harman/Kardon has introduced its new MS 100 all-in-one audio system. The MS 100 offers a number of audio options, including a slot-loading CD player with MP3 and WMA support, FM radio, and an iPod dock. It features S-Video and composite video outputs for output of iPod pictures and video to a TV, a USB port for syncing the iPod with a computer, 5-inch high-excursion woofers, dome tweeters, and built-in amplification. The Harman/Kardon MS 100…
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News: Grantwood Technology releases QuickFlipCase for iPhone and iPhone 3G
Grantwood Technology has announced the release of its QuickFlipCase for iPhone and iPhone 3G. The QuickFlipCase is a horizontal leather case featuring contrast stitching, a permanent belt clip, a magnetic closure for the lid, open access to the iPhone's headphone jack, sleep/wake button, speaker, and microphone, and a center push-up hole for easier removal of the device. The Grantwood Technology QuickFlipCase for the iPhone and iPhone 3G…
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The Apple Halo (or Reality Distortion Field)
Take a minute to read this story. Then come back here. I'll wait. OK. So I have a question. If you are an Apple user and fan, are you willing to "look the other way?" Have you dealt with uncharacteristic problems with Apple products but are willing to give the Cupertino mother ship a pass? If you are a marketer interested in how Apple marketing is so effective, you probably wonder about brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. But does any of that matter with Apple? Is Steve's famed "reality distortion field" able to reach all the way to buyers wallets? Let me be honest. I have had uncharacteristic issues with my iPhone and my MacBook Pro that I've never had with other Apple products before. I have owned at least 50 Apple products in over 20 years and I have never called for tech support before my latest MacBook Pro (the one I'm using right now to pen this post) started giving me fits. And Apple couldn't even figure out what is wrong. Stories abound (my last post included) about issues with Apple quality control and broken promises. So how does Apple earn such fiercely loyal customers? I'd love your answers in the comment sections of this post. I think I know why and I will provide my own answer in my next post.
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Apple releases ProRes QuickTime Decoder 1.0 for Mac and Windows
Yesterday Apple released the ProRes Decoder tool for Quicktime. This tool will enable Quicktime to play Apple ProRes files, using a codec that provides “lossless, uncompressed HD video at SD data rates” for Final Cut users. This is the very first version of the codec, and playback for Windows machines is included. Click Here for more information.
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Macsimum Migration Kit: diet management software
Posted by Dennis SellersIn this week's Macsimum Migration Kit, we're looking at diet management software for the Mac. For those new to the column, Macsimum Migration is our term for companies moving from Windows machines to Macs—or at least adding or increasing the number of Macs they use. A Macsimum Migration kit is...
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We need an Apple device that doubles as a great ebook reader
Posted by Dennis SellersI guess I'm a contrary cuss, but despite a recent patent report, I still don't think Apple is going to release a traditional tablet computer. However, I'd love to see the company offer a bigger version of the iPod touch (although it would probably bear a different moniker) for handling...
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Review: Marware offers a Gripping case for the iPhone 3G
Posted by Dennis SellersMarware's StrackaSportGrip for the iPhone 3G[/url] is a fine overall protective case for the Apple device, though it does have some compromises.
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Adobe releases new, updated PDF Portfolio layouts for Acrobat 9 Pro, Pro Extended
Posted by Dennis SellersAdobe has released a free download of new and updated PDF Portfolio layouts for Acrobat 9 Pro and Pro Extended.
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iriver's gramophone speaker, UNIT2-S, and R1 concepts do impress
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video iriver came to IFA with the usual collection of concept gear we crave. Unlike other manufacturers, iriver usually brings its prototypes to market, eventually, so you'll want to pay attention. First up is a concept horn speaker (pictured top) attached to an iriver SPINN. The device plugs into the existing headphone jack bringing a sense of gramophone nostalgia to this most-modern device. Next up is iriver's latest take on the Unit2, the UNIT2-S, a simpler multimedia communications device for the home. Remember, it's just a concept, but as envisioned, the working prototype functions as a video phone, digital photo frame, web browser, FM radio, flash gaming rig, SMS/MMS receiver, and audio / video player with DMB television tuner. The specs list a 4.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, 30GB hard drive and 2GB of flash (presumably in the base unit and handset, respectively), mic, stereo speaker, and Li-Polymer battery all packed into a 185.4 x 117 x 19.8-mm tower.Last up is the R1 DAB radio concept (pictured bottom). Again, the prototype is fully functional and capable of playing back internet, DAB, and FM radio or audio streaming from PC or local storage through a pair of 2W stereo speakers. They also included an alarm clock to remind you that these concepts are just part of an iriver dream -- for now.Gallery: iriver's gramophone speaker, UNIT2-S, and R1 concepts do impressPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Drops, Crashes and Freezes: Is the iPhone Worth It?
