You are here in the archive: MyAppleMenu > 2007 > May
May 31, 2007
Viacom Feeling Jealous? It Wants In On An Apple TV Deal Too
by Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica
Will Music Industry Dance Again To Apple's Tune?
by Greg Sandoval, CNET News.com
Apple has plunged into uncharted waters by stripping security software off some of its music.
Jobs, Gates, And The Road Behind
by Scott Rosenberg, Wordyard
Gates won a bigger PC market and more billions, but Jobs still puts his mark on products in way no one elase in the tech industry can match.
Bill And Steve's Excellent Adventure
by Jason Snell, Macworld
What struck me most about Jobs' and Gates' interaction with one another was the genuine warmth they both felt when nostalgically recalling the early days of the personal computer revolution.
iTunes Store Terms Of Service Disallow Use Of Purchased Music As Ring Tones
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
There's no way to enforce this restriction with DRM-free iTunes Plus tracks, of course.
Apple Continues To Mostly Ignore The Enterprise, Observers Say
by Darrell Dunn, Computerworld
Despite being roundly ignored, corporate America seems to be perking up its collective ears a bit to some of Apple's newer wares. The company's switch to x86 processors, though way too long in coming by some accounts, has opened doors to some enterprise accounts that otherwise would have remained shut. Businesses that make the switch to Apple generally begin by using Mac desktops and laptops, but many ultimately graduate to the Xserve server platform.
Live Coverage: Jobs And Gates Joint Apperance
by Jason Snell and Peter Cohen, Macworld
In what was certainly the marquee event at this year's D: All Things Digital conference, an annual gathering coordinated by the Wall Street Journal, Steve Jobs shared the stage with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in a joint apperance discussing the technology industry's past while looking ahead to its future.
Apple Exec Details 160GB Apple TV, YouTube H.264 Deal
by Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge
YouTube will soon be encoding videos in the H.264 streaming-efficient compression format preferred by Apple TV, and that all new videos submitted to YouTube as of the mid-June launch of the AppleTV update will be playable by the device.
Steve Jobs At D
by Harry McCracken, PC World
Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg are onstage at the D conference. They're talking Mac marketshare, Apple's commitment to the Mac, whether new iPods are in the works, etc., etc.
The Trouble With Apple TV
by Brent Schlender, Fortune
Steve Jobs' latest is a dud — and that speaks volumes.
Steve Jobs At D Now
by Brian Lam, Gizmodo
Apple Hides Account Info In DRM-Free Music, Too
by Ken Fisher, Ars Technica
With great power comes great responsibility, and apparently with DRM-free music comes files embedded with identifying information.
Real Steve Reads Fake Steve
by Leander Kahney, Cult Of Mac
First Look: iTunes Plus
by Christopher Breen, Playlist
Apple Announces 160GB Apple TV, YouTube Deal
by Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge
The 160GB version of Apple TV promises four times the capacity of the original Apple TV at a $100 premium.
EagleFiler 1.2 Now Available
by MacMinute
LensTweaker 1.0.1
by Ben Long, Macworld
LensTweaker addresses two types of geometric distortion.
Morgan Stanley Boosts Apple Target To $150
by Katie Marsal, AppleInsider
Citing its thesis that Apple's operating leverage remains underappreciated by investors, Morgan Stanley on Wednesday initiated sharp increases to both its earnings forecast and price target for the Cupertino-based consumer electronics maker.
See Also:
Apple Now Valued At Over $100 Billion, by Slash Lane, AppleInsider.
May 30, 2007
Apple Announces iTunes U On The iTunes Store
by AppleInsider
Apple on Wednesday announced the launch of iTunes U, a dedicated area within the iTunes Store featuring free content such as course lectures, language lessons, lab demonstrations, sports highlights and campus tours provided by top US colleges and universities including Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Duke University and MIT.
Earbuds And Mosh Pits
by Kevin J.H. Dettmar, The Chronicle Of Higher Education
To see the iPod as an agent of isolation rather than a symptom of, or a clever adaption to, that isolation is to confuse cause and effect.
Mac Users Face Hurdles With New Office Versions
by Daniel Drew Turner, eWeek
Microsoft and others are scrambling to offer options to regain at least a limited degree of compatibility for future Office users.
Too Big For Its Shoes?
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
There's a saying that Microsoft has so much money that it can afford to continuing improve on products that may have failed in the marketplace initially. WIth time, Microsoft's products will start to be sucessful because it has improved to the point that it is good enough, and that its competitors are either too scared to move or too scared and start making mistakes.
What happened to that spirit?
Why doesn't Play-for-sure devices gain Wi-fi sharing capabilities, just like Zune? Why don't Tablet PC and Windows Mobile gain multi-touch capabilities, just like the new Microsoft Table? Why did Microsoft abandon the wireless screen or slate-based PC so quickly, instead starting new projects from scratch again and again?
This is not the Microsoft I've known all my life...
P.S. On the other hand, Microsoft Bob deserved a quick death. It's the least Microsoft can do.
Nominee For Oddest Mac Mini Case Mod
by Peter Mortensen, Cult Of Mac
It's giant friendly green blob Haro from Gundam!
Putting The 'DRM' In 'Drama': DRM Free Tracks Arrive
by Derik DeLong, MacUser
Apple and EMI have delivered on the promise.
Apple's iTunes 7.2 Supports DRM-Free Music
by Electronista
Available via the Mac OS X Software Update, the 29.2MB enables users to preview and purchase iTunes Plus music — new higher-quality, DRM-free music downloads from participating music labels — although the iTunes Store itself has nto been updated with DRM-free music.
Dear Jef, The Wingo Works Great
by Simson Garfinkel, MIT Technology Review
After five years, I make good on my promise to Jef Raskin.
Owning Computers Via Spelling Mistakes
by Matt Hines, InfoWorld
The simplest way to get around sudo's protection is to take advantage of a common mistake: spelling errors.
Microsoft To Unveil Coffee-Table-Shaped Computer
by Daisuke Wakabayashi, Reuters
Microsoft Corp. will unveil a coffee-table-shaped "surface computer" on Wednesday in a major step towards co-founder Bill Gates' view of a future where the mouse and keyboard are replaced by more natural interaction using voice, pen and touch.
Microsoft Surface, which has a 30-inch display under a hard-plastic tabletop, allows people to touch and mvoe objects on screen for everything from digital finger painting and jigsaw puzzles to ordering off a virtual menu in a restaurant.
See Also:
Will Microsoft Pit 'Milan' Multi-touch Against Apple's iPhone?, by Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet.
Three Reasons Apple Will Frustrate Music Subscription Moguls
by Howell Review
Subscription services where you sign up for an entire catalog of music sound attractive in theory, but place consumers squarely in the conundrum of the tyranny of too much choice.
In fact, I don't see how Apple can profit from a subscription model. Bandwidth costs money, and a subscription service will suck up more and more bandwidth without necessary a corresponding increase in revenue.
A Day In The Life Of An Apple Genius
by Eugene Robinson, Mac|Life
What does it take to be chosen as an elite power user — a Mac aficionado so advanced you even pass Apple's muster? To find out, we asked some Genius Bar smarties.
"Geniuses" must deal with both people and machines. Not an easy task, indeed.
Where Are The Third Party Ergonomic Peripherals?
by Matthew Bookspan, Apple Matters
Apple Plugs Two QuickTime Security Flaws
by MacNN
Apple today updated its QuickTime multimedia software by fixing two important security holes that, if left unpatched, could lead to the disclosure of sensitive information or allow a potential attacker to take over a Mac or Windows system running the affected software.
SOHO Organizer, SOHO Notes Get Major 6.0 Upgrades
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Apple Recommends iPod Owners Not Buy Audiobooks
by LC Angell, iLounge
Apple has confirmed that a number of recently released audiobooks being sold on the iTunes Store will not properly play on iPods.
