Steve Jobs and Apple Execs Cleared of any Wrongdoing: "An internal investigation at Apple has cleared Steve Jobs and other Apple execs of any misconduct regarding stock-option grants. News has sent the stock up 4% in pre-market trading."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Report: Apple executives faked stock option documents: "Apple's probe into its stock options backdating mess has determined that documents were falsified, according to report."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Have you yet tired Aperture? I'm really beginning to enjoy the workflow and adjustment tools. If you're a serious photographer (or serious hobbyist like me) it's definitely worth a look. -TG
Filed under: Software, Apple Professional
Aperture is Apple's tool designed for professional photographers who take lots and lots of pictures. As such, handling metadata is an important part of any workflow involving Aperture. James Duncan Davidson has some tricks to help you get the metadata you need into Aperture as quickly as possible. I'm sure this will save someone some time out there.technorati tags:Aperture, Photography, Apple
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While MacBooks and iPods have already been unwrapped the world over during this holiday season, retailers are also taking the wraps off some of their own presents in the form of sales numbers. In a press release containing interesting holiday sales trivia and a hot sellers list for all of their many departments, Amazon announced the 13-inch MacBook (in both white and black) and 15.4-inch Sony VAIO notebook as the top sellers in the PC aisle. Interesting - maybe some of that 'non-PC PC' marketing paid off after all.technorati tags:Apple, Macintosh, MacBook
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Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple Financial, Bad Apple, Apple
We have written about the Apple stock options story before, but things just keep getting worse. The Associated Press is reporting that former Apple execs forged documents in order to maximize options payouts. The article also goes on to say that Steve Jobs has retained his own legal counsel, apart from Apple's, which is never a good sign (though I would retain my own legal counsel if I were involved in something of this nature).Filed under: Switchers
There are switchers, and then there are Switchers. Robyn Peterson, executive product director/executive producer at Ziff Davis, is a capital-S-Switcher; when the guy who's responsible for PCMag.com jumps the tracks to a Mac, there's a serious movement afoot.technorati tags:Macintosh, Switcher, Apple
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Filed under: iPod Family, iTS, iTunes
AppleInsider reports that not only did iTunes get swamped yesterday (as expected), but visits to Apple.com/iTunes, presumably to download software, were up by four hundred percent over last year's Christmas rush. Think about that. Apparently a gadzillion people got new iPods this year, and a good number of them clicked over to Apple.The article goes on to say that visits to the Apple iTunes webpage outnumbered visits to Zune.net by about thirty-to-one. Given that iPods presumably outsold Zunes by a far heftier margin, I'm guessing that the Zune.net visits had something to do with technical support by confused new owners, but I have no evidence whatsoever to back up that guess.
I"ve never used their stuff, but they get Rave reviews, and I really like the concept. Give 'em a look. -TG
Belkin, Freeverse, Macally, RadTech, Shinywhitebox, Prosoft Engineering, and TypeIt4Me are teaming up with TeachMac for the "Everyone Wins with TeachMac Giveaway and Contest," which culminates during Macworld Conference and Expo in San Francisco in January...
technorati tags:Macintosh, Apple, Training
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I LOVE the quote on Apple's site telling the user what to do if they don't know which generation Shuflle they own. If a person doesn't alread know that, they probably shouldn't be using this utility! -TG
Apple has released iPod shuffle Reset Utility 1.0.1, which restores the first generation iPod shuffle...
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BeLight Software releases Art Text: "BeLight Software today announced the release of Art Text, a new application to create high-quality headings, logos, icons, banners and more..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Griffin announces Elevator laptop stand: "Griffin Technology today introduced the Elevator desktop stand for portable computers..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Frustrated Windows users eye Apple's Mac: "...the average user doesn't even think about Microsoft; he or she just fires up the PC and gets to work or play. But that may be changing. Increasingly, I'm hearing real discontent from the masses about Windows, and it doesn't have much to do monopolistic practices, ripping off ideas or a lack of innovation"
(Via diggdot.us.)