Given my reputation as a Mac "expert," I am often asked for advice about purchasing Apple products. In recent weeks, the question I have most often been asked is a disconcerting one: "I am thinking about buying an iPhone. But I have been hearing reports about its unreliability. Should I be worried? Should I wait for the problems to be fixed before I purchase an iPhone? Should I not get an iPhone at all?" My answer is no. That is, no, you don't have to wait. And no, you certainly don't have to abandon your plans to get an iPhone altogether.
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Salling introduces software to sync iTunes with mobile devices
Posted by Dennis SellersSalling Software AB has released Salling Media Sync, an application that synchronizes playlists, music, and podcasts in iTunes onto mobile devices from Sony, Nokia and Sony Ericsson.
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The Mac Night Owl: 'Apple is releasing products too early'
Posted by Dennis SellersOn today's commentary, Gene “Mac Night Owl” Steinberg says, “Apple is releasing products too early.”
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Hands-on iriver's confusing P20 PMP
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video As good as the SPINN is, we can't rave about iriver's newest PMP, the P20 launching today at IFA. Looks like our early excitement about the product back at CES was misplaced. First off, it's big -- a true brick by today's PMP standards. Also, we're not sold on the implementation of the SPINN interface here. The P20 uses a combination of vertical and horizontally placed thumb wheels, an "ok" button (why not just press in the thumbwheel like on the SPINN?), and touchscreen AMOLED -- a heap of overly-complex overkill based on our admittedly, limited time with the device. The touchscreen was also rendered unusable by menus only accessible by the thumbwheels as well as an incredibly high bezel framing the display thus inhibiting screen touches along the edges. As to the specs, it's everything we heard: 4.1-inch 480 x 272 pixel display, FM tuner, TV-out, voice recording, and integrated DMB TV option, 80GB or 120GB hard disk, and Li-Polymer battery for 12-hours of audio, 9-hours of video, or 8-hours of DMB in a 130 x 97 x 20.5-mm slab. Expected to launch in Korea next month at an undetermined price -- rest of world to be determined. Gallery: Hands-on iriver's confusing P20 PMPPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Info needed on journaling/scrapbooking software for the Mac
Posted by Dennis SellersOur next Macsimum Migration Kit will look at Mac software for journaling and scrapbooking. If you use or know of such goodies, drop us a line (dsellers@macsimumnews.com) by Wednesday, Sept. 3.
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Video: Hands-on iriver's SPINN, the first true iPod killer
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video We've seen iriver's SPINN (above between the HTC Touch Dual and iPhone 3G) floating around Korea in pics and video for a few weeks now. But damn if this little 3.3-inch DAP doesn't make a distinct impression in person. Of course, you've heard the term "iPod killer" tossed around for years with obvious effect. But this, this little SPINN with brilliant OLED display and up to 16GB of storage looks to be device-for-device superior to the bigger iPod touch. The SPINN navigation is very well implemented and allows for natural and precise one-handed operation with heavy tactile control -- touchscreen too if that's your preference. Of course, making an iPod killer is about more than just the device -- it's the ecosystem of PC software, third party accessories, and daunting global distribution and retail model which faces any upstart vendor. On sale now in Korea, iriver hopes to address the latter piece of the puzzle as they prepare for a global (US, UK, and Europe) launch in September and October -- assuming they can sort out the necessary distribution / retail channels this week at IFA. Remember, it's already got FCC's nod of approval.Gallery: Hands-on iriver's SPINN, the first true iPod killerContinue reading Video: Hands-on iriver's SPINN, the first true iPod killerPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Steve Jobs Isn't Dead Yet!
More than 30 years ago, the most famous skit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail concluded with the line “I'm not dead!”.Thursday, Bloomberg (the news service, not the politician) apparently sent Steve Jobs' obituary to clients, even though he's not dead yet. As the (London) Telegraph summarized it:
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Zimbra broadens mobile capabilities for iPhone 2 with OTA sync
Posted by Dennis SellersZimbra—which makes open source, next-generation messaging and collaboration software—has released Zimbra Mobile for iPhone 2.0.
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Record Companies Starting to Shun iTunes
The following relates to my previous article on how digital music is drastically changing the economics of the music business in such a way that it's hurting profitably: (From the WSJ): "...a growing number of record companies are trying to steer clear of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) behemoth music store, because they say selling single songs on iTunes in some cases is crimping overall music sales.
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Logitech introduces Squeezebox Boom all-in-one network music player
Posted by Dennis SellersLogitech has unveiled the Logitech Squeezebox Boom all-in-one network music player, featuring an integrated amplifier, high-performance speakers and a simplified setup. It's expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September for a suggested retail price of US$299.99.
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Study: growth in mobile broadband to drive changes in regulation of UK mobile industry
Posted by Dennis SellersAdjustments to the UK regulatory framework are required given consumers' rapid adoption of mobile broadband services, according to an Ofcom-commissioned report from Analysys Mason, advisers on telecoms, IT and media.