May 29, 2007
Mac OS Open To Attack Through Unpatched Samba
by Computerworld
Hackers can attack Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X by exploiting an unpatched vulnerability in the open-source Samba file- and print-sharing software that's included with the operating system, Symantec Inc. said Monday.
Courting Consumers, Dell Takes Pages From Apple's Playbook
by Leander Kahney, Wired
Get A Mac. Seriously.
by The Killfile
For most people, the best computer they can buy is a Mac.
Scroll Wheel Tips
by Adam C. Engst, TidBITS
Apple TV Plug-In Creation Kit Released
by MacNN
An Apple A Day Keeps PCs Away
by Cathy Gillentine, Galveston County Daily News
When visitors come to my house these days, I don't call attention to the living room paint or the newly covered love seat.
I take them straight to my new Mac.
Why Most People Should Buy A Mac
by Danny Gorog, APC Magazine
Most Windows users who move over to a Mac quickly discover how much they don't need Windows.
May 28, 2007
Leading The Charge On iPHone
by Brier Dudley, Seattle Times
Brace yourself for another tsunami of hype.
See Also:
The iPhone Keeps Its Cool Secret, by Mike Rogoway, OregonLive.com. Gadget lust — No mater what Apple's latest trick is finally capable of, many will want one fo the mystique.
The Dream Is Dead: Macs Don't Always "Just Work"
by Sean Dwyer
Well, my two week journey into the land of Apple was brought to an abrupt end yesterday, after my brand new iMac stopped doing the one thing Macs are always supposed to do: work.
Macintosh... Help Me Understand Why
by Christopher Dawson, ZDNet
Apple has been a niche player for some time, but I maintain that the utter matruity of Linux as well as the generally low cost of Windows machines further marginalizes Appel in education. Can anyone give me a reason to keep paying the premiums associated with pretty white and silver boxes in an educational setting?
Dave Winer Goes Shopping
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Dave Winer, Scripting News: All in all, I spent well over $1000. The stores that had their act together got all the money. The stores that didn't even come close to meeting my needs (about half of them) got nothing.
I Swore I Wouldn't Become A Mac Elitist...
by Switching To Mac
Now that I'm well into my third month of using a Mac, I can say, with very little doubt, that Mac's are by far the superior computer.
Things I Don't Like About The Mac
by Stephen Downes, Half An Hour
I would like to dedicate this post to the braindead things that really annoy me about it.
How To Retire Your Software
by Nobi Hayashi, O'Reilly Mac DeveCenter Blog
I think it's good Sig Software and James could provide a DragThing discount and finish the deal, but what is so nice about them is that they didn't stop there.
The Apple Store: Trouble In Paradise
by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Business 2.0
The bottom line was that the people drawn like flies to Steve Jobs' magical elixir were getting in the way of business.
But if you think things are bad now, wait until the iPhone shows up.
May 27, 2007
Why I Use A Mac
by Rogue Amoeba
Apple's Lesson For Sony's Stores: Just Connect
by Randall Stross, New York Times
Retail is supposed to be hard. Apple has made it seem ridiculously easy. And yet it must be harder than it appears, or why hasn't the Windows side of the personal computer business figured it out?
Indie Mac Development In The UK
by Giles Turnbull, O'Reilly MacDevCenter.com
Ever wonder what's it like to be a Mac developer outside the U.S.? Sure, the coding part of things is pretty much the same — it's the same OS, wherever you live — but other aspects of building successful Mac software are a little bit different.
May 26, 2007
Thoughts On iPod Amnesty Bin
by Charlie Owen
Comedic relief. Honestl, I think this is the real reason.
Set-Top Boxes Put To The Test
by Dan Simmons, BBC Click
If you want style and something that just works out of the box go for the Apple TV, but do so knowing that it is essentially an iPod for your television.
Apple Aficionados Left Guessing: Is A Flagship Store On The Way?
by Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun
Company executive Ron Johnson recently quipped that Vancouver's patience 'will be rewarded soon'.
Be Smart About Sorting Your Music Playlist
by Jeff Carlson, Seattle Times
Smart selectors enable you to group things together and apply smart sorting criteria.
Brain-Eating Zombies Invade SF Apple Store
by Declan McCullagh, CNET News.com
A horde of decaying zombies invaded San Francisco's downtown Apple store on Friday evening, hunting for brains, terrifying the customers, and gnawing on iMacs.
Museums, Empire State, UN, And Apple Store
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
If you are heading to New York city for a weekend architectural landmark tour, don't forget to visit the Apple Store.
Tell them that the New York Times sent you.
Shocking Apple Customer Service
by John Siepierski, LegionTech
The service was so great that it actually brightened up my day.
May 25, 2007
Apple Confirms MySpace Ban In Retail Stores
by Caroline McCarthy, CNET News.com
"Nearly 2 million people visit Apple stores every week," the statement read. "We want to provide everyone a chance to test-drive a Mac, so we are no longer offering access to MySpce in our stores."
Chronos Releases SOHO Organizer 6.0
by MacMinute
Sticky Windows 2.2 Offers Speed Improvements, More
by MacMinute
Google Desktop: Search Engine's Desktop Software Offers Power, Butt Little Intelligence
by Dan Moren, Macworld
If you're a power user who is dissatisfied with Spotlight's speed and inability to handle complex, boolean-style searches, you may find Google Desktop an improvement, and it's free. But don't expect the almost magical results from Google Desktop that we've come to know and love from Google's web search utility.
MS Bringing Windows Media Support Back To Mac With Silverlight
by Justin Berka, Ars Technica
Microsoft's Silverlight is looking more and more like a solution for at least some of the woes that Mac users have.
ConceptDraw 7 Ships
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Apple Security Update Fixes iChat Issue
by Jim Dalrymple, Macworld
Apple on Thursday released Security Update 2007-005 that tackes several issues with the company's Mac OS X operating system. Among the issues fixed in this update are ones that could allows users to cause a denial of service or arbitrary code execution in iChat.
Where Are The Third-Party MagSafe Accessories?
by Dan Frakes, Macworld
Why the dearth of third-party MagSafe products? Because the MagSafe connector is a patented technology and, according to a Kensington representative, Apple has thus far not licensed the use of that technology to other vendors.
Analyst: Apple To Demo New MacBook Pros At WWDC, But No iPhone
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3: Adobe's Video Editing App Delivers A New Look In Its Upcoming Return To The Mac
by Antony Bolante, Macworld
With the substantial changes from the last Mac version, Premiere Pro CS3 is no mere sequel — it's a complete remake, and one that should generate some good buzz.
RapidWeaver 3.6 Released
by David Chartier, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
Realmac Software today has released the much-anticipated new version of RapidWeaver, their powerful WYSIWYG software that does a great job of filling the gap between iWeb and Dreamweaver.
May 24, 2007
Apple And Music Labels Accused Of Shortchanging Artists
by Aidan Malley, AppleInsider
A fresh class action lawsuit charges Apple's iTunes, major online music shops, and top record labels with performing an end-run around a musician's permission and his royalty payments.
Using Smart Albums For Wedding Photograpy Projects
by Bakari Chavanu, O'Reilly Digital Media Blog
Tucking away a project collection of Smart Albums in a folder keeps my Project Panel less crowded and easier to access.
Madison Avenue Says Hello To 'Hello' Again
by Stuart Elliott, New York Times
"Advertising being an annoying, interruptive medium, 'Hello' is a kind of nice saluation, a friendly way of introducing yourself," said Lee Clow, chairman and chief creative officer at the TBWA Worldwide unit of the Omnicom Group who has long worked for Apple.
The "Hello" in the iPhone commercial, which started running in February, was intended to acomplish the same task, Mr Clow said, as well as echo the "Hello" from the Macintosh campaign 23 years earlier.
iPod Sex Toy Arouses Apple's Ire
by Asher Moses, Sydney Morning Herald
Bill Gates, Steve Jobs Set For Historic Conversation
by John Shinal, MarketWatch
xPad 1.2.5
by Dan Frakes, Macworld
xPad is a considerable upgrade over the original NotePad and a nifty utility for those who don't need an powerful (and expensive) outliner or data-management app.