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.2 Update released: "Microsoft today released Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.2 Update..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Apple posts Security Update 2006-008: "Apple today released Security Update 2006-008 via its Software Update pane and on the Web..."
(Via MacMinute.)
“Zune doesn’t shake iPod’s market lead”: "Troy Wolverton reports for the San Jose Mercury News, ‘Microsoft’s Zune had a decent debut last month, but Apple Computer’s iPods continued to dominate the MP3 market, according to new data from market research firm NPD Group released this week.’"
(Via Apple Hot News.)
First Look: Photoshop CS3 Beta: "What do you get when you load the first-ever Intel native build of Photoshop CS3 onto a quad-core Xeon Mac? One stupid-fast photo editing workstation. See the new features of Adobe's latest beta in this screenshot gallery."
(Via Wired News: Top Stories.)
Ugly Photoshop CS3 icon replacement for OS X dock: "New Photoshop CS3 Beta icon is ugly medicine-branding-like blue rectangle. Grab the nice replacement..."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Apple to restate financials: "A report on MarketWatch today notes that Apple has said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it was unable to file its Form 10-K by the required filing date of December 14th..."
(Via MacMinute.)
It's about time! -TG
Griffin announces 5-in-1 card reader for ExpressCard slot: "Griffin Technology today announced its new versatile multimedia card reader for notebooks..."
(Via MacMinute.)
DLO debuts two new products for the iPod shuffle: "Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today announced two new products designed specifically for the iPod shuffle: the DLO Power Bug AC power adapter and dock cable, and the DLO Action Jacket workout armband and case..."
(Via MacMinute.)
AirPort Update 2006-002 for MacBooks released: "Apple has released AirPort Update 2006-002..."
(Via MacMinute.)
New Photoshop CS2 for Beginners online class launched: "The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) today announced the release of Photoshop CS2 for Beginners, a 21-day online training course on www.photoshoptraining.com..."
(Via MacMinute.)
iPod once again to be Top Selling 'Most Wanted' Holiday Gadget: "8% of those polled expected to buy one of Apple iPod digital music players this holiday shopping season, with only 3% planning to buy a Nitendo Wii or Sony PlayStation 3, while just 2% have their sights set on Microsoft's Xbox 360. The findings suggest that for a second straight year, the iPod will be the top selling 'must have' holiday gadget"
(Via diggdot.us.)
HP getting a little worried: "MacBooks show up at HP meetings and their executives kind of freak out."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Forbes: 'Vista boss Jim Allchin said he would buy a Mac': "According to a report on Forbes today, a January 2004 email to Microsoft's Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, Vista boss Jim Allchin said he would buy a Mac if he wasn't working at Microsoft..."
(Via MacMinute.)
The Omni Group announces OmniPlan planning app: "The Omni Group today announced the 1.0 release of their new project management application, OmniPlan, a program designed to help you create logical, manageable project planning documents..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Apple releases Aperture 1.5.2 Update: "Apple has released Aperture 1.2.5 Update, the latest version of the company's all-in-one post-production tool for serious photographers..."
(Via MacMinute.)
7 Essential Front Row tips: "7 ways to get a little more out of Apple's Front Row."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Apple marketshare up 31%, browsershare up 45%...Everything Looking Up: "Apple's marketshare and browsershare have been marching upwards over the last several years, and this is no exception, a strong indication of Apple's strength as a brand as its turning around of its historically very niche and marginal portion of the market"
(Via diggdot.us.)
Microsoft drops VBA in Mac Office 2007: "slashdotwriter writes 'Macworld features an article stating that the next version of Office for the Mac will not include Visual Basic scripting. From the article: 'Microsoft Office isn't among the apps that will run natively on Intel-based Macs-- and it won't be until the latter half of 2007, according to media reports. But when it does ship, Office will apparently be missing a feature so vital to cross-platform compatibility that I believe it will be the beginning of the end for the Mac version of the productivity suite...''
(Via diggdot.us.)
Creammonkey = Greasemonkey For Safari: "Creammonkey is an open-source sourceforge project that aims to bring the power of Firefox's Greasemonkey extension to Safari."
