Imation acquires XtremeMac

Makers of some of the finest interconnect cables for all things Macintosh, it appears XtremeMac has been acquired by Imation. Please, please just leave them alone and let them do their thing. - Tim Godby

Imation acquires XtremeMac: "Imation has acquired XtremeMac, the maker of iPod accessories.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple notebook shipments up 61 percent

Apple notebook shipments up 61 percent: "Apple notebook shipments surged 61 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter last year.

(Via Macworld.)

Evernote + Screencast ready for prime time and paid use

Evernote + Screencast ready for prime time and paid use: "

Filed under: Software, Video, Internet Tools

Two of my preferred Mac-friendly cloud services have now made the jump to actually accepting money from subscribers, which is a good thing (really, it is!). TUAW favorite Evernote has moved from private to public beta, and Techsmith video hosting site Screencast.com is now at 1.0 release status. Both services are now offering trial/free plans alongside their premium plans for paid subscribers.

The Screencast.com site is already integrated with the free Jing Project capture tool for Mac and the pro-level (and, at least for the moment, Windows-only) Camtasia Studio app; you can also upload screencasts that you create with almost any tool you like (including ADA multi-winner Screenflow) in a variety of formats for hosting on the service. Selecting which of your screencasts to share and which to password-protect is very easy, and the service automatically sets up RSS and iTunes feeds for the folders you choose to make public.The 60-day trial account includes 200 MB of storage and a 1GB transfer limit; paid plans start at $6.95 a month.

Evernote's private beta grew to include over 125,000 users (ahem), and the new public beta includes an option for a $5/month premium user plan that increases your monthly transfer quota/new note cap from 40 MB to 500 megabytes and gives you SSL for all data, priority access to the text-recognition queues and tier 1 customer support. Plus you get a snazzy t-shirt while supplies last (pink elephants on parade!). The web interface to Evernote has also gotten a facelift, with full drag-and-drop support and an improved clipper feature. Can't say yet if they've fixed the session timeout issue that ate a long note my wife was writing last night, but I surely hope so.

In a conversation a couple of weeks back, Evernote CEO Phil Libin shared some future directions for the product with us as well as a couple of tips from his personal use of Evernote.

First, what many are waiting for will be coming very soon: a native iPhone client for Evernote (shipping shortly after the App Store opens), including one-button publishing to Evernote and location tagging for every item you create from your phone, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading you back to that favorite restaurant or bargain spot. (Phil's tip: whenever he parks his car at the airport, he takes a picture of the parking spot and sends it to Evernote to help jog his jetlagged brain.)

Second, the upcoming platform-wide features for Evernote will soon include more granular controls on publishing and sharing, a revamped Windows client, Evernote for Blackberry, and audio notes. (Phil's tip: he uses Evernote notebooks to share collections of photos or screenshots, like this accidental poetry from CNN rundown.) Later this summer we should expect to see the first public release of the Evernote API, which will permit third-party devs to add features to the service (personally I'd love to have a business card postprocessor tool, which Libin sees as a good 3rd party opportunity).

Other future features are yet to be publicly disclosed, but Libin hinted that the image-processing power of Evernote's servers may be bent to teasing out specific features of photographs. Faces? Product barcodes? Geotagged landscapes? Can't wait to find out. Meanwhile, the free Mac version of Evernote (read Brett's original review here) is downloadable at evernote.com.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Mariner ships MacGourmet Deluxe

Mariner ships MacGourmet Deluxe: "MacGourmet Deluxe, an expanded version of Advenio's shareware recipe management software, is now available from Mariner Software.

(Via Macworld.)

PocketMac ‘MacTheme’ offered for BlackBerry devices

Sorry, but I just love this. - Tim Godby

PocketMac ‘MacTheme’ offered for BlackBerry devices: "PocketMac MacTheme for BlackBerry lets you turn your RIM smartphone more Mac-like.

(Via Macworld.)