Adobe Lies, Badly
by Extra Pepperoni
Saying this is necessary is either a lie about security (never a good idea) or gross technical incompetence (not a real improvement).
Customers Quietly Queuing Up For iPhones
by Charles Jade, Ars Technica
Analyst: Apple Will Be Bigger Than IBM
by Bryan Chaffin, Mac Observer
Analyst: June Quarter iPod Sales May Be Down
by Jeff Gamet, Mac Observer
Mozilla May Drop Firefox Support For Older Mac OS
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Mozila Corp. is thinking about dropping Firefox support for Appel's Mac OS 10.3, the three-and-a-half-year-old operating system also known as Panther.
May 23, 2007
Analyst: Apple Stock Likely To Rise After iPhone, WWDC
by Jeff Gamet, Mac Observer
Adobe Illustrator CS3
by Dave Girard, Ars Technica
The Illustrator CS3 upgrade is good but not great.
When Will Apple Deliver A Decent Mouse?
by Gene Steinberg, Mac Night Owl
What's Eating My Disk Space?
by MacFixIt
McCartney No-Show On iTunes
by Gregg Keizer, PC World
Former Beatle's 25-album catalog goes live on most digital music stores and subscription services, though iTunes has yet to add it.
The iPhone Tipping Point
by Jerry Del Colliano, Inside Music Media
I may be wrong but I see the advent of the first iPhone as the tipping point for radio and records. What they haven't been able to kill off by their own inability to cooperate with the future, the iPhone will kill off now.
Apple's 5-Year Deal With AT&T Is Annoying, Strategic
by Pete Mortensen, Wired
While this announcement is thoroughly irritating to me, it might prove strategic for Apple.
Enjackass
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
Ryan Block's job is to be skeptical of sensational news.
State Of The Mac
by Dan Miller, Macworld
What Macworld readers like — and don't like — about their Macs.
State Of The Mac: Know The Warning Signs
by Ted Landau, Macworld
Four things you can do before a hardware disaster strikes.
What Transition? Moving From PowerPC Mac To Intel Core 2 Duo Mac
by Ash White, Athens Exchange
I swore long ago that I would never go back to a PC an dI look forward to future Apple machines.
AT&T Eager To Wield Its iWeapon
by Leslie Cauley, USA Today
The Apple iPhone, due out next month, has been breathlesly hailed as offering consumers the ultimate wireless experience.
It also could give AT&T, its exclusive U.S. distributor, the ultimate experience for a wireless carrier: an easy way to handcuff rivals and steal customers.
Making Sense Of Our Reliability Survey
by Dan Miller, Macworld
LightZone 3.0 Adds Styles, Image-Management Tools
by Rick LePage, Macworld
Minor MacBook Chnages Means Not-So-Minor Boost
by James Galbraith, Macworld
Faster processors, new hard drives fuel performance gains.
VP Releases X3: Reunion Game
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Pangea Releases Runic Brickbashing Game
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Runic is a brickbashing game in the spirit of Breakout, Arkanoid and countless other similar titles.
CDFinder 5.0 Released
by MacMinute
May 22, 2007
Million-Color Myth: Apple's Not Alone Making 6-Bit Displays
by Rob Beschizza, Wired
The chances are, you think your laptop's LCD panel displays millions of colors. If so, the chances are that you're very much mistaken.
Hands On: Setting Up Mac OS X Open Directory
by Ryan Faas, Computerworld
Open Directory, Mac OS X's native directory service, allows users to both manage local accounts management and to create shared directory domains hosted by Mac OS X Server. WIth shared directory domains, administrators can create network accounts that can be used to log into computers and to access server-based resources throughout an organization's network.
Apple iTunes Ships iPod Game Of Hit Show 'Lost'
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Feature Presentation
by James Surowiecki, New Yorker
You might think that companies could avoid feature creep by just paying attention to what customers really want. But that's where the trouble begins.
HexColorPicker And TextClipping
by Dan Frakes, Macworld
Silverlight Will Sell A Lot Of Macs, And That Is Very Cool
by Jesse Liberty, O'Reilly Windows DevCenter Blog
I just sat back and watched it work.
Interview With Will Shipley Of Delicious Monster
by Jordan Chark
I had the change to ask him a few questions regarding his start with development, his past with Omni, and his current deliciousness.
R.I.P. FreeHand
by Andy Finnell, Safe From The Losing Fight
I've known for a few years that it was a dead product, but I'm still saddened to see that it's official now.
Hello, Residuals
by John August
$86.50.
An iMac Phones Home
by Robert L. Mitchell, Computerworld
Can Apple make gains in the business market? Perhaps that's the wrong question to ask.
Apple's Color-Blind MacBook Marketing
by Jason Snell, Macworld
A lot of Apple's customers are extremely color-sensitive design and graphics professionals. Even if it turns out that the display industry's standard practice is legitimate, Apple owes it to those customers to more completely disclose what they're getting when they buy an Apple computer or display.
May 21, 2007
Why I Really Prefer Mac Over PC
by Jon Holato
Macs provide a better overall computing experience.
A Knack For Macs
by Richard Carter, Times Record News
"Computers are supposed to work for us. We are not supposed to work for the computers. But we are working less for the computer than we used to. It's getting there. I don't see it though in the near future. They're complicated machines."
Ogg's Creator On Why Open Media Formats Still Rule
by Michael Calore, Wired
"Every iPod in the country could offer Ogg support tomorrow if Apple wanted it. However, Apple is a member of MPEG which owns and licenses all the patents on the mainstream formats (MP3 and AAC) and by adopting Ogg they'd be cutting into their own license revenue stream."
Adobe, Please Stop The Insanity
by Gus Muellr
What happened to you Adobe? You used to be so good!
Emotional Fonts
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
There is something about Macintosh and fonts that ties. Mac users are, generally, fussy about the fonts their system and applications use. If you are Windows user, and you are particular about fonts, chances are, you are a Mac user in future.
BBC queried its readers, asking them to "explain the reasons they fell in love with their favourite font, or what rankles about their most-loathed font." Maybe this will inspire you to go into the preference dialog of your favorite application, and change a font or two.
One Year As An Indie Mac Developer: What I've Learned
by Kevin Walzer, Code By Kevin
Actually building a software business — even the modest one I've developed thus far — is several orders of magnitude more complex than simply writing code. But it's a great pleasure to earn part of my living writing software, and it's an honor every time someone parts with a few dollars because my software has helped to solve their problem.
Hither And Dither
by Waffle
Apple's using displays that are literally dithering some colors for you.
May 20, 2007
Europeans Can't Wait To Push iPhone's Buttons
by Internationa Herald Tribune
Apple's silence on how the iPhone will be distributed in Europe has prompted speculation about operator alliances and retail partnerships.
Another MacBook Pro Battery To Be Replaced
by Jean Pierre
I'm really afraid of the quality issues Apple seems to have right now. The third battery in 8 months...
Does Steve Jobs Tolerate Zunes And Zens?
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Hey, apparently, there is an iPod Amnesty Disposal Bin over at Microsoft.
Does Steve Jobs tolerates Zunes and Zens over at Apple headquarters? And is "Z" the new "X", except that it isn't?
Creating A Media Center Mac
by Mark's (we)Blog
Why not install Vista on a Mac mini, then plug in a USB TV tuner and use this as a DVD player, pVR and all round home entertainment system?
Behind The Apple MacBook Class Action Suit
by Pilip Elmer-DeWitt, Apple 2.0
The complaint — filed in a California superior court — reads like a long, angry comment thread on an Apple forum, which is largely what it is.
Saving Teens, One Unplugged iPod At A Time
by Bakersfield Californian
Maybe our teenagers really don't need any more help in shutting people out.