(Via diggdot.us.)
The iTunes playlist app, Tangerine 1.0 released: "The iTunes plug-in that automatically creates playlists for you according to the tempo of songs in your library has reached 1.0. Tangerine 1.0 is now available for download!"
(Via diggdot.us.)
Cha-Ching personal accounting software updated: "Cha-Ching, a personal accounting/budgeting software package has been updated..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Adobe announces availability of Adobe Reader 8: "Adobe Systems has announced that Adobe Reader 8 software is available as a free download..."
(Via MacMinute.)
“A Windows expert opts for a Mac life”: "Scott Finnie writes for Computerworld, ‘If I decide to go back to Windows when this Mac trial is over, returning to my ThinkPad T60 Core Duo may be a very difficult move. I’ve settled into the MacBook Pro 17 [inch] and Mac OS X 10.4.8 as if I was born to them. If the Mac OS doesn’t mesmerize me to the point that I lose all interest in Windows, this piece of hardware might just do that all on its own.’"
(Via Apple Hot News.)
The Apple phone flop: "CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos says Apple should think again if it believes it can make a phone to match iPod's success."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Bare Bones releases BBEdit 8.5.2: "Bare Bones Software today announced the release of BBEdit 8.5.2, the latest version of its award-winning HTML and text editor for the Macintosh..."(Via MacMinute.)
Alsoft releases DiskWarrior 4 as Universal Binary: "Alsoft today released DiskWarrior 4, the latest version of its hard drive utility for Mac OS X..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Parallels Desktop for Mac adds Boot Camp support: "Posted by Dennis Sellers
Parallels has released a new beta of Parallels Desktop for Mac, a solution for running PC operating systems at the same time as Mac OS X (without re-booting) on Mactel systems. The update adds support for booting Windows XP on a Boot Camp partition directly in Parallels Desktop. It also...
(Via Macsimum News.)
Ancient Greek Computer's Inner Workings Deciphered: "Scientists have pieced together how a 2,000-year-old astronomical calculator was built, revealing an astounding level of craftsmanship for its time."
(Via National Geographic News.)
Apple files for patent on zirconia iPhone: "Apparently, zirconia is a good material for any small device that needs to transmit radio frequency signals. From Crave, CNET's gadget blog."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Nike+ IPod = Surveillance: "The new Nike+ iPod Sport Kit provides a wireless link between your running shoes and your music player. Researchers demonstrate how stalkers and unscrupulous marketers could tap into your sneakers from afar. By Annalee Newitz."
(Via Wired News: Top Stories.)
Ancient Astronomical Computer Decoded: "slimjim8094 writes 'A mechanical device from 150BC was found in a shipwreck. Upon examination with X-Rays, the device appeared to be a revolutionary computer used to calculate lunar cycles. This device 'is technically more complex than any known for at least a millennium afterward.' From the article 'The hand-operated mechanism, presumably used in preparing calendars for planting and harvesting and fixing religious festivals, had at least 30, possibly 37, hand-cut bronze gear-wheels, the researchers said. A pin-and-slot device connecting two gear-wheels induced variations in the representation of lunar motions according to the Hipparchos model of the Moon's elliptical orbit around Earth.'
(Via diggdot.us.)
Griffin iTalk Pro now shipping: "Griffin Technology today announced that its new iTalk Pro has shipped to stores..."
(Via MacMinute.)
MacGPS Pro 7 adds printing, graphing of elevation data: "MacGPS Pro 7.0 is the latest version of the program for communicating with Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers..."
(Via MacMinute.)
MYOB announces AccountEdge 2007: "MYOB today announced the release of MYOB AccountEdge 2007, their popular small business management and accounting application for Mac small businesses..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Disney’s Toontown Online for Mac now available: "Disney Online today announced the availability of Disney’s Toontown Online for Macintosh, plus the addition of new ‘gags’ to keep players on their toon-toes..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Apple releases Security Update 2006-007: "Apple today released Security Update 2006-007 via its Software Update utility and on the Web..."