Logitech's Mac-only QuickCam Vision Pro fills in for iSight

From Infinite Loop, a report on the first and only iSight worthy webcam replacement. - Tim Godby

Logitech's Mac-only QuickCam Vision Pro fills in for iSight: "

Logitech has released the QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac users looking for a high-quality webcam. If you have lamented the discontinued iSight, the Vision Pro might be a good substitute.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Evernote talks to Ars about public beta announcement

This is intriguing web-based software. Well worth a read. - Tim Godby

Evernote talks to Ars about public beta announcement: "

Evernote flipped the switch on its public beta today, introducing a new web UI and a premium account for power users. Ars Technica interviewed Evernote's CEO about the milestone.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Microsoft updates Mac Office 2004, 2008, Open XML Converter

Microsoft updates Mac Office 2004, 2008, Open XML Converter: "

If you use Mac Office 2008, Mac Office 2004, or just that pesky Open XML File Format Converter, Microsoft has an update for you. Stability and reliability are the name of the game, but there are a bunch of fixes to these software packages too.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Assisted GPS and the iPhone

This Infinite Loop article answers many of the questions I've heard regarding the new GPS chip in Apple's upcoming iPhone. - Tim Godby

Assisted GPS and the iPhone: "

Assisted GPS: why the iPhone 3G may need some GPS assistance of its own.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Starbucks may end its iTunes gift card promotions in Sept.

Infinite loop is reporting that Starubuck's will likely drop the iTunes free songs program. I would be sad to see this go. While I may not purchase additional music from the majority of those artists, some have been real treats and have indeed extracted real money. - Tim Godby

Starbucks may end its iTunes gift card promotions in Sept.: "

Starbucks has been rethinking its core business for some time now and has reportedly decided to stop trying to hawk so much crap onto customers when they come into the store. That means no more CDs, and no more iTunes giveaways. The iTunes Wi-Fi Store, however, can stay.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Empty Your Inbox: Gmail tips

If you are a Gmail user this article has some fantastic tips. Tim Godby

Empty Your Inbox: Gmail tips: "For Gmail fans, Google's Web-based e-mail service offers lots of tricks for organizing your e-mail, clearing out your inbox, and finding e-mail messages fast. These nine tips will get you get organized now.

(Via Macworld.)

Adobe works on Flash for iPhone, as Apple looks to Sprout

My friend, Matt, will consider this welcome news. I have wondered for quite some time what if anything Apple and Adobe could do about Flash and the iPhone. This article provides some clues. - Tim Godby

Adobe works on Flash for iPhone, as Apple looks to Sprout: "Adobe is still working on bringing Flash to the iPhone, but Apple may have a different plan.

(Via Macworld.)

Flaw in Apple Remote Desktop exploited via trojan

ArsTechnica has an important post regarding a verified Macintosh Trojan. The interesting thing is that actually invoking Remote Desktop eliminates the vulnerability. For more details please read the article. - Tim Godby

Flaw in Apple Remote Desktop exploited via trojan: "

A verified Mac trojan is circulating on the Internet, exploiting a rather egregious flaw in a component of Apple Remote Desktop. There are ways to avoid being infected, however.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Wine pops its cork after 15 years

Finally. It has taken them years to get here and the "Gold" level application support is still essentially only Microsoft Applications (and Quicken) but this is a major step forward for the Wine Project. - Tim Godby

Wine pops its cork after 15 years: "After years of despair, developers celebrated the release of the open-source Wine 1.0 software by uncorking wine bottles.

(Via Macworld.)

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th: "The Princess Bridge, William Goldman's classic story of true love, is now a video game for Mac, PC and Linux.

(Via Macworld.)

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th: "The Princess Bridge, William Goldman's classic story of true love, is now a video game for Mac, PC and Linux.

(Via Macworld.)

Ars at WWDC: Preview of OmniFocus for the iPhone

Infinite Loop has an excellent interview with the Omni Group concerning OmniFocus for the iPhone.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Vista's big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it

The title nearly says it all, but read on. - Tim Godby

Vista's big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it: "The OS certainly isn't helping Microsoft's popularity with developers. Can it repair the problem?"

(Via CNET News.com.)

Mariner Calc brings Excel editing to the iPhone

Macworld is reporting on Mariner Calc's new iPhone version. Trusted sources tell me that one of the most significant features is the ability to have up to a million rows. - Tim Godby

Mariner Calc brings Excel editing to the iPhone: "Mariner Software is bringing its spreadsheet program to the iPhone. And with it comes the ability to edit Excel files in their native format.