Birding... With An iPod?
by Living On Earth
"The little gizmo more than proved its worth one spring morning in an impresive demonstration in a patch of Ponderosa Pine forest."
StarCraft 2 Coming To Mac
by Dan Moren, MacUser
StarCraft II brings improved 3D graphics and a bunch of additional units and skills to the game.
May 19, 2007
Lots Of Potential In iTunes Device, But Some Glitches
by Carol Pinchefsky, InformationWeek
Apple TV is hindered by limited software and a lack of easily available high-def content — but it has the potential to go a long, long way.
Music, Video Phones May Ride iPhone Wave
by Franklin Paul, Reuters
Cell phones sporting bigger screens, music, video and web-surfing capabilities may try to steal some of the spotlight when Apple's iPhone debuts next month.
Is 3GB Better Than 2GB Of RAM In A MacBook? Yes And No.
by Jeff Smykil, Ars Technica
Mac Enterprise Backup Options Are Looking Up
by Seth Weintraub, Computerworld
While backup and recovery options for Apple's enterprise systems haven't always been a strong point of hte Mac platform, a new crop of applications and technologies is pulling Mac OS X closer to — and in some instancs, beyond — Windows and Linux.
Lawsuit Over MacBook, MacBook Pro Displays
by Charles Jade, Ars Technica
Audio In Rich Media: Telling Stories With Sound
by Elie Malmberg, Apple
How audio can be integrated with other media to create richer, more dynamic journalistic features on news websites and beyond.
Reunion 9.04: Superior Genealogy Program Gets A Complete Overhaul
by Jeffery Battersby, Macworld
It's beautifully designed, easy to use, and a pleasure to work with.
Version Cue CS3: Subtle Improvements Make Workgroup Manager Better
by Galen Gruman, Macworld
Users gain the benefits of smaller version-file sizes while large organizations that have custom workflows will be able to integrat Version Cue more easily.
Apple Camp Schedule Is Now Available
by Dave Caolo, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
One-Third Of QuickTime Copies Go Unpatched, Pose Hack Risks
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Although browsers are notoriously juicy targets for hackrs, Apple Inc.'s QuickTime is actually three times more likely to pose a threat than Internet Explorer 6 — and six times more likely to be a threat than Firefox, Danish vulnerability tracker Secunia ApS said this week.
The higher risk posed by QuickTime stems from lackadaisical patching by users.
May 18, 2007
Apple Is Europe's Largest Education Supplier
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Gartner's latest figures show Apple as number one vendor in education market.
No More Excuses: Apple Introduces Free Recycling Program For Schools
by Grover Saunders, Ars Technica
Apple is instituting a free recycling program for all "accredited K-12 and Higher Education institutions with at least 25 systems."
Apple Of Your Eye
by Andre Boily, Edmonton Sun
The Apple MacBook Pro is an icon of the laptop genre, albeit a pricey one.
Animating Calvin
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
If someone did animate the great Calvin and Hobbes, I wonder if this is how it will look like?
And I wonder what Bill Watterson will say...
MacBook Attracts
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
All my life, I grew up with the "knowledge" that computers and magnets simply don't mix.
Don't put your floppy disks on top of a magnet if you treasure your files. Don't put the telephone next to your hard disk, or one ring and your data are gone.
So, here I'm, getting used to the idea that there are magnets inside the MacBook computer. Apple, you are sure that my data are safe? :-)
Of course, if you are the worrying kind — and maybe I'm — you'd also wonder what happens when the magnetism runs out?
"On Time" Is Not The New "Delayed"
by bynkii.com
"As scheduled" and "delayed" are not in fact the same thing. That would be why they have different meaning and spelling.
Apple Store Experience
by Way Too Much Information Abot Randy Peterman
Sure, you could get this level of service from... oh, wait, I've never had another computer company offer that level of service. Thanks, Apple!
Apple.com Telling Google "We Don't Want To Rank"?
by Scott Goodyear, MarketPosition
Regarding Yesterday's Apple News
by Ryan Block, Engadget
We have learned a very serious lesson yesterday. We will work very hard to earn back the trust we have lost and to do our best to be what we have always strived to be: a trustworthy source.
See Also:
AppleGate, by Michael Arrington, TechCrunch. Apple made two critical mistakes — allowing their internal email system to be hacked, and then not responding immediately to Engadget to tell them the story was incorrect.
The iPhone Rumor Had Many Red Flags, by Jonathan Berr, BloggingStocks.
Apple Design Guru Wins National Design Award
by MacNN
Apple Patent Clears Road For Theft-Proof iPhones, Macs
by AppleInsider
Apple Inc. has successfully patented an anti-theft safeguard for notebooks, phones, and other portable electronics that offers protecton simply by sensing the outside world.
Apple's Hiring 'iPhone Personal Trainers,' But What's The Start Date?
by Declan McCullagh, CNET News.com
Apple wants to hire "iPhone Personal Trainers" to work at a Sacramento call center doing iPhone technical support.
iResist iPhone
by Brian Chen, Macworld
First Look: Adobe Soundbooth CS3
by Christopher Breen, Macworld
Though the beta is quite stable, Soundbooth remains a work in progress.
iPhone Receives FCC Approval
by Charles Starrett, iLounge
Apple's iPhone has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission. THe application documents, made public by the FCC, include very little new information.
See Also:
Come One, Come All: iPhone FCC Docs Available, by Dan Moren, MacUser.
May 17, 2007
Apple Isn't Fun Any More
by Simon Jary, PC Advisor
Whatever happened to the marketing wizards that dreamt up a colour called "KeyLime", which was named after a pie!?
Come on, Apple! Start thinking different again. Let's name these weird new colours you make your products in. We want the Goseberry nano, Mediterranean Blue shuffle, Flamingo nano and Guinnes Video iPod.
So, They Did Invent The Wheel
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Yes, we've all joked about how Microsoft has never really made any innovation, even though the Redmond company do like to call themselves innovative.
But, take a look at your mouse. Chances are, you will find a wheel — or a wheel-like thing — on top of your mouse to help you scroll.
Yes, that's right. Microsoft did invented the mouse wheel, as Jeff Atwood reminds us.
CocoThumbX 3.1
by Dan Frakes, Macworld
Mac Firewall Security Flaw In Adobe CS3
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Security experts are warning of an issue within Adobe CS3's Version Cue application which can disable a Mac's built-in firewall.
DragThing Reaches Version 5.8
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Why Apple?
by Melissa Jenna, I Came Here For This?
How To Make Apple's Tiger OS Roar Like A Leopard
by Ryan Faas, Computerworld
Tired of waiting for Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard'? Make the wait easier with tools that add power, pizazz and some Leopard-like features to OS X 10.4 'Tiger.'
FreeHand No Longer Updated; Movng To Illustrator
by John Nack, Adobe
After a long and storied carrer, Adobe (nee Altsys, Aldus, and Macromedia) FreeHand has reached the end of its development road.
Macs Rule At Two Security Conferences
by Blackfriars' Marketing
While we hear all the time assertions that Windows computers can be just as secure as Mac OS X ones, security professionals seem to be voting otherwise with their wallets.
In The Field With InDesign CS3
by James Dempsey, Macworld
With InDesign CS3, I would say Adobe has topped what they did with CS2, a tough task since that version was practically a new application on its own.
Skype 2.6 Touts Mac-Only Features
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
New to the 2.6 release is a feature unique to the Mac version: Call Transfer, which allows you to transfer an ongoing call to another Skype user on your contact list.
Apple Slams False Rumours
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Apple today once again stressed that the company remains on track to ship the iPhone this June and Mac OS X Leopard in October, as the company ahs previously promised.
See Also:
Engadget Sends Apple Stock Plunging On iPhone Rumor, by Tom Krazit, CNET News.com. Commenters on Engadget and Apple investor boards were not amused.
Engadget Knocks $4 Billion Off Apple Market Cap On Bogus iPhone Email, by Michael Arrington, TechCrunch.