(Via MacMinute.)
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Click on the iTunes music store and punch in "Beatles" under artist search. More than 50 albums will pop up, including Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Play the Beatles, but none are the real deal. Fans wishing to download the actual Fab Four in MP3 format have to search peer-to-peer sites like Limewire for unlicensed songs they can listen to free.Britain to Allow Car Transmitters: "The Brits finally move to let people use personal FM transmitters such as the Griffin iTrip to connect their iPods to car stereos. Plus: Zune Hack: Trade Any File, Quick In Listening Post."
(Via Wired News: Top Stories.)
The Soul of A New Microsoft: "BusinessWeek Online is running a front page story today about the new future of Microsoft. By 'looking beyond Windows', the company is utilizing fresh blood to come up with new products like the Zune, the Xbox 360, and various online sites. While the Zune probably isn't getting off to as successful a start as they might have liked, the article argues it's a positive sign that they're at least making the attempt. From the article: 'The point is that Microsoft needs to find its un-Vista. Several of them, in fact. The software giant is entering perhaps the greatest upheaval in its 30-year history. New business models are emerging--from low-cost 'open-source' software to advertising-supported Web services--that threaten Microsoft's core business like never before. For investors to care about the company, it needs to find new growth markets. Its $44.3 billion in annual sales are puttering along at an 11% growth pace. Its shares, which soared 9,560% throughout the 1990s, sunk 63% in 2000 when the Internet bubble burst, and they have yet to fully recover.'
(Via diggdot.us.)
Zune "is a Complete, Humiliating Failure.": "The Chicago Sun-Times does not like the Zune. At all. 'Do you honestly want morons like this to have power over your music player? Then go ahead and buy a Zune. You'll find that the Zune Planet orbits the music industry's Bizarro World, where users aren't allowed to do anything that isn't in the industry's direct interests.'"
(Via diggdot.us.)
10 OS X Apps You Might Not Know About But Should: "Here are 10 OS X apps that you might not know about but probably should. With literally thousands of apps out there begging for your attention, this article should help weed through some of the clutter."
(Via diggdot.us.)
If I weren't completely bedeviled with Apple's portables (I use both a MacBook and a MacBook Pro) I would a Mac Pro user. Richard Hoffman, writing for InformationWeek, has had his hands on a Mac Pro for 2 weeks and has one word to describe it: 'Wow.'technorati tags:Apple, Macintosh, MacPro
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Filed under: Software, Widgets
I love the Weather Channel. There, I said it. I have a slight obession about the weather (though oddly enough I often do not wear weather appropriate clothing) and the Weather Channel has helped feed that obession for a long time. Now, I can get a taste of the Weather Channel right in OS X.technorati tags:Apple, Weather, Widgets, OSX
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Apple cues up iPods on a planeApple Computer is in negotiations with six airlines to provide in-flight integration for the iPod.On Tuesday, Apple announced a partnership with carriers Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United. Beginning in mid-2007, the six airlines will offer iPod connectivity so that travelers can charge their iPods in transit. Additionally, the planes' seat-back displays will be configured so that video content stored on the media players can be viewed on them.Apple has also said that it will be collaborating with Panasonic Avionics to bring similar functions to more airlines.While this is the first time that Mac maker has pushed for iPod connectivity in airplanes, accommodating the devices in cars is nothing new. In August, Apple announced deals with Ford, General Motors and Mazda to make many of the auto manufacturers' 2007 models iPod-compatible.It is not yet clear whether the in-flight integration will be compatible with older, pre-video iPod models.
-HT to Bill Harrison
.Mac Mail - tgodby@mac.com (1 unread)
technorati tags:iPod, Apple, Music, Technology
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Apple shares hit 52-week high: "Apple shares today have risen to a 52-week high (US$87.95), reports MarketWatch, citing rumors of a forthcoming iPhone..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Norton Confidential for Mac now supports Safari: "Symantec let us know that Norton Confidential for the Macintosh phishing protection toolbar is now compatible with Safari..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Rescue Your Stranded Tunes: "Need to get your songs off of your iPod? ITunes is no help, but several third-party software options can help you reclaim full control of your digital music library. We've reviewed the best. By Scott Gilbertson."