(Via Macworld.)

Twitterrific will tweet on the iPhone

Hard to say with certainty, but this will likely be my first AppStore purchase. - Tim Godby

Twitterrific will tweet on the iPhone: "Iconfactory is poised to launch their award-winning iPhone version of Twitter client Twitterrific.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Apple, iPhone, Software

No iTunes Activation for 3G iPhones

I've been hearing this for the past few days and Dennis Sellers over at Macsimum News is reporting the news that activation for the new 3G iPhone must be done at the AT&T store. This for me is the most disappointing announcement yet regarding this new phone. Having had the pleasure of walking out of the store, phone in hand, and activating it through iTunes in the comfort of my own home I am saddened new users will not have that experience. Instead, they will be subject to the same time consuming, used car feeling experience any other phone purchase engenders. I know nothing of the inner workings of Apple's renegotiated deal that may have made this move necessary, but I am greatly disappointed. Apple and AT&T have eliminated one of the best experiences of the iPhone purchase. Here's a question. Does this mean that the 3G iPhone will not be available for purchase at the Apple Retail stores? Surely not, but how AT&T activation would be done in those locations would be interesting. - Tim Godby

Technorati Tags:
Apple, iPhone, 3G iPhone

Done in 60 seconds: WWDC keynote edited for mass consumption

Done in 60 seconds: WWDC keynote edited for mass consumption: "

Don't have the patience to sit through the entirety of the nearly two and a half hour WWDC keynote? Mahalo Daily has got you covered.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

File Magnet aims to make Mac-to-iPhone file transfer simple

Yet another reason why the iPhone is such a fantastic device. - Tim Godby

File Magnet aims to make Mac-to-iPhone file transfer simple: "Ever wanted to transfer files to your iPhone and then view them on the phone? Ecamm Network’s forthcoming File Magnet aims to solve just that problem.

(Via Macworld.)

MOTU adds DSP effects, mixing to FireWire audio interface

These people design the most amazing products. Even if you're not an audio geek or working musician, it's worth following the link just to step through the pages for this product. Amazing. - Tim Godby

MOTU adds DSP effects, mixing to FireWire audio interface: "MOTU has released a new FireWire audio interface that features compression, limited, reverb and EQ built-in.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Audio, Macintosh, Music

An iPhone User’s Guide to 3G

An exciting aspect about AT&T's implementation of 3G is simultaneous data AND voice capability! From the MacWorld article:

"AT&T’s HSPA network is designed and enabled to allow simultaneous voice and data calls. Apple confirmed in a briefing with me that the iPhone 3G can browse the Web, retrieve e-mail, and find maps, all while you’re talking (via speakerphone or Bluetooth headset, presumably). While Verizon and Sprint’s EVDO Rev. A network can technically handle both tasks, too, the companies have focused on service-at-a-time: either data or voice, not both. A Verizon spokesperson said that the company is moving towards allowing both voice and data at once."

Read on. - Tim Godby

An iPhone User’s Guide to 3G: "Apple’s latest iPhone adds support for 3G networking. But what exactly does that mean? Glenn Fleishman looks at 3G and how it will change the way you use Apple’s mobile device.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple announces Mac, iPhone design award winners

The one about which I am most excited is OmmiFocus for the iPhone! I can hardly wait. -Tim Godby

Apple announces Mac, iPhone design award winners: "Apple awarded five Mac applications, 5 iPhone applications, and an iPhone web app at this year's Apple Design Awards on Wednesday.

(Via Macworld.)

What's Good for Apple Is Better for Everyone Else

This article was quoted in the RSS feed so I'll include it here. Absolutely fascinating take on iPhone sales as they relate to the rest of the Smart Phone market. - Tim Godby

What's Good for Apple Is Better for Everyone Else: "

As Apple prepares to launch the iPhone 2 on Monday, competitors like Palm and RIM are not worried. On the contrary, they are licking their chops, preparing for a surge in sales, even though Apple expects to sell millions of new iPhones worldwide.

'The way I look at it is there are 1.2 billion cellphones out there, and we're just scratching the surface,' said Mike Laziridis, CEO of Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry, the iPhone's closest rival.