(Apple) Stock Hacking & The Power Of DisInformation, by Kevin Kelleher, GigaOM. If you're tired of the old cliche that information is power, here a new one: Disinformation is every bit as powerful.
May 16, 2007
Apple Cuts iPod Shuffle Prices By 10 Per Cent
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Apple has cut UK iPod shuffle prices.
Apple MacBook 'Update': Just Stock Clearance In Disguise?
by Alex Zaharov-Reutt, ITWire
While Apple have indeed been leaders in updating the MacBook with advanced technologies faster than PC based competitors for a while now..., it can't be denied that the "state-of-the-art" in physical hardware has been updated by Intel.
Why Apple's iPhone Is Not The Next iPod
by Saabira Chaudhuri, Fast Company
The iPod set an impossibly high bar, one that the iPhone will not match or even come close to. But the new device could still be very successful, particularly in the long term.
Shopping, Or Not, At The Online Apple Store
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld
Given the positive buzz the online store's closing generates, and the minimal impact it has on Apple's customers and potential customers, I hope Apple doesn't change the practice. I for one will never tire of seeing the "We'll be back soon" sticky on their online store!
Microsoft Releases Office 2007 File Converter For Mac
by Brian Heater, PC Magazine
Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (Mac BU) made available today a download that will give Apple users the ability to work with Office 2007's new file formats.
Analysis: Apple's New MacBooks
by Tom Yager, InfoWorld
For upgrade appeal to existing MacBook uses, it's relatively low.
CIO Disillusioned With Windows PCs, Tests Macintosh Computers
by Shamus McGillicuddy, SearchCIO.com
Businesses looking to switch from Windows to Macs may have cultural changes to contend with as well.
Ulysses 1.5: Text Editor Is Aimed Solely At Creative Writers
by Kirk McElhearn, Macworld
It seems expensive when compared to similar programs available for the Mac. But Ulysses is a fine, mature program with a rich feature set.
Playfirst Releases Tasty Planty Game
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Microsoft Unveils Expression Media
by MacNN
Microsoft has unveiled Expression Media, a new professional asset management tool that works on Mac OS X systems to visually catalog and organize digital assets for retrieval and presentation.
May 15, 2007
Paul McCartney's Complete Catalog Coming To iTunes
by Peter Cohen, Playlist
Apple on Tuesday announced that Paul McCartney's complete music catalog will soon be available for purchase and download from the iTunes Store. iTunes users can start by pre-ordering McCartney's new album, "Memory Almost Full."
MacBooks Get Speed, RAM, Hard Drive Bumps Across The Board
by Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica
Apple bumped its MacBook line this morning all across the board with some relatively benign yet welcome changes. All processor speeds across the line have been bumped u, now to 2.0GHz, 2.16GHz, and 2.16GHz for white, white, and black respectively. Also updated was the base configuration of RAM across the board, from the usual (and paltry) 512MB to 1GB in every model.
Three Little Quibbles About The iPod
by Leander Kahney, Wired
It's a testament to the iPod's metiulous design that it took six years for these quibbles to bubble up. But here are three things that bug me about the iPod.
It's Now Safe To Splurge On Faster Wi-Fi Equipment
by Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle
The improved range alone is worth the investment.
Is My Blue iPod Giving Me The Blues?
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
"Every illness is a musical problem, and every cure has a musical solution," claims Novalis.
I just wonder if the random shuffling of tunes in my iPod affects my mood on a day-to-day basis.
(For instance, I'm just feeling a tad blue today.)
:-)
Mac Users Seek Alternative Software
by DPA
Some people love their Macs, but still seek music programs other than iTunes or browsers other than Safari. But the search can be long and hard.
I, for one, uses Firefox instead of Safari, simply because I can sync up the bookmarks between my work computer running Windows XP and my home computer running Mac OS X.
Boxing Vista
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Yes, I'll admit it. Like Robert, I too had problem opening up the Vista box. I more or less figured out that the box is supposed to opened out from the top and the right-hand-side, except that it couldn't be opened that way. Only after many minutes of frustration did I realize there is another tab/sticker holding the box in place on the right-hand side which I must first remove.
The only fortunate thing is that I managed to not break the box after the whole ordeal, unlike Robert.
Out Of The Box, Part 4
by Robert Hoekman, Jr
My first impression of the MacBook Pro was not only extremely functional, it was fun.
Compress Files 1.0
by Dan Frakes, Macworld
Apimac's Compress Files is a handy tool for those who frequently file-exchange with users of computers other than Macs. In addition to providing a dead-simple way to compress files in one of multiple formats, it's also the easiest way I've found to automatically remove the extraneous data when sending files to users of other operating systems.
Facing The Full Horror Of Windows Vista
by Angus Kidman, ITWire
So far, Transit has been using Vista Busienss full-time for a fortnight. And so far, we've found nothing that works better than in Windows XP, dozens of things that are annoyingly different without being a functional improvement, and several things that work at best intermittently and at worst not at all. On the whole, we wish we'd never moved.
The iPhone's On eBay Already
by Tom Krazit, CNET News.com
From iPhoto To Aperture
by Jim Heid, Macworld
Make the move to Apple's high-end photo program.
Nokia Says iPhone May Boost Pricier Phones
by Reuters
Nokia Oyj hopes Apple Inc.'s highly anticipated iPhone will boost consumer appetite for pricier mobile phones with features such as music and video, Nokia's chief financial officier said on Monday.
Hints Of Change
by Christopher Breen, Macworld
What was unusual about that coverage was that — for once — it didn't portray Apple's products as pretty but overpriced and Apple's customers as artsy-fartsy kooks.
Apple Takes The Bronze In Most Desirable Employer For Undergrads
by Dan Moren, MacUser
Apple is lookig pretty tasty to many a collegian.
Art Text From Belight
by Rick Curran, MacNN
This is a very easy utility to use. Let your creative mind go wild as you explore all of the possibilities.
May 14, 2007
Paul McCartney Comes To iTunes
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
AAPL Still On The Rise
by Jeff Gamet, Mac Observer
In Search Of The Real Fake Steve Jobs
by Peter Burrows, BusinessWeek
Since Secret Diary was started last year, the daily stream of such entries has made Fake Steve Jobs, or FSJ for short, required reading in Silicon Valley and beyond... FSJ has zealously guarded his (or her) identity since the blog was started. But now, as his popularity has soared, the guessing game over the author's true identity has grown almost as entertaining as The Secret Diary itself.
iTunes-Like Video Services Have No Future: Study
by Kenneth Li, Reuters
Online video sites that sell shows and movies such as Apple Inc.'s iTunes will likely peak this year as more programming is made available on free outlets supported by advertising, according to a study released on Monday.
A Nod To Journalistic Integrity Is Seen In An Editor's Return
by David S. Joachim, New York Times
It was a hero's homecoming for Mr. McCracken, who was praised on the PCWorld.com message boards and in the blogosphere for sacrificing himself in the name of journalistic integrity.
iPods Play A Part In Choreographer's New Work
by Laura Bleiberg, Orange County Register
Choreographer Merce Cunningham's new work has the audience listening to iPods.
May 13, 2007
Amazon Link: The Sound Of Colors: A Journey Of The Imagination
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
You can help support MyAppleMenu's hosting costs by buying from Amazon.com.
This week, let's continue ton the theme of books that my 5-year-old daughter loves. The Sound of Colors: A Journey of the Imagination
We explore the imagination from within a recent-blinded girl through beautiful words and pictures. My daughter is curious about all the imagery and possibilities presented in the book.
School Library Journal [Readers] will rejoice in [the girl's] independence and imagination, considering what is real and what is possible. Liao's watercolor illustrations invite readers to take time, slow down, and pore over the details.
I will recommend this book even if you don't have a child to read this story with.