(Via Wired News: Top Stories.)
New GarageBand tutorials available at macProVideo: "MacProVideo.com has released a new video tutorial program entitled 'GarageBand 101: Mastering GarageBand.'..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Google buys Israeli spreadsheet company iRows: "Blog: Google is buying iRows, a provider of a browser-based spreadsheet service, iRows wrote on its company blog. 'Being at Google will..."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Apple's iPhone to arrive in early 2007 with 2MP camera: "Apple Computer's much anticipated iPod cell phone is due to arrive either late in the first quarter or early in second quarter of next year and will include a 2.0-megapixel digital camera."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Leopard vs Vista 3: A Risk Strategy: "PC enthusiasts like to scoff at the market share of Macs in comparison to worldwide computer sales. They view the worldwide PC market like a simple board game of Risk, where market leaders Dell and HP have more armies scattered over more territories, and Apple only has armies places in a few. Daniel Eran, RoughlyDrafted Magazine"
(Via diggdot.us.)
BeLight ships Business Card Composer 4.1: "BeLight Software today announced the release of Business Card Composer 4.1, an update for its DIY business card tool..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Steve Jobs on Digg, Surfing and why he doesn't play golf: "New website Ewoky interviews Steve Jobs of Apple who talks candidly about Digg.com, surfing back in the day and why he doesn't play golf."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Firefox 2 tops IE 7 in anti-phishing study: "Two weeks after a Microsoft study found the opposite. A Mozilla-commissioned study has given the anti-fraud features in the Firefox 2 browser high marks, finding they are much more effective than those in Internet Explorer 7."
(Via diggdot.us.)
The Web Is 16 Today: "GuNgA-DiN writes, 'Today marks the 16th anniversary of the World Wide Web. According to the timeline on the W3.org site: 'The first web page [was] http://nxoc01.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html. Unfortunately CERN no longer supports the historical site. Note from this era too, the least recently modified web page we know of, last changed Tue, 13 Nov 1990 15:17:00 GMT (though the URI changed.)' A lot has happened in 16 years and this little 'baby' has grown into quite the teenager.'
(Via diggdot.us.)
Zune is out of tune, for now: "perspective News.com's Scott Ard says Microsoft's first attempt at a digital music player still isn't ready for prime time."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Jailtime For Leeching Wireless?: "jginspace writes 'A 17-year-old from Singapore is is facing three years' jailtime for accessing his neighbor's wireless network. His neighbor complained and now the unfortunate Tan Jia Luo is facing charges under the computer misuse act and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. '
(Via diggdot.us.)
I know this isn't Macintosh related, but I find this a bit hard to believe. Especially in this day and age. -TGNASA Avoids "Happy New Year" on Shuttle: "ClickOnThis noted that NASA is actually avoiding a Shuttle in Space over New Years. It says 'The worry is that shuttle computers aren't designed to make the change from the 365th day of the old year to the first day of the new year while in flight. NASA has never had a shuttle in space December 31 or January 1. 'We've just never had the computers up and going when we've transitioned from one year to another,' said Discovery astronaut Joan Higginbotham. 'We're not really sure how they're going to operate.'
(Via diggdot.us.)
A look back of Photoshop 1.0.7: "Creativebits has taken a trip in the way back machine all the way back to 1990 when Adobe released Photoshop for the very first time. They compare Photoshop 1.0.7 to the current iteration of Photoshop and go over some of the features that were missing in that first release that graphics folks couldn't live without now adays."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Chocolate covered Mac Classic: "A Mac Classic, circa 1990, frozen and coated in a thick layer of chocolate. Mmmm.... a tasty treat, indeed."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Vista vs Leopard.......Key Features Comparison: "Widgets vs. Dashboard; Backup and Restore Center vs Time Machine; Virtual Desktop Manager vs Spaces....."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Adobe Gives Browsers a Boost: "Software giant Adobe Systems releases its web-scripting engine under an open-source license, putting the code that makes Flash tick onto the table for all web browsers to use. Whether or not big players like Microsoft and Apple will take a bite remains to be seen. By Scott Gilbertson."