Steve Jobs is expected to announce the second version of the iPhone on Monday morning during a keynote speech kicking off Apple's annual Worldwide Developer's Conference.

The iPhone 2 has already been dubbed the 'BlackBerry killer.' It promises to be faster, slicker and cheaper, boasting features like fast 3-G networking, Exchange support and even carrier subsidies. If the rumors prove true, it will be the iPhone many buyers have been holding out for.

It's a standard line for companies to say they 'welcome competition,' but it's usually a throwaway meant to deflect attention from strategic vulnerabilities.

In the case of the iPhone, however, competitors earnestly have reason to welcome Apple to the market. Sales show that what's been good for Apple has been verrrry good for smartphone makers. Retail sales of the BlackBerry, for example, are up 38 percent in the year since the iPhone's introduction.

It didn't initially look that way. When the iPhone 2 rumors first surfaced, nervous investors sold off shares of RIM under the assumption that the company would get creamed by Apple. Instead, RIM's market share of smartphones in the United States has actually swelled from 35 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 45 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

'The fact of the matter is this,' said Pablo Perez-Fernandez, an analyst with Global Crown Capital. 'There were a lot of BlackBerrys in those stores where iPhones were selling, and there were people who may not have thought about a smartphone before, wanted the iPhone, thought it was too expensive, and bought a BlackBerry instead.'

And for smartphone makers like Palm, Nokia and RIM, Apple helped whet the market's appetite while they went in for the kill, helped by discounted prices and a choice in carriers.

Palm says the sell-through rate on smartphones over the last two quarters has climbed 21 percent to 833,000 units in the third (and most recent) quarter, from 686,000 in the previous quarter (although the sell-through rate was 689,000 in the first quarter).

'The Centro has played a critical role in moving our transformational efforts along at a fast pace,' said Ed Colligan, CEO and president of Palm, in a March conference call. He added that more than 70 percent of Centro buyers are traditional cellphone users who are purchasing a smartphone for the first time.

'What the iPhone did was make it cool to use smartphones,' said Ramon Llamas, an analyst with research firm IDC. 'Before, you had the BlackBerry, which mostly just resonated with enterprise users or business people. Now, there's a whole new market of smartphone consumers . Before the phone came out, I actually asked guys from companies like Nokia and RIM how they were going to respond, and the answer was unanimous -- it was, 'Welcome to the party, hop in the pool, the water's fine''

It's an odd phenomenon because it's not as though Apple invented the smartphone or any of its features – touch screen devices have been around for years and lots of mobile phones already had music capabilities on phones. What Apple did was package it -- and market it -- in a way that made it attractive to mainstream consumers.

'The fact that it looks cool and sexy has helped Apple, and has called attention to a portion of the market that had been under the radar for a lot of people,' Llamas said.

In many ways, the iPhone's effect on the market can be compared to what the iPod did for MP3 players.

Before Apple rolled out the iPod, the portable audio market wasn't doing much. In 1999, there were really only a handful of MP3-player makers and unit sales were marginal. Just a couple years after Apple rolled out the iPod in 2001, an industry was born.

Total sales of MP3 players in the United States jumped from a paltry couple million (depending on whose data you use) up to tens of millions over the last few years, as less-expensive models have become readily available.

'The combination of Apple's iPod device and its iTunes Store for music downloads has energized the music industry,' gushed a JupiterResearch report in 2003.

Now we'll have to see whether the iPhone will have the same effect on the smartphone market.

Senior Editor Dylan Tweney contributed to this report.

(Via Top Stories.)

Technorati Tags:
iPhone

PGP unveils pre-boot authentication for Mac OS X

I was an early adopter of Pretty Good Privacy's email encryption products. Though I don't use them as much because so few of the people with whom I communicate wanted to fuss with Private and Public keys, I'll definitely be looking into this. If you value security on your Macintosh read on! - Tim Godby

PGP unveils pre-boot authentication for Mac OS X: "PGP has brought its pre-boot authentication to Mac OS X, protecting the entire contents of laptops, desktops and external drives.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Macintosh, Security

T-Mobile sues Starbucks over Wi-Fi deal

T-Mobile sues Starbucks over Wi-Fi deal: "T-Mobile says the coffee giant 'secretly' developed a plan with AT&T to provide Wi-Fi at its cafes, despite an exclusive partnership with T-Mobile."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Avery DesignPro software released for free

Might as well since much of that capability is built-in to AddressBook.app! We did a great demo of this at GreerMUG. - Tim Godby

Avery DesignPro software released for free: "Avery has released DesignPro software for the Mac, a free utility to help you design labels and other printed Avery content.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Macintosh, Software

Apple releases Brother Print Driver 1.1

This reminds me of my years in Memphis, TN. -TG

Apple releases Brother Print Driver 1.1: "Apple has released Brother Print Driver 1.1, an updated version of print drivers for Brother-branded printers.