My New iMac
by Zichi Lorentz
What WIll Steve Jobs Kill Next?
by Robert Scoble, Scobleizer
What feature will Steve Jobs kill next? How about you, which feature are you getting rid off to make your product/service/store/business simpler?
999 To 1 = Tie
by Robert Scoble, Scobleizer
Apple is so good now that Jobs is back. He was the tie breaker.
May 12, 2007
T-Mobile Looks Set To Win Euro Distribution Rights For The iPhone
by MarketingWeek
T-Mobile has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to secure the exclusive European distribution rights for Apple's much-anticipated iPhone. The hotly contested contract will be worth millions of pounds to the winning operator.
Maximum Pleasure From Apple Mini
by Linda Knapp, Seattle Times
Analysts Don't See Beatles As Big Cash Cow For iTunes
by Ben Charny, MarketWatch
Despite signs that Apple may land a historic deal with The Beatles to make the band's entire catalog of music available on its iTunes store, analysts say such a move would be a "noevent" in terms of the company's profits.
Music Man
by Rick Curran and Ilene Hoffman, MacNN
This program does a tremendous amount of work for not a lot of money. It is easy to use and the instructios that come with the package are very easy to understand. If you need to convert sound fles, it is likely that Music Man can do it.
May 11, 2007
Salling Clicker V3.5 Brings New Front Row Controls, Device Support And Much More
by David Chartier, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
At the top of the feature list is support for Front Row, potentially eliminating the need to pack an Apple Remote when venturing out.
Wall Street Beat: Apple Up In Down Market
by Marc Ferranti, IDG News Service
Bogus DMCA Threats As A Marketing Strategy
by Techdirt
We've seen all sorts of misuses of the DMCA over the years, but this one probably wins the contest, hands down.
Apple Fixes Flaws In Darwin Streaming Server
by MacNN
Apple ahs released a security update to its Darwin Streaming Server, its open source project. DSS 5.5.5 fixes to security flaws, including one where a remote attacker may be able to cause an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
Cybercrooks Add QuickTime, WinZip Flaws To Arsenal
by Joris Evers, CNET News.com
Cybercrooks are trying to breach PCs through previously unexpoited security holes in QuickTime and WinZip, security firm Symantec warned on Thursday.
iPods Can Make Pacemakers Malfunction: Study
by Debra Sherman, Reuters
iPods can cause cardiac implantable pacemakers to malfunctio by interfering with the electromagnetic equipment monitoring the heart, according to a study presented by a 17-year-old high school student to a meeting of heart specialists on Thursday.
iPod, iTunes Cited In New Legal Filing Against Apple
by Peter Cohen, Playlist
Media Rights Technologies (MRT), developers of technology that prevents users from ripping digital media streams, has filed a Cease and Desist letter against Apple and other companies. The organization claims that Apple and others are responsible for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and intellectual property law.
Notes From Apple Shareholder Meeting
by MacNN
Apple today revealed at its annual shareholder meeting that its iPhone is on track to ship in June as planned, and hinted at iTunes video rentals at an unknown future date, according to Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster.
See Also: Jobs Addresses Backdating, Environment At Shareholder Meeting, by Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.
Contribute CS3: Web Page Editor Goes Universal, Integrates With Other CS3 Programs
by Tom Negrino, Macworld
Contribute CS3 is an appealing and justifiable upgrade for users of Contribute 3 or earlier versions, especially if you want to run the program on an Intel-based Mac. In many ways, Contribute CS3 is the upgrade that Contribute 4 should have been, especially in terms of Intel compatibility.
iPhone Support Team To Be California Based
by Jeff Gamet, iPod Observer
Thanks to information in an iPhone "personal trainers" job listing, it appears that Apple is looking to staff its iPhone support team in Elk Grove.
Finder Fu: Force An Application To Open Your Document
by Erica Sadun, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
By holding Command+Option while dragging, you tell OS X applications to open files regardless whether they "support" that file type.
May 10, 2007
iTunes Income Substantial For Music Partners
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Classic Choice For The iPod Generation
by Norman Lebrecht, La Scena Musicale
iTunes remains unfriendly to classical users.
The Elite Circle Of $1 CEOs
by Moria Herbst, BusinessWeek
Apple's Steve Jobs and Google's Eric Schmidt are just two of the CEOs who work for a buck. Why do top executives give up their salaries?
Wicked-Cool Apple Gaming Wednesday
by Justin Berka, Ars Technica
Apple Ships Pro Application Support
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Latest update for Apple's Final Cut and Logic applications available now.
Top 5 Objective Tips For Mac Switchers
by myMacBUZZ
Get involved with the community and culture.
What Upgraded Centrino Chipsets Mean For The Mac
by Jonathan Seff and Philip Michaels, Macworld
How much of a performance difference Macs users will see from the Core 2 Duo processors in today’s MacBooks and MacBook Pro's may be less dramatic. And the 802.11n wireless component to the Centrino platform is something Apple already has in place. Better power efficiency, however, should translate to better battery life in many situations.
PC World Brings Editor Back, Removes CEO
by Dylan Tweney, Wired
In a surprise reversal, IDG management removed Colin Crawford as PC World's CEO and reinstated Harry McCracken as editor in chief, after a dispute over a canceled Appel story led McCracken to quit.
See Also:
Returning Hero: Harry McCracken, by ValleyWag. This three-step publicity plan would be artful, were there not a simpler explanation.
Editor In Chief Harry McCracken Returns To PCW, by Ramon G. McLeod, PCWorld.com. McCracken tendered his resignation on April 30 after Crawford refused to allo wpublication of a story entitled "10 Things We Hate About Apple." McCracken said that the story was killed (it is now running on PCWorld.com) because of Crawford's concerns about the impact it would have on Apple advertising. Crawford denied that was the reason for killing the story, but has since apologized to the editorial staff for the decision.
Disney: iTunes Movie Sales Prove Potency Of Format, Pricing
by Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica
Quicksnap By Fastforward
by Rick Curran and Ilene Hoffman, MacNN
QuickSnap offers two advantages, because you set up the file format before you take your screen shot and you can screen shot DVDs. It is significantly cheaper than Ambrosia Software's Snapz Pro X, but it doesn't have a tenth the features either.
Stock Options An Issue At Apple's Annual Meeting
by Rex Crum, MarketWatch
As Apple Inc. convenes its annual shareholders' meeting Thursday, a brewing scandal over the backdating of stock options could mar what otherwise should be a celebration of the best year ever for the maker of PCs and consumer electronic devices.
May 9, 2007
Disney Sells 23.7M TV Show, 2M Movies Via iTunes
by AppleInsider
Thus Far, iTunes and Disney have combined to sell around 23.7 million TV episodes and 2 million movies.
The Secret Of Apple Design
by Daniel Turner, MIT Technology Review
The inside (sort of) story of why Apple's industrial-design machine has been so successful.
Hello Again, Windows
by Graceful Flavor
My problem with Cubrilovic's story isn't his story itself, but rather some of the uppity, told-you-so responses that are out there, most flowing from biased sources who pretend to be objective.
Vista Team Heads Off iPod Corruption With Update
by Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica
The Windows Vista team has been working closely with Apple to "ensure a great experience in using Windows Vista with iTunes and the iPod." At least that's according to Nick White of the Windows Vista Team Bog. Why is he telling us this? Because the Vista Team has published an update for iPod-toting Vista users. The final one, that is.
Thoughts On Apple TV
by John Carroll, ZDNet
Considering Apple's DNA, where does Apple TV fit? Living room electronics don't really play to Apple's strengths.
One More Thing...
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
"Let's roll." "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" "You can't handle the truth!"
Probably to fill pages, USA Today has a list of the 25 most memorable quotes.
And over at item #17 is one from our favorite fruit company: "One more thing."
(via Digg)
Wanted: Apple Mail Mini Player
by Derek Powazek
Apple's Mail app is probably the single most-used application I have. And it's bulky.