(Via Wired News: Top Stories.)
Broadcom's Treaty in the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD War: "eldavojohn writes 'For a while there, I didn't know what to buy. Blu-Ray or HD-DVD? Which would be the leader? Only a fool would buy discs of the technology that would be the next beta max. Fortunately, my dilemma has been solved by Broadcom. From the article: 'Consumer and communications chip supplier Broadcom Corp. Thurs. (Nov. 9) introduced what the company labeled the first single-chip solution to support both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD standards.' I guess I'll just wait until I can get a player that will play them both.'
(Via diggdot.us.)
Adium 1.0 beta screenshots: "Adium is the Gaim adaptation for the Mac, and the most popular and useful IM client for the platform. The Adium Blog has posted screenshots of the upcoming 1.0 release, which is currently in beta."
(Via diggdot.us.)
Introducing Ajax13:The Best Web Based Ajax Applications. All in one Place: "ajaxWrite: ajaxWrite is a web-based word processor that can read and write Microsoft Word and other open standard document formats. With the look and feel similar to Microsoft Word, ajaxWrite provides a powerful yet familiar and easy-to-use word processing environment. and more..."
(Via diggdot.us.)
A rude awakening for Zune: "Blog: Forget brown. The true color of the Zune is black-and-blue.Microsoft's music player has been taking its share of hits for some..."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Debating iPod's merits at Zune's party: "Plenty who attended launch party for Microsoft's Zune are iPod owners, although some sounded ready for a change."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Digital newspapers by 2008?: "Imagine unfurling the morning paper to find a flexible electronic display streaming the latest news. This fantasy could become a reality in as soon as two years."
(Via CNET News.com.)
iSale 3.3 eBay utility now supports eBay Express: "Equinux today released iSale 3.3, its application for eBay auctioning..."
(Via MacMinute.)
BusinessWeek: 'Adobe CFO steps down': "Adobe Systems announced yesterday that Randy Furr, the company's CFO, has stepped down, reports BusinessWeek..."
(Via MacMinute.)
Devon releases new remote desktop solution: "DEVONtechnologies today announced Desktop Transporter 2.0, a remote desktop solution that allows users to use other Macs on either the local network or the Internet without physically accessing them..."
(Via MacMinute.)
EyeTV release new Digital TV Tuner for Mac: "It's supercharged DTT, with up to 50% better reception and picture quality in any room of your house. It's DTT in a car, bus, or train at 160 km/h. It's watching one DTT channel and recording another, or watching two channels, at the same time."
(Via diggdot.us.)
MSN Music Purchases Not Compatible with Zune: "lewiz writes 'The BBC is reporting that music purchased at MSN Music will not play on the new Zune music player.' From the article: 'The problem has arisen because tracks from the MSN Music site are compatible with the specifications of the Plays For Sure initiative. This was intended to re-assure consumers as it guaranteed that music bought from services backing it would work with players that supported it. MSN Music, Napster, AOL Music Now and Urge all backed Plays For Sure as did many players from hardware makers such as Archos, Creative, Dell and Iriver. In a statement a Microsoft spokesperson said: 'Since Zune is a separate offering that is not part of the Plays For Sure ecosystem, Zune content is not supported on Plays For Sure devices.''
(Via diggdot.us.)
Filed under: Accessories, Audio, iPod Family, Wireless, Video
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Filed under: Software, Internet Tools
I nearly choked on my own excitement when OmniWeb was finally universal, and it seems The Omni Group is making one last push to send me to an early grave: For the month of November, they're offering OmniWeb for a nifty $9.95 -- $20 off the original price.If you've never used OmniWeb, I suggest giving it a try before November's end; you may like it, and if you do, now's the perfect time get that license.
-From TUAW
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