(Via Macworld.)

Sneak preview: SlingPlayer for iPhone

I do not own a Slingbox, but this is an intriguing possibility. -Tim Godby

Sneak preview: SlingPlayer for iPhone: "This week Sling Media is previewing a version of its SlingPlayer place-shifting software on the iPhone, giving users the promise of the ability to watch their home TVs on their iPhones via Wi-Fi.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Internet, iPhone

.Mac and Me rumors: TUAW inside look at Apple's next-gen service

TUAW has the most comprehensive discussion yet of the rumored .Mac changes. Read on! - Tim Godby

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi at Starbucks

Yes, it has. But I must report the following: my iPhone connects flawlessly. My MBP, never. Very frustrating. - Tim Godby

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi at Starbucks: "After months of waiting, AT&T's free Wi-Fi has come to Starbucks throughout the United States."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Microsoft Vows to Keep Windows XP Alive for 'Nettops'

Whoa. This is a fascinating development. - Tim Godby

Microsoft Vows to Keep Windows XP Alive for 'Nettops': "The software giant says it will continue to sell and support Windows XP on low-cost computers designed exclusively for surfing the web, checking e-mail and other less-demanding tasks.

(Via Top Stories.)

Directly accessing the Downloads folder

This is a great tip! - Tim Godby

Directly accessing the Downloads folder: "Sure you can ask Safari to put your files on the Desktop, but with these Downloads folder shortcuts you may not need to.

(Via Macworld.)

Manage your iTunes library

This is an excellent (if short) article dealing with the advantages and complexities of storing iTunes content on multiple drives. -Tim Godby

Manage your iTunes library: "You probably have a lot of stuff in your iTunes library. Music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks can easily add up to thousands of files. iTunes is both a media player and a database, and it’s the latter feature that helps you organize all these files.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple's Web strategy all about Me

This is being reported all over the Macintosh universe. Interesting possibilities for .Mac - Tim Godby

Apple's Web strategy all about Me: "

It's hard to believe that no one in the 'Me Generation' beat them to it, but Apple has apparently registered Me.com as a possible replacement for its .Mac service.

Could Me.com be Apples portal linking the iPhone and the Mac?

(Credit: CNET Networks)

John Gruber of Daring Fireball ...

(Via One More Thing.)

Third-party iPhone applications to arrive Monday

Third-party iPhone applications to arrive Monday: "

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the App Store in March, and third-party applications delivered through the store should arrive Monday.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

The era of officially sanctioned iPhone applications should kick off on Monday.

That's the same day Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to take ...

"

(Via One More Thing.)

UK university puts lectures on iTunes

UK university puts lectures on iTunes: "University College London will be the first European university to put its lecture material onto iTunes for free."

(Via BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition.)

Get your Phoenix Mars Mission fix on your iPod via iTunes U

I'm a huge fan of iTunesU having listened to several university lectures, especially those from MIT. These updates from the Mars mission should be fascinating. -Tim Godby

Get your Phoenix Mars Mission fix on your iPod via iTunes U: "

If you want downloadable, iPod-ready videos of the Phoenix Mars Mission, check out University of Arizona's iTunes U. The three dozen videos posted so far should hold you over for at least a little while.

Read More...

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Apple releases handy, hefty guide to securing Leopard

ArsTechnica has article discussing Apple's new security manual for Leopard. It's 200 pages. Read on.

Apple releases handy, hefty guide to securing Leopard: "

Apple has released a new Security Configuration manual for Leopard. The manual is targeted at more experienced Leopard users, and offers over 200 pages of information and tips for securing Leopard client installations.