Apple Execs Confident iPhone Will Ship On Time And In Volume
by Prince McLean and Kasper Jade, AppleInsider
Investment banking analysts for UBS just returned from a meeting in Cupertino with members of Apple's executive team, who were described as being "confident" about their company's strategy and "very upbeat" about the prospect for new products.
Mac Office 2004 V11.3.5 Addresses Security
by MacNN
A Shopping Experience Like No Other
by Bob LeVitus, Houston Chronicle
Fireworks CS3: New CS3 Family Member Makes Designing Web Sites Easier Than Ever
by Cyndy Cashman, Macworld
The new Pages panel, improved integration with other Adobe CS3 products, and the addition of intelligent scaling are reasons enough to upgrade. The ability to create slide shows, create custom colors, and use Photoshop effects are just icing on the cake.
Lineform 1.3: Reasonably Priced Drawing Program Fills Niche For Non-Professionals
by David Karlins, Macworld
If you're looking for an easy-to-use, affordable vector drawing package that can create EPS and PDF files, it's hard to imagine a better deal than Lineform 1.3.2. If you need to collaborate on projects with illustration professionals, you'll need the more robust set of tools that come with Adobe Illustrator.
Mystery Of Shark Island: Addictive Puzzle Game Offers A Day At The Beach For Gamers
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Mystery of Shark Island has a couple of flaws that make the game more frustrating than challenging, but it's a very addictive game that will test your visual acuity and make you feel like you've spent the day at the beach.
May 8, 2007
Roxio Crunches Video For Apple TV, iPod, iPhone
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Roxio on Tuesday introduced Crunch, a new $39.99 application designed especially for users of the Apple TV, video iPod or the forthcoming iPhone who want to convert video optimized for those devices but don't want to burn that content to disc.
Vista Slammed In Latest 'Get A Mac' Ads
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Consumer confusion and a lacklustre launch feature in latest 'Get a Mac' US exhortations.
Apple Confirms Exeter Retail Store Plan
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
Week Three: New Media Family
by Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC News
The year 2007 is shaping up to be the year of a new media revolution — and one family in Gloucestershire, UK, is at the cutting edge.
Memo To Apple: Please Keep The Honor System
by Gene Steinberg, Mac Night Owl
Audio Menus For iPods
by Kate Greene, MIT Technology Review
Researchers are testing ways to let people listen to gadget menu options instead of looking at them.
Mac Share Of Surfers Doubles In 8 Months
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
The portion of people surfing the web using a Mac has doubled in the past eight months, an internet metrics analyst said today, and represents an audience that can't beignored by web application developers.
Service With A Customizable Smile
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
It's still a fantastic deal; you'd be crazy not to take advantage of it, if you can.
Ambrosia To Publish Mac Version Of Aquaria Game
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Ambrosia Software on Monday announced plans to publish a Macintosh version of Aquaria. The game was the winner of the grand prize award at this year's Independent Game Festival, part of the Game Developers Conference.
Flash CS3 Professional: Remarkable Integration With Adobe's CS3 Family And Powerful Design Tools For Mobile Devices
by David Karlins, Macworld
Flash CS3 Professional includes dramatic new features for designes, particularly its integration with Illustrator CS3.
May 7, 2007
Different
by Daniel Turner, MIT Technology Review
Inside (sort of) Apple's industrial-design machine.
The 'Hate' And 'Love' Apple Stories
by Ramon G. McLeod, PC World
Two little lists generated more than their fair share of controversy.
10 Things We Love About Apple
by Narasu Rebbapragada and Alan Stafford, PC World
Great design, a polished OS, a way to run Windows, and a faker's blog are just a few of our favorite things.
10 Things We Hate About Apple
by Narasu Rebbapragada and Alan Stafford, PC World
It's high time we unloaded on the high-and-mighty Mac maker.
Apple Airs New "Get A Mac" TV Ad
by MacNN
Ten Things We Still Love About Tiger
by Michael Rose, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
With all the focus on 10.5, it seems to me that we've lost sight of all the wonderful things about our current main squeeze... so here goes: the top ten things we still love about Tiger.
Critical Mass
by Ken Auletta, New Yorker
Everyone listens to Walter Mossberg.
Art & Commerce: Leaders Of The Pack
by Scott Mires, Adweek
What do Steve Jobs, the visionary CEO of Aple, and Oprah Winfrey, the lovable force behind Harpo Inc., have in common? They are both leaders that personify their brands — and do it so aptly that they've elevated their brands to near cult status?
The "New" Apple
by Simson Garfinkel, MIT Technology Review
Peel off the skin and Apple emerges as a computer company that's tried and true. Yes, Apple has the world's largest online music store. Yes, Apple has more than 170 trick-and-mortar stores around the world, which sells a lot more than just laptops. But a deep commitment to computing is what holds this empire together.
See Also: The Apple I, by Daniel Turner, MIT Technology Review. A look at Steve Wozniak's mother of all Apple motherboards.
Why Is Vertical Integration Working Today?
by Information Arbitrage
"I am both a Mac and Wii owner, so clearly I see the advantages of both platforms, but I have a hard time explaining why these strategies work so well on a macro level. Why was the fully integrated strategy such a failure in the 80's and 90's but so dominant today?
Apple, Labels Focus On Copy Protection
by Alex Veiga, Associated Press
As a new round of talks ramp up this month, Jobs has opened the door to higher prices — as long as music companies let Apple sell their songs without technology designed to stop unauthorized copying.
May 6, 2007
The Laptop Is My Life
by Thomas Pardee, Modesto Bee
As a poverty stricken college student with an insatiable thirst for media, I have learned that I have no better friend on this earth than my laptop.
Regarding Harry McCracken's Departure From PC World
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
May 5, 2007
Developers Can't Target iPhone?
by Tom Yager, InfoWorld
Open is just how phones are done, and not just smart phones.
Microsoft + Yahoo = iPhone E-Mail Trouble?
by Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge
May 4, 2007
Danish Consumer Agency Finds Design Flaw In Apple iBook
by Peter Sayer, IDG News Service
The Danish Consumer Complaints Board has published evidence of a manufacturing defect resulting in power failures in some of Apple's iBook G4 notebook computers. The board has already ordered the company to refund one Danish customer, and expects its findings to influence cases elsewhere, a spokesman said on Friday.
Mighty Mouse Must Die!
by Aaron Wright, Apple Matters
The Might Mouse I proudly purchased back in September 2005 is giving me more grief than an ingrown toenail (never had one but I assume it's unpleasant), and even after having it replaced by Apple it still gives me grief.
Are iPod-Banning Schools Cheating Our Kids?
by Mike Elgan, Computerworld
By banning iPods, we're preparing our kids for a world without the internet, a world without iPods, a world without electronic gadgets that can store information. But is that the world they're going to live in?
A Tale Of Two Tools
by James Duncan Davidson, O'Reilly Digital Media Blog
Even thought there are features in Aperture, such as stacks, that are executed much better, Lightroom had become my primary workflow tool.
Jackass Of The Week: Creative CEO Sim Wong Hoo
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
Apple's Steve Jobs Was Top Paid CEO: $647M
by MacNN
The PR Behind A Greener Apple
by Clean PR
Apple has opened a door. Let's see what comes through it next.
Confessions Of A Mac Genius
by Chris Williams, PopSyndicate.com
Busted machines, broken iPods, and crabby customers are just part of the job. Making it look easy is the other part.
PC World Editor Quits Over Censorship Of An Apple Story
by Jack Schofield, The Guardian
Whether or not that's the case, it's impossible to imagine a similar dispute about an article called, say, Ten Things We Hate About Microsoft. However, Apple's media coverage often seems to lean towards the sycophantic side, whether it's because of doing exclusive deals with Apple, its advertising clout, or simply because so many publications are run on Macs.
Apple Senior VP Exercises Options
by Associated Press
Study: Mac Users Generate More Web Content Than Others, Are Better Friends
by Nicholas Deleon, CrunchGear
Focus In Apple's Options Scandal Shifts To Its Board
by Jessica Guynn, San Francisco Chronicle
Apple Inc.'s board of directors, a star-studded group that features the likes of former vice president Al Gore and Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt, is coming under fire for its handling of backdated stock options at the famed computer-maker, including those handed out to its chief executive, Steve Jobs.
Cave Days: Platform Game Offers Cute Graphics And Retro-Fun
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Cute graphics, pleasant soundtrack, but ultimately unchallenging for experienced gamers.
Sun Microsystems Joins Porting Effort For Openoffice.org For Mac
by Philipp Lohmann, Sun
Maggie The Gardener 2 Casual Game Released
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Maggie the Gardener 2 doesn't have any specific goals or missions to complete; it's an open-ended "sandbox" style game where the goal is simply to craft a beautiful garden that you're proud of.
May 3, 2007
Amazon: Got To Dance
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
After a few years of absense, I'm bringing back links to the Amazon store, where you can buy books (and many other things), and I got to get paid for a few dollars towards the web hosting bill for this web site.
So, for the month of May 07, I'm going to feature books that my daughter loves. (For your reference, my daughter will be 5 this year.)
First up, it's Got to Dance
School Library Journal: "This joyful book presents a high-energy portrait of a young girl. With her mother at work and her brother at camp, she has "nothing to do" and a case of "the sumertime blues" that can only be cured by dancing.
Booklist: The energy of the words is reinforced both by a swooping type design and Nakata's spontaneous watercolors.
Enjoy!
PC World Editor Quits Over Apple Story
by Kim Zetter, Wired
Colleagues at my former outlet, PC World magazine, have told me that editor-in-chief Harry McCracken quit abruptly today because the company's new CEO, Colin Crawford, tried to kill a story about Apple and Steve Jobs.
Gasp! A Less Than Bullish Apple Analyst?
by Arik Hesseldahl, BusinessWeek
Citigroup's Richard Gardner is pulling back from Apple. Here's why, and why he might just be right.
What Apple Teaches Us
by Joe Wikert
Apple is being rewarded handsomely because they choose to break out of that narrorw-mind mode and take a bigger picture look at what really shapes the overall industry.
Ballmer Says iPhone Won't Succeed. Has Windows Mobile?
by Eric Zeman, InformationWeek
In the 5 years that Windows Mobile has been around, it has barely cracked 0.6% of all mobile phone sales. Ballmer has a long, long way to go to reach his target of 60%.
Translation From PR-Speak To English Of Selected Portions Of Steve Jobs' "A Greener Apple" Article
by Waffle
Dear Greenpeace,
Fuck you.
Love,
Steve.
iPod Most Owned Acessory Of College
by Eric Heisig, Daily Vidette
A Greener Apple
by Steve Jobs, Apple
I'd like to tell you what we are doing to remove toxic chemicals from our new products, and to more aggressively recycle our old products.
See Also:
Apple To Launch Global iPod Recycling Scheme This Summer, by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK.
Apple To Ship Macs With Backlid LCD, by MacNN.
Greenpeace Responds To Apple's Environmental Plans, by Jim Dalrymple, Macworld: Greenpeace seems pleased with the steps Apple has comitted to taking, raising the company's ranking from a 2.7 to a five out of 10.
May 2, 2007
Apple Introduces ProCare, One To One, And Personal Shopping
by Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica
Following the rumor earlier this week taht Apple's ProCare service might be splitinto two parts, Apple updated its retail site to reflect the changes.
Mathematica 6 Emerges 'Reinvented'
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Wolfram Research has announced the release of Mathematica 6, a major new version of their technical computing software for Mac OS X and other platforms.
The language and interface has been unified to improve the software's automation of algorithmic computation, interactive manipulation and dynamic presentation.
BYOBD Reloaded
by Singapore Life And Times
Nowadays, whenever my mother goes to the supermarkets on the first Wednesday of the month, she must have a deja vu feeling.
Ratatouille Is Almost Here
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Kottke: There's no permalink, but if you go to the Disney home page, they're playing 9 minutes of Ratatouille, the new Pixar movie.
Well-Built With Macs
by Dustin Driver, Apple
"Apple products have allowed me to clear my mind of operating systems and organizing files, opening documents, manipulating installations and upgrading to newer hardware. It just works, which lets me do my work."
InCopy CS3: Expanded Workgroup Collaboration Highlights This Minor Upgrade
by Galen Gruman, Macworld
SlingPlayer 1.0 Gets Mac OS Right
by Jason Snell, Macworld
I've really enjoyed using my Slingbox, and the final version of the Mac player is a pleasure to use.
Coda Plays Web Developers A New Tune
by Joe Kissell, TidBITS
The question for me — and, I suspect, for other web developers of my ilk — is whether the integration benefits of Coda, minus its missing features, are worth $80. If I didn't alrady have BBEdit and Transmit, it would be a no-brainer: absolutely yes. But since I already have powerful tools that work well, the decision is less clear.
Software Update Updating Software It Shouldn't Be Updating
by Rogue Amoeba
Software Update is telling me it has a new version of Backup, because it's found an application called Backup in my Applications folder.
The iPhone's Funny Price
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
Don't compare it to other smartphones, which, yes, nearly all cost less than $499 when purchased with a plan. Compare it insgtead to the prices of the iPod.
Apple Slapped With iTunes Customization Lawsuit
by Aidan Malley, AppleInsider
A new lawsuit is charging Apple's iTunes Store, and almost everything it touches, with overstepping the boundaries of a smaller firm's patents.
Workflow Madness
by Micah Walter, O'Reilly Digital Media Blog
I have been using Aperture since it was first released, and I never looked back. The whole experience has really made me wonder how many photographers are still out there using the Finder to organize their massive photo libraries. It's sort of a scary thought!
AirPort Extreme Updated For Intel Macs
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
QuickTime Update Patches Java Flaw
by Peter Cohen, Macworld
Apple on Tuesday offered QuickTime 7.1.6, an update to its core multimedia software for Mac OS X and Windows. Among the issues adjusted in this release is a fix for an exploit in QuickTime for Java that first came to light at a security conference two weeks ago.
Apple Releases Security Update 2007-004. Again.
by Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica
The update actually carries all of the fixes from the original 2007-004 update, but with a few fixes to the stuff that was installed in that update.
Apple Granted Five Design Patents
by MacNN
Apple has won five design patents for its iMac, black as well as white video iPods, iPod nano, and iPod armband.
MS Demos Silverlight On Macs At Mix07
by MacNN
Silverlight, which is Microsoft's forthcoming software for advanced browser-based multimedia contenst, is set to compete with Adobe's Flash technology which already dominates the web.
May 1, 2007
Why I Made The Switch
by Big Mango
iPods Have Hearts Aflutter
by Lissa Christopher, The Age
As the rest of us have been listening to Regurgitator and the Scissor Sisters on our iPods, doctors and medical students in the United States have been tuning in to aortic regurgitation and mitral stenosis on theirs.
Mac Security Concerns Grow
by ZDNet Australia
The release of Apple's latest security patches proves conclusively that there's no such thing as an operating system impervious to security risks, especially when it comes to malware.
Why Steve Jobs Will Never Offer Music Subscriptions
by Leander Kahney, Wired
A lot of people tell the same story. Even die-hard fans of subscription services don't use them for music discovery.
See Also: I Couldn't Disagree More, by BijanBlog.
Steve Jobs To Kick Off WWDC In June
by MacMinute
Apple today announced that CEO Steve Jobs will kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference with a keynote address.
Will DRM-Free Music Threaten iTunes?
by David Haskin, Computerworld
So far, Apple has been able to dominate the online music market, but with CRM fading away, the field could be wide open for new competitors.
Chronos LC Ships iScrapbook
by John Martellaro, Mac Observer
The Ultimate Home Office
by Christopher Breen, Macworld
Whether your budget is big or small, we've got the perfect Mac setup for